Winter Solstice (on December 21st) marks the beginning of the winter season and also the shortest day of the year! Instead of simply hiding inside, many event organizers are embracing the season with nature activities and even nighttime parties. In addition, most events are free! So, bundle up and join the fun with our Guide to Winter Solstice Outdoor Events in Toronto and the GTA.
Kensington Market Winter Solstice Festival
Date: December 21, 2025
This popular outdoor festival returns this year to celebrate the longest night of the year, hosted by Red Pepper Spectacle Arts in collaboration with community partners. This free street festival features a program of fire warming stations, live music, theatrical scenarios, roaming ensembles of tall puppets, and fire arts, all within the market.
Harbourfront Centre Winterfest: Storytelling by the Fire
Date: November 28, 2025 — December 31, 2025
As part of their ongoing Winterfest, Harbourfront Centre hosts Storytelling by the Fire by Miigwech Collective, sharing songs and stories about the meaning of the Solstice, along with a traditional smudge ceremony, and Indigenous-themed colouring books and crayons for kids to take home. Winterfest Toronto also features Winter Express train rides, marshmallow fire pits, food stalls, artisan markets, and more.
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA): Winter Solstice Series – Guided Solstice Nature Hike
Date: December 21, 2025
Join the TRCA’s Guided Solstice Nature Hike as part of their Winter Solstice Series, a captivating and educational free family-friendly event at Tommy Thompson Park to celebrate the winter solstice! Explore the different ways that the local wildlife species adapt to winter, then turn on your lanterns to brighten the longest night of the year. There are also crafting events happening too!
High Park Nature Centre — Light the Night: A Winter Solstice Celebration
Date: December 21, 2025
High Park Nature Centre celebrates the shortest day of the year with the family-friendly park event Light the Night: A Winter Solstice Celebration. First, participants craft lanterns in the Cottage Building to help light the night, then the group heads outside to gather around a fire and watch the sun set to mark the start of winter.
More Events on Winter Solstice in Toronto
The Distillery Winter Village
Date: November 13, 2025 — 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.
stackt market: Holiday Hills
Date: November 14 — 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, Santa visits, and lots more.
Bloor-Yorkville Holiday Magic
Date: November 22 — 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.
City of Toronto: Cavalcade of Lights
Date: November 29, 2025 – 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.
Evergreen Brick Works: Winter Holiday Markets
Date: November 30 — December 21, 2025
Winter Solstice is the last night of this festive holiday market, where you can grab a hot chocolate and take a stroll the aisles of local, handmade goods to pick out something special for your loved ones… or yourself! It also includes a cozy winter garden, with fire pits and warm drinks.
Casa Loma: Holiday Lights Tour
Date: December 5, 2025 – January 3, 2026
Families can feel the joy of the holiday season at Toronto’s historic castle, Casa Loma! After sundown, the stunning landscaped gardens of Casa Loma transform into a winter wonderland with the spectacular Holiday Light Tour, filled with brilliant lights and joyous merriment.
Sankofa Square: Winter Glow
Date: December 11-21, 2025
It’s also the last night of Sankofa Square’s free-to-attend family-friendly holiday festival Winter Glow, an outdoor fair in the heart of downtown Toronto! It features carnival rides, midway games and treats, plus an artisan market by Fair in the Square to benefit Epilepsy Toronto.
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.
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.
More Events on Winter Solstice in the GTA
Holiday Nights of Lights
Date: November 7 — December 24, 2025
This holiday season, create long-lasting memories with the whole family at Holiday Nights of Lights Reimagined, at its new location at Vaughan Mills.
Canada’s Wonderland WinterFest
Date: November 15, 2025 — 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.
Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights
Date: November 15, 2025 — 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!
Safari Niagara: Safari Lights
Date: November 21 — December 30, 2025
The Safari Lights drive-thru adventure at Safari Niagara has immersive light tunnels, motion lights, and whimsical animal light displays.
Bingemans: Gift of Lights
Date: November 21, 2025 — 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.
Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue: Christmas with Wildlife
Date: November 22 — December 21, 2025
Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue presents Christmas with Wildlife where guests explore the wildlife centre, have treats, see light displays, and more.
Angus Glen Golf Club: Angus Glen Winter Events and Fairway of Lights
Date: November 28 — 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.
Kortright Centre for Conservation: Magical Christmas Forest
Date: November 28 — 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!
Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG): Winter Wonders
Date: November 27, 2025 — 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!
Burlington Festival of Lights
Date: November 28, 2025 — 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: December 1, 2025 — 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.
Orangeville Christmas in the Park
Date: December 1-31, 2025
The month-long free Christmas in the Park event in Orangeville includes millions of dazzling lights, music, entertainment, hot chocolate and more.
Uxbridge Optimist Fantasy of Lights
Date: December 6, 2025 — 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!
Lights on Stratford Winter Festival of Lights
Date: December 12, 2025 — 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.
Close your wallet and open our list of Cheapies & Freebies in Toronto and the GTA here!
