37 things to do in Toronto this wintery weekend: December 16 - 18
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Winter has finally arried.
It’s cold. So cold.
But it’s also almost Christmas. And it’s Friday.
Besides Netflix and chilling with a MASSIVE blanket, check out these (mostly) indoor events and holiday markets in Toronto this weekend!
Holiday Market
The outdoor market at Don Mills continues, featuring a collection of seasonal and artisan vendors, live music, food and drink, a warm-up lounge hosted by Jack Astor’s and a strolling Santa.
Where: Shops at Don Mills, 1090 Don Mills Road
When: December 16 to 18, Fridays from 3 to 9 pm, Saturdays & Sundays from 12 to 6 pm
Festive As Sh!t
An Indie Rock Holiday Celebration! Head down to Kensington Market for a night of spirited indie riffs, greasy yuletide pits, and joyus performances from Rikashay, The A-Listers, Scarlett’s Hand, & BBQ Pope!
Where: The Boat, 158 Augusta Avenue
When: December 16 at 6:30 pm
Britneyfied: the Ultimate Britney Dance Class
Sass up your weekend with a little Britney! This class is by donation, and will get you dancing to the queen of pop.
Where: DanceLife X Centre, 619 Yonge Street
When: December 16 at 7 pm
Avenue Q The Musical
From the creator of Book of Mormon, Avenue Q tells the story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college grad who moves to NYC with big dreams and a tiny bank account. The only apartment he can afford is way out on Avenue Q, where everyone’s looking for the same things he is: a decent job, a stable relationship, and a “purpose.”
Where: Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington Avenue
When: December 16 to 18
Symphony of the Sea
Featuring three 45-minute sets by the Toronto Concert Orchestra throughout the evening, hear your favourite holiday classics live! Wander through the aquarium while you sip on a drink from one of our many cash bars as you take in the underwater views – and melodies.
Where: Ripley’s Aquarium, 288 Bremner Boulevard
When: December 16 at 7 pm
Toronto Raptors vs Atlanta Hawks
The Raps are back at home. Cheer them on as they meet the Atlanta Hawks tonight!
Where: Air Canada Centre, 50 Bay Street
When: December 16 at 7:30 pm
Ugly Christmas Sweater Cocktail Cruise
This 2-hour holiday cruise through the Toronto Harbour will include food stations, a costume contest (ugliest outfit wins!), and a complimentary Bad Santa photo booth.
Where: Mariposa Cruises – Pier 6, 207 Queens Quay West
When: December 16 at 9 pm
Home Alone Quote-Along
Because what is the holiday season without a little Kevin McAllister? Clearly a fan fave, this is the third annual Hot Docs Home Alone Quote-Along. Get ready to get rowdy!
Where: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, 506 Bloor Street West
When: December 16 at 9:30 pm
Let it snow: Craft Fair
The 2nd Annual Let it Snow Craft Fair returns, bringing together talented local artisans from across Toronto.
Where: Artscape Youngplace, 180 Shaw Street
When: December 16 to 18
Borgeous
LA-based producer Borgeous is back in the 6ix, bringing his big room house sound to Uniun Nightclub. The popular touring DJ has collaborated with many other producers such as DVBBS, Dimitri Vegas, and recently tyDi. He’s also worked with Canadian Lights for his single “Zero Gravity.” Check him out tonight!
Where: Uniun Nightclub, 473 Adelaide Street West
When: December 16 at 10 pm
BeerProv
After a brief hiatus, BeerProv returns to Comedy Bar this weekend with its unique brand of beer drinking and giggle inducing comedy.
Where: Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor Street West
When: December 16 at 10:30 pm
Holiday Fair in Nathan Phillips Square
Santa will be setting up his workshop in the heart of downtown Toronto at the Nathan Phillips Square Holiday Fair. Guests are welcomed into the warmth of Santa’s home for a meet-and-greet and holiday photos, plus kids can write letters to Santa, meet an elf or two and build a stuffed toy.
Where: Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen St West
When: On now until December 23
Toronto Christmas Market
Toronto’s Christmas Market brings the spirit of the season to life! It’s the last weekend to catch the festivities. If you haven’t checked it out yet, make sure to head down soon.
Where: Distillery Historic District, 55 Mill Street
When: Now until December 22
My Makeup Brush Set
My Makeup Brush Set is having their biggest sale of the year. This is your chance to access luxurious Makeup Brush Sets, Cosmetic Palettes and Beauty Tools at prices that can’t be beat!
Where: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 255 Front Street West
When: December 17 and 18
See also
- 9 places you can go dogsledding near Toronto this winter
- 10 places to go snow tubing near Toronto
- 12 places to go snowshoeing near Toronto
- 20 great ski resorts within a day's drive of Toronto
GingerBrunch! Vegan Brunch and Cookie Decorating
Is anything better than brunch? What about brunch with your kids? What about brunch with your kids and cookie decorating? Reserve your spot this weekend for GingerBrunch, a delicious and fun morning of brunch followed by decorating gingerbread people and sugar cookies.
Where: 207 Augusta Avenue
When: December 17 at 9:30 am
The Saturday Morning All-You-Can-Eat-Cereal Cartoon Party
Remember Saturday mornings? Kids today may not realize the significance of the Saturday morning ritual, but once upon a time, we had to wait a whole week to get our cartoon fix, and when we got it, we tended to binge. In that gleefully gluttonous spirit, curator Kier-La Janisse presents a 3-hour trip down memory lane with a tribute to the eye-popping, brain-addling Saturday morning cartoons of yore, complete with a smorgasbord of delicious sugary cereals!
Where: The Royal Cinema, 608 College Street
When: December 17 at 10 am to 1 pm
Toronto Children’s Chorus A Child’s Christmas
Usher in the holidays with the angelic voices of more than 300 choristers joined by the TCC Alumni Choir. The choirs will perform seasonal favourites and the Main Choir will present a special ‘musical’ reading of Dylan Thomas’s A Child’s Christmas in Wales, with orchestral arrangements by Nancy Telfer.
Where: Royal Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe Street
When: December 17 at 2 pm
Leslieville Christmas Pop-up Market: 3rd Annual Hand Curated
Shop at the local artisan market, meet Father Christmas, participate in Leslieville’s Best Soup Competition, and taste wine and beer from the neighbourhood!
Where: Riverdale Hub, 1326 Gerrard Street East
When: December 17 to 18
Christmas Marketplace
Presented by the Toronto Etsy Street Team, Christmas time is prime time for craft shows and this is one cozy, intimate handmade show, on the LAST shopping weekend before Christmas. There will be festive music, handmade goods and vintage sellers, along with yummy treats!
Where: Church of Saint Stephen-in-the-Fields, 103 Bellevue Ave at College Street
When: December 17 from 11 am to 5 pm
Skate with Santa
Fun for the whole family this holiday season. Join Greater Toronto Skating Academy for a Skate with Santa. This event is free. Bring your friends, bring your skates and a helmet and bring your joyful spirit.
Where: Scotiabank Pond, Rink 4, 57 Carl Hall Road
When: December 17 at 11 am
Selfie with Santa and your dog
Santa is making his stop at D & C Palace to take photos and hand out treats to all the good dogs. Bring your dog and take your own personal photo with Santa. All donations for santa selfie will go to the Toronto Humane Society.
Where: D & C Palace, 1201 Dundas Street East
When: December 17 at 1 pm
The Nutcracker
Ever since its premiere in St. Petersburg in 1892, The Nutcracker has been an integral and irreplaceable part of Christmas celebrations worldwide and a work of theatrical exuberance synonymous with the unfettered joys of childhood wonderment. The National Ballet of Canada’s touching and multilayered version of the famous ballet, choreographed by James Kudelka, is a spectacular re-imagining that has been greeted with rapturous acclaim by audiences whenever it is performed.
Where: Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen Street West
When: On now until December 31
Elf: Free screening
ELF!! I LOVE HIM! Actually though, Elf is on this afternoon for free! It’s part of the Hot Docs Holiday Classics, and a way to complete your Christmas.
Where: Hot Docs Ted Rogers, 506 Bloor Street West
When: December 17 at 3:45 pm
Beyography: Formation (Charity Class)
If you couldn’t make the Britney dance class on Friday, here’s another chance to get your sass and fierceness on this weekend! Steps Dance Studio has a charity class that you won’t want to miss.
Where: Steps Dance Studio, 819 Yonge Street
When: December 17 at 4:30 pm
Stay Warm 2016
Founded in 2015 by Silverstein, Stay Warm
Where: The Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Avenue
When: December 17 and 18
One LUV Benefit Concert
The One LUV Benefit Concert will include non stop entertainment and soul, and it’s for a great cause! The event will help feed and donate gifts such as clothing and nonperishable goods to 200 homeless people from the LGBTQ community on December 23, 2016, at the 519 Community Centre in Toronto.
Where: Mod Club, 722 College Street
When: December 17 at 6 pm
The Trinity Bellwoods Flea – Local Holiday Market
Skip the lines and the crowds this holiday season and find the special gift for that special someone on your list all in one place. All your favourite handmade, local, art and vintage vendors and artisans return to bring you a diverse and truly gift-worthy selection of goods. Sure to please everyone on your list! Two days, two spectacular line-ups of vendors all for one truly local holiday market. Admission is free!
Where: Studio Bar, 824 Dundas Street West
When: December 17 and 18 from 11 am to 6 pm
DJ Skate Nights
It’s baaack! Harbourfront Centre’s DJ Skate Nights start up this weekend, and they’re sure to heat up your Saturday nights.
Where: Harbourfront Centre’s Natrel Rink, 235 Queens Quay West
When: December 17 at 8 pm
She Wants Revenge
She Wants Revenge burst into the indie rock scene back in 2004. After a brief hiatus, the band regained popularity in 2015 while appearing on the “American Horror Story” soundtrack. They began touring again, announcing their 10-Year Anniversary Tour and will be performing Debut Album front to back.
Where: The Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne Street
When: December 17 at 8 pm
One More Time With Feelings
With an intense and intoxicating intimacy, music legend (and Bad Seed) Nick Cave allows the camera to capture his artistic process in creating his latest album The Skeleton Tree in the face of personal loss. This gut-wrenchingly honest documentary was originally conceived as a one-night-only screening to launch Cave’s album, but this unique concert doc is back thanks to tremendous popular demand.
Where: Hot Docs Ted Rogers, 506 Bloor Street West
When: December 17 at 9:30 pm
Toronto Vegan Winter Market
The inaugural indoor holiday market curated especially for Toronto’s vegan community is taking over the Great Hall on Sunday and will showcase an array of vegan foods, crafts and ethical goods geared towards cruelty-free gifting.
Where: The Great Hall, 1087 Queen Street West
When: December 18 from 11 am to 7 pm
Moksha Market – The Holiday Edition
Shop local and handmade jewellery, textiles, wool/handi-work, painting, leatherwork, dog-collars, skin-care, meditation/daily intention cards, greeting cards, leggings, and more! The event is a fundraiser for New Leaf Yoga Foundation.
Where: Moksha Yoga Bloor West, 2481a Bloor Street West
When: December 18 at 2 pm
Messiah
Hallelujah! Experience Handel’s Messiah, Toronto’s must-see holiday classic, performed with matchless spirit by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Acclaimed Baroque-music specialist Nicholas McGegan conducts the Orchestra and a stellar lineup of vocalists and chorus, in five tremendous performances of the immortal oratorio.
Where: Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe Street
When: December 18 at 3 pm
Tea with Santa and Mrs. Claus
Kids are invited to join Santa and Mrs. Claus for a holiday tea party. There will be plenty of photo opportunities, a holiday scavenger hunt, dance party with Santa, and guests can decorate their own tea cup.
Where: 8611 Weston Road, Unit 28
When: December 18 to 23
Roy Woods
Brampton’s Roy Woods had a busy year touring with Drake on the Summer Sixteen tour. Signed to OVO Sound, Woods released his album Waking at Dawn earlier this year, and is now on his solo North American tour. Welcome home, Roy!
Where: Mod Club, 722 College Street
When: December 18 at 8 pm
Love Actually: free screening
Love is in the air this holiday season—a lot of love, and a lot of laughter. From the makers of Bridget Jones’s Diary and Notting Hill, comes a singularly splendid romantic comedy that’s overflowing with heartwarming romance, witty banter and Christmas cheer. Love Actually shares the stories of eight couples and all the ways their lives intertwine with a star-studded cast. This is part of Hot Docs’ holiday classics screening!
Where: Hot Docs Ted Rogers, 506 Bloor Street West
When: December 18 at 8 pm
Yeezy Taught Me – A Night of Kanye
To all those disappointed by the cancelled Kanye West “Life Of Pablo” tour stop in Toronto, the party will serve as a tribute to the music of Kanye West. In light of Kanye’s current condition, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to CAMH to support Mental Health initiatives. The event is an opportunity for fans to celebrate the music + career of Kanye West while spreading awareness about mental health and supporting those living with them every day.
Where: The Drake, 1150 Queen Street West
When: December 18 at 9 pm
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