The Distillery District sits just east of downtown Toronto, where a group of red brick Victorian industrial buildings now holds galleries, shops, theatres and cafes along pedestrian-only lanes. In late fall and winter the cobblestones fill with holiday lights, live music and a giant tree, while the theatres and galleries make it easy to plan a warm evening out. These date ideas for November and December are built around Distillery places and events with official details posted for the season.
Wander the Brick Lanes
The Distillery Historic District: The district at 55 Mill Street is open 364 days a year, with shops open until 8 p.m. from Monday to Wednesday, until 9 p.m. from Thursday to Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Cars are kept out, so you can stroll the brick lanes side by side and pop into more than 40 small boutiques. Each of you picks one shop the other would never walk into, then you both go in together.
SOMA Chocolatemaker: Warm up at SOMA, a chocolate maker at 32 Tank House Lane. It is open every day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Choose a bar or a small box of truffles to share, and take turns guessing the flavours before you read the label.
The Distillery Winter Village
Distillery Winter Village: From November 12 to January 3, the district becomes the Distillery Winter Village, the holiday market Toronto used to call the Christmas Market. Expect glowing lights over the lanes, vendor cabins and a huge tree. Entry is free all day Monday to Wednesday through December 13. Timed tickets are needed after 4 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, on Thursdays in December, and every day from December 14 to 31, and they are sold online only. A weeknight visit is the easy choice.
Music on the Schedule: The official schedule lists the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir at 6 and 7 p.m. on Sunday, November 22, Opera Atelier at 6 and 7 p.m. on November 29, the Canadian Opera Company at 6 p.m. on December 4 and Mirvish Productions at 7 p.m. on December 13. Carollers stroll on many days, and the village is closed on Christmas Day. Stand close, listen to a set, then walk the lights while the songs are still in your heads.
A Night at Soulpepper
Parfumerie: Soulpepper's holiday romantic comedy returns from November 18 to December 20 in the Baillie Theatre at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts on Tank House Lane. On a snowy night in Budapest, two perfume shop clerks who cannot stand each other trade letters with a secret pen pal, never guessing who is on the other side. It is the story behind the films The Shop Around the Corner and You've Got Mail. On December 8, Soulpepper also hosts a one-night double feature of those two films.
The Thrill of Hope and De Profundis: From December 15 to January 3, The Thrill of Hope is a brand new holiday concert at Soulpepper. Until November 29 you can also catch De Profundis: Oscar Wilde in Jail, a Dora Award winning musical. After the show, walk out into the lit lanes and share your favourite moment.
Gallery Hopping
Thompson Landry Gallery: Thompson Landry Gallery, inside the district, is open Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walk the rooms slowly and each choose the piece you would hang in your home if money did not matter.
Corkin Gallery: A few steps away at 7 Tank House Lane, Corkin Gallery shows contemporary art from Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check the website for the current show, then compare notes over hot chocolate afterward.
Old Town and St. Lawrence Market
St. Lawrence Market: A short walk west into Old Town, the South Market at 92 to 95 Front Street East is open Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Mondays. Give each other a small budget and a mission: find the best snack in the building, then trade bites and vote on a winner. Holiday hours are posted on the market website.
Sample Date Itineraries
Free weeknight lights: Visit the Winter Village on a Monday to Wednesday evening before December 13, then warm up with hot chocolate at SOMA before it closes at 8 p.m.
Theatre night: Browse the shops in the late afternoon, then see Parfumerie at Soulpepper and walk the glowing lanes after the curtain.
Saturday art and market day: Start with breakfast snacks at St. Lawrence Market, stroll east to the Distillery, then visit Corkin Gallery and Thompson Landry Gallery.
Pro Tips
Get in before 4 p.m.: On ticketed days, guests already inside the gates before 4 p.m. can stay without a ticket, so arrive early.
Plan around gallery days: Thompson Landry is closed Monday and Tuesday, and Corkin is closed Sunday and Monday.
Dress for cobblestones: The lanes are uneven brick, so wear warm, comfortable shoes.
Confirm the day of: Hours and events can change, so check each official page before you go.
The Distillery in winter is bright, walkable and full of small surprises. Pick a show, a gallery or a weeknight under the lights, and enjoy the season together.
Photo credits: Distillery District, looking northeast by Chicken4War, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Holiday market lights in the Distillery District (2018) by Jason Zhang, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Young Centre for the Performing Arts, home of Soulpepper by A1 Federation, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.