Celebrating Christmas in the city brings with it a number of unique traditions we love to enjoy as a family, from picking out our live Christmas tree at our favourite street corner lot, to watching Santa glide down University Avenue to selecting holiday treats with love and care at the Toronto Christmas Market.
Located in the Distillery Historic District, the Toronto Christmas Market brings a little old world charm to the big city. I love the little white huts nestled among the old Gooderham and Worts Ltd brick buildings and cobblestone walkways. The Market is free to visit which makes it a wonderful stop for families.
Of course, the biggest draw to the Toronto Christmas Market is the holiday treats. We visit the same German baker every year to stock up on Marzipan Stollen, a favourite of ours. Some large pretzels and shortbread cookies to nibble on are a popular choice too for the kids. Along with European treats you’ll find all sorts of food options from bratwurst to schnitzel, mini donuts to poutine, a bit of the old world and new are scattered about in traditional wooden cabins. Plus you’ll find many restaurants and eateries within the Distillery District itself.
The Christmas songs echoing throughout the Market will have you humming while you shop but the main stage located beside the towering spruce tree brings about all sorts of interesting entertainment for visitors. It’s worth stopping by to take in the music and dance. When we arrived, we overheard a reading of ‘’Twas the Night Before Christmas” and as we left, there were folk dancers performing. American Express is providing the Market’s entertainment on select evenings, and have arranged for some great Canadian artists to perform this year.
With the kids warmed up, my husband and I enjoyed our cup of warmth with a delicious Drambuie Hot Apple Toddy (Drambuie, lemon, cinnamon, and apple cider) and a mulled wine. I’ll be making a few of these at home during the holidays. You’ll find a number of drink stops with holiday inspired libations to warm your spirit throughout the Market too.
We thought we would just pop by the Toronto Christmas Market to pick-up our traditional holiday treats, but the variety of entertainment, unique gift and food items had us spending our whole afternoon there. Whether you live in the city or are just visiting for the holidays the Toronto Christmas Market should be on your list to visit. It runs from late November all the way up until just before Christmas and the fact that it is free during the weekdays makes it worth visiting over and over again to fill your soul with a little holiday cheer.
