Annual Toronto Christmas Market cancelled due to COVID-19
Posted September 21, 2020 2:02 pm.
Last Updated September 21, 2020 4:40 pm.
There will be no Distillery District Christmas Market in Toronto this year.
Speaking at the city’s daily, COVID-19 briefing, Mayor John Tory says the market will join a long list of other events that will not go on as planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In this case, as with most of the cancellations this year, the decision has been taken by the organization itself looking at the health situation and all the other circumstances they want to examine,” Tory said.
“It’s regrettable, extremely regrettable, because these are things that bring people joy and bring them outside even in the colder weather.”
Typically, thousands gather for the annual market, which usually starts in mid-November and runs through late December.
The Distillery Historic District will remain open for holiday shopping, a spokesperson said.
“Guests will enjoy starry light canopies, a grand Christmas Tree in Trinity Square and festive music as part of a charming ‘Winter Village’ experience, which will extend from early November until the end of March. Favourite Distillery shops, galleries and restaurants are all open, offering a unique blend of specialty gifts, art, foods and fashion, in our open-air, safe environment of pedestrian-only streets.”
“Throughout, we remain committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment in compliance with provincial health regulations. We will be providing more details regarding the ‘Winter Village’ shortly.”
Restaurants and stores in the district are open and are currently following provincial guidelines.
This would have been the 11th version of Toronto’s Distillery District Christmas Market.
“A lot of things have changed this year,” Tory added. “Let’s just hope we can get through a roster of events we will deal with in the next few days that probably won’t be held on a normal basis at all and get back to something more normal next year if we follow along, not only by cancelling these events, but by behaving in a way we have talked about for the last few days.”
