City

Outlandish and awesome Christmas lights in Toronto

Posted by Derek Flack / December 22, 2010

46 Comments

Best Toronto Christmas lights Toronto Christmas lights are all ablaze as the big day nears. And, as per a tradition that we got started last year, what follows is a collection of photos of some of the best and brightest displays. I shudder to think at what the electricity bills are for these elaborate scenes, but always enjoy my trek across the city to scout out the most outlandish set-ups.

It's tough to choose a winner out of this bunch -- which is why I haven't tried -- but I'm always a fan of the house on Somerset just north of Geary. Speaking with the owner last night, he revealed that his display includes between 45,000 and 48,000 lights and takes about two months to put together. Wow. And his might not even be the biggest display in Toronto!

Here are the photos (with captions above each image).

Somerset Avenue
Toronto Christmas Lights

Brock Avenue (near Dundas)
Toronto Christmas Lights

Caledonia Road
Toronto Christmas Lights

Lansdowne (just south of Bloor)
Toronto Christmas Lights

Bartlett Avenue
Toronto Christmas Lights

Shaw (south of Dupont)
Toronto Christmas Lights

Christie Pits
Toronto Holiday Lights

From the blogTO Flickr pool

Toronto Christmas Lights Location: North York
Photo by AC'63.

Toronto Christmas lights Location:Glenlake Avenue
Photo by bigdaddyhame.

Toronto Christmas Lights Location:Little Portugal
Photo by Joanne Dale.

Toronto Christmas Lights Location: Parkdale
Photo bybackintheworld.

Toronto Christmas Lights Location: Benjamin Boake Trail
Photo by MSVG.

Toronto Christmas Lights Location: not specified
Photo by MSVG.

Toronto Christmas Lights Location: You know...
Photo by whalechunks.

If you have photos of crazy Christmas light displays, send them to the blogTO Flickr pool.

Discussion

46 Comments

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Amy / December 22, 2010 at 10:18 am

Most of those houses look like carnivals. All they're missing is a redneck running a coin toss game.

bob / December 22, 2010 at 10:20 am

The third one from the top looks kind of sad compared to the others.

qwerty / December 22, 2010 at 10:23 am

I wish the city would do a better job with Nathan Phillips Square.

HO HO HO / December 22, 2010 at 10:25 am

Houses that go over the top are awesome.

Right Wing Blue Blood / December 22, 2010 at 10:34 am

What a waste of precious electricity. I hope Rob Ford makes these illegal.

jennifer / December 22, 2010 at 10:41 am

I think the Frosty and reindeer are in a park on St. Clair West, west of Caledonia.

Great pictures!

Sean / December 22, 2010 at 10:42 am

Nice use of advertising on the Landowne one. (not really)

bb00m / December 22, 2010 at 10:49 am

Great stuff! Would be awesome if you could throw these on a google map!

Dingle Ballz / December 22, 2010 at 10:54 am

It's Brock Avenue, not Brock Street. Just sayin'.

Teena / December 22, 2010 at 10:57 am

How could you leave out the house at Brock and Frankish? They go all out for Halloween and Christmas!

Teena / December 22, 2010 at 10:57 am

How could you leave out the house at Brock and Frankish? They go all out for Halloween and Christmas.

Derek replying to a comment from Dingle Ballz / December 22, 2010 at 11:02 am

Correction made...

Greg replying to a comment from Teena / December 22, 2010 at 11:08 am

How could you not notice that it's the 4th photo from the Flickr photographers?

How could you not notice that it's the 4th photo from the Flickr photographers?

Love it! / December 22, 2010 at 11:11 am

Agreed. The tackier the better! Merry Xmas to all!!

skeeter / December 22, 2010 at 11:17 am

i vote for the phrase "just sayin'" to be banned in 2011 and beyond.

The Shakes / December 22, 2010 at 11:42 am

These are awesomely tacky! I serious love these displays, it's like they're giving a big middle finger to good taste.

Bob Gundu / December 22, 2010 at 12:31 pm

Why can't it be Earth Day, everyday during the Christmas holiday?

Morga / December 22, 2010 at 12:37 pm

Pinkos need to STFU. Christmas is fun. Just have some for once in your lives. Not everything has to be political and about your sensibilities. Tacky Christmas lights are fun, just embrace.

shannon / December 22, 2010 at 12:50 pm

For those calling on Ford to stop this, get over it, he has his house decorated too, he loves X-mas like everyone else.

And the tree huggers that are whining about whatever the hell they whine about it, get over it. Most of us love houses that decorated for the holidays. If they want to pay a huge hydro bill let them.

Ad thanks derek for for posting these they are great pics.

FB / December 22, 2010 at 01:00 pm

Santa is a Lefty Pinko.

Sam / December 22, 2010 at 01:23 pm

Hey, all. Not to be a buzzkill or anything, but I just wanted to take this moment to remind everybody about the dangers of drinking and driving over these Christmas holidays. And, if you don't want to listen to me talk about it, why not listen to Jimmie Walker?

http://nslccommonsense.ca/Jimmiewalker

Have a safe and happy holidays, everyone!

http://mthirty.com/mtrack/m/myNLSCTransparency

teeter replying to a comment from shannon / December 22, 2010 at 02:56 pm

You've got something on your nose.

Mike W replying to a comment from shannon / December 22, 2010 at 03:09 pm

"Right Wing Blue Blood" is just trying to troll, nobody actually thinks like that.

Gabe / December 22, 2010 at 04:49 pm

Christmas lights are awesome, over the top is awesome.

Your whining to Rob Ford in a post is a waste of electricity, not only a waste when you post it BUT it makes the file size of this page greater and all of us have to load the page. Please don't waste electricity with your whining posts.

zam / December 22, 2010 at 05:04 pm

jennifer is correct about the Snowman lights. It's in a parkette just west of Caledonia at the corner of Prescott ave and St. Clair.

That space of land used to be a streetcar loop 50-60 years ago.

rexdale replying to a comment from Morga / December 22, 2010 at 05:09 pm

I am certain that telling pinkos to STFU you made political statement.

Mindi / December 22, 2010 at 05:18 pm

I think they all look great. It's nice to know people have spirit out there, and share it with others. Especially others who have a harder time feeling it.

Teena replying to a comment from Greg / December 22, 2010 at 05:56 pm

There's an even more decorated tree on at Brock and Dundas than what is in this post.

rick mcginnis / December 22, 2010 at 07:05 pm

MSVP's photo of the big snowman and arch in the "not specified" location is actually in St. Clair Gardens, on St. Clair just west of Caledonia.

RIchard replying to a comment from qwerty / December 22, 2010 at 08:03 pm

You mean you aren't impressed by a monochromatic colorscheme used throughout NPS?

maria / December 22, 2010 at 08:58 pm

tony greatjob, lovely, i should come down to see it live, it's probably better than a pic.

cheers
maria

Rosita Esgard / December 23, 2010 at 01:30 am

OMG! And here I am, thinking that Canada is better than most places. Honestly, I thought only Americans were crazy and over the top, but we obviously have them in Canada too. How sad...

dan / December 23, 2010 at 03:35 am

what do you get when you cross a senile portuguese man,no more leaves to wash off the driveway and the holidays...

Nico / December 23, 2010 at 01:29 pm

The giant snowman surrounded by stars is in a little parkette called St Clair Gardens just east of Prescott Avenue on the north side of St Clair West.

Nico replying to a comment from rick mcginnis / December 23, 2010 at 01:30 pm

D'oh. Someone beat me to it.

Lorne M. / December 23, 2010 at 01:41 pm

Thanks for collecting the pictures, love the post. I may hit the streets and try to discover these and other Christmas light decorations. And my first stop shall definitely be the giant snowman, thanks for the adress Nico :-) Merry Christmas everyone!

anon / December 24, 2010 at 12:26 am

~love it~

mf
http://seathings.bandcamp.com/

TDF / December 2, 2011 at 09:06 pm

Sorry, but could not do 2011 set up due to "other issues" (thank u Mr. Ford!!!!) However will be back in 2012!!!!!

lookingforsomerset replying to a comment from TDF / December 10, 2011 at 12:45 pm

I'm looking for Somerset... TDF, is that you? We miss you in 2011!

Let fans know how to help.

N. Young / December 14, 2011 at 04:51 pm

Vomit.

Pepto B. / December 15, 2011 at 02:37 pm

@ N. Young, I can probably help you...

Pepto B. replying to a comment from N. Young / December 15, 2011 at 02:38 pm

I can probably help you...

TDF / December 21, 2011 at 10:34 pm

Sorry, but you will have to wait for 2012 display. Had no time this year to do it! Merry Christmas everyone! TDF

Twinkle / December 24, 2011 at 06:48 am

So TDF, is hat you on Somerset? We drove there last night and couldn't find you, so disappointed! My mom said she saw an interview on the news recently though... Did anyone else seen it? Was it a different house? Anyone know where? Or was it you TDF?

So looking forward to your 2012 display!! Merry Christmas!

TDF / December 26, 2011 at 01:23 am

Yes I am on Somerset, but on the west side (#6), not the east side. Hopefully see you all next year!

Merry Christmas everyone!

sadaymagaly / December 29, 2011 at 12:42 am

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