We asked the team at TorontoToday about their favourite things to do in the city during the holiday season! While some of our staff prefer to escape into the wilderness this time of year — others favour gatherings with family and friends, and checking out local festivals.
Patrick, Reporter/Data Journalist:
"If we get snow, and there sometimes is some north of the 401, snowshoeing in the Rouge. Introverts need to recharge."
Aidan, Senior Reporter, City Hall:
"Christmas eve/late afternoon shinny with my dad and buddies."
Sarah, Deputy Editor:
"Community is everything! Every year, my chosen family and I have a big potluck dinner where we cram around a series of tables in a friend’s tiny midtown apartment. Good food, great company."
Gabe, Reporter:
"Every year I try to make it to the solstice festival in Kensington Market. There’s fire blowing, people in costumes on stilts, and paper lanterns. It’s a real community vibe – hundreds of people gathering to spend the longest night of the year together."
Allison, Editor:
"Purchasing many dozens of fresh perogies from The Whole Plate on Roncesvalles to bring to an annual Christmas Eve party at my family friends’ place. I like to get some jalapeño perogies in the mix so every dumpling is a bit of Russian roulette."
Cherise, Deputy Editor:
"Every year around the holidays I get a fancy coffee and wander around the Eaton Centre — partially for Christmas shopping, but mostly to people-watch and witness the chaos."
Kathryn, Reporter:
"Every year on New Years’ Eve my family gets together for a movie marathon to ring in the new year. The tradition started when my sister and I were kids and we watched all the Shrek movies for probably five years in a row. We’ve moved on to other franchises now. One year we watched the full extended cuts of Lord of the Rings and I think we had to start watching around noon in order to finish in time for midnight."
