Toronto, ON, Canada — Thousands of visitors filled the cobblestone streets of Toronto’s Distillery Historic District to watch Santa light the 2025 Christmas Tree, marking the official launch of The Distillery Winter Village recently. Presented by L’Oréal Paris, the event kicks off one of the world’s most recognized holiday destinations, attracting more than one million visitors annually.
“This year, we are celebrating our 16th season of The Distillery Winter Village, formerly known as the Toronto Christmas Market,” said Rik Ocvirk, Vice President of The Distillery Restaurants Corp. and Director of Experiences and Events at The Distillery Historic District. “Our goal is to create moments that become memories — whether it’s a first date under the canopy lights, a family tradition by the tree, or a hot chocolate shared with friends. We hope every visitor leaves with a little more wonder and joy than when they arrived.”
Following the tree lighting, guests enjoyed a special performance by international award-winning vocal group The Tenors, featuring music from their album Christmas with The Tenors (Warner Music Canada). Proceeds from Opening Night ticket sales support local charitable partners: Anishnawbe Health Foundation, Soulpepper Theatre, Crow’s Theatre, and The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund.
Canada’s Most Photographed Christmas Tree
This year’s 16.7-metre (55-foot) silver fir — widely regarded as Canada’s most photographed Christmas Tree — sparkles with more than 80,000 lights and 750 ornaments ranging from 15 to 50 cm (six to 20 inches). The display features elegant gold starbursts and Winter Village snowflakes adorned with vibrant red finial ornaments, creating a striking contrast against the tree’s lush green branches.
A custom-built circular platform surrounds the base, incorporating a 3.6-metre (12-foot) performance stage. Built into the base, and reminiscent of a festive holiday shop window, are hand-painted, 3D-printed ornamental vignettes depicting classic Christmas scenes — including a whimsical red and green Bachmann Big Haulers G Scale Train that circles the tree, as well as Canadian wildlife such as caribou, fawn, moose, and bears. Lanterns inspired by those found throughout The Distillery Historic District add a warm glow, connecting the installation to its historic surroundings. In total, more than 1,000 hours were invested in fabricating and decorating this year’s tree.
After the season, the tree will be donated to Habitat for Humanity GTA to be repurposed as mulch and reclaimed wood for 60 new homes scheduled for construction in 2026.
Key Highlights for 2025
Running from November 13, 2025, to January 4, 2026, The Distillery Winter Village transforms Toronto’s 13-acre pedestrian-only heritage district into a glowing winter wonderland, culinary hotspot, and artisan market. Visitors can explore 47 vendor cabins and nine outdoor holiday bars — the most ever — offering global sweet and savoury dishes, warm seasonal beverages, and handmade creations by local artisans.
Tickets & Planning Your Visit
Tickets are required for peak periods, including:
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Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays after 4 p.m.
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Thursdays in December after 4 p.m.
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Daily after 4 p.m. from December 15–31
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New Year’s Eve
Children aged nine and under are always free. Tickets start at $15 (plus HST and admin fee), with four ticket tiers available, including a combo option for Illuminarium’s new immersive show, Mythos.
For tickets and more information, visit TheDistilleryWinterVillage.com. (GlobeNewswire)
