The Zoo says its new lantern experience runs from September 3 to January 3, primarily Thursday through Sunday, with additional dates during the December holiday period. The Zoo encourages guests to check its ticketing calendar for the most up-to-date availability, so look there to see whether lanterns are lit on the 26th. The Zoo’s launch release counts more than 2,000 handcrafted illuminated lanterns. Each one is handmade and hand-painted by artisans from Zigong, China. The route is about 1.5 km through the Americas, Australasia and Core Woods areas of the Zoo. One highlight is a lantern installation about the Blanding’s Turtle, created with an Indigenous artist. Our Glow in the Wild guide has more.
Weekend DeskList
Boxing Day in Toronto: Lanterns, Skates, a Ballet
Nine ways to spend Boxing Day in Toronto beyond the shops: glowing lanterns, a winter village, rinks, a ballet, ferry rides and waterfront walks.
The presents are open, the leftovers are in the fridge, and the 26th is wide open. Boxing Day is a good day for Toronto to show off: lanterns after dark, a rink under the city lights, a ballet matinee, a ferry ride and a long winter walk. Here are nine ideas drawn from the organisers’ own pages, so you can build a day that suits your crew. The holiday season in the city is long, and our Christmas in Toronto guide keeps the dated events in one place.
How do you get around on Boxing Day?
The TTC lists Saturday, December 26, 2026 as a holiday-service day. On those days, all TTC routes operate on their Sunday service schedules but start earlier. Check the TTC’s holiday service page on the day, then travel light.
What can you do on Boxing Day in Toronto?
Boxing Day sits in the middle of a long holiday run, so the 26th is rarely your only chance. The Distillery Winter Village continues to January 3, 2027, and Cavalcade of Lights continues to January 7. That gives you room to pick the idea that suits the weather and the mood, then save the rest for later in the week.
The village’s own site says the 2026 season runs from November 12, 2026 to January 3, 2027, which brings Boxing Day inside the run. The site calls it Toronto’s Christmas market, in the Distillery Historic District, previously known as the Toronto Christmas Market. The site promises cobblestone streets with twinkling lights, festive food and drinks, local artisans, carollers, Santa and his elves. It also says tickets are required at certain times, including daily from December 14 to 31, and points to its ticketing page for the full schedule. Read that page before you set out, and check the village site for each day’s plan. Our Distillery Winter Village guide covers the rest.
The City lists Cavalcade of Lights from November 28, 2026 to January 7, 2027 at Nathan Phillips Square. It says the lighting elements, select immersive installations and free public skating to music remain until January 7. The City’s calendar for the square lists December 26 as Boxing Day among its December dates, with no separate programme, so check the Cavalcade page for what is on. Our Cavalcade of Lights guide goes deeper.
The company lists The Nutcracker for December 5 to 31, 2026. It says James Kudelka’s production has enchanted Toronto audiences since 1995, and calls it a beloved holiday tradition. That is the company’s own description, and it is easy to see why families return. The performance calendar on the company’s site shows which days have shows.
The Zoo’s holiday page lists holiday hours, with Christmas Day set out separately. Check that page and the ticketing calendar for the 26th. Pair a daytime visit with a lantern evening if the calendar lines up, and check each ticket page separately.
The City says it operates more than 50 outdoor rink locations in a typical season. Its Drop-in Skating page has a map for checking whether a rink is open. A local rink is a cheerful way to spend the morning after a big family day, and the map makes it easy to find one nearby.
The City says ferries to Toronto Island run year-round from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal. From October 14 to mid-April, its winter schedule lists Ward’s Island departures. Bundle up, cross the harbour and walk the shore.
The City says residents and visitors can enjoy High Park’s wildlife, attractions, playgrounds and natural features year-round. It is a gentle, no-reservation way to burn off some of the holiday cookies.
The City says the Martin Goodman Trail is part of a larger network of over 300 km of trails. Its Unwin Avenue section, completed in 2019, filled a missing link to complete a 20+ km waterfront trail from the western to the eastern beaches. Pick a stretch and walk it with a hot drink in hand.
How do you build a Boxing Day plan?
Build a plan with a plan B, since outdoor options can shift with the weather and an indoor ending keeps everyone happy. Our favourite shape for the day is simple: something outside in the daylight, something warm in the middle, and something with lights after dark. A rink or a walk takes the morning, the ferry or the Zoo takes the afternoon, and the evening belongs to the lanterns or the village. Add the ballet on another day of the holiday week. If you are planning ahead from Christmas Day itself, our Christmas Day ideas set up the 25th, and our New Year’s Day ideas carry the plan into January.
Send this to the friend you would bring for the lanterns.
Sources (12)
- 2026 Holiday Service, Toronto Transit Commission
- Glow in the Wild, Toronto Zoo
- Your Toronto Zoo Lights Up The Night As Glow In The Wild Opens To The Public, Toronto Zoo
- The Distillery Winter Village, Distillery Winter Village
- Sponsor Cavalcade of Lights, City of Toronto
- Events Happening at Nathan Phillips Square, City of Toronto
- Drop-in Skating, City of Toronto
- The Nutcracker, The National Ballet of Canada
- Holiday at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto Zoo
- Ferry Routes & Schedules, City of Toronto
- High Park, City of Toronto
- Unwin Avenue Connection, Martin Goodman Trail, City of Toronto
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