We're all used to seeing the Distillery District decked out for Christmas. But this fall, it'll get a hockey-themed makeover in honour of the NHL's World Cup of Hockey happening at the Air Canada Centre from September 17 to October 1.

The Distillery District will act as the event's Fan Village and it'll host a free 10-day festival from September 16 to 25. It'll take over much of this pedestrian-only neighbourhood as well as a 200,000 square foot lot east of Cherry Street (dubbed the East Fan Village).

Along with streaming games, this fan-focused fest will include live music, a virtual arena and bubble hockey game (think bubble soccer, but better).

The World Cup of Hockey will pit eight teams - Canada, USA, Finland, Czech Republic, Sweden, Russia, Europe and North America - against each other and will include more than 150 NHL players. At the last such tournament in 2004, Canada, of course, took home gold.

Photo by Calvin James via the blogTO Flickr pool.