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
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.
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!
Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights
Date: Until January 5, 2025
Get your fill of sparkle and good cheer at the Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights. It’s Canadaâs largest FREE outdoor festival!
City of Toronto: Cavalcade of Lights
Date: Until January 7, 2025
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.
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 Stratfordâs heritage downtown core and parks with luminous art and interactive light installations.
Kensington Market Winter Solstice Festival
Date: December 21, 2024
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
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.
Mountsberg Conservation Area: Winterlit
Date: December 29, 2024 â 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.
Winter Festivals â January
Design TO Festival
Date: January 24 â February 2, 2025
DesignTO is Canadaâs largest annual design festival, celebrating creative thinking and making with more than 100 exhibitions and events.
Bracebridge Fire & Ice Festival
Date: January 25, 2025
Celebrate a true Canadian winter at the Bracebridge Fire & Ice Festival, featuring snow tubing down the main street of this picturesque town.
Winterlicious Toronto
Date: January 31 â February 13, 2025
Now in its 20th year, Winterlicious Toronto food event returns for another delicious edition, featuring three-course prix fixe menus.
Taste of Burlington
Date: January 31 â February 9, 2025
Whether youâre an experienced foodie, or new on the scene, you can try a new and delicious dishes (that you didnât have to cook!) while supporting local business at the annual Taste of Burlington.
February
La Poutine Week
Date: February 1-7, 2025
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
Date: February 1-17, 2025
Hamilton Winterfest includes 70+ events across the city, including a pop culture exhibition, concerts, crafts, dance, theatre, fashion, art installations, a Family Day festival and more.
Ajax Winterfest
Date: February 17, 2025
The annual Ajax Winterfest is back for free frosty fun on Family Day, including inflatables, crafts, entertainment, free hot chocolate and sâmores.
Coming soon!
