This holiday season Toronto’s Distillery District will be hosting the sixth annual Toronto Christmas Market.
In 2014 the Market almost half a million visitors attended throughout the 21-day duration.
Six years ago the move to create a Christmas market was because there wasn’t a successful one in the city. The Distillery District location was the perfect spot because it already drew a crowd.
Michael Rosenblatt, executive producer of the Toronto Christmas Market, said that the crowd that came out on opening night shocked him.
“We didn’t anticipate that amount of public support, I thought it would only be friends and family but people came and enjoyed it,” he said.
People from all walks of life have come to make it a tradition.
Torontonian Anna Cotic first discovered the Market three years ago and has gone ever since.
“It’s the perfect place to visit and get in the spirit of the holidays,” Cotic said.
She prizes the market for the treats and vendors that denote Christmas.
Vendors line up and down the streets selling everything from Belgian waffles and Maple Leaf Fudge to poutine.
Visitors are treated to sing-alongs with Santa’s elves, world folk music and dance, and the famous mistletoe for the romantics.
Cotic says that her favourite part of market is the atmosphere, “There’s just so so much excitement and buzz around, but at the same time it feels cozy.”
2 days until #TCM15! What smell brings back your favorite holiday memories? Find it in @DistilleryTO starting Friday pic.twitter.com/pq8CMTLbGd
— TO Christmas Market (@TOXmasMkt) November 18, 2015
The market runs from Nov. 20 until Dec. 20.
For directions to the Toronto Christmas Market and the attractions around it, see the map below.