Experience A True European Christmas (Right Off The Danforth)

This December, Toronto’s Distillery District played host to the first annual Lowe’s Christmas Market.

Just minutes from the Danforth, the Distillery District is known for their breweries and art galleries, but from December 3^rd to the 12^th, it was transformed into a traditional European Christmas Market -albeit on a smaller scale.

Originating from Germany in the middle ages, Christmas markets, or Weihnachtsmarkts, are traditionally held in the city’s centre and last all of December. Toronto’s Distillery District was the perfect setting for the markets, especially all decked out with lights, garland, and a massive 40’ high Christmas tree.

Visitors of all ages enjoyed the main stage performances, which included local schools choirs from the Etobicoke School of the Arts and Terry Fox Public School, as well as dance performances from Akran Ukrainian Dance Company among others.

If and when hunger struck, visitors had their pick of pastries, bratwurst, and a particularly fragrant Swiss cheese on fries. The adults could pull up a chair next to one of the many fire pits and sip on a cup of warm Glühwein or mulled wine.

And don’t forget the shopping! The district’s handicraftsmen were open late, as well as the stalls set up on the streets selling everything from wooden ornaments (a traditional German gift) and A Christmas Story paraphernalia.

On closing weekend, the streets were packed as carolers sang. It was a bit of European Christmas brought to Toronto. It’s worth venturing off the Danforth for.