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 (YPT): “Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”
Date: Until December 30, 2024
Get your golden ticket to see the Young People’s Theatre (YPT) production of “Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” — there’s no sweeter way to spend the holidays! Based on the classic children’s book, this family favourite comes to life on stage with whimsy, charm and catchy tunes.
TO Live: “‘Twas the Night Before…” by Cirque du Soleil
Date: Until January 4, 2025
Celebrate the holidays with TO Live as they present “‘Twas the Night Before…” by Cirque du Soleil, based on the classic poem “A Visit from Saint Nicolas” by Clement Clarke Moore. This show marks the first-ever holiday show by Cirque du Soleil, celebrated for their jaw-dropping visuals and acrobatic prowess.
Holiday Nights of Lights
Date: Until January 4, 2025
This holiday season, create long-lasting memories with the whole family at Holiday Nights of Lights Reimagined, at its new location at Upper Canada Mall in Newmarket! Plus, Family Fun Toronto readers get a festive treat with 15% off tickets using the promo code FAMFUN.
Canadian Stage: “The Wizard of Oz: The Toto-ly Awesome Family Musical”
Date: Until January 5, 2025
Families can share a night of larger-than-life theatrical fun together as Canadian Stage presents the holiday pantomime extravaganza, “The Wizard of Oz: The Toto-ly Awesome Family Musical”! Book a Family Pack of at least two Regular and two Child tickets and save up to $90 on tickets with the FAMILYFUN promo code.
Holiday School Break Events
Aga Khan Museum: Light Up the Dark
Date: December 27-29, 2024
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.
Bata Shoe Museum: Winter Break at the BSM
Date: December 27, 2024 – January 4, 2025
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.
The Panto Players: “The Little Purrr-maid”
Date: December 27, 2024 – January 5, 2025
The Panto Players presents “The Little Purrr-maid”, a Pantomime play including songs, dancing and audience interaction at the Red Sandcastle Theatre in Leslieville.
Casa Loma: Christmas at the Castle and Holiday Lights Tour
Date: Until January 4, 2025
This festive season, families can feel the joy of the holidays at Casa Loma as their two special Christmas events return for another year of cheer with Christmas at the Castle and the Holiday Lights Tour.
Royal Ontario Museum: ROM for the Holidays
Date: December 26, 2024 — January 5, 2025
The Royal Ontario Museum returns with their ROM for the Holidays program, filled with family-friendly programming and hands-on activities.
Indigo Kids: Free In-Store Events
Date: January 2-5, 2025
Kick off the new year with storytime activities, crafts, scavenger hunts and board games!
Holiday School Break Events — Continuing Events in Toronto
stackt market Holiday Hills
Date: Until December 31, 2024
The stackt market downtown outdoor market hosts the free Holiday Hills festival, with a 120-foot Tunnel of Lights with stunning city views, vendor markets, Family Funday Sundays, and more.
Bloor-Yorkville Holiday Magic
Date: Until December 31, 2024
This free festival casts a glow on the famous upscale shopping and entertainment area this festive season with lights and music.
The Distillery Winter Village
Date: Until January 5, 2025
Embrace the holiday spirit of a traditional outdoor Christmas market at The Distillery Winter Village, where you can stroll the cobblestone streets of under canopies of Christmas lights, take photos by the huge Christmas tree in Trinity Square and much more.
Street Eats Market & Harbourfront Centre: Winterfest Toronto
Date: Until January 5, 2025
Street Eats Market and Harbourfront Centre have joined together to host Winterfest Toronto, a new holiday experience featuring twinkling lights, an indoor/outdoor artisan market, Winter Express train rides, marshmallow fire pits, food stalls, free ice skating and more.
Illuminarium at The Distillery District: Journey to Oz, Lite Brite Worlds of Wonder and SPACE: A Journey to the Moon and Beyond
Date: Tickets currently on sale until January 5, 2025
Illuminarium at The Distillery District transports guests with state-of-the-art interactive technology with three shows: the new Journey to Oz, plus Lite Brite Worlds of Wonder and SPACE: A Journey to the Moon and Beyond.
Toronto History Museums: Illumination
Date: Until January 5, 2025
Toronto History Museums hosts events around Toronto with their illuminating Lots of Light programs throughout the festive season.
The Junction BIA: Window Wonderland
Date: Until January 31, 2024
Window Wonderland transforms the Dundas Street West neighbourhood, The Junction, into an interactive, engaging and magical outdoor gallery.
YZD: Hangar Skate
Date: December 20, 2024 — February 17, 2025
Hangar Skate returns to YZD, with a free pop-up skating rink at the vibrant 370-acre neighbourhood at the former Downsview Airport lands, featuring complimentary indoor arts programming, Friday DJ Skate Nights, affordable skate rentals, free lessons, and more.
Ontario Science Centre: KidSpark at Harbourfront Centre
Date: Until May 4, 2025
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.
Holiday School Break Events — Continuing Holiday Events in the GTA
Canada’s Wonderland WinterFest
Date: Until January 4, 2025
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.
Gift of Lights & Jingle Bell Rock at Bingemans
Date: Until January 4, 2025
Head to Kitchener for Gift of Lights & Jingle Bell Rock at Bingemans, a family-friendly event with spectacular lighting displays.
Angus Glen Golf Club: Angus Glen Winter Events and Fairway of Lights
Date: Until January 4, 2025
Angus Glen Golf Club hosts the Winter At Angus series of holiday events, including dining options and Fairway of Lights, their annual walking light show on the elaborately decorated golf course.
Burlington Festival of Lights
Date: Until January 8, 2025
Drive or walk along the waterfront in Burlington for the annual Festival of Lights for a great free outing for the family this year.
Holiday School Break Events — Ongoing Winter Events in Toronto and the GTA
Safari Niagara: Safari Lights
Date: Until December 30, 2024 (Except December 24-25)
The Safari Lights drive-thru adventure at Safari Niagara has immersive light tunnels, motion lights, and whimsical animal light displays.
Uxbridge Optimist Fantasy of Lights
Date: Until January 4, 2025
More brilliant than ever, the annual Uxbridge Optimist Fantasy of Lights event features light displays every evening, even on Christmas Day!
Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) Winter Wonders
Date: Until January 5, 2025 (Except December 24-26, December 31 & January 1)
Discover the magic of nature and light at the newest experience from the Royal Botanical Gardens with festive light displays dotting a 1.5km pathway through the park.
illumi by Cavalia
Date: Tickets currently on sale until January 5, 2025
illumi by Cavalia is a magical nocturnal outdoor journey that ignites the night with thousands of structures and the Tree of Lights.
Arcadia Earth Toronto
Date: Ongoing, Tickets currently on sale until January 5, 2025
Arcadia Earth Toronto is an immersive adventure that takes visitors on a voyage, combining creative art installations and exciting technology.
Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights
Date: Until January 7, 2025
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!
Cavalcade of Lights
Date: Until January 7, 2025
The free Cavalcade of Lights festival continues into the new year, transforming City Hall and its surroundings into a dazzling wonderland every night during the the holiday season.
Halton Hills: Light up the Hills Winter Festival
Date: Until January 12, 2025
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.
Lights on Stratford Winter Festival of Lights
Date: Until January 19, 2025
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.
Toronto Union Station: TD Union Winter
Date: Until February 2, 2025
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.
The Bentway Skate Trail
Date: Until February 17, 2025 (weather dependent)
Embrace winter at the Bentway with its Skate Trail, including the popular Polar Bear Skate event taking place at 1:00pm on New Year’s Eve.
Mountsberg Conservation Area: Winterlit
Date: December 29, 2024 — February 17, 2025
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.
Family Fun Toronto Guides
Guide to the Best Family-Friendly New Years Events and Activities in Toronto and the GTA
Raise your glass and check out our Guide to the Best Family-Friendly New Years Events and Activities in Toronto and the GTA!
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 Skating Events in Toronto
Why not get the most out of skating season by having a party, right? Join the fun with our Guide to the Best Skating Events in Toronto!
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.
Guide to the Best Spots to go Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding in Toronto and the GTA
Looking to hit the slopes with the family? Check out Family Fun Toronto’s Guide to the Best Spots to go Downhill Skiing in Toronto and the GTA!
Guide to 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 Skating at an Ontario Provincial Park
Have you ever skated through the wilds of Ontario? You can with our Guide to the Best Spots to Go Skating at an Ontario Provincial Park.
Get lots more ideas for family-friendly activities and events on our calendar here!
