Toronto's Distillery Winter Village opens tonight with 55-foot tree lighting at 6 p.m.

Toronto's signature Christmas market, the Distillery Winter Village, opens tonight (Thursday, November 12) in the Distillery Historic District, with Santa Claus switching on a 55-foot Christmas tree at 6 p.m. and 80,000 lights illuminating the district. The market runs until January 3.

Tree lighting and opening performances

The lighting ceremony takes place at 6 p.m., when Santa will flip the switch on the 51-year-old silver fir from Drysdale Tree Farm in Orangeville, Ontario. JUNO Award winner Holly Cole will then sing the first Christmas song of the season, with singer Mo Guzman warming up the crowd from 4 p.m.

Tickets and hours

Tickets are required on opening night and from 4 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, starting at $16 plus tax; children aged nine and under enter free. Daytime admission is free Monday to Wednesday until December 13. The market is closed on Christmas Day (December 25).

Location

The market is in Toronto's Distillery Historic District, at 55 Mill St. (Sources: Destination Toronto; Curiocity; Secret Toronto.)