The holiday season is on its way, and The Distillery Winter Village is preparing to transform Toronto’s historic Distillery District into a festive destination filled with twinkling lights, holiday shopping, and immersive experiences.

Running from November 12th, 2026 to January 3rd, 2027, the annual celebration returns for its 17th season with a new immersive Nutcracker experience, a chocolate waterfall, live performances, festive food, fun and plenty of holiday surprises.

Presented by the title sponsor Quince, this year’s Winter Village will also bring back its towering Christmas tree, holiday shopping cabins, and seasonal food experiences, along with a reimagined Santa’s Village and new places to gather for festive drinks.

A 55-Foot Christmas Tree Lights Up Opening Night

The season begins on Thursday, November 12th, with the Winter Village’s annual tree-lighting ceremony.

Opening-night festivities begin at 4:00 pm with performances by singer and guitarist Mo Guzman, leading up to the main-stage celebration at 6:00 pm. Santa will then lead the countdown and illuminate the 55-foot silver fir Christmas tree for the first time this season.

Following the tree lighting, JUNO Award-winning Canadian singer Holly Cole will perform selections from her Christmas album. All profits from opening-night ticket sales will support the Anishnawbe Health Foundation, Soulpepper Theatre and the Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund.

Those unable to attend can watch the ceremony live from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm on the Distillery’s YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok channels.

What’s New at the Winter Village this Year

Step Inside The Immersive Nutcracker

A Christmas classic comes to life in the Distillery’s Fermenting Cellar as The Immersive Nutcracker delivers a 360-degree holiday experience in the Distillery District. Through floor-to-ceiling digital projections, visitors can watch snow fall, encounter larger-than-life characters, and journey to the Land of Sweets.

Along the way, guests can meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and Mouse King, take festive photos, and enjoy story-inspired food, drinks, and interactive games.

Separate admission is required for the experience.

A Gingerbread-Inspired Cashmere Cabin and Holiday Giveaway

This year’s title sponsor, Quince, brings a gingerbread-inspired Cashmere Cabin to the heart of the market. Guests can shop a selection of Mongolian cashmere, holiday gifts, and accessories, and capture a festive photo at the cabin. Quince also has a special reveal planned for the Winter Village’s Christmas tree, which will be unveiled during the November 12th tree-lighting ceremony.

Discover a Chocolate Waterfall

For a taste of the tropics, Visit Costa Rica’s Río Celeste Chocolate Waterfall, which will bring flowing chocolate, tropical foliage, and festive lights to the Winter Village.

Visitors can enjoy chocolate-drizzled pineapple and banana treats, take photos, and step through an augmented-reality portal inspired by Costa Rica’s natural landscapes.

Santa’s Village

Inside the Soulpepper Theatre atrium, Santa’s Village invites guests into a holiday setting inspired by the theatre’s production of Parfumerie.

Blending vintage European department store charm with Christmas magic, the space will feature twinkling lights, holiday displays, Santa and his elves, and a vintage-inspired letter-writing station. Specialty hot chocolates and sweet treats will also be available.

New this year, Storytime with the Elves will welcome young visitors to the atrium each day for Christmas stories.

Explore Festive Food and Chef’s Lane

Food lovers will find plenty to explore across the Winter Village, from holiday classics and street food to desserts and specialty hot chocolates.

Chef’s Lane returns with four new cabins and holiday-inspired dishes created exclusively for the event by:

• Michael Angeloni – executive chef and co-owner of Toronto restaurants including Pasta Privato, Notte Ristorante and The Berczy Tavern
• Afrim Pristine – cheese master and co-owner of Toronto’s Cheese Boutique
• Taylor Wells – chef at The Carbon Bar
• Arush Vardhan Singh – co-founder of South Asian pop-up Shipra

New food vendors this year include Prince St. Pizza, St. Lawrence Market’s Carousel Bakery, Sweet Crumble, Potato Bar and Peacock Bakehouse.

Returning favourites include Stick Shift Robata’s A5 Wagyu Sando, Cluny’s torched s’mores hot chocolate, Scooped by Demetres’ Monkey Bread and Spirit of York’s Yorkie Burrito.

New Holiday Bars and Festive Drinks

The Winter Village’s outdoor bars are getting into the holiday spirit with new themes, seasonal drinks and places to gather. The new Canuck Tavern on the Archeo Patio celebrates all things Canadian, with Muskoka chairs around a fire, hockey on the big screen and photo opportunities featuring a canoe, ski chairlift and topiary moose.

At the Naughty or Nice Bar, visitors can gather beneath a canopy of 50,000 blue-and-white lights. The Cluny Tunnel will also become a Silent Night Disco, with a heated patio, mirror balls, DJ nights, and Parisian-style chocolate mousse.

For an alcohol-free option, the new Merry Matcha on Trinity Street will serve flavours including strawberry rose, lavender, ubé and vanilla.

Holiday Shopping and Photo Opportunities

Alongside the Distillery District’s year-round shops and restaurants, seasonal vendor cabins will offer gifts from local and Canadian makers, including handmade jewellery, home décor, art, ornaments and gourmet treats.

New this year, The Cooperage Marketplace will bring together seven independent, founder-operated Canadian businesses inside a historic building once used to make, store, and repair whisky barrels. Maplee Market will also showcase local brands and independent makers.

Visitors can capture festive photos throughout the village, from the Christmas tree and Santa’s sleigh to illuminated holiday displays, giant snowpeople, and a gingerbread-inspired installation by Quince.

Live Performances Throughout the Season

Toronto’s performing arts organizations will bring music, opera, musical theatre, and holiday traditions to the Winter Village throughout the season. Performances are included with admission.

Highlights include:

• November 22nd – Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, 6:00 pm. and 7:00 pm
• November 29th –  Opera Atelier, 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm
• December 4th – Canadian Opera Company, 6:00 pm
• December 13th –  A Very Merry Mirvish Concert, 7:00 pm
• December 17th – Myriad Ensemble, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
• December 24th – Kente Claus, 1:00 pm. to 6:00 pm, with live steelpan music and the Jr. Claus Academy Awards and Graduation

The McGregor Carollers will also perform daily through Christmas Eve.

Tickets and Planning Your Visit

The Distillery Winter Village runs daily from November 12th to January 3rd, except on Christmas Day, when it will be closed.

Tickets are required during peak periods, including:

• Opening night
• Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays after 4:00 pm
• Thursdays in December after 4:00 pm
• Daily after 4:00 pm from December 14th to 31st

Admission is free all day Monday to Wednesday through December 13th. Tickets start at $16, and children aged nine and under enter free without a ticket.

Whether you’re planning a family outing, a festive date night or a holiday shopping trip, the Winter Village is a must-visit holiday destination in the city

As always, keep up with what’s happening across Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area on efosa.

The Distillery Winter Village

When: November 12th to January 3rd, 2027

Where: The Distillery Historic District, 55 Mill St, Toronto

Admission: Ticketed