The holiday season is quickly approaching, and Canada’s Wonderland has introduced a new winter play area for residents of the GTA: Winterfest at Wonderland! This magical holiday transformation takes over Canada’s Wonderland from November 22 to December 31, 2019, and brings a whole new way to experience the park grounds. So many gorgeous decorations, ornaments, and festive music tracks have been added that visitors will be seeing the park in a whole new light! As a WonderCrew influencer, I attended the media preview on November 22, 2019.
Winterfest is new to Canada’s Wonderland and allows visitors to enjoy the park with so many holiday-themed activities, shows, attractions and delicious eats. The best part is that there’s something for everyone in the family: The Playhouse Theatre hosts a PEANUTS Christmas performance, the North Pole Mercantile vendor marketplace helps with your shopping list, and the Mistletones singers put on a sweet singing performance!
Upon entering the park, the first thing that will hit you is the transformation of the pond and waterfall. The entire main entrance of Canada’s Wonderland is now the Snow Flake Lake Ice Skating rink! Guests can select a skating time, and then head over to the rental shop to pick-up their skates to enjoy some leisurely skating to some of their favourite holiday music. The lighting and decorations in this area are absolutely gorgeous, so make sure to take a moment and snap some selfies with your loved ones or friends!
If you’ve chosen a later skating time and need something delicious to keep you warm, check out the various hot chocolate stands where guests can purchase a travel mug and refill for a significantly reduced price. Hot chocolate flavours include classic, French vanilla and Coffee Crisp (I went for the Coffee Crisp option).
The festive changes can be found throughout the park, so make sure to roam around the grounds and do a lot of exploring. One of my favourite features is the Christmas Rock music lane located by Vortex, near Wonder Mountain. The lighting in this area is timed to the beat and melody of the music, and visitors walking through are invited to snap some pics with Christmas elves and other friendly local residents of the village!
Speaking of village, Planet Snoopy will also be available to visit and host an array of holiday activities for kids! During our evening visit, this area of the park was closed off, but make sure to stop by with the little ones on the weekend. Winterfest generally opens at 3 p.m., but make sure to visit the Canada’s Wonderland calendar as the park is open over the holidays:
As mentioned before, there’s something for everyone at Canada’s Wonderland’s Winterfest, and I have to admit that I was very excited to see an Ice Wine Garden and Cider House. I think these are two other great options for staying warm, especially for those 19+ guests who might be enjoying a date night at Winterfest. The Cider House also offers mulled wine, and is located in the Medieval Faire, so grab a glass and enjoy an intimate conversation while you warm up before exploring some more!
Make sure to keep your eyes and ears open for the Roaming Brass Band. Their lively tunes and big sound will get even the coldest of Scrooges into the holiday mood. This group won’t stick around one area for long, so if you hear them coming your way make sure to stop and follow the music!
As someone who has been visiting Canada’s Wonderland since a very young age, I have to say that it’s nice to finally see the park grounds being used during the colder months. The reality is that the cooler weather lasts a very long time in Toronto, so any chance to enjoy some outdoor activities is fantastic.
I’m a fan of holiday markets across the GTA, and happily welcome another option that has programming for all ages. If you’re a Gold Pass member, your 2019 pass automatically gets you entrance into Winterfest so make good use of it and stop by. Anyone considering purchasing a 2020 pass will also be granted access to this year’s Winterfest, as well as next years. Comment down below if you’ve attended Winterfest and discovered any hidden gems on the Winterfest grounds – we’re always excited to hear about things we may have missed!
You might also be interested in reading, “Family Friendly Christmas Events in Toronto“.
I have never heard of Canada’s wonderland. It looks like a great park! I think it’s fun they are open during the winter months for this celebration!
This is the first year they are open in the winter! Cheers, Lori
Canada’s Wonderland’s Winterfest is a new attraction to me and it makes me want to visit, just to experience this fabulous event and theme. It looks like the perfect place to bring children during this time, to really enjoy the festive season.
Yes, this is definitely a family-friendly holiday event! I hope you get to check it out if you ever visit Toronto. Cheers, Lori
I am from Michigan and I am supposed to visit there soon. I wonder if I will have enough time to visit Canada’s Wonderland’s Winterfest. It looks like a bunch of fun and I have a few family members who would go with me.
If you don’t have time to visit Canada’s Wonderland, definitely try and visit the Toronto Christmas Market at the Distillery District, which is located downtown (Parliament Street and Front Street East). Enjoy your visit! Cheers, Lori
This looks like a really fun park and a perfect way to celebrate the season! Planet Snoopy sounds like fun — even for adults! LOL
I agree…it is a great way to celebrate the holidays! I love Planet Snoopy too! Cheers, Lori
I love holiday markets and Christmas fairs, they give such a magical feeling. It’s been a while since I had mulled wine! This looks really inviting and fun!
I love Christmas holiday markets too! They give such a nostalgic feeling. Cheers, Lori
Lovely place to take the family! I am always awed by Christmas lights displays and this Winterfest at Wonderland will not disappoint! Wish we lived closer. I want to see those displays in person!
I also love seeing an array of Christmas light displays…it is simply magical! Cheers, Lori
Thats a very nice place to visit with family. Kids will love the place and they will have fun and enjoy there.
Yes, it’s the perfect place to visit with family during the holidays! Cheers, Lori
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