Christmas Events for Kids in Toronto: A Dated List

Cold cheeks, mittens on strings, and a small person who has just spotted Santa: that is the whole mood of Toronto in December.

Here are nine holiday outings for kids, listed by date so you can plan the season like a calendar. Our advice, as opinion: choose two you will really do rather than all nine you might, and pack the snacks before you check the map. Every date comes from the organiser’s own 2026 page. We looked for Casa Loma and Harbourfront Centre too, and will add them once their 2026 holiday dates are posted. For the wider season, see our Christmas in Toronto guide.

What are the best Christmas events for kids in Toronto this year?

Nine are confirmed, and they start in September and run into January. Here they are in date order.

1

Glow in the Wild, Toronto Zoo

ScarboroughOfficial site Share

The Toronto Zoo’s illuminated-lantern experience runs select evenings from September 3, 2026 through January 3, 2027. Guests explore an approximately 1.5-kilometre route at their own pace. It is separately ticketed and does not include access to animals. We like it for children who stay up past bedtime happily. Our Glow in the Wild guide has more.

2

Distillery Winter Village

DowntownOfficial site Share

The 2026 Distillery Winter Village runs from November 12, 2026 to January 3, 2027 at 55 Mill Street. Kids aged 9 and under are always free to enter and do not need a ticket. The village says Santa’s schedule will be announced later in October, so watch its page.

3

The Toronto Santa Claus Parade

DowntownOfficial site Share

The parade is on Sunday, November 22. You can watch live on Citytv, Citytv+ or on the route. Check the parade’s site for the route map before you pick a viewing spot.

4

Finding Nemo, Young People's Theatre

DowntownOfficial site Share

Young People’s Theatre presents Disney and Pixar’s Finding Nemo from November 26 to December 27. It is on the Ada Slaight Stage, recommended for ages 6 and up, and runs about 60 minutes. The theatre calls it an enchanting family adventure.

5

Winter Market, Evergreen Brick Works

DowntownOfficial site Share

Evergreen’s Winter Market is on Sundays, from November 29 to December 20, at 550 Bayview Ave. Entry is pay-what-you-can, and the Art Hive is a free community art studio. A gentle option for kids who like to make things.

6

Elf in Concert, Toronto Symphony Orchestra

DowntownOfficial site Share

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra plays Elf in Concert at Roy Thomson Hall from December 3 to December 6. If your family already knows the story, the orchestra is a fresh way to hear it.

7

The Nutcracker, The National Ballet of Canada

DowntownOfficial site Share

The Nutcracker runs December 5 to 31 at the Four Seasons Centre, 145 Queen Street West. James Kudelka’s version has enchanted Toronto audiences since 1995, and the stage includes Mice, Lambs and a rollerblading Bear. Our Nutcracker guide goes deeper.

8

Festive Nights, The Village at Black Creek

North YorkOfficial site Share

Festive Nights is on December 12 and 19 at 1000 Murray Ross Parkway. Visitors stop at Santa’s Cottage, wander through lantern-lit buildings, sample seasonal treats, and enjoy live music and storytelling. The event page has a button to get tickets.

9

Songs of the Season: Peace & Joy, Toronto Children's Chorus

DowntownOfficial site Share

The Toronto Children’s Chorus performs Songs of the Season: Peace & Joy on December 13 at Roy Thomson Hall. Kids watching kids sing is a good way to start a love of choral music, in our opinion.

Which Christmas events for kids are free?

Fewer than you might hope, but there are two good starting points. Kids aged 9 and under are free at the Distillery Winter Village. Evergreen’s Sunday market is pay-what-you-can, and its Art Hive studio is free. For a longer free list, head to our free holiday events roundup.

Which ones are ticketed?

Glow in the Wild is separately ticketed. Festive Nights has a get-tickets button on its event page. For everything else on the list, open the organiser’s page for ticket details before you plan the day.

Which Christmas events suit which ages?

Match the outing to the child. Finding Nemo is recommended for ages 6 and up, so it suits school-age kids. The Nutcracker, with its Mice, Lambs and rollerblading Bear, is a gentle way to introduce ballet. Younger children tend to do best with something they can wander through at their own speed, such as the zoo’s lantern route or the Sunday market at Evergreen. Those are our suggestions, not rules: you know your own crew, and a nap schedule is a powerful thing.

What should I bring?

Layers, snacks and a plan for the walk back to the car. Some of these outings involve a good walk, such as the zoo’s approximately 1.5-kilometre route. A thermos, spare mittens and a small flashlight for the youngest travellers will earn you hero status. Check each organiser’s page for what is allowed through the gate.

How should I plan the season?

Pick a rhythm. One daytime outing, such as the parade or the Sunday market, and one evening outing, such as the lantern experience or a lit-up village. Then add one show if energy allows, perhaps Finding Nemo at the theatre, which runs from November 26 to December 27. Spread the fun out across the calendar, and keep a backup date or two in mind in case someone wakes up sniffly. A flexible plan beats a perfect one every time, especially with small travellers. Keep one free option in your back pocket, such as the Art Hive at Evergreen on a Sunday. Check each organiser’s page the week before you go, because programming can be added late; the Winter Village, for example, says its Santa schedule is still to come.

Send this to the friend you would bring, and pick your first date before the calendar fills up.