Radar
Phil Villeneuve
Posted on December 08, 2016
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weekend events toronto

Weekend events in Toronto December 9-11 2016

Radar
Phil Villeneuve
Posted on December 08, 2016
Report Inaccuracy

Weekend events in Toronto are very, very festive. Whether it's a full-out Christmas wonderland at the Evergreen Winter Village, a smaller indoor holiday market or a Krampus hell parade and a loud holiday show, the season is upon us, so jump in! Don't worry, there are still some great, sweaty dance parties of you want to avoid the holidays.

  • Can't miss markets and pop-ups
    Date
    About the Event
    Location
    • City of Craft X: Handmade Decade
      December 9-11
      City of Craft X: Handmade Decade
      This craft-centric holiday market celebrates 10 years this season with over 60 local makers. Half of them are brand new and they’ll be showcasing workshops, installations, giveaways and according to the organizers, good vibes. There will be free screen-printed, limited edition tote bags filled with swag for the first 100 people through the door on Saturday morning.
      The Theatre Centre
    • Artisans' Holiday Market
      December 9
      Artisans' Holiday Market
      From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., find unique, handcrafted gifts for your family and friends from plenty of local artisans showcasing clothing, jewelry, homewares and more. Admission is free and there will lots of raffle prizes to keep everyone on their toes.
      The Hospital for Sick Children
    • Evergreen's Winter Village
      December 10 - February 28
      Evergreen's Winter Village
      A major highlight of this holiday event at the Brick Works is the winter street food market. It operates alongside the annual vendors' and makers' markets. Admission is free and everything is local.
      Evergreen Brick Works
    • The Costume House Holiday Pop-Up
      December 10-11
      The Costume House Holiday Pop-Up
      Over 20 local designers, artists and craftspeople come together to show off their wares while bringing awareness and much-needed support to Nellies Women's Shelter. Nellie's is also hoping for new clothing or charitable cash donations. This holiday market is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.
      165 Geary Ave
    • Toronto Green Market Holiday Edition
      December 11
      Toronto Green Market Holiday Edition
      A collection of 50 Toronto vendors selling handcrafted, sustainable, eco-friendly and wellness goods will be stuffed inside The Great Hall. Skip the mall and get that one-of-a-kind gift here. Admission is free and dogs are welcome.
      The Great Hall
  • Events you might want to check out
    Date
    About the Event
    Location
    • LLBean Bootmobile Tour
      December 8-18
      LLBean Bootmobile Tour
      The giant L.L.Bean Bootmobile is kicking-off its first-ever Toronto tour at the Nathan Phillips Square Holiday Fair this weekend. It's a very Instagrammable moment, so get ready. It will also be treating visitors to some sweet L.L.Bean swag.
      Nathan Phillips Square Holiday Fair
    • Love Beyond Ghostship Fire Relief Benefit
      December 9
      Love Beyond Ghostship Fire Relief Benefit
      Love Below goes beyond the grotto known as Bambi's to lend a hand to victims of the Ghostship fire in Oakland. One hundred per cent of the door proceeds and a portion of beverage sales will go to the YOUCARING fund set up by the Gray Area Foundation for the Arts. Andrew Ross, Mikey Apples, Johnny Hockin and surprise guests DJ all night long for Oakland. $5 gets you into the party.
      Bambi's
    • Christmas Queens
      December 10
      Christmas Queens
      The drag queen's of Rupaul's Drag Race visit Toronto one final time before the end of the year for a huge holiday extravaganza! It's an all ages event that starts at 7 p.m. and queens include Detox, Ginger Minj, Jiggly Caliente, Katya, Mainila Luzon, Sharon Needles and Thorgy Thor. As always, Michelle Visage hosts.
      The Danforth Music Hall
    • The Nutcracker
      December 10-31
      The Nutcracker
      The National Ballet of Canada’s gorgeous and multilayered version of the famous ballet, choreographed by James Kudelka, has been viewed by millions since it started way back in 1995. It's come a long way and boy is it beautiful. Put on your holiday best and head to the Four Seasons Centre for this holiday tradition.
      Four Seasons Centre of the Arts
    • Toronto FC 2016 MLS Cup
      December 10
      Toronto FC 2016 MLS Cup
      Toronto FC plays their first-ever Major League Soccer championship on Saturday with thousands of fans and bandwagoners in the stands of BMO Field to cheer them on. Tickets to this game sold out in three minutes, but outside the stadium you stand a chance at getting in. If you don't, who cares! Snow and cold are predicted, so head to a bar with a big screen TV and watch all the fun there.
      BMO Field
    • 5th Annual Krampus Ball & Parade
      December 10
      5th Annual Krampus Ball & Parade
      If you enjoy a darker side of Christmas, then the Krampus Ball and parade party is for you. It's a festive, Christmas Hell-scape, decked out in furs, horns, hooves, and revellers dressed as the German Christmas demons known as Krampus. Congregating in front of the Opera House at 8:30 p.m., the Krampus Parade marches west, stopping at several Queen East bars along the way, and looping back to th...
      The Opera House
    • Holiday Open House
      December 11
      Holiday Open House
      One of Toronto's oldest post offices hosts its annual year-end social. There will be snacks, and mail art and paper craft supplies available for holiday creations. Even if you just need a space and time for your Christmas Card assembly line, it's a fun, festive place to be.
      Toronto's First Post Office
  • Parties
    Date
    About the Event
    Location
    • Pedallers - Cyclist & Hemingway
      December 9
      Pedallers - Cyclist & Hemingway
      The Holy Oak hosts two of the city's finest house and disco DJs. The dynamic duo of Hemingway and Cyclist will be pedalling with a disco-flavoured dance party to keep you sweatin' on your exercise bikes all night long. Admission is PWYC.
      The Holy Oak Cafe
    • Temple rave event
      December 9-10
      Temple rave event
      Montreal's Temple Records showcase and rave performance is in a yet to be determined venue! Harking back to the good old warehouse dance party days, this night of extreme dance music features DJs like Adam Feingold, R Wong and Matthew Salaciak. It's all presented by one of our fave techno DJs, CL, so you know the crowd is inclusive, fun, friendly and all about the music. Tickets are $8 in advance.
      TBA
    • Fevered - A night celebrating Kylie Minogue
      December 9
      Fevered - A night celebrating Kylie Minogue
      Head to the Gladstone ballroom for a night of Kylie Minogue. It's Fevered, a night dedicated to everyone's fave Australian pop queen featuring all the hits and remixes on one dance floor from DJs Winnie Luk and Phillippe as well as shows from Fay Slift, Tynomi Banks and Champagna Enemea and lots of other surprises. Cover is $10 and get there early!
      The Gladstone
    • Horsemeat Disco ive at Coda
      December 10
      Horsemeat Disco ive at Coda
      The lords of disco, all the way from the UK, via NYC, bring back Horsemeat Disco for a special holiday edition of the Prism Disco Series. They serve all the classics, edits and nu-disco you need right now and the crowd at this party is the closest thing Toronto gets to the days of Studio 54.
      Coda
    • All Vinyl Everything
      December 10
      All Vinyl Everything
      No laptops, no Serato - just turntables and vinyl at this warm and cozy dance party. This monthly party ends off the year strong with a very special guest from Vancouver, B.C. DJ Lokoboy, a staple of the Vancity club scene, plays alongside DJ Mensa and DJ Agile. Dress to impress and get down.
      Miss Thing's
    • Pop Machine Sparkle!
      December 10
      Pop Machine Sparkle!
      Do you like dancing to pop hits? And want to hear your shameless favourites and some holiday anthems thrown in the mix inside an adorable east side bar? If your answer to both of these questions is yes, then get to Pop Machine. $5 gets you in, and if you've never been on this glittery little dance floor, now is the time!
      Wayla Bar
  • Film
    Date
    About the Event
    Location
    • Human Rights Film Festival
      December 9-11
      Human Rights Film Festival
      Celebrate Human Rights Day with the fifth annual Human Rights Film Festival at Hot Docs Cinema. Catch screenings of various documentaries and chat with filmmakers and other remarkable guests who explore human rights stories from across the globe. The opening night party is on Friday Dec. 9 at 6 p.m.
      Hot Docs Ted Roger Cinema
    • Queer Kampala International Film Festival
      December 10
      Queer Kampala International Film Festival
      The Queer Kampala International Film Festival takes place in Uganda’s capital from Dec. 9 to 11 and will host a satellite film screening in Toronto to show solidarity and raise money for a courageous group of people organizing the first ever LGBT film festival in Uganda. Outed, the film which will be screened, is a raw and unflinching dramatization of state violence directed towards LGBT people...
      Imagine Cinemas Carlton Cinema
  • Music
    Date
    About the Event
    Location
    • A Tribe Called Red
      December 9
      A Tribe Called Red
      Balancing fierce cultural politics with infectious dance-party rhythm is no easy feat, but A Tribe Called Red have hit it right on the money with the recently released We Are the Halluci Nation. Check them out with Saul Williams at this wild dance party and concert at the Phoenix.
      The Phoenix Concert Theatre
    • 13th annual White Cowbell Oklahoma X-Mess
      December 10
      13th annual White Cowbell Oklahoma X-Mess
      If Santa had a heavy-metal-loving brother who liked to drink and scream and jump around a lot, this is the concert he'd be going to. Expect lots of guitars, riffs, swearing and good cheer at this loud holiday music bash. This year they've invited special guests Frankie & Jimmy, Doghouse Rose.
      Lee's Palace
    • Good Lovelies
      December 10
      Good Lovelies
      This Christmas, Good Lovelies celebrate a decade of music with two special Harbourfront Centre holiday performances. The trio marks ten years as a band in the way it all began, with a winter holiday songbook of timeless and original material polished to a warm and welcoming glow. The folk-pop trio is known for their winsome songwriting, impeccable vocals and charisma.
      Harbourfront Centre Theatre
    • Hervana's 3rd Annual December Bash
      December 10
      Hervana's 3rd Annual December Bash
      Hervana is Toronto's only all-female Nirvana cover band and this is their third annual December Bash with special guests Blue Cougars. There will be party favours and prizes, with raffle ticket proceeds going to Girls Rock Camp Toronto. Hervana will play two sets - one of all your favourite Nirvana-related bands and another of the Nirvana songs you know and love.
      Smiling Buddha
    • The Twelve Days of Christmas
      December 11
      The Twelve Days of Christmas
      This is a festive family concert and sing-a-long. It's also a hilarious live-action pageant, narrated by Canadian actor and improv comedian Colin Mochrie. It's a holiday tradition at the TSO as they play all the holiday faves throughout the night. Tickets start at $30.
      Roy Thomson Hall
  • Ongoing events
    Date
    About the Event
    Location
    • Magical Winterland Nights
      December 7 - January 4
      Magical Winterland Nights
      Casa Loma has been transformed into a magical, twinkling wonderland. Wander through the dazzling light display in the gardens and around the castle. Head inside to warm up and see the 10 stunning trees decorated by celebrity designers. Adult tickets start at $27, kids get in for $17.
      Casa Loma
    • Holiday Fair in Nathan Phillips Square
      December 8-23
      Holiday Fair in Nathan Phillips Square
      This brand new, massive Christmas market at Nathan Phillips Square might give the Distillery District a run for its money. This event, inspired by European Christmas markets, features artisans, food vendors, rides and of course, Santa Claus.
      Nathan Phillips Square
    • Distillery District Holiday Market
      November 18 - December 22
      Distillery District Holiday Market
      Finish off your Christmas shopping while sipping on mulled wine and listening to carollers in the Distillery District. The price of weekend tickets went up this year to $6 and there's also a new fast pass ticket option for $20.
      The Distillery Historic District
    • Union Station Holiday Market
      December 5-16
      Union Station Holiday Market
      Toronto Market Co.’s Union Station Holiday Market showcases unique merchandise from specialty retail vendors, artisans, designers, food merchants and cultural institutions inside Union Station. The market is open from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day and admission is free.
      Union Station
Lead photo by

Hector Vasquez

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