Get ready, Mississauga! Our holiday guide is packed with events and activities to make your season bright. For those who know Mississauga's every corner and those just beginning to explore, our guide reveals hidden holiday gems.
One of the most cherished events is the Toronto Christmas Market, where you can experience festive stalls, twinkling lights, and seasonal treats. The Holiday Magic at Blue Mountain offers a winter wonderland with stunning light displays and activities perfect for family fun. And The National Ballet of Canada’s The Nutcracker is something you definitely don't want to miss, bringing the classic holiday story to life. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
Please contact us if you have suggestions or corrections!
Got questions? Like to help? Check out our Mississauga Holiday discussion here!
The Top Christmas Events in Mississauga
- Mississauga Festival of Trees
- Mississauga Santa Claus Parade
- Gingerbread Lane Holiday Market
- Breakfast with Santa at the Franklin House
- Mississauga Christmas Light Show
Mississauga Holiday Light Displays
Mississauga Festival of Trees
What to Expect:
Community-driven tree decorating competition
Description:
The Mississauga Festival of Trees brings together local businesses, schools, and community groups in a friendly tree-decorating competition. Each participant creates a unique tree that reflects their organization's identity or a chosen theme. Visitors can vote for their favorite trees, with proceeds benefiting local charities. The festival showcases Mississauga's community spirit and cultural diversity through the variety of tree designs. This event, which began as a small community initiative, has grown to become a beloved holiday tradition in Mississauga.
Website:
Mississauga Christmas Light Show
What to Expect:
Drive-through light display in a suburban setting
Description:
The Mississauga Christmas Light Show transforms a local neighborhood into a twinkling wonderland. Visitors drive through streets lined with synchronized light displays, each home competing to outdo the others. The show's centerpiece is a towering Christmas tree made entirely of lights, visible from blocks away. You can tune your car radio to a special frequency to hear holiday music synchronized with the light displays. This grassroots event, organized by local residents, has become a beloved Mississauga tradition, drawing visitors from across the Greater Toronto Area.
Website:
Mississauga Christmas Light Show
Mississauga Holiday Markets and Shopping
Gingerbread Lane Holiday Market
What to Expect:
Gingerbread-themed holiday market
Description:
Gingerbread Lane Holiday Market in Mississauga immerses visitors in a world inspired by the classic holiday treat. Local bakers showcase intricate gingerbread houses, competing for the title of best design. The air is filled with the warm, spicy scent of freshly baked gingerbread. You can participate in gingerbread decorating workshops, learning techniques from expert bakers. This unique market celebrates the multicultural nature of Mississauga, featuring gingerbread-inspired treats from various culinary traditions.
Website:
Gingerbread Lane Holiday Market
Mississauga Other Holiday Activities
Mississauga Santa Claus Parade
What to Expect:
Community-focused parade with strong local participation
Description:
Mississauga's Santa Claus Parade showcases the city's community spirit with floats created by local organizations and businesses. The parade route winds through the city's downtown core, passing by significant landmarks. Spectators can enjoy performances by local dance troupes and marching bands, celebrating Mississauga's diverse cultural heritage. The event highlights the city's rapid growth from a collection of villages to a major urban center. This parade, which began in the 1970s, has evolved alongside Mississauga, reflecting the city's changing demographics and community values.
Website:
Mississauga Santa Claus Parade
Breakfast with Santa at the Franklin House
What to Expect:
Historic setting for a traditional holiday breakfast
Description:
Breakfast with Santa at the Franklin House offers a journey back in time to Victorian-era holiday celebrations. The event takes place in a meticulously restored 19th-century inn, providing an authentic historical backdrop. Visitors can savor a traditional English breakfast while chatting with Santa Claus. The Franklin House, built in 1855, played a significant role in Mississauga's early development as a stagecoach stop. This intimate gathering allows guests to experience the warmth and hospitality of a bygone era.
Website:
Breakfast with Santa at the Franklin House
Nearby Events
Toronto Christmas Market (Toronto)
What to Expect:
European-inspired outdoor market with handcrafted goods
Description:
Toronto's Distillery District transforms into a bustling European-inspired Christmas market. Artisans showcase handcrafted goods in charming wooden stalls, while the aroma of mulled wine fills the air. You can join a guided tour to learn about the area's 19th-century industrial heritage. The market pays homage to Toronto's multicultural roots, featuring traditions from various European countries. Visitors stroll cobblestone streets, admiring the district's Victorian-era architecture illuminated by thousands of twinkling lights.
Website:
Holiday Magic at Blue Mountain (Blue Mountain)
What to Expect:
Winter activities in a picturesque mountain setting
Description:
Blue Mountain Resort buzzes with holiday cheer against a backdrop of snow-capped peaks. Thrill-seekers can zoom down illuminated tubing runs under starry skies. The resort's Scandinavian-inspired village hosts pop-up markets selling local crafts and delicacies. Blue Mountain's history as a ski destination dates back to the 1940s, and today it continues to draw winter sports enthusiasts from across Ontario. Visitors can warm up by outdoor fire pits, sipping hot cocoa and sharing stories of their mountain adventures.
Website:
Holiday Magic at Blue Mountain
The National Ballet of Canada’s The Nutcracker (Toronto)
What to Expect:
Uniquely Canadian interpretation of the classic ballet
Description:
The National Ballet of Canada presents a distinctly Canadian version of The Nutcracker. Set in 19th-century Toronto, this production incorporates local historical elements, including a battle on Parliament Hill. Lavish costumes and intricate set designs transport audiences to a bygone era. The thunderous applause echoes through the Four Seasons Centre as world-class dancers bring Tchaikovsky's iconic score to life. This beloved holiday tradition has been captivating Toronto audiences since 1995, blending classical ballet with Canadian cultural touchstones.
Website:
The National Ballet of Canada’s The Nutcracker
Winterfest at Canada’s Wonderland (Vaughan)
What to Expect:
Amusement park transformed into a winter playground
Description:
Canada's Wonderland sheds its summer persona, embracing the chill of winter with gusto. Towering roller coasters stand sentinel over a landscape dotted with ice sculptures and festive decorations. Visitors can glide across one of the largest outdoor ice rinks in the Greater Toronto Area. The park's transformation pays tribute to Canada's love affair with winter sports and activities. Thrill-seekers brave winterized versions of popular rides, experiencing familiar attractions in an entirely new light.
Website:
Winterfest at Canada’s Wonderland
Casa Loma’s Christmas at the Castle (Toronto)
What to Expect:
Holiday celebrations in a historic Gothic Revival castle
Description:
Casa Loma, Toronto's majestic castle, dons its holiday finery. Each room of this early 20th-century mansion showcases a different theme, from traditional Victorian decor to modern interpretations of Christmas. The castle's Great Hall hosts a towering Christmas tree, adorned with thousands of ornaments. Visitors can explore secret passages and towers, imagining the grand holiday parties of Toronto's elite from a century ago. The castle's transformation honors the vision of its original owner, Sir Henry Pellatt, who loved to entertain on a grand scale.
Website:
Casa Loma’s Christmas at the Castle
Aurora Winter Festival (Toronto)
What to Expect:
Immersive light installations and winter activities
Description:
The Aurora Winter Festival illuminates Toronto's Ontario Place with a dazzling array of light installations. Visitors wander through themed worlds, each offering a unique sensory experience. The festival's centerpiece, a massive light tunnel, creates an otherworldly atmosphere. You can try your hand at axe-throwing or escape rooms with winter twists. This modern take on winter celebrations draws inspiration from diverse global traditions, creating a multicultural winter experience that reflects Toronto's diversity.
Website:
Jingle Balls: A Christmas Drag Show (Toronto)
What to Expect:
Drag performers' unique take on holiday classics
Description:
Jingle Balls shatters traditional notions of holiday entertainment with its irreverent and fabulous drag performances. Toronto's top drag artists reimagine classic Christmas songs and stories with a healthy dose of glitter and sass. The show's raucous laughter and thunderous applause create an electric atmosphere. Audience members can participate in holiday-themed costume contests, showcasing their most outrageous festive attire. This event celebrates Toronto's vibrant LGBTQ+ community and its contributions to the city's cultural landscape.
Website:
Jingle Balls: A Christmas Drag Show
Christmas Trees - Toronto Botanical Garden (Toronto)
What to Expect:
Unique tree displays showcasing horticultural artistry
Description:
The Toronto Botanical Garden transforms into a forest of creatively decorated Christmas trees. Each tree is a work of art, showcasing different themes and horticultural techniques. Visitors can vote for their favorite tree, participating in a friendly competition among local designers and organizations. The event highlights the garden's commitment to environmental education, featuring trees decorated with sustainable and natural materials. This unique display blends holiday traditions with botanical expertise, creating a truly one-of-a-kind experience.
Website:
Christmas Trees - Toronto Botanical Garden
Toronto Symphony’s Christmas Pops (Toronto)
What to Expect:
Classical interpretations of holiday favorites
Description:
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra infuses holiday classics with symphonic grandeur. World-class musicians breathe new life into familiar tunes, their instruments weaving a tapestry of sound that fills Roy Thomson Hall. The concert features surprise guest appearances by local artists, adding a uniquely Toronto flavor to the performance. You can join in a festive sing-along, your voice harmonizing with the orchestra. This annual tradition dates back to 1968, evolving over the decades to reflect changing musical tastes while maintaining its classical core.
Website:
Toronto Symphony’s Christmas Pops
The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train (Various Stops)
What to Expect:
Moving holiday celebration that travels across Canada
Description:
The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train chugs across the country, spreading cheer and collecting donations for local food banks. This rolling festival of lights features a boxcar transformed into a traveling stage for live musical performances. As the train pulls into each station, it illuminates the night sky with thousands of LED lights. Spectators can enjoy free concerts by Canadian musicians at each stop. This unique event, which began in 1999, celebrates Canada's railway heritage while addressing food insecurity in communities along its route.
Website:
The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train
Toronto Zoo's Holiday Marketplace (Toronto)
What to Expect:
Holiday shopping experience with a conservation focus
Description:
The Toronto Zoo's Holiday Marketplace combines festive shopping with wildlife conservation awareness. Local artisans sell eco-friendly gifts and handmade crafts inspired by the zoo's animals. Visitors can watch animal-themed ice carving demonstrations, marveling at the sculptors' skill. The event highlights the zoo's conservation efforts, with proceeds supporting endangered species protection programs. This unique marketplace, set against the backdrop of the zoo's winter landscape, offers a shopping experience that goes beyond mere consumerism.
Website:
Toronto Zoo's Holiday Marketplace
DJ Skate Nights (Toronto)
What to Expect:
Outdoor ice skating with live DJ performances
Description:
DJ Skate Nights at Toronto's Harbourfront Centre blend ice skating with pulsating music. Live DJs spin an eclectic mix of tunes, from holiday classics to contemporary hits, as skaters glide across the ice. The city skyline provides a stunning backdrop to this uniquely urban winter experience. You can warm up between skating sessions with hot beverages from local vendors. This event, which began in 2011, has become a beloved winter tradition, attracting both seasoned skaters and newcomers to the ice.
Website:
Nathan Phillips Square Holiday Fair (Toronto)
What to Expect:
Open-air holiday market in the heart of Toronto
Description:
Nathan Phillips Square, the civic heart of Toronto, transforms into a bustling holiday fair. Local artisans and food vendors set up shop around the iconic Toronto sign, offering a diverse array of gifts and treats. The square's reflecting pool becomes a popular ice rink, filled with skaters of all ages. Visitors can warm up in cozy inflatable domes, each offering a unique holiday-themed experience. This fair, set against the backdrop of City Hall, celebrates Toronto's community spirit and cultural diversity.
Website:
Nathan Phillips Square Holiday Fair
The Santa Claus Parade (Toronto)
What to Expect:
One of the world's largest and oldest Santa Claus parades
Description:
Toronto's Santa Claus Parade, a beloved tradition since 1905, winds through the city's downtown core. Elaborate floats, marching bands, and costumed performers create a moving spectacle of holiday cheer. The parade's route passes by many of Toronto's iconic landmarks, offering a unique perspective on the city. Spectators can spot "Celebrity Clowns" - local notables who don colorful costumes to entertain the crowds. This historic event has evolved over the decades, reflecting changes in Toronto's cultural landscape while maintaining its core spirit of community celebration.
Website:
Holiday Magic - Bloor-Yorkville (Toronto)
What to Expect:
Upscale holiday celebrations in Toronto's luxury shopping district
Description:
Bloor-Yorkville, Toronto's high-end shopping district, dons its holiday best with sophisticated decorations and light displays. The neighborhood's Victorian-era architecture provides a charming backdrop for seasonal celebrations. Visitors can embark on a self-guided tour of window displays, each showcasing the creativity of local designers. The area's commitment to public art shines through in holiday-themed installations scattered throughout the district. This elegant take on holiday festivities reflects Bloor-Yorkville's status as a hub of fashion and culture in Toronto.
Website:
Holiday Magic - Bloor-Yorkville
Polar Winter Festival (Toronto)
What to Expect:
Immersive winter-themed amusement park
Description:
The Polar Winter Festival transforms a corner of Toronto into a winter-themed amusement park. Visitors can zoom down massive tube slides, their laughter echoing across the festival grounds. The event features a unique "Polar Maze," challenging guests to navigate through a labyrinth of ice and snow. You can warm up in themed igloos, each offering a different holiday experience. This festival draws inspiration from Canada's northern territories, bringing a taste of Arctic adventure to the heart of Toronto.
Website:
Toronto Christmas Pet Expo (Toronto)
What to Expect:
Holiday-themed event for pet owners and animal lovers
Description:
The Toronto Christmas Pet Expo combines holiday cheer with a celebration of our furry, feathered, and scaly friends. Pet owners can shop for unique holiday-themed pet products from local vendors. The expo features pet costume contests, with animals donning their most festive attire. Visitors can learn about responsible pet ownership and local animal rescue organizations. This event reflects Toronto's status as a pet-friendly city, with many residents considering their animals as integral parts of their holiday celebrations.
Website:
Bronte Village Annual Tree Lighting (Oakville)
What to Expect:
Small-town charm in a historic lakeside setting
Description:
Bronte Village's Annual Tree Lighting ceremony captures the essence of small-town holiday celebrations. The event takes place in the historic harbor area, with Lake Ontario providing a picturesque backdrop. Local choirs perform traditional carols, their voices carrying across the water. Visitors can warm up with hot apple cider while browsing craft stalls set up by local artisans. This ceremony honors Bronte's history as a fishing village, blending maritime traditions with holiday festivities.
Website:
Bronte Village Annual Tree Lighting
Toronto Christmas Lights Tour (Toronto)
What to Expect:
Guided tour of Toronto's best holiday light displays
Description:
The Toronto Christmas Lights Tour offers a curated journey through the city's most impressive holiday illuminations. Knowledgeable guides share stories about the history and significance of various displays. The tour includes stops at hidden gems off the beaten path, showcasing neighborhood spirit. Visitors can capture stunning photos of Toronto's skyline, beautifully framed by holiday lights. This tour provides a unique perspective on Toronto's diverse neighborhoods, each with its own approach to holiday decorations.
Website:
Brampton Winter Lights Festival (Brampton)
What to Expect:
City-wide light festival celebrating Brampton's diversity
Description:
Brampton's Winter Lights Festival illuminates the entire city with a dazzling array of light installations. Each display tells a story of Brampton's cultural diversity, with influences from around the world. Visitors can take a self-guided tour through the city's downtown, discovering hidden light sculptures in unexpected places. The festival features works by local artists, showcasing Brampton's thriving creative community. This event, which began as a small downtown initiative, has grown to encompass the entire city, reflecting Brampton's rapid growth and evolving identity.
Website:
Brampton Winter Lights Festival