Looking for ways to make your Christmas Day memorable in the Greater Toronto Area?
Credit: Casa Loma
There’s a festive array of options, from enchanting Christmas light displays to tourist attractions and delightful winter activities. Here are some things to do on December 25th.
1. Dazzling Lights
Visit parks and other locations adorned with lights.
The following are open on December 25th:
- Cavalcade of Lights @ Nathan Phillips Square
- Bloor-Yorkville Holiday Magic – The Village of Yorkville Park will be lit with various unique displays, from twinkling light tunnels to oversize snowflakes, gorgeous Christmas trees, and more. – Free
- Wander through the park to see lights in Gage Park, Brampton – Free
- Journey into Enchantment Drive-thru in Ajax. Tickets required.
- Lakeside Festival of Lights in Burlington – Drive-By or walk the park. – Free
- Walk through various parks in Halton Hills during Light up the Hills – Free.
II. Visit Toronto Area Attractions
Celebrate Christmas Day in Toronto with diverse attractions: explore Ripley’s Aquarium’s underwater wonders, view the city from the CN Tower, relax at Riverdale Farm, visit festive Toronto Zoo animals, and experience mind-bending fun at the Museum of Illusions. 2025/26 Christmas and Winter Break Holiday Hours of Famous Tourist Attractions in Toronto & the GTA
- High Park Zoo: Come and enjoy the season with a stroll through the Zoo.: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM — Free
- Ripley’s Aquarium: If you want to escape the cold, then Ripley’s Aquarium makes a perfect day trip for an underwater exploration. On Christmas Day: 09:00 a.m.- 9:00 p.m.
- CN Tower: Enjoy views of Toronto from above. CN Tower is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (last entry 7 p.m.)
- Riverdale Farm: A delightful contrast to the city’s fast pace, Riverdale Farm welcomes visitors daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Best of all, admission is completely free, offering a peaceful escape into rural tranquillity amidst urban surroundings.
- Toronto Zoo: Share festive cheer with the animals on Christmas Day, open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Be sure to arrive before the last admission at 3:00 pm, and enjoy a memorable holiday surrounded by the wonders of wildlife.
- Museum of Illusions: Enter the world of illusions and have an intriguing visual, sensory and educational experience through a variety of new and unexplored illusions. Dec 25: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- Casa Loma: Guests will be surrounded by holiday magic throughout the castle, which will be resplendent with holiday décor, including a 20ft tall tree in the Great Hall and eight other signature trees by talented Canadian designers. Dec 25: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
III. Indoor Flowers
If you have not been to Toronto’s famous Centennial Park Conservatory and Allan Gardens Conservatory, Christmas Day might be the best time to visit and see the wintertime blooms.
Allan Gardens’ Winter Flower Show and Centennial Park transform the conservatory with thousands of blooms, festive poinsettias, hellebores, amaryllis, and evergreens, featuring seasonal topiary masterpieces and breathtaking floral scenes from around the world, creating a memorable, must-see winter destination experience each year.
IV. Skiing & Snow Tubing
Visit GTA ski hills or head to the Blue Mountains (~160 km, 2 hours from Downtown Toronto) or Horseshoe Resort near Barrie (~90 minutes ~133 km from Downtown Toronto).
Snow Tubing Hills are also open.
Call before travelling.
Glen Eden Ski Area: 905.878.5011
Ski Lakeridge: 905-686-3607
Ski Dagmar: 905.649.2002
Brimacombe: 905-983-7669
Hockley Valley Resort: 519-942-0754
Horseshoe Resort: 705-835-2790
Blue Mountain: 1-833-583-2583
V. Christmas at Backroom Comedy Club
Celebrate another year of amazing comedy with a lineup of some of the funniest comedians in the city. We’re doubling the fun this year with two shows to choose from: 8 PM and 10 PM on Wednesday, December 25, @ Backroom Comedy Club, 814 Bloor St W Basement Unit, Toronto.
VI. Christmas at Drom
Experience an evening of music with Trombone Charlotte Quartet, enjoying old classics with all of her heart and fun songs with the best vibes and Quincy Bullen, a versatile pianist blending jazz, R&B, and soul with modern funk and electronic vibes. Together, they promise a dynamic night of powerful melodies and genre-defying artistry. December 25 at 7 pm @ DROM Taberna, 458 Queen Street West, Toronto
VII. See a Movie at the theatre
Watch movies at your local theatre!
Movies released/releasing include:
- Avatar: Fire and Ash
- Anaconda (Releasing Dec 25)
- Song Sung Blue (Releasing Dec 25)
- The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants
- The Housemaid
- Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
- David
- Zootopia 2
- Wicked: For Good
TIFF Bell Lightbox, Toronto:
Movies playing on December 25, 2025:
- 2001: A Space Odyssey – 3:00pm
- Hamnet – 3:45pm & 8:00pm
- No Other Choice – 4:00pm, 6:45pm, 9:40pm
- One Battle After Another – 7:30pm
- Rebuilding – 6:30pm
- Resurrection – 4:30pm
- Sentimental Value – 10:00pm
- The Secret Agent – 9:00pm
- The Voice of Hind Rajab – 4:15pm & 7:15pm
VIII. Play a Game at the Rec Room
Roundhouse Rec Room (opposite Ripley’s Aquarium) is open on December 25 from 12:00 p.m. to midnight. Whether alone or planning a trip with friends or kids, visit Rec Room to enjoy the latest in next-generation driving simulation, virtual reality, shuffleboard, ping pong and pool tables.
IX. Cruise to Toronto’s Summer Destination
Take the Ward Island ferry and experience the tranquillity of Toronto Islands with a scenic 1.5-kilometre boardwalk stroll. Starting from Ward’s Island Beach, this walk offers stunning views of Lake Ontario, Tommy Thompson Park, and diverse birdlife. Visit scenic vistas with Toronto skyline vistas. Ward Island is also a top spot for bird watching.
X. Skating
Indoor skating locations are closed, but enjoy skating outdoors. Check out the Bentway Skate Trail or Nathan Phillips Square.
All other City of Toronto outdoor rinks are open December 24, 25, and 31, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Mississauga Celebration Square skating is open from noon to 6 pm on Dec 25th.
XI. Magical ‘Window Wonderland
Discover Window Wonderland, The Junction’s annual immersive urban art walk. The Window Wonderland exhibition will transform the Junction neighbourhood into an outdoor gallery that is interactive, engaging, and magical. The exhibition will feature local artists and animators who will paint ten storefront windows brought to life by Augmented Reality (AR) to create an impressive public art display. This will be the first activation of its kind in the City of Toronto.
XII. Christmas Day Dine-In
Get take-out or dine-in from Toronto/GTA restaurants, and enjoy a delicious meal. There are plenty of options listed in Open Table.
Many Chinatown restaurants are open on Christmas Day.
If you need wine, select Wine Rack stores open on X-mas Day. Toronto locations include (open: 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm): Church @ Wellesley, Queen St. W, Roncesvalles, Danforth, Yonge & Erskine, Pape @ Cosburn, Bloor & Bathurst.
XIII. Go Winter Walking
Enjoy winter’s solitude and go hiking in the green spaces of Toronto. Great places to explore include Don Valley Trails from Evergreen Village, Rouge National Park, Trillium Park and William G. Davis Trail at Ontario Place, High Park, Riverwood Conservancy and the myriad of waterfront trails.
XIV. Toronto Scavenger Hunt
Explore Toronto through a scavenger hunt. Go on an enthralling tour around Toronto checking out the art, history, and culture along the way.
You may like:
15 Family Winter Getaways in Ontario
XV. Go Bird Watching
Birding is a fun activity to do in winter. What are the popular winter birds that you can spot? Can you notice any changes in winter adaptations in them? Grab a pair of binoculars, download a bird ID app, and try to name all the birds that you can spot. Do a Christmas Bird Day Count. If you don’t want to venture outside, do an unofficial count of the birds that visit your bird feeder.