Students, jump for joy — it’s almost time for winter vacation! Regardless of how much snow our area receives (or doesn’t) and which year-end celebration your family partakes in (or doesn’t!), there’s always something fun to do in our busy city. Plus, no matter the season, kids will always have energy that needs to get expended before the dreaded boredom sets in. So, get a move on with Guide to the Best Holiday School Break Events and Activities in Toronto and the GTA!
Featured Events
Young People’s Theatre: “Shrek The Musical”
Date: Until December 30, 2025
This holiday season, Young People’s Theatre (YPT) invites families to enjoy “Shrek The Musical”, bursting with catchy tunes and laugh-out-loud moments! This ogre-sized production is full of zany humour, exciting bravery, heartwarming honesty, and plenty of crazy hijinks.
Canadian Stage: “Robin Hood: A Very Merry Family Musical”
Date: Until January 4, 2026
Gather your family together and pull on your green tights because Canadian Stage returns for the holiday season with a new jolly pantomime show. This family-friendly theatrical is an irresistible mix of song, dance and comedy that you won’t want to miss!
Soulpepper Theatre Company: “Bad Hats’ NARNIA”
Date: Until January 4, 2026
Making its Toronto premiere, Soulpepper Theatre Company presents “Bad Hats’ NARNIA”, a new musical retelling of C.S. Lewis’ world of Narnia, come to life like never before. Perfect for audiences of both kids and anyone young at heart, this show will take you on a journey through the wardrobe you won’t soon forget!
TO Live: Wing Chun Dance Drama
Date: Until January 4, 2026
TO Live, ADEM Company Inc., and Canada China Cultural Development Association proudly present the Wing Chun Dance Drama. Making its North American premiere at Toronto’s Meridian Hall, this show is a breathtaking fusion of electrifying dance and martial arts!
Holiday School Break Events
YZD: Hangar Skate
Date: December 19, 2025 — February 16, 2026
Hangar Skate returns to YZD, with a free pop-up skating rink at the vibrant 370-acre neighbourhood at the former Downsview Airport lands. The event features complimentary indoor arts programming, Friday DJ Skate Nights and special events, affordable skate rentals, free lessons, and more.
Toronto Botanical Garden: Winter Blooms Circus at the Garden
Date: December 19-21, 2025
Toronto Botanical Garden presents Winter Blooms Circus at the Garden, an immersive winter, high-flying dance, circus and garden experience, complete with aerial silks, straps, trapeze, dance, and acrobatics.
Wychwood Theatre: BenTastic Family Magic Show — “A Very Merry Magic Show”
Date: December 20-22, 2025
Join BenTastic and Magic Mel at the Wychwood Theatre with “A Very Merry Magic Show” as they take the stage together for a magical Christmas celebration full of festive cheer, wonder, and magical surprises!
Bata Shoe Museum: Winter Break at the BSM
Date: December 22, 2025 – January 2, 2026
For this year’s Winter Break at the BSM holiday workshop at Bata Shoe Museum, put on your party shoes and celebrate winter with crafts related to their newest exhibition, Art/Wear: Sneakers x Artists.
Royal Ontario Museum: ROM for the Holidays
Date: December 26, 2025 — January 4, 2026
Over the holiday school break, the Royal Ontario Museum returns with their ROM for the Holidays program, which is again participating in the Canada Strong program. It’s filled with family-friendly programming such as hands-on experiences, live performances, and more.
Aga Khan Museum: Light Up the Dark
Date:Â December 27-29, 2025
The stunning exterior of the Aga Khan Museum comes to life with the free Light Up the Dark event, featuring mesmerizing light projections, warm drinks and food, performances and free family activities inside the Museum, plus creative workshops.
Holiday School Break Events — Continuing Concerts & Shows in Toronto
Soulpepper Theatre: “’Twas On a Night Like This”
Date: Until December 28, 2025
Soulpepper Theatre presents the Christmas concert “’Twas On a Night Like This”, featuring Beau Dixon and a group of Soulpepper regulars creating a merry mashup of classic carols and non-traditional songs that embody the “soul” of the holiday season.
National Ballet of Canada: “The Nutcracker”
Date: Until December 31, 2025
The National Ballet of Canada’s production of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” is an unforgettable tribute to the imagination, with non-stop dancing plus magnificent sets and costumes.
The Second City Toronto: “Rudolph Runs Wild”
Date: Until December 31, 2025
The Second City Toronto presents “Rudolph Runs Wild”, a festive blend of family-friendly songs and sketches that’s packed with their signature improvisation fun.
Mirvish Productions: “The Sound of Music”
Date: Until January 4, 2026
Mirvish Productions presents the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic holiday show “The Sound of Music”, which has been one of audiences’ *favourite things* for 65 years!
T.Y.T. Theatre: “Seussical the Musical”
Date: Until January 11, 2026
T.Y.T. Theatre presents “Seussical the Musical”, where Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat and more of your favourite Dr. Seuss characters spring to life onstage!
Mirvish Productions: “We Will Rock You”
Date: Until January 18, 2026
Mirvish Productions celebrates the rockin’ holiday season with “We Will Rock You”, a futuristic musical spectacle featuring 25 classic Queen songs.
Famous Players Theatre: “Joy to the World”
Date: Until January 24, 2026
The long-running non-profit theatre company Famous Players Theatre celebrates the holiday season with “Joy to the World”, featuring lunch or dinner and a black light theatre show. This musical for the whole family is performed by people with exceptionalities, also known as Players, who also wait tables at the meal serving before the show.
Mirvish Productions: “& Juliet”
Date: Continuing
Mirvish Productions’ “& Juliet” returns to Toronto, a hilarious new musical that flips the script on the greatest love story ever told and asking the question “What would happen next if Juliet got over Romeo?”
Holiday School Break Events — Continuing Holiday Events in Toronto
stackt market: Holiday Hills
Date: Until December 28, 2025
stackt market, an innovative downtown outdoor market and event space comprised of shipping containers, returns with their free festival Holiday Hills, hosting vendor markets, family-friendly shows, dog-friendly events, and lots more.
Bloor-Yorkville Holiday Magic
Date:Â Until December 31, 2025
Bloor-Yorkville toasts the festive season with the Holiday Magic festival of lights and music with the central Village of Yorkville Park plus trees along Bloor Street lit up for a spectacular display to welcome revellers to the area.
Street Eats Market & Harbourfront Centre: Winterfest Toronto
Date: Until December 31, 2025
Street Eats Market and Harbourfront Centre join forces to host Winterfest Toronto, featuring twinkling lights, Winter Express train rides, marshmallow fire pits, food stalls, artisan markets, and more. Admission is free to attend and the festival also includes a Winter Maze and fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
Casa Loma: Christmas at the Castle and Holiday Lights Tour
Date: Until January 3, 2026
Families can feel the joy of the holiday season at Toronto’s historic castle, Casa Loma! This two-part event showcases the castle’s elegant holiday decorations with visits with Santa in his jolly toy workshop, plus evening light displays.
The Distillery Winter Village
Date:Â Until January 4, 2026
The Distillery Winter Village returns for revellers to embrace the holiday spirit of a traditional outdoor Christmas market, with canopy lights, Santa’s Village at Soulpepper Theatre, and some of the city’s most delicious food.
City of Toronto: Cavalcade of Lights
Date: Until January 7, 2026
The City of Toronto hosts Cavalcade of Lights, a free festival that bathes Nathan Phillips Square, transforming City Hall and its surroundings into a dazzling wonderland every night during the the holiday season.
The Junction BIA: Window Wonderland
Date: Until February 1, 2026
Window Wonderland transforms the Dundas Street West neighbourhood, The Junction, into an interactive, engaging and magical outdoor gallery.
Holiday School Break Events — Ongoing Winter Events in Toronto
Arcadia Earth Toronto
Date: Ongoing
Arcadia Earth Toronto is an immersive adventure that takes visitors on a voyage, combining creative art installations and exciting technology.
Ontario Science Centre: KidSpark at Harbourfront Centre
Date: Until January 4, 2026
Ontario Science Centre brings its popular KidSpark play space to Harbourfront Centre, where families can rediscover their favourite learn-through-play activities, made specially for children ages 10 and under.
Toronto Union Station: TD Union Winter
Date: Until January 18, 2026
Toronto Union Station gets the party going through the holiday season and into the new year with TD Union Winter, inside the newly opened TD West Carriageway.
Holiday School Break Events — Continuing Holiday Events in the GTA
Kortright Centre for Conservation: Magical Christmas Forest
Date: Until December 23, 2025
Escape into the woods at the Kortright Centre, including a winter wonderland at Santa’s cabin with lights, wagon rides, crafts, children’s activities and treats for the whole family!
Canada’s Wonderland WinterFest
Date:Â Until January 3, 2026
This famous amusement park becomes a winter wonderland for WinterFest! Take a starlit walk through a 100-foot-long, coloured LED tunnel. Plus there’s festive shows and food, and an artisan market.
Angus Glen Golf Club: Angus Glen Winter Events and Fairway of LightsÂ
Date: Until December 31, 2025
Angus Glen Golf Club hosts the Winter At Angus series of holiday events, including dining options, Storytime with Santa, and Fairway of Lights, their annual walking light show on the elaborately decorated golf course.
Orangeville Christmas in the Park
Date: Until December 31, 2025
The month-long free Christmas in the Park event in Orangeville includes millions of dazzling lights, music, entertainment, hot chocolate and more.
Mountsberg Conservation Area: Winterlit
Date: December 31, 2025 — February 16, 2026; Enchanted Evening December 31
Bask in the natural beauty of Mountsberg Conservation Area at Winterlit, where you can take an illuminated walk in the woods and enjoy art installations, and entertainment and candle-making on New Year’s Eve.
Holiday School Break Events — Ongoing Winter Events in Toronto and the GTA
Uxbridge Optimist Fantasy of Lights
Date: Until January 3, 2026
One of the biggest exhibits of Christmas lights in Canada, you can either drive or walk through the brilliant path of light displays at the annual Uxbridge Optimist Fantasy of Lights event, even on Christmas Day!
Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG): Winter Wonders
Date: Until January 4, 2026
Walk the pathways at Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) in Burlington to experience Winter Wonders this year with light displays, artisan village, and more!
Bingemans: Gift of Lights
Date:Â Until January 3, 2026
Kitchener-Waterloo becomes a festive party this year with Bingemans Gift of Lights, an attraction that winds through their scenic grounds, sparkling with over a million lights and more than 300 diverse light installations.
Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights
Date: Until January 4, 2026
Get your fill of sparkle and good cheer at the Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights. It’s Canada’s largest FREE outdoor light festival!
Burlington Festival of Lights
Date: Until January 7, 2026
Drive or walk along the waterfront in Burlington for the annual Festival of Lights for a great free outing for the family, along with pop-up events.
Halton Hills: Light up the Hills Winter Festival
Date: Until January 11, 2026
Halton Hills lights up again this holiday season at the Light up the Hills Winter Festival to bring joy and hope with light displays that are free to view.
Lights on Stratford Winter Festival of Lights
Date: Until January 18, 2026
The free annual Lights On Stratford Winter Festival of Lights transforms Stratford’s heritage downtown core and parks with luminous art and interactive light installations.
The Bentway Skate Trail
Date: Until February 16, 2026 (weather dependent)
Embrace winter at the Bentway with its Skate Trail, including the popular Polar Bear Skate event taking place on New Year’s Eve.
Family Fun Toronto Guides
Guide to the Best Christmas Light Displays in the GTA
Whether indoors or outdoors, by foot or by car, these light displays, festivals and shows are bound to instantly get you into a festive mood.
Guide to the Best Holiday Concerts and Shows in Toronto
A great idea for a special festive treat for you and your family is to take in a concert, play or dance performance over the school break. Plus, it’s a fantastic excuse to get dressed up and hit the town!
Guide to the Best Spots to Go Outdoor Skating in Toronto
Lace up your skates and hit the best outdoor skating spots all over Toronto this winter! It’s free family fun and good exercise too.
Get lots more ideas for family-friendly activities and events on our calendar here!
