Long before LED lights and Instagram shots, Christmas markets were places for neighbours to gather—steaming mugs in hand, carols in the air and crafts laid out on wooden stalls. Originating in Germany in 1434, these open-air fairs brought warmth to cold winters. Canada soon embraced that same spirit, turning snowy evenings into celebrations that felt both old-world and wonderfully local. Today, cities from Montreal to Vancouver—with stops in Quebec City, Edmonton, Banff and Toronto—keep the tradition glowing with their own festive markets.

Tonight, the Distillery Winter Village in Toronto springs to life. At 6:00 PM, the switch will be flipped on a towering Christmas tree in an opening ceremony that draws thousands and signals the official opening of the market. Inside Santa's Village, kids can meet Santa, enjoy keepsake photos and sip hot chocolate while elves roam the walkways. Across the village, visitors can browse over 85 seasonal and permanent vendor cabins for unique crafts and gifts, taste seasonal treats like raclette, s'mores hot chocolate or festive cocktails, catch live performances by the McGregor Carollers and snap holiday photos against candy cane wreaths, sleighs or the Countdown to Christmas clock.