Winter Glow opened at Sankofa Square (formerly Yonge Dundas Square) in Toronto on December 11, 2025 and I braved the cool temperatures to attend! This free Toronto holiday event, which is now in its third year, is presented in partnership with Astro Amusements, Epilepsy Toronto and The Thornton-Smith Corporation.
The opening night featured a festive performance by My Pop Choir singing holiday favourites. I also enjoyed a hot chocolate from the Polar Point Bar. They also serve mulled wine and spiked hot apple cider. I made sure to pick up some hot sugar-coated mini donuts as well!
I heard that Santa was visiting so I caught up with him to give him my list and got a selfie taken with St. Nick! You’ll find Santa sitting in his Santa booth in the center of the market.
One of my favourite things to do was visiting SHEIN Box Santa, located on the northwest corner of Sankofa Square. From December 11-14, 2025, SHEIN Box Santa was giving out 6,000 free gifts. All you had to do was take a photo in front of SHEIN’s Box Santa, post it with #SHEINboxsanta on Instagram and show your post to Santa’s helpers who then give you an ornament to place in the window of the SHEIN Box Santa. A hand appeared to give me my gift. I received a beautiful foundation brush – so handy, since I really needed to replace my old one! The gifts are different. I saw someone receive a pair of cute socks.
I loved that when I got cold, I could warm up by hanging around the real wood fire pits!
Kids and kids at heart will enjoy rides and games including a Ferris wheel, carousel ride and balloon darts. Rides are $6 a ticket. I wanted to go on the Ferris wheel, but it was a bit too chilly!
I also browsed the vendors at the Holiday Market and saw some unique items that would make holiday gifts!
You can also enjoy live musical performances during the course of Winter Glow.
Winter Glow runs from December 11-21, 2025 and the hours are Weekdays from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Weekends from 12 noon to 10 p.m.
Sankofa Square is located at 1 Dundas Street East, Toronto
