10 Things to Do in Toronto in January

From the winter magic of Legoland to the thrill of outdoor skating at the city's largest ice rink, there's plenty to see and do in Toronto the first month of the year.

Enjoy immersive art experiences that awaken your senses and join the vibrant celebration of the Festival of Lights across the city. Looking for a more fun-filled experience? Head to Niagara Falls for the Iced Wine Festival, an unforgettable culinary experience, and head to the Torontonian adventure! In this article you'll find the best things to do in Toronto in January.

When it comes to the best tours in Toronto, its great museums and bohemian neighbourhoods are usually at the top of the list. However, when the city is covered in snow, the natural sites are worth a visit. In this case, the recommendation is Mountsberg Park, with the magic of the winter season coming to life in the middle of this conservatory.

Winter transforms Mountsberg into a serene haven, where the world calms down under the stillness of the park, in the light of the Winterlit lanterns. This event invites you to embrace nature in this enchanting winter wonderland, the trees are outlined with a stunning light display and inspiring and sustainable art installations are added along the trails.

Gather with family and friends in front of the bonfire, listen to some local bands, do some shopping at the artisan market, enjoy a light supper at the food court or just sit back and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. It's a perfect way to cap off a day of sightseeing and I recommend making it one of your things to do in Toronto at night during the winter.

Interesting details

• Date: From the last week of December to the third week of February.
• Address: Mountsberg Conservation Area, 2259 Milburough Line, Campbellville, Ontario.

Want an extra excuse to join one of the Niagara Falls tours from Toronto? In January, you've got a great one: the Niagara Ice Wine Festival, a unique celebration you won't find anywhere else.

The Niagara Ice Wine Festival invites you to experience local produce tastings, culinary creations, music, crafts, curiosities and glittering ice sculptures, all while expanding your palate with tastings of Niagara's finest wines, fit for even the pickiest of eaters.

In Niagara Falls January is a month of celebrations. Some days, the area around the Falls is transformed into a historic winter wonderland, where local wineries offer exclusive wine pairings in fine dining restaurants. On other days, open-air parties are held where local icewine producers sponsor the event. And when it comes to livening up the programme, live entertainment keeps you dancing until the end of the night, when fireworks light up the sky.

Interesting details

• Date: the whole month of January. There are several events, I invite you to check the Niagara-on-the-Lake calendar.
• Address: in the village of Niagara.

In January, Toronto sparkles with the Festival of Lights, a vibrant celebration that illuminates different parts of the city. Experience cultural diversity through performances, live music and exquisite cuisine. The streets are filled with colourful displays of light, creating a festive atmosphere that attracts locals and tourists alike.

Where is the event? The list of locations is extensive, with each neighbourhood having its own event, here are the most popular ones:

Mississauga Illumi Festival of Lights

Illumi always surprises with its creative and state-of-the-art lighting technology, but during the Festival of Lights, they go all out.

Mississauga Illumi offers an unforgettable spectacle with more than a dozen themed universes illuminated with millions of neon lights outlining each area. Immerse yourself in this immersive experience, and for 60-90 minutes be swept away by the flashes of light, sound and interactive spaces.

An important fact is that to join the experience, you must make your reservation in advance, as space is limited. Visit their website and don't miss out on your ticket.

• Date: from December until the first week of January.
• Address: 7174 Derry Crest Drive, Mississauga

Riverside Festival of Lights

The annual Festival of Lights is held in the Burlington waterfront between December and early January. For the event, some 60 illuminated displays are set up around Spencer Smith Park to fascinate adults and children.

This event has been a tradition for over 25 years. Thousands of locals and visitors from all over the region explore the park with family and friends, enjoying the themed displays, music and seasonal activities.

• Date: December through the first week of January.
• Address: Spencer Smith Park, 1400 Lakeshore Rd, Burlington.

Distillery District Festival of Lights

During the winter, from January to March, Toronto' s Distillery District comes alive with its Festival of Lights. This has become a popular attraction, thanks to an incredible display of international art, live music and thousands of multi-coloured lights, all accompanied by the jewels of the event: festive beverages.

This is the best time to schedule a tour of Toronto's Distillery District, when the neighbourhood is transformed into an interactive outdoor art gallery featuring the works of design collectives and artists from around the world. Each installation reflects Toronto's multicultural character, and exploring them can be an exciting treasure hunt.

• Date: January to March.
• Address: Distillery District, 55 Mill Street.

Ice skating enthusiasts are in heaven in Toronto with its many extensive rinks. Head to the attractive Bentway Trail, a figure-eight rink under the Gardiner Expressway. Or opt for the tranquil Barbara Ann Scott Ice Rink in College Park. However, Nathan Phillips Square stands out with a special offer.

Located in downtown Toronto, it offers the opportunity to skate surrounded by skyscrapers and the famous City Hall statue. In addition, some of Toronto' s best galleries and museums are located here. A must-see stop on any guided or customised tour of the city.

Here, skating, far from being the only attraction, is combined with displays by award-winning skaters, the presence of carolers and vibrant electronic music shows, to the iconic Ride of Lights.

This celebration, which officially marks the start of the holiday season in Toronto in November, draws crowds with its lively and festive atmosphere. The experience lasts until 7 January, when the lights display and the public ice rink bids farewell until next year. All in all, skating at Nathan Phillips Square is an experience that combines skating, music, art and lights, creating unforgettable memories.

Interesting details

• Date: From the last week of November to the first week of January.
• Address: Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen St W, Toronto.

If you're in town from the first of the month, you'll still have a chance to celebrate the most entertaining time of the year at LEGOLAND Discovery Center. Throughout December and until the first of January, the Holiday Bricktacular comes to life in one of the best things to do with kids in Toronto.

Special activities include photo ops with the characters of this block universe, virtual reality games and interactive attractions set with holiday magic. In addition, visitors can enjoy exciting building workshops, where they can create their own LEGO Christmas ornaments to take home as a souvenir of the festive experience.

When you purchase your tickets to the Legoland Discovery Centre in Toronto, you will have access to more than 12 of the park's Bricktacular-style attractions. If you're travelling to Toronto with your little ones, enjoy the first day of the year with this event - get ready for a fun-filled and joyful experience!

Interesting details

• Date: December to January 1st.
• Address: 1 Bass Pro Mills Dr, Vaughan, Ontario.

Explore the wintry charm of Casa Loma until January 7. This iconic landmark is decked out for the holiday season, with exquisite decorations, a display of lights and a Christmas tree that is impossible to miss.

You can schedule a visit during the day or include it in your Toronto things to do at night. The experience is captivating and each year surprises visitors with a different activity, such as mystery solving, concerts, festive crafts, visiting pets and more. Be amazed from the very first moment, with its 12-metre tall main tree at the entrance and its dreamy festive atmosphere.

Interesting details

• Date: December to 7 January.
• Address: 1 Austin Terrace.

Toronto' s Gingerbread Festival is a must-visit during the holiday season, offering a wide variety of delicious gingerbread biscuits and promotions at a network of shops of all kinds. And did you know that it runs until the beginning of January? That's right! For the exact date you can visit the Yonge + St. Clair website.

During this Shrek-esque festival, a giant gingerbread biscuit is displayed in a cheerful and nostalgic atmosphere at various locations around Toronto. This is a great time to take advantage of deals and promotions at hairdressers, bakeries, supermarkets, local restaurants, coffee shops and more.

Interested in more than just shopping? Enter the gingerbread house competition to make the activity more interactive, exploratory and deliciously fun. Make a note of this as one of your things to do in Toronto with kids in January.

Interesting details

• Date: December to early January.
• Address: St. Clair West Village, Ontario, Toronto.

The Window Wonderland exhibition, or Mural Wonderland in Toronto, is an award-winning event that transforms The Junction into an interactive outdoor gallery under a network of augmented reality installations by talented local and international artists. They take classic art and add a digital twist to create new dimensions and open up endless possibilities.

While you're at The Junction, don't miss the free street performance. It combines movement, theatrical imagery and comedy to create a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. You can buy some of the artwork, or just admire it. It's truly a show to enjoy, and you won't want to miss it!

With over 20 unique augmented reality installations, 24 showcases and paintings, there's plenty to explore. And if that wasn't enough, Window Wonderland also features animated murals. What more can I tell you? I'll sum it up: the event was designed to be one of the things to do in Toronto at Christmas, and it had to be extended throughout January because the public demanded it.

Details of interest

• Date: 25 November to 31 January.
• Address: Junction District, Toronto

Immerse yourself in the magic of winter at Celebration Square during the month of January! At Mississauga's Celebration Square, discover the joy of skating on Toronto's largest outdoor ice rink, while illuminated installations invite you to continue celebrating the Christmas season.

Take a stroll through Passage, an immersive light tunnel with sounds that respond to your movements. Plus, marvel at luminous street art creations such as Asli Alin's diaphanous charms, Nate Nettleton's echoes and Weppler and Mahovsky's Sugar Mountain.

The skating rink and skate rental will be available from late November to mid-March. And, to keep you warm, enjoy the heated patios in the Amphitheatre or by the skate rental booth - quite the winter experience!

Interesting details

• Date: 26 November to March.
• Address: Mississauga Celebration Square - 300 City Centre Drive, Mississauga, Ontario.

Tea lovers have a must-visit destination in January: the Toronto Tea Festival. It's the largest tea event in Canada, offering a warm and welcoming experience.

Explore a variety of exquisite teas, learn about tea culture, share with panelists the most famous specialties such as Wu Wo tea, join the tea ceremony, share impressions with experts and aficionados, and spend a leisurely afternoon with family and friends. Get ready to enjoy captivating aromas and flavours at this not-to-be-missed January event!

Details of interest

• Date: 3 weeks in January.
• Address: Appel Room - Toronto Reference Library, 2nd floor, Ontario.

January is usually the coldest month of the year, with temperatures dropping to a chilly -20°C or below. However, the average winter temperature in Toronto is around freezing.

To stay warm in Toronto this month, you'll want to bring a warm coat, hat, scarf and gloves. Although the south of Lake Ontario receives more snow than the north, it is still likely to snow in Toronto during January. In any case, I recommend you follow the weather conditions on the official weather website.