Holiday Hills at STACKT Toronto 2026 — Christmas Lights, Santa & Holiday Markets

Explore Holiday Hills at STACKT Toronto, November 13, 2026–January 3, 2027: Christmas lights, Santa visits and markets. Free entry; closed Mondays; extras vary.

Festive promotional artwork of Holiday Hills at STACKT Market featuring oversized Christmas decorations, lights and holiday market stalls.
Supplied promotional illustration, not actual 2026 event photography or an official STACKT-issued poster. Displays and layout are illustrative; free general entry does not include every game, drink, workshop or Santa photograph.

Event details

Categories: EVENTS · Holiday Events

When: · November 13, 2026–January 3, 2027. Closed Mondays. Tuesday–Friday 4–11 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday noon–11 p.m. General festival hours only: check separate Santa, workshop, retail and activation schedules, plus holiday exceptions.

Where:

STACKT Market, 28 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON

Sankofa Square venue guide

Cost: Free admission · paid extras vary

About the event

Holiday Hills returns for its seventh season at STACKT Market, 28 Bathurst Street, Toronto, from Friday, November 13, 2026, through Sunday, January 3, 2027. The shipping-container marketplace’s seasonal programme combines oversized decorations and light installations with local shopping, food, games, performances and Santa experiences.

General admission is free. That is an invitation to explore the festival, not an all-inclusive ticket for every game, workshop, drink, Santa photograph or product giveaway. You can plan a display-and-shopping-browse visit without treating the paid extras as compulsory.

Dates, opening hours and the January-year correction

  • November 13, 2026–January 3, 2027.
  • Mondays: closed.
  • Tuesday–Friday: 4–11 p.m.
  • Saturday–Sunday: noon–11 p.m.

These are STACKT’s published general Holiday Hills hours, not guaranteed hours for every retailer, bar or programmed activity. Check the current calendar for special holiday arrangements before a Christmas Day, New Year’s Day or other holiday visit; separate exceptions have not been comprehensively confirmed here.

Why this guide says 2027: the overview mistakenly prints “January 3, 2026” in its date line. STACKT’s official events calendar lists November 13, 2026–January 3, 2027, and its official event record explicitly repeats that complete range. January 3, 2027 is the supported closing date, not an inferred extension into another season.

A free-to-explore display visit

STACKT lists four useful photo stops:

  • Giant holiday inflatables and light installations: located throughout the site.
  • Tunnel of Lights: on the West Lawn, along the way toward The Sleigh Ground.
  • Holiday Tree: in Courtyard 2.
  • Giant Mistletoe: near the Bathurst entrance.

General admission is listed as free, and the reviewed overview does not identify a separate viewing ticket for these displays. For a visit focused on lights, choose an after-dark period within the published hours; an exact daily switch-on time is not announced.

A simple low-spend plan is to start with the Bathurst entrance installation, visit the Courtyard 2 tree, then look for the West Lawn light tunnel and browse the market. That is a suggested set of stops, not a promised accessible route or a timed tour. Display layouts and access can change.

Santa’s Landing: what is actually confirmed

STACKT describes a collaboration with Toronto’s Original Santa Claus Parade, bringing 12-foot-tall installations, always-on games, weekend Santa visits and programming for children to the West Lawn.

The overview does not comprehensively confirm individual Santa appearance dates, photo prices, booking requirements or photographer arrangements. Do not assume complimentary professional Santa photos, a daily Santa appearance or a reserved appointment from free site admission.

If seeing Santa is the main purpose of your visit, check the specific programme first. Weekend festival hours are not a Santa appointment timetable.

The Sleigh Ground and Merry Midway

The Sleigh Ground is the announced 13,000-square-foot festive play area on STACKT’s west side. The overview describes carnival-inspired games, larger-than-life characters and clubhouse activities including darts, pool and themed game nights.

The Merry Midway, on the West Patio, adds seasonal versions of carnival games, prizes and food-and-drink options, including a personalized boutique hot chocolate bar.

Specific game charges and participation conditions are not comprehensively published in the overview. Check at the attraction before joining a game. Prizes are not unconditional free giveaways, and an advertised hot chocolate bar is not a promise of a complimentary drink.

Casa de la Abuela: a separate food-and-drink stop

STACKT announces a larger yurt speakeasy on the South Lawn, called Casa de la Abuela. The venue describes a 360-degree holiday bar and a Mexican-inspired cantina atmosphere with seasonal cocktails.

Drinks and menu purchases are separate from general festival entry. Check the venue’s current access rules, age restrictions and any reservations before making this part of a family plan. An all-ages festival does not establish unrestricted access to every alcohol-serving space.

Holiday Market Way and small-business shopping

The overview advertises more than 30 resident storefronts, rotating pop-ups and recurring weekend local-vendor markets. Expect the vendor mix to change rather than treating every named maker as present every day.

Browsing and purchasing are different activities: admission is free, but gifts, clothing, artwork, décor, specialty products and food cost extra. Individual shops may keep their own hours.

The official calendar currently lists Kreate Market’s Holiday Market Series on November 21 and 28, and December 12 and 19, each with a noon start and a free-entry label. Those are separately dated market visits, not additional full-festival records or a guarantee of the same vendors at each session.

Selected dated activations: related, not all-season offers

These programmes have their own dates, conditions and official pages:

  • November 13–22 — Café Kahlúa, West Patio. The calendar marks entry free and describes specialty drinks with Kahlúa liquor being sold. That is not free alcohol or an all-season drinks offer. [Check the Café Kahlúa listing](https://stacktmarket.com/event/cafe-kahlua/).
  • November 21 and 28; December 12 and 19 — Kreate Market. The current calendar lists noon starts. [Check November 21](https://stacktmarket.com/event/kreate-market-holiday-market-series/) and [November 28](https://stacktmarket.com/event/kreate-market-holiday-market-series-4/), with later editions in the live calendar.
  • November 28 — Blue Mountain Resort pop-up, Lookout. The calendar lists an 11 a.m. start, a free-entry label and promotional activities. That start is earlier than the general Saturday festival opening; confirm access for this specific activation rather than changing the whole festival’s opening time. [Check the Blue Mountain pop-up](https://stacktmarket.com/event/blue-mountain-resort-pop-up-stackt/).
  • December 5 — Pearing Up, Studio, 2 p.m. This World Pear Day activation has its own confirmed dated listing. Its tasting programme is not available throughout Holiday Hills. [Read the separate Pearing Up guide](/deals/pearing-up-free-pear-tasting-stackt-toronto-2026).

The existing Pearing Up page remains the standalone activation guide. This page is the parent festival guide; it does not duplicate the tasting record or expand a one-day benefit across the entire season.

The calendar also lists ticketed workshops, including selected holiday pasta workshops and craft events. Some start before general festival hours. Check the individual listing for its access time, fee and booking requirements; a workshop ticket does not establish an all-festival package.

Weekly entertainment without invented appointments

The overview outlines Tuesday “for two” programming, Wednesday community programming, Throwback Thursdays, Friday live entertainment, Saturday celebrations and Sunday family programming.

These are programme themes, not confirmed times for a particular performer, workshop or offer. The page still says full programming and happy-hour details are forthcoming in places. This guide does not invent a performer lineup, discount amount or daily happy-hour window.

Before you go

Use 28 Bathurst Street, Toronto, check the Monday closure and separate attraction schedules, and budget only for the extras you want. For Santa, paid workshops, bar access or a special activation, verify the individual arrangements before travelling.

The supplied artwork is a promotional illustration, not actual 2026 event photography or an official STACKT-issued poster. Its pictured staging, crowds and oversized characters are not a guarantee of the precise site layout or a particular Santa visit.

For step-free access, seating, washrooms or other specific access needs, ask STACKT about current arrangements. The overview alone does not establish an independently verified accessibility route, reserved viewing area or indoor weather replacement.

Frequently asked questions

When is Holiday Hills at STACKT, and is the closing year 2027?
November 13, 2026–January 3, 2027. STACKT’s overview contains a January 3, 2026 typo, but its events calendar and official event record explicitly confirm the 2026–27 range.
What are the opening hours, and is it closed Mondays?
General Holiday Hills hours are Tuesday–Friday 4–11 p.m., Saturday–Sunday noon–11 p.m., closed Mondays. Individual shops, Santa visits, ticketed workshops and activations can have separate schedules. Confirm holiday exceptions directly.
Is admission free, and what costs extra?
General admission is free. Games, workshops, food, drinks, shopping and Santa-photo arrangements may have separate charges or conditions. Prizes and dated tasting or brand activations are not unconditional all-season giveaways.
Where are the lights and oversized displays?
STACKT lists inflatables and light installations sitewide, the Tunnel of Lights on the West Lawn, the Holiday Tree in Courtyard 2 and Giant Mistletoe near the Bathurst entrance. The overview identifies no separate viewing ticket; layout and access can change.
Are Santa visits and professional Santa photos free?
Weekend Santa visits are announced at Santa’s Landing, but the overview does not comprehensively confirm appearance dates, photo prices, booking requirements or photographer arrangements. Free site admission is not evidence of complimentary professional Santa photos.
What are The Sleigh Ground and Merry Midway?
The Sleigh Ground is the announced 13,000-square-foot play area on the west side. Merry Midway is on the West Patio and advertises carnival-style games, prizes and food-and-drink options. Check individual game fees and conditions; prizes are not guaranteed free gifts.
Does Pearing Up run throughout Holiday Hills?
No. Pearing Up is a separate December 5, 2026 activation at the Studio, with a 2 p.m. start. It retains its own dated guide and conditions; its tasting programme is not an all-season festival benefit.
Where is Holiday Hills, and can every age enter the bar?
STACKT Market is at 28 Bathurst Street, Toronto. General festival entry is advertised as open to all, but that does not establish unrestricted entry to every alcohol-serving space. Check Casa de la Abuela and other bar access rules directly.

Participation: Choose a non-Monday visit, check the particular Santa or workshop schedule, and separate a free display walk from optional paid experiences. The closing date is January 3, 2027—not 2026.

Find it under: FREE EXPERIENCES · Christmas Markets · Free Events · Santa & Family Activities · Holiday Lights · Holiday Hills

Official sources and Toronto discovery

View STACKT’s official Holiday Hills guide — Checked November 5, 2026: STACKT Holiday Hills overview, live events calendar and public official event record for holiday-hills-stackt-rediscover-the-magic. Calendar and event record explicitly confirm November 13, 2026–January 3, 2027, free general admission and 28 Bathurst Street; overview confirms Monday closure and weekday/weekend general hours. The overview and one paragraph of event copy contain an inconsistent January 2026 year; corrected using their explicit complete 2026–27 range. Daily windows follow published general hours, not attraction appointments; holiday exceptions remain subject to organizer updates. Named activation dates and listed start times are from the calendar. No free Santa-photo package, all-inclusive games pass, guaranteed prizes or festival-wide free products inferred.

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