It may be sunny and warm outside, but the holiday season has already begun in Toronto — including the upcoming opening of the city’s most iconic winter event. The Distillery Winter Village is opening to the public next week, and it all kicks off with a party centred around the famous over 16-metre-tall Christmas tree.
The 2026 tree lighting ceremony takes place on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. All Distillery District shops will be open starting 10 a.m. that day, but beginning at 4 p.m., the Winter Village outdoor shopping and food vendors will be open as well. And the first holiday song of the season is scheduled for 6:15 p.m.
There are plenty of new events taking place at the Winter Village this year alongside the regular cabins. There will be a new immersive Nutcracker experience taking over the Fermenting Cellar this year — Tcahikovsky’s 1892 Christmas tales will be projected across 360-degree floor-to-ceiling digital scapes. Visitors can get up close to the Nutcracker himself, the Sugar Plum Fairy, the terrifying Mouse King and more, and there will be photo moments and themed food and drink. Expect a 15-foot-tall Christmas tree, Santa letter writing station, red throne and a massive 10-foot-tall Mouse King and Nutcracker sword duel. A separate admission ticket is required ($19.99 for adults and $14.99 for children).
There will also be a gingerbread inspired cabin where visitors can shop Mongolian cashmere from Quince and take photos with the gingerbread family.
And don’t miss The Canuck Tavern, a themed outdoor bar on the Archeo Patio that’s all about Canada. Expect Muskoka chairs, wood-burning fires, hockey on the big screen and photo ops including a wilderness canoe, ski chair lift and hockey penalty box.
Take a stroll through the Cluny Tunnel for a Silent Night Disco experience. Mirror balls, starburst lighting and giant disco ball-covered snow people transform the space into a glittering winter wonderland that’s all set for DJ nights on the heated patio — and of course, your choice of Parisian-style mousse au chocolat, available in cherry, espresso ro Belgian chocolate.
For another taste of chocolate, stop by Costa Rica’s Chocolate Waterfall. The flowing waterfall is framed by tropical plants and flowers, wildlife decor and festive lights, and you’ll get to taste chocolate-drizzled pineapple and banana treats. There’s also an augmented reality portal so you can step out of the Toronto winter (virtually) for a moment and soak in a bit of Costa Rican sun.
After 2025’s success, Chef’s Lane is making a return — this time with four new cabins and four acclaimed chefs. Michael Angeloni, Afrim Pristine, Taylor Wells and Arush Vardhan Singh will all be creating their own holiday-inspired dishes exclusively for the Winter Village.
There’s plenty more food to enjoy during your visit to the Distillery, including more than 50 food vendors and outdoor bars. This year, Prince St. Pizza, Carousel Bakery, Sweet Crumble, Potato Bar and Peacock Bakehouse are joining the usual lineup, including Stick Shift Robata’s A5 Wagyu Sando, Cluny’s torched s’mores hot chocolate, Scooped by Demetres’ Monkey Bread, Swiss Racette, WuBaEats bao buns and Spirit of York’s Yorkie Burrito.
Santa’s Village at Soulpepper Theatre (complete with sparkling lights, mistletoe and festive department store displays) will be making a return, as well as plenty of holiday shopping vendor cabins and carollers strolling throughout the village.
Admission to the tree lighting ceremony and to the Distillery Winter Village generally from Thursdays to Sundays after 4 p.m. costs $16; otherwise, there will be free entry before 4 p.m. from Thursdays to Sundays and all day on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.