Toronto 
Toronto’s waterfront is getting ready for a month of Christmas celebrations as Harbourfront Centre brings back HarbourFrost from November 20 to December 20, 2026.
The festival will feature free outdoor skating, fire performances, festive train rides, Christmas markets and live entertainment, along with a 33-foot Christmas tree. Most activities are free, although some theatre performances require tickets.
Christmas Tree Lighting and Fire Performances
The celebrations begin November 20 with the lighting of a 33-foot Christmas tree at Community Square, accompanied by a performance from InKloosiv Voices Choir, holiday characters and fire pits.
Throughout the festival, Illuminair: Frost & Fire will bring free outdoor fire performances to the waterfront. Hala Circus Arts will also entertain visitors with roaming circus characters.
Families can board the Redpath Express for free holiday-themed train rides.
Free Outdoor Skating and DJ Nights
The Jumpstart Community Rink opens November 20, weather permitting, and will remain operational through March.
Visitors can skate outdoors for free, while DJ Skate Nights return December 19, bringing music to the waterfront rink.
Christmas Markets and Holiday Shopping
Visitors looking for seasonal gifts can explore Frostbite Lane and the HarbourFrost Makers Market, featuring local vendors and handmade products.
The markets offer another reason to visit beyond the performances, particularly for those planning a holiday shopping outing along the waterfront.
A Christmas Carol and Holiday Theatre
The Shaw Festival will make its Toronto debut with A Christmas Carol, running November 12 to December 23 at Fleck Theatre.
The production combines puppetry, traditional carols, audience participation and a Toronto-themed advent calendar.
Families can also catch Sleeping Beauty: A Merry Magical Pantomime, scheduled for December 18 to 20.
Both productions are ticketed.
Live Music and Winter Solstice Celebrations
Free musical performances will cover gospel, jazz, soul, Caribbean rhythms and holiday favourites.
Highlights include The Caribbean Christmas Mixtape, featuring Joy Lapps and Larnell Lewis on December 12, and Under the Winter Sky, an Indigenous Winter Solstice gathering on December 20.
“We wanted HarbourFrost to celebrate the traditions people love while offering something they might not expect,” said Winnie Bower, Arts and Culture Specialist at Harbourfront Centre.
Trip Planning – HarbourFrost 2026
What:
Celebrate the magic of the season at HarbourFrost, Harbourfront Centre’s winter experience filled with festive performances, dazzling lights and family-friendly fun.
From the glow of the holiday tree lighting ceremony and the thrill of live fire performances to joyful musical acts, whimsical winter circus characters and a merry magical pantomime, there’s something to delight every age. Hop aboard the Redpath Express, warm up by the fire pits and embrace the wonder of winter along our waterfront!
When: November 20 to December 20, 2026
Location: Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto
Admission: Free for most activities. Select theatre performances require tickets.
