The holiday season in Toronto is magic. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the city transforms into a wonderland filled with sparkling lights, outdoor skating rinks, wondrous window displays and seasonal performances — and the food, oh the food.
1. Is there anything more magical than watching the sunset over the horizon from 360 The Restaurant at the CN Tower? This iconic Feast On Certified spot has been re-imagined over the last few years to focus on providing a true taste of Canada — and it doesn’t disappoint! From now until Christmas Eve, they’ve got a special holiday menu going that includes a divine New Farm beet and squash tarte tatin with Ontario sheep�s milk yoghurt and concord grape gastrique.
2. The celebrated Distillery District transforms into a winter wonderland at this time of year. Inspired by the European Christkindlmarkt that originated in Germany in the 1400s, the Toronto Christmas Market is a five week-long event celebrating the sounds, sights and scents of Christmas.
3. There’s now a Holiday Fair in Nathan Phillips Square. It’s part Christmas market, part carnival, and includes a chance to sip a festive cocktail at an ice bar or nosh on an iconic ‘Beavertail’! Admission is free, runs December 1 to 23, 2017.
4. Now that there’s a Line 1 extension, it’s easier than ever to visit Black Creek Pioneer Village — home of the 100 metre beer and a family-friendly traditional Christmas Dinner on two Sundays in December. Tuck into traditional roasted turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cinnamon orange cranberry sauce and all the fixings.
5. For the most iconic holiday window displays in the city, take the subway to Queen st5ation where the flagship Hudson�s Bay store put their own twist on the holidays every year. It’s also a short walk away from Toronto�s famous Christmas Tree in Nathan Phillips Square. A definite must-stop for twinkly light lovers.
6. Not to be cliche, but no staged production is more authentically ?Christmas? than The Nutcracker. The National Ballet of Canada has been staging the beloved two-act ballet every year since 2005, and we’ve been hooked ever since. It’s a really special afternoon adventure and makes for a great date! Runs December 9 to 30, 2017.