The Distillery Winter Village 2025

This year, the main sponsor isn’t Dior but L’Oréal, and honestly, it’s still just as beautiful—if not more festive and flashy than last year. There are more lights, more decorative details, and the brand installations feel more polished overall. Since the pandemic, it feels like winter events in Toronto have become bigger and more extravagant, and Distillery Winter Village is a perfect example of that trend. It’s less of a simple holiday market now and more like a small winter-themed attraction. 📸 Still one of the best spots for photos Once the lights turn on in the evening, the atmosphere is hard to beat. If you’re looking for cozy holiday vibes or festive photos, this place never disappoints. 🍷 Food & drinks are what you’d expect Mulled wine, hot chocolate, sausages—classic winter market items. Nothing mind-blowing taste-wise, but you’re definitely paying for the ambiance. 🎟️ About the tickets Evening entry requires a ticket, and honestly, I’m not sure it’s always worth it—especially if you’ve been before. It’s fun, but not necessarily something you need to pay for every single year. 👉 Tip If you don’t want to buy a ticket, go before 4 PM. Entry is free, it’s less crowded, and if you stay a bit longer, you can still catch some of the lights turning on. 👥 Expect crowds Weekend evenings are packed. Between tourists, couples, families, and dogs, it can get pretty hectic—don’t expect a slow, peaceful stroll. Overall: Beautiful, festive, and very “holiday vibes,” but definitely a mood-and-photos kind of place. Great to visit once a season, just keep expectations (and spending) in check.

The Distillery District is truly a place full of energy, character, and creativity. From the moment you step in, you can feel the vibrant atmosphere created by the beautifully preserved historic buildings, cobblestone streets, and lively crowds. It’s a perfect blend of history and modern culture. We thoroughly enjoyed walking around, exploring the unique shops, art installations, cafés, and pop-up experiences. The Stranger Things photo booth was a standout — fun, interactive, and great for photos. It added a modern, exciting touch to the visit. Food options are excellent, with something for everyone. We tried a warm Thai soup, which was delicious and comforting — especially while strolling around the district. One important tip: since the area is completely open-air, it’s best to avoid visiting during extremely cold weather unless you’re well prepared. Make sure to wear proper winter clothing and protection, as it can get quite chilly, especially with wind. Overall, it’s a fantastic place for photos, food, and soaking in great energy. Highly recommended for both tourists and locals visiting Toronto.😊

I visited the Distillery Winter Village on December 24, and it was a really great experience. The Christmas vibe was absolutely amazing-beautiful lights, festive decorations, and a lively atmosphere that truly feels magical during the holidays. There was a wide variety of food stalls offering foods from different places and countries, so there was plenty to try and enjoy. The energy of the crowd, music, and overall setup made it a lot of fun to walk around. It’s also a perfect spot for photos-there are so many beautifully decorated corners and picture-worthy locations. Overall, I had too much fun, and it’s definitely a place worth visiting during Christmas if you’re in Toronto. 🎄✨

Before heading inside the distillery you gotta wait please 10-20 minutes in line. They’ll announce if you haven’t bought your tickets in advance and pass the people with the orange vest asking for proof of tickets; you gotta go all the way back in line and order your tickets which they will provide a QR code sign on the side of the line. Highly recommend buying your tickets in advance. If you want a beautiful experience, I suggest attending at night as the lights were extremely beautiful. Weekends are expected to be extremely busy so expect heavy line ups to food, “jelly cat” if you’re planning on purchasing, and drinks. I don’t recommend purchasing food around the naughty or nice area where they sell drinks, my boyfriend and I waited 20 minutes for a hot dog that only had slivered onions and a fat sausage that tasted water down. very disappointing. highly recommend going around deeper in the villa and find better option of foods as there are other better (near the heart). this year I feel like the experience was dull. it isn’t as great like a year or few years back. It’s becoming like an easy place to make money. at the end of the day, it’s only great for a one time experience and to enjoy the different vendors and props they sell. 6/10 experience 3/10 food -1/10 drinks (only because they’re overpriced but 8/10 for drinks tasted real good) 2/10 crowdyness 2/10 waiting time for food

The Distillery District is a Toronto staple for a reason—and after going for 16 years, it’s easy to see why it has become such a strong tradition for so many people. The district offers a great mix of well-known vendors alongside small, local businesses selling handmade and personalized items, which keeps the experience feeling special year after year. There’s always something new to discover, even if you’ve been many times before. If you’re planning to eat at one of the restaurants, reservations are a must. Booking a couple of weeks in advance is the safest bet, especially during peak seasons and weekends. The dining options are popular and fill up quickly. One thing that’s appreciated during colder months is the availability of heated areas and campfire-style warming spots throughout the district, some of which are conveniently located near areas serving alcohol—perfect for lingering a little longer and soaking in the atmosphere. Parking, however, can be challenging. If you’re arriving after 6 p.m., expect difficulty finding a nearby spot. A good strategy is to park in a larger lot a bit farther away and walk in—it’s often less stressful than circling the area. Washrooms are easy to find and accessible, which is always a plus in a busy pedestrian-only area. Over the years, the Distillery District has definitely become much more crowded. Be prepared to navigate through tight walking spaces, especially during popular times. You’ll quickly notice the difference between those who come every year as part of a Toronto tradition and those who are there primarily for photos. Patience goes a long way here. Overall, despite the crowds, the Distillery District remains a charming and iconic Toronto experience—best enjoyed with planning, comfortable shoes, and a bit of patience.

Loved the Christmas vibes here. Everything is decorated so good with lights. There are variety of vendors, cute shops and things to explore. Quite a nice evening. Long wait time though, we got the express tickets so it was easy for us to enter. However express tickets are pricey and couldn’t feel worth it.

This has been the third Distillery Winter Village I’ve been to and I have to say it’s the best one yet! The pop-up shops were great this year and they’ve included more picture ops than I remember from past iterations. They even have good lighting for a lot of those spots like the heart and the Christmas wreath making your pictures turn out great. We opted for the combo ticket which included Mythos. To be honest, it was alright and a good time to just sit back and relax indoors to warm up, but it’s definitely geared more towards families. Regardless of your group if you decide to experience it yourself it’s better if you’re active as there are sensors in the room that allow you to interact with the ground and certain scenes along the walls.

The Winter Village Fest is definitely a great place to visit—especially once the holiday season and Christmas vibes start rolling in. We loved the atmosphere: great food, fun stalls, and an overall festive mood. We went on the second day, and the weather was perfect—cool but comfortable—and it wasn’t nearly as crowded as it gets in December, which was a big plus. We tried a bunch of treats: hot chocolate, mulled wine, sake, hot sauces, and even stopped by Spirit of York for their vodka and gin flights. All around, it was a fun and interesting experience. Took tons of photos and really enjoyed the day. Highly recommend checking it out!