By Lori Bosworth
If you haven’t yet attended the Lowe’s Toronto Christmas Market in Toronto’s historic Distillery District, there are several good reasons to visit this Toronto Christmas event this year. The Christmas market has just announced that top Canadian stars including Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman, jazz singer Matt Dusk, rock-pop artist Suzie McNeil and Royal Wood will be performing free concerts throughout the duration of the market.
The third annual Lowe’s Toronto Christmas Market opens on Fri., Nov. 30, 2012 with a performance by Brueggergosman at 6 p.m. while more than 18,000 lights will be lit up to decorate the market. The Distillery District will be transformed into a traditional European Christmas market with family entertainment, shopping, food and outdoor beer and mulled wine gardens, as well as a 45-foot Christmas tree.
Children’s activities include rides at the “South Pole” including a Merry-go-Round, Ferris Wheel and train rides; visits with Santa at Santa’s House (Mon-Fri from 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Sat and Sun from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.); the Fairy Tale Forest Maze, a Santa’s Elves Sing-Along and Santa’s Elves Workshop where kids can make ornaments and stocking stuffers, play traditional Christmas games and write a letter to Santa.
You’ll be able to do some shopping at the market’s unique Christmas craft sale at the outdoor vendors’ market where you’ll find toys, wood carvings, candles, children’s books, children’s sweaters, traditional Christmas decorations, stocking stuffers, scarves, yarns, Pennsylvania Dutch treats, Christmas pudding, pastries from Petite Thuet, traditional loose leaf teas, jams, jellies and chutneys.
You can sit down and listen to the sounds of the season as choirs and ensembles including the Holiday Brass Quintet, Toronto Mass Choir, Salvation Army Christmas Brass Ensemble, Oriana Women’s Choir, St. John’s York Mills Handbell Choir and the Candy Cane Carollers perform on the Main Stage throughout the Christmas market.
Don’t forget to stop by the beer and mulled wine gardens. Try free samples of Sleeman Original Draught Okanagan 1516 Bavarian Lager on Nov. 30 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Dec. 1, 8 and 15 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m at the Sleeman Beer Garden. You can also try free samples of Tyskie, Poland’s top selling beer at PMA Hospitality & Winter Warmer Lounge on Dec. 14 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Dec. 15 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Dec. 16 from 1 pm. to 5 p.m. William Grant & Sons Hospitality Lounge will be having sample dates on Dec. 14 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Dec. 15 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Dec. 16 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. You’ll have a chance to try free samples of Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch, Grant’s Family Reserve Blended Scotch, Irish Mist Honeyed Whiskey Liqueur and Innis and Gunn Oak Aged Beer.
The following Canadian performers will perform free at the Lowe’s Toronto Christmas Market:
- Measha Brueggergosman: Friday, November 30 at 6 p.m.
- Neverest: Saturday, December 1 at 7 p.m.
- Royal Wood: Thursday, December 6 at 7 p.m.
- Kira Isabella: Friday, December 7 at 7 p.m.
- Jarvis Church: Saturday, December 8 at 7 p.m.
- Suzie McNeil: Thursday, December 13 at 7 p.m.
- Sean Jones: Friday, December 14 at 7 p.m.
- Matt Dusk: Saturday, December 15 at 7 p.m.
The Lowe’s Toronto Christmas Market takes place at the Distillery District at Front Street and Parliament Street in downtown Toronto from November 30 to December 16.
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