Only a week of classes left at Centennial College before we break! How are you going to be spending your time off? There’s nothing wrong with staying in and keeping cozy, but if you’re up for some (very short-distance) travelling, it’s a perfect time to check out what Toronto has to offer, especially if you’re new to the city. There’s a lot to do in and around the area, so here’s a look at what you can be doing in Toronto this holiday break.
Some Extra-Tasty Shopping
Experiencing a culture’s food is a good way to get to know that culture, making these markets an excellent way to experience a taste of Toronto. One of them is the Kensington Market, an artsy, historic Toronto location. There’s also the St. Lawrence Market, home to hundreds of food stalls, including a famous Peameal Bacon sandwich. National Geographic has ranked the St. Lawrence Market among the world's best food markets anywhere!
Another, winter-specific site is the Distillery Winter Village, where you can peruse Toronto’s best craftspeople, shops, and restaurants. It’s also a perfect place to pick up fancy gifts for your friends and family, food or otherwise. And there’s something else you can check out while you’re there: The Illuminarium. It’s an immersive, surreal indoor exhibit that uses light projections to transport you to someplace different It’s hard to explain here, have a look at the link.
Big, Bright Trees
Remember the skating at Nathan Phillips Square? There’s more than that happening in the square over the holidays. It’s also the home of the Cavalcade of Lights, the nightly lighting of Toronto’s 15-foot tree, giving you something impressive to check out while you try not to slip on the ice. And a short distance away, there’s also a daily Tree Light and Snow Show over at the Eaton Centre, if you’d rather stay indoors.
Landmarks of Toronto
Now that you have some time off, you can actually visit some of Toronto’s best landmarks. Obviously, you can visit the CN tower, a place everyone who visits Toronto should experience at least once. It’s one of the tallest structures in the world, and offers the best view of the city. If you want to learn something, you can go to the Royal Ontario Museum (the largest museum in Canada), or the Hockey Hall of Fame, or the Art Gallery of Ontario, which is free to students if you’re under 25! And if you just want to look at cool undersea creatures, there’s Ripley’s Aquarium, full of fascinating marine life.
Big Events
In terms of other downtown events, there’s also the Holiday Fair in the Square, located at Mel Lastman Square, in North Toronto. Happening until December 23rd, and with free admission, it’s a winter market, combined with a carnival (with rides), performances, and more skating. And it’s all for a good cause, with a portion of the proceeds going to Epilepsy Toronto.
Next up, Casa Loma, (aka that place where Michael Cera fought Chris Evans in Scott Pilgrim Vs The World.) Not only is Casa Loma real, but they’re having two holiday events this year. First, there’s Christmas at the Castle, where the whole gorgeous structure gets decked out in holiday décor, with a 40-foot-tall tree, and eight other special trees by Canadian designers. There’s also lights, mascots, and before the 25th, Santa, if you’re bringing kids. It runs until January 4th, and is a good excuse to visit this Toronto landmark. Meanwhile, there’s also the Holiday Lights tour, happening every night until January 4th, a self-guided walk through the castle’s gardens and tunnels, which are covered in light displays.
Canada’s Wonderland, a well-known amusement park just outside Toronto, has a selection of winter events that run until January 4th, known as Winterfest. Attractions include skating on Snow Flake Lake, 50-foot Christmas trees, as well as a selection of live shows and events, plus, there’s the usual rides that they have all year ‘round (note that there is an admission fee).
Music and Dancing
Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker is a timeless ballet tradition around this time of year, and Toronto International Ballet Theatre will be staging it at the Meridian Hall on December 21st and 22nd. And if you can’t make it to that one, the National Ballet of Canada’s take on it will be having multiple shows, up until December 31st. And if you want something a bit less classical, and a bit more modern, Cirque Du Soleil is putting on a special holiday show, called ‘Twas the Night Before, from December 12 to January 3rd.
Just into the music part of things? Handel’s classical Christmas oratorio, Messiah, (you’ve definitely heard the “Hallelujah” bit from it before) will be playing at the Roy Thompson Hall from December 17th to 22nd.
The thrill of sports
If you’re in Toronto, then you absolutely have to try cheering for our local hockey team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. There’s multiple games happening at the Scotiabank Arena, from now, until January 29th, and you can check out the schedule here. Meanwhile, if you want something more small-scale (and free,) then you can check out Centennial College’s COLTS sports teams, who are playing lots of different games both this month, and in the new year.
Be sure to take a break!
I guarantee there’s more going on in Toronto then I’ll have space to ever talk about. But, one last thing: While it’s fun to explore the city, be sure to take the time to relax and decompress now that the semester is over. You’ve earned the time off, so make sure you rest and recharge before the next semester gets started. Just remember that a good trip out in the crisp winter air could also do you good.
By: Anthony Geremia