Christmas lights and holiday displays have swept across Toronto for another year as we begin to reach our peak festive state for the season. Many of the consisently Griswoldesque light shows are back for 2016 at private homes across the city, while the number of Christmas markets and public displays seems to increase each year.
Here's a rundown of some of the prettiest and wackiest displays you'll find around Toronto this year, complete with a map for planning your festive tour of the city.
165 Benjamin Boake Trail
The De Sario family lights up their home with roughly 50,000 LED lights each year in support of Sick Kids Hospital. It's the most Griswold of Toronto's Christmas light displays.
188 Brock Avenue
The D'Elia family comletely deck out their home each year in the kitschiest way imaginable. Be careful not to visit to early, though. The lights don't come on until after dusk.
6 Holmesdale Crescent
Mary Genua has put on a roubust light display at her home near Dufferin St. and Eglinton Ave. for at least 30 years.
37 Bertmount Avenue
Yup, the "doll house" goes full on festive each holiday season with a variety of Santa Claus facsimilies amidst the army of dolls. This is probably the kitschiest place in the entire city.
Glenlake Avenue and Dorval Road
Trevor Walker and Karin Martin might just have the most creative Christmas lights display in the entire city, complete with a giant Rudolph to greet those passing by.
Nathan Phillips Square
City Hall is always a festive place in December, but this year it's being dialed way up with a huge holiday market to go along with the ice rink and Toronto's official Christmas tree.
Casa Loma
Toronto's Gothic Revial castle gets the winter wonderland treatment with a magical light show across the grounds. Programming takes place every Wednesday.
Toronto Christmas Market
No surprises here. The Distillery District is decked out in Christmas lights and other festive paraphanelia throught the month, including a gorgeous tree in the heart of it all.
Eastern Beaches
A trip along the boardwalk need not be only a summer activity. The Eastern Beaches are covered in 80,000 LED lights for DeClute's Light Up the Beach.
Christie Pits
The sparkling tiger is back at Christie Pits for another season in celebration of Toronto's Korean community. You can find it between the subway station and the park.
Eaton Centre
You'll find the country's biggest Christmas tree at the Eaton Centre this year, along with a whole lot of other festive displays throughout the mall.
Yonge-Dundas Square
If you're looking for a little break from holiday shopping and could use a bit of festive cheer outside the mall, the holiday display at Yonge-Dundas Square is worth a visit. The Downtown Yonge BIA has also decked out the street with festive banners.
Saks & Hudson Bay
Keeping up a longstanding tradition, Saks and Hudson Bay have outfitted their windows near Yonge and Queen with a series of festive displays. The event kicked off with a bang when Mariah Carey was brought in to unveil the window displays, but you can check them out without all the hoopla through Christmas this year.
Financial District
Most of the major office towers in the Financial District have festive displays worth checking out if you're in the area. There are classy outdoor displays at Commerce Court and the TD Centre, while Brookfield Place and First Canadian Place have nice indoor decorations up.
Toronto Waterfront
The Spectacle of Lights is a series of displays along Queens Quay designed to bring some festive cheer to the waterfront. There's a oversize Christmas tree at the Westin Harbour Castle, Harbourfront has been decked out in lights, and the Music Garden has a winter wonderland installation.
by Derek Flack via blogTO
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