Downsview Park Christmas lights 2013

The Christmas lights display in Downsview Park, as seen in December 2013, before the ice storm! (Update Dec. 28, 2015: Downsview Park website and Facebook page make no mentions of the lights but the nice staff at True North Climbing within the park confirmed that the Christmas lights are up in 2015)


Click here for more information and tips about the Downsview Park Christmas Lights.

Christmas time at Yorkdale Mall

This is a gallery of photos of my visit to Yorkdale Shopping Centre last week. 

There is big construction going on but they still managed to make the mall look pretty. Check the Christmas animations by Holt Renfrew's dramatic entrance! (See Santa at Yorkdale Mall's page on torontofunplaces.com for more informations.)

NOTE: The Yorkdale Rainforest Café will close forever by the end of December. Now is your chance to enjoy the animated gorilla and elephant and to walk through the aquarium.

 

 

 

 

Outdoor Santa at the Toronto Christmas Market 2013

After visiting three shopping malls and the Toronto Christmas Market in the same day yesterday, I can confirm to you that I found the real Santa is at The Distillery. 

In one mall, Santa was so listless that I thought he was a mannequin. In the next, he seemed to suffer from withdrawal syndrome when one more baby started to cry on his knees (don't be sad Santa, it's not personal!). In the third, he was unavailable for the moment and unfortunately fully booked for the rest of the season.

At the Toronto Christmas Market, I found a very jovial Santa teasing everyone (especially his elves) and engaging with all the members of the families visiting him. That's the spirit! Maybe it's because he comes from the North Pole and is more comfortable outdoors?

Santa awaits down Santa's Lane
off the main plaza (where the giant Christmas
tree is located)

Santa's hours
The experience is quite different if you visit in daylight or at night. You can visit Santa Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and on weekdays from 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Donate what you can for the privilege to take a photo of your child on Santa's knees (bring your own camera or pay for a photographer's services).

The Toronto Christmas Market 2013 is open until December 15. The market's activities are offered from 12 noon to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the weekends.

There's great ambience along Santa's Lane

Looks like a giant alien, doesn't it? Santa's home is right underneath.

Fun for the kids

Return to the giant Christmas tree

• The ambience is very festive with all the lights and all the music. Kids will love it, especially if you pitch in for a hot chocolate in one of the many cafés on the premises.
• There's a merry-go-round and a ferris wheel which they can ride for $3 each near the main stage.
• You'll love the a capella performances on the main stage, but your kids will prefer Santa Elves Sing-Along (on weekdays at 5 p.m. and on weekends at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.). 
• I thought I saw a king free-roaming the place and learned that Prince Charming and the Christmas Angel are indeed guests during the event.

Related post about The Distillery:

TOP-10 Christmas stocking fillers at Bergo

TOP-10 favourite things at the Christmas Market

Catch a show on the main stage

Ferris wheel ride for $3

Merry-go-round ride for $3 as well

Skating on Christmas Day at Nathan Phillips Square rink

Yesterday, I took some photos of the rink at Nathan Phillips Square to complement my blog on the great combo for December 25.

The combo includes: admiring The Bay Christmas windows, checking Eaton Centre's decoration, skating at Nathan Phillips Square and hot chocolate at Starbucks across the street.

I checked with the City and there is supposed to be rental service by the rink on December 25 (the rink will be open from 9 am to 10 pm). But note that rental is CASH ONLY. A valid Photo ID is required. It is $10 for adults and $5 for 12 years and under for two hours rental, but it is free to skate on the rink.

If there's no snow by Christmas... kids can always climb up the "snow mount" made from the layers of the white stuff scriped off the ice by the zamboni's.

Christmas lights at The Beach

This week, on my way to Carolling in the park (a fun annual event held in The Beach in the park by Glen Manor Drive), I noticed that many trees were adorned with Christmas lights along the boardwalk by the water (east and west of Balsam Avenue).

It would be lovely to do a night stroll over there after a snow fall!

You can grab a hot chocolate at Starbucks (open at least until 9 pm every day) at the corner of Queen east and Hammersmith then walk down towards the lake to admire the lights.

(More posts on Christmas fun.)

Christmas lights at Downsview Park

Note for 2015: For the last three years, Downsview Park has posted no info about their Christmas lights on their website or Facebook page. The nice staff at True North Climbing located within the park confirmed to us that the lights are up for 2015. (The following post was written in 2012. I visited it again in 2013, see the photo gallery.)

On my way back from Creative Bag (super place for stocking on wrapping paper, ribbons, bags and boxes) I stopped at Downsview Park, attracted by flashing Christmas lights.

Last week, I had noticed on Downsview Park's website that there was no mention of their big Christmas trail presented (for a fee) in the last few years so the Christmas lights surprised me. I had to see if the website had mislead me.

It turns out this year we can walk for free around Downsview Park, adorned with some lights (don't go expecting Niagara Falls). I saw six flashing displays and some Christmas trees. The paved trail is lit by lamp posts reflecting on the large pond but the rest of the park remains in the dark, which makes for a fun and kind of mysterious walk. (The larger loop is 2.7 km long).

It is a good way to get introduced to the new landscape of this urban park. The park's entrance is east of Keele, off Sheppard. Follow John Drury Drive the fastest you can once in the park.

Hot chocolate, someone?

There's a Country Style open until 11 p.m. every night at 3372 Keele Street, Unit F (on the west side of Keel, north of the park)

More Christmas-related posts from Nathalie Prezeau.