Prancing reindeer

 

Location: Royal Bank Plaza South

Date photo taken: 16 December 2023

Happy holidays! 

Barksy

 

Location: Berczy Park

Date photo taken: 4 December 2022

Berczy Park is always full of dogs, and for the holiday season, the Old Town Toronto BIA has added one more. This is Barksy, and he's taken up residence in the park. If you snap a photo with him and post it to social media you could win a $100 gift card to your favourite Old Town Toronto business. Ho ho ho! 

Ornamental Seating

 

Location: Scotia Plaza, concourse level

Date photo taken: 21 December 2021

Happy Holidays! May you find the time to stop, rest and recharge while surrounded by things that bring you joy.

Santa's Computer

 

Location: Hudson's Bay Company, Queen Street West

Date photo taken: 23 December 2020

This friendly looking computer, which keeps track of the GPS coordinates for those on the NICE list among other things, is one of the animated Christmas windows on display at the Hudson's Bay store on Queen Street. It's the second year that the windows have offered the same behind the scenes glimpses into Santa's operations, but this year the Nutcrackers flanking the windows are sporting masks and holding signs with messages such as "Be safe, wear a mask" and "Thank you for practicing social distancing".

Flying Christmas Pig

 

Location; Regent Park
Date photo taken: 22 December 2020

Happy Holidays! May you find joy in unexpected places.

Gingerbread House for Humanity

Location: Allen Lambert Galleria, Brookfield Place
Date photo taken: 3 December 2019

On December 7th, Habitat for Humanity will be hosting their annual Gingerbread Build. The tenants of Brookfield Place got in on the action a bit early, and have set the bar pretty high! This pretty pink house, casting a warm glow from within, especially caught my eye. Today was the last day for the display in the Allen Lambert Galleria, but winners will be announced on the 5th.

Families wishing to build their own house can pick up a kit containing a pre-assembled gingerbread house form, plus everything needed for decorating, all for $50. Proceeds go toward supporting Habitat for Humanity's programs.

Scotia Plaza Christmas Tree

Location: Scotia Plaza Atrium, 40 King St. W.
Date photo taken: 30 November 2018

Happy holidays!

Christmas Windows

Location: The Bay, Queen Street windows
Date photo taken: 10 December 2018

Back in October American toy seller FAO Schwarz announced that it was coming to Canada for the first time, just in time for Christmas. They opened pop-up shops in Hudson's Bay stores across Canada and at the Queen Street flagship store, the Christmas windows are branded with FAO Schwarz. The windows, much the same as those unveiled last year, are delightful. They range from fantastical scenes like this one to steampunk visions to views of the city.

Allan Gardens Christmas Flower Show

Location: Allan Gardens Conservatory
Date photo taken: 12 December 2017

The beautiful Allan Gardens Conservatory, sitting in the middle of the park at Carlton and Sherbourne, is once again all dressed up for Christmas. The greenhouses are decked out with more than 30 varieties of poinsettias and there are countless seasonal surprises hidden among the greenery. It's free to visit and is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm. On weekends until mid-January, you can also enjoy the scene by candlelight.

Santa Bear

Location: Elm Avenue
Date photo taken: 28 November 2017

I love it when houses and yards are decorated for the season, whether it be Halloween or Christmas. In addition to being a display of festive spirit, it's a chance for people to get creative. Which is one reason the increasingly popular use of inflatable decorations usually leaves me a bit cold. That said, this oversized plush-looking bear doing his best Santa impersonation made me smile. Whatever you choose to celebrate, all the best to you!

Red Ribbon

Location: Church and Wood Streets

Date photo taken: 14 December 2016

The Church Wellesley Village, that section of Church Street between Wood and Gloucester, is jam packed with festive light displays. At the southern entrance to the Village sits this 5.5 metre glowing red ribbon. Commissioned by the Church Wellesley BIA as a celebration of life and to recognize the struggle of those living with HIV/AIDS, it was lit on World Aids Day, December 1.

Naughty or Nice

Location: Toronto Christmas Market, Distillery District

Date photo taken: 28 November 2015

The Toronto Christmas Market in the Distillery is in full swing and people are flocking to it once again. For those who have visited in previous years, you will notice some familiar elements, such as this lit sign on the Pure Spirits Patio, but have no fear, there are still plenty of new and fun elements. A forest of pink trees? Check! The market continues until December 22.

Happy New Year!

Location: The Bay Queen Street
Date photo taken: 23 December 2015

Whether you get all decked out to ring in the new year or celebrate in your pjs, have a wonderful New Year's Eve and a healthy, happy and productive 2016.

Distillery District Christmas Tree

Location: Distillery District
Date photo taken: 23 December 2015

The Toronto Christmas Market in the Distillery may be over for another year, but many of the decorations, including the stunning Christmas tree, are still place. This massive tree is kept securely in place by a substantial metal and concrete base, a permanent fixture which extends over four feet into the ground and which most of the year sits quietly hidden, covered over by bricks.

Happy Holidays!!

Christmas at MetroCentre

Location: MetroCentre, 225 King St. W.

Date photo taken: 16 December 2015

Usually holiday displays for me are all about the lights, but for this display at MetroCentre, the lights are only part of it. I love how the elongated structure of the lights mirrors the decorative column which is normally the focal point of this space. Lovely.

Greektown Christmas

Location: Alexander the Great Parkette, Danforth and Logan

Date photo taken: 2 December 2014

Happy holidays!!

Holiday Moose

Location: North side of Scotia Plaza Tower, on Adelaide just east of Bay

Date photo taken: 16 December 2014

Moose have come back to the city, and these ones have retained their antlers. Done in beautiful white lights to match the hanging ornaments, this bull and calf sit outdoors on the north side of Scotia Plaza. Inside the building, the holiday theme is continued with more decorations and a series of festive free concerts. 

Christmas Mailbox

Location: University Ave. at Dundas St.

Date photo taken: 2 December 2014

Canada Post has exchanged the familiar red of some of its mailboxes for a more festive look. The temporary wrap features the three Santa stamps which have been released in time for Christmas mailings. The stamps were created by two award-winning Quebec women, designer Hélène L’Heureux and illustrator Christiane Beauregard.

Nice as they are, if you're mailing a letter to Santa, you don't need a stamp. According to their website, Canada Post receives well over a million letters addressed to Santa each year, and has 9000 postal elves helping the big man get his responses out in time for Christmas. If you would like a response to your letter, you must pop it in the box by December 16 and be sure to include a return address. If you have kids who need a little help with their letters, Canada Post has templates on their website available for download.

Floating Christmas Tree

 

Location: Brookfield Place, Front & Yonge
Date photo taken: 28 November 2013

One of my favourite indoor spaces, Sam Pollock Square in Brookfield Place, is even more beautiful right now, decorated with a stunning floating Christmas tree. Designed specifically for Brookfield Place, it has over 40,000 LED lights, and lots of amber and crystal ornaments. I clearly wasn’t the only one impressed with the display – while I was setting up this picture, people were constantly stopping to pose with the tree.

Christmas Windows

Location: Holt Renfrew, 50 Bloor St. W.
Date photo taken: 10 December 2013

Despite the fact that most Christmas windows these days are much like windows at any other time of the year - filled with product - I still have a fascination with them. While the just-for-fun displays with animatronic Santas or Christmas-at-the-zoo scenes are largely gone, some of today's windows are beautiful, and some are quirky and fun. This is one of the Northern Noel series from Holt Renfrew on Bloor, one of the better efforts this Christmas.

If you're craving a good old-fashioned window experience, The Bay on Queen Street has a number of windows featuring miniature scenes, complete with animation. They're not new,  having been on display for the past several years, but they're still fun.