While some people want to hide inside the house all through winter, many others anticipate it and look forward to getting out into the fresh crisp air. Event organizers are busy all through the year hosting fun festivals, both indoor and outdoor, and wintertime is no exception. You’ll find holiday lights, active pursuits and cultural activities, so embrace the season with our Guide to the Best Winter Festivals in Toronto and the GTA…
Canada’s Wonderland WinterFest
When: Until January 6, 2024
The 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.
Uxbridge Optimist Fantasy of Lights
When: December 2, 2023 — January 6, 2024
More brilliant than ever, the annual Uxbridge Optimist Fantasy of Lights event features light displays every evening, even on Christmas Day!
City of Toronto: Cavalcade of Lights
When: Until January 7, 2024
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.
Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights
When: Until January 7, 2024
Get your fill of sparkle and good cheer at the Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights. It’s Canada’s largest FREE outdoor festival!
Lights on Stratford Winter Festival of Lights
When: December 15, 2023 – January 13, 2024
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.
Halton Hills: Light up the Hills Winter Festival
When: December 1, 2023 – January 14, 2024
Halton Hills is lighting up their parks this holiday season at the Light up the Hills Winter Festival to bring joy and hope to surrounding communities with light displays, free to view.
Kensington Market Winter Solstice Festival
When: December 21, 2023
Mark the winter solstice at a free street festival in Kensington Market, featuring fire warming stations, live music, theatrical scenarios, roaming ensembles of tall puppets, and fire arts.
Aga Khan Museum: Light Up the Dark
When: December 27-29, 2023
The stunning exterior of the Aga Khan Museum comes to life with the free Light Up the Dark event, featuring mesmerizing light projections.
Mountsberg Conservation Area: Winterlit
When: December 28, 2023 – February 19, 2024
Bask in the natural beauty of Mountsberg Conservation Area by taking an illuminated walk in the woods at Winterlit, where trails sparkle brightly for a combined distance of approximately 1.5 kilometres.
Design TO Festival
When: January 19-28, 2024
DesignTO is Canada’s largest annual design festival, celebrating creative thinking and making with more than 100 exhibitions and events.
Winterlicious Toronto
When: January 26 – February 8, 2024
Now in its 20th year, Winterlicious Toronto food event returns for another delicious edition, featuring three-course prix fixe menus.
Bracebridge Fire & Ice Festival
When: January 27, 2024
Celebrate a true Canadian winter at the Bracebridge Fire & Ice Festival, featuring snow tubing down the main street of this picturesque town.
Port Union Winterfest
When: January 27, 2024
The Port Union Winterfest returns to Scarborough with their annual family-friendly event, with a market place, live entertainment, games for kids and food.
NHL All-Star Weekend: 2024 Hyundai NHL Fan Fair
When: February 1-4, 2024
Celebrate the NHL All-Star Weekend with the 2024 Hyundai NHL Fan Fair, with family-friendly games, NHL mascots and players, the Stanley Cup, and more!
La Poutine Week
When: February 1-4, 2024
With La Poutine Week, restaurants get creative for throngs of poutine fanatics, so bring your appetite and check out the participating spots in Toronto and the GTA.
Hamilton Winterfest
When: February 2-19, 2024
Hamilton Winterfest 2024 includes 70+ events across the city, including a pop culture exhibition, concerts, crafts, dance, theatre, fashion, art installations, a Family Day festival and more.
Hockey Diversity Alliance: WinterFest
When: February 3, 2024
The Hockey Diversity Alliance hosts the inaugural WinterFest, with free events including a celebrity hockey game, food, giveaways and more.
Lunar Lights Festival
When: February 8-25, 2024
Lunar Lights Festival honours Lunar New Year at Markham Museum with a lantern trail, ice skating, and indoor activities with arts & crafts.
Enchanted Lights: A Celebration of Cultures
When: February 10-March 10, 2024
Yonge North York BIA hosts Enchanted Lights: A Celebration of Cultures, a free multicultural festival and light show at Mel Lastman Square.
Ajax Winterfest
When: February 19, 2024
The annual Ajax Winterfest is back for free frosty fun on Family Day, including inflatables, crafts, entertainment, free hot chocolate and s’mores.
Friends of Bronte Creek Park: Maple Syrup Festival
When: Weekends in March, during the week of March Break (March 11-15) and Good Friday (March 29)
Bronte Creek Provincial Park Maple Syrup Festival lets you enjoy a guided tour of Maple Lane, hop on a wagon to the Pancake House, and more.
Sugar Shack TO
When: March 9-10, 2024
Head to Sugar Beach for Sugar Shack TO to feast on some fresh maple taffy and maple-infused comfort food, plus interactive activities, demonstrations and giveaways, a winter circus lumberjack show, and more.
Celebrate Toronto Festival
When: March 9, 2024
Celebrate Toronto Festival is marking our city’s 190th Anniversary this year with a party at Nathan Phillips Square including market vendors, skating and a fireworks display.
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA): Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival
When: March 9 – April 7, 2024
Enjoy a sticky and sweet family day at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s annual Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival in two TRCA locations in Woodbridge and Whitchurch-Stouffville.
Brooks Farms Maple Sugar Festival
When: March 9-17, 2024
Brooks Farms Maple Sugar Festival makes March Break delicious with outdoor activities and sugar bush tours, farm animals and playgrounds, and roasted marshmallows around the camp fire.
Puppet Festival Mississauga
When: March 11-17, 2024
Puppet Festival Mississauga is an exciting festival filled with local and international puppetry during March Break.
Spring Tonic Maple Syrup Festival
When: April 6-7, 2024
The Spring Tonic Maple Syrup Festival at the Tiffin Conservation Area in Barrie explores traditional maple syrup, along with family shows, and more.
ICFF Youth Festival
When: April 8-13, 2024
The ICFF Youth Festival is an annual multi-lingual film program at Cineplex Cinemas Yorkdale that celebrates film as an art form.
Lunar New Year Events in Toronto and the GTA
It’s time to welcome in the Year of the Dragon! Lunar New Year, an annual festival of prosperity and renewal, is celebrated by both East and South Asian communities around the world and, of course, throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Celebrate with our guide to Lunar New Year Events in Toronto and the GTA!
Guide to Valentine’s Day Events for Toronto and the GTA
There are many ways to spend your Valentine’s Day with loved ones in Toronto, including special events, performances, crafts and treats.
Guide to Family Day Weekend Events and Activities in Toronto and the GTA
Spend some quality time with your family with special activities found in our Guide to Family Day Events for Toronto and the GTA.
Get outside for more Winter Outdoor Activities in Toronto here!
