Things to Do in Toronto This November 2026
November plans do not all have to involve gift shopping, so let us leave the retail rush behind for a moment. Toronto offers a packed calendar this month, ranging from agricultural fairs and gaming conventions to ballet performances, live orchestral concerts, and free gallery nights. Knowing what requires a ticket, what costs extra, and what can remain open-ended helps shape a smooth itinerary. Here are sixteen activities to check out across the city this November.
Editor’s Note: As we approach November, ticketing rules, final routes, and schedule releases are frequently updated by organizers. Review official event pages for any last-minute changes before purchasing tickets or making reservations.
16 Things to Do in Toronto!
Spend a Day at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
The Royal returns to Exhibition Place with livestock, agricultural displays, food exhibitors, and equestrian programming. It suits a longer outing rather than a quick stop between other plans. Visitors should review the daily schedule beforehand to select specific activities. Cooking classes are available for $28 plus fair admission, and horse-show packages carry separate inclusions.
- Dates: November 6-15, 2026
- Location: Exhibition Place, 100 Princes’ Boulevard
- Cost: Paid admission; cooking classes cost $28 plus admission
- Website: Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
Editor’s Note: Prioritize the daily schedule before arriving to make the most of the extensive grounds.
Play Arcade and Tabletop Games at Toronto Game Expo
This event brings arcade cabinets, console games, tabletop gaming, and exhibitors to the Better Living Centre. Free-play areas come included with admission, while selected workshops and tournaments require separate fees. Single-day tickets start at $30, and weekend passes start at $50, with rates scheduled to increase on November 6.
- Dates: November 7-8, 2026 (Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
- Location: Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place
- Cost: Single-day from $30; weekend passes from $50
- Website: Toronto Game Expo
Editor’s Note: Note that ticket prices are scheduled to increase on November 6, so booking early saves money.
Browse the Toronto Art Crawl Christmas Market
For early gift shopping without an admission fee, the Toronto Art Crawl holds its market at The Bentway featuring 140 artists, food vendors, and a DJ. Visitors can browse artwork and speak directly with makers. Specific food menus and vendor prices vary.
- Date: November 7, 2026
- Location: The Bentway, 250 Fort York Boulevard
- Cost: Free admission; purchases cost extra
- Website: Toronto Art Crawl Christmas Market
Editor’s Note: An ideal stop to support local makers without paying an admission fee.
See the Tree Lighting at the Distillery Winter Village
Running from November 12 onward, the Distillery Winter Village opens with a tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. The historic district hosts market vendors, food, drinks, and entertainment throughout its run. Official 2026 ticket rules and detailed programming are announced in the fall.
- Dates: November 12, 2026, to January 3, 2027 (Tree lighting on November 12 at 6 p.m.)
- Location: Distillery Historic District
- Cost: Admission rules and pricing pending
- Website: Distillery Winter Village
Editor’s Note: Check the official ticket page once autumn announcements drop, as past access rules do not apply.
Make Plans for the Original Santa Claus Parade
The Original Santa Claus Parade returns on Sunday, November 22. Attendees should follow the official route map published closer to the date for optimal street-side viewing. Practical preparation includes layered clothing and seating arrangements.
- Date: November 22, 2026
- Location: Toronto
- Cost: Free street viewing
- Website: Original Santa Claus Parade
Editor’s Note: Avoid referencing older route maps since the final path is subject to official updates.
Head to Nathan Phillips Square for Cavalcade of Lights
Scheduled for November 28 from 5 to 10 p.m., Cavalcade of Lights features stage performances, tree lighting, and public skating. Skating is free, though equipment rentals require separate arrangements.
- Date: November 28, 2026 (5 p.m. to 10 p.m.)
- Location: Nathan Phillips Square
- Cost: Free public event; skate rentals extra
- Website: Cavalcade of Lights
Editor’s Note: Remember that while skating is free, skate rentals require separate fees and availability checks.
Choose a November Ballet Performance
The National Ballet of Canada presents two distinct productions. Romeo and Juliet runs through November 8, while the double bill Emergence / Silent Screen runs from November 13 to 20 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.
- Dates: Romeo and Juliet (October 31 to November 8); Emergence / Silent Screen (November 13-20)
- Location: Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
- Cost: Ticket prices vary by seat selection
- Website: National Ballet of Canada
Editor’s Note: Single tickets go on sale starting September 22, so mark your calendar accordingly.
Hear Fleetwood Mac Songs at a Tribute Concert
Rumours of Fleetwood Mac performs at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre from November 3 to 8. The production includes evening shows and afternoon matinees with a running time of approximately two hours and 25 minutes.
- Dates: November 3-8, 2026
- Location: CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria Street
- Cost: Paid admission based on seating map
- Website: Mirvish Productions
Editor’s Note: Matinee options offer a convenient alternative if you prefer to skip late-evening outings.
Hear James Ehnes Perform With the TSO
Violinist James Ehnes joins the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thomson Hall for performances featuring Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto and Saint-Saëns’s Organ Symphony.
- Dates: November 26 and 28 at 7:30 p.m.; November 29 at 3 p.m.
- Location: Roy Thomson Hall
- Cost: Paid admission
- Website: Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Editor’s Note: This is a full orchestral performance combining violin and organ symphonies.
Watch Raiders of the Lost Ark With Live Music
Meridian Hall screens Raiders of the Lost Ark accompanied by John Williams’s score performed live by musicians. Performances include a Saturday matinee and an evening show.
- Dates: November 27 at 7:30 p.m.; November 28 at 2 p.m.
- Location: Meridian Hall, 1 Front Street East
- Cost: Tickets start at $69.50
- Website: TO Live
Editor’s Note: An orchestral screening where musicians perform John Williams’s score live.
Make a Glass Ornament at Harbourfront Centre
The Craft & Design Studio hosts three-hour glass ornament classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout November. Participants work on blown and solid glass pieces under instructor guidance. Finished pieces require pickup two to three days later.
- Dates: Tuesdays and Thursdays in November (6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.)
- Location: Craft & Design Studio, 235 Queens Quay West
- Cost: $150 (materials included; ages 18 and older)
- Website: Harbourfront Centre
Editor’s Note: Keep in mind that finished glass pieces require a two-to-three-day cooling period before pickup.
See A Christmas Carol Before December
The Shaw Festival runs its production of A Christmas Carol at The Fleck at Harbourfront Centre Theatre, utilizing puppetry and traditional music. The performance runs approximately two hours, including an intermission.
- Dates: Selected dates, November 12 to December 23, 2026
- Location: The Fleck at Harbourfront Centre Theatre, 231 Queens Quay West
- Cost: Tickets from $50
- Website: Harbourfront Centre
Editor’s Note: Recommended for children aged six and older due to the two-hour running time.
Plan Around the AGO’s Free Wednesday Evening
The Art Gallery of Ontario hosts its monthly free admission night on November 4 from 6 to 9 p.m. Visitors must book free general admission tickets online in advance.
- Date: November 4, 2026 (6 p.m. to 9 p.m.)
- Location: 317 Dundas Street West
- Cost: Free general admission with online reservation
- Website: Art Gallery of Ontario
Editor’s Note: Advance online registration is mandatory; walk-ins are not permitted for free nights.
Reserve a ROM Third Tuesday Ticket
The Royal Ontario Museum offers free evening access to most galleries on November 17 from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Advance timed tickets are mandatory, and walk-in entry is not available.
- Date: November 17, 2026 (4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.)
- Location: 100 Queen’s Park
- Cost: Free with mandatory advance timed reservation
- Website: Royal Ontario Museum
Editor’s Note: Set a reminder for ticket releases two weeks prior, as reservations fill up quickly.
Visit Bata Shoe Museum on a Sunday
The Bata Shoe Museum offers free admission for all visitors on Sundays, including access to special exhibitions. Five Sundays fall within November.
- Dates: Sundays, November 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, 2026 (Noon to 5 p.m.)
- Location: 327 Bloor Street West
- Cost: Free Sunday admission
- Website: Bata Shoe Museum
Editor’s Note: Special exhibitions are included in Sunday free admission hours.
Build a Lunch Around St. Lawrence Market
St. Lawrence Market provides an open-ended food outing with vendors offering baked goods and meals, such as peameal bacon sandwiches at Carousel Bakery. The South Market operates Tuesday through Sunday.
- Location: Front and Jarvis streets
- Hours: Tuesday to Friday (9 a.m. to 7 p.m.), Saturday (7 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Sunday (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Closed Mondays
- Cost: Free entry; food purchases vary by vendor
- Website: St. Lawrence Market
Editor’s Note: Note that the South Market is closed on Mondays, so plan weekend or mid-week visits accordingly.
Leave Some Room in the Calendar
Scheduling a mix of ticketed events and open-ended visits helps balance a November calendar. Securing reservations for popular museum nights or stage productions ahead of time ensures a smooth outing while leaving room for casual food stops and neighborhood walks.
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