This holiday season, immerse yourself in passionate concerts, engaging talks, and stunning exhibits brought to you by our cultural partners. Many of our partners also offer unique gift options—perfect for sharing the joy of culture with loved ones. Mark your calendar for festive events, share your experiences using #BloorCulture, and let December be a month of celebration, inspiration, and thoughtful giving.
Bata Shoe Museum
Join the Bata Shoe Museum for Museum Store Sunday on Sunday, December 1. Celebrating museum shops worldwide, they’ll be offering a one-day sale: 10% off all merchandise, or 20% when you bring in a new, unused pair of socks to donate to Socks 4 Souls Canada. Put on your party shoes and celebrate at the Bata Shoe Museum with fun-filled activities through the Winter Break (December 27 – January 4). Get into the holiday spirit by creating your own party footwear design, making a shoe ornament, designing a holiday postcard, bedazzling your own shoes, and so much more! Visit their website to keep up to date with the latest news.
Alliance Française de Toronto
Alliance Française Toronto is thrilled to present a vibrant lineup of events to close out the year! From December 4-20, explore World Without End, an eco-exhibition in their galleries that sheds light on critical climate and energy challenges. December 7 features two remarkable events: immerse yourself in the music of Astor Piazzolla with Ensemble Mistral and join an online conference with the Toronto Public Library, delving into the works of female ethnographers and their experiences in Asia. Finally, on December 9, attend an insightful lecture on the reconstruction of Notre Dame, uncovering the obstacles and triumphs of its restoration. On December 5, enjoy a screening of the French film Delicious, followed by Merry Christmas on December 12. Visit their website for more details.
Gardiner Museum
Plan your visit to the Gardiner Museum with friends and family this holiday season. Discover the special exhibitions Collecting Memories: 40 Years of Ceramics and Community and Test Kitchen: A Museum Project, where visitors can engage with ceramics from across the collection and get hands-on in a series of all-ages activities. Cap off your visit with lunch at Clay Restaurant and a visit to the Gardiner Shop, where you’ll find handmade gifts for everyone on your list. On Sundays from 11 am – 3 pm, take part in a fun tile-making workshop, free with admission and perfect for the whole family. Plan your visit today at their website.
VEMU Estonian Museum Canada
VEMU’s popular “Keelekohvik” Estonian Language Café, will conclude for the year on December 4, at 7 pm. Suitable for beginners, you can practice your Estonian in a casual, friendly environment! On December 15 and beyond, you can watch the virtual workshop “Cooking With Käbi” on VEMU’s YouTube channel to learn to cook the Estonian Christmas favourite, “verivorstid” or blood sausage. VEMU will also be participating in the Estonian Christmas Market put on by the Estonian Foundation of Canada on December 14 at the Latvian Canadian Centre. Visit VEMU’s table there and enjoy Estonian snacks, festivities and handmade goods. Coming up is also VEMU’s annual online Christmas game that you can play from December 20 to January 5 at their website. Finally, VEMU’s new exhibit “1944 The Great Escape” is also on view until January 31 at Tartu College. More information can be found on their website.
The Japan Foundation, Toronto
Ring in the New Year with creativity by joining JFT’s Nengajo Making Workshop on Saturday, December 14, where you get to craft your own Japanese-style New Year’s card, learn Japanese New Year phrases, and connect with others through this cherished cultural tradition! Visit their ongoing Yōkai Netsuke exhibition to view miniature sculpted figures of monsters, spirits, and all manner of mysterious occurrences. To explore more of these Japanese mysterious creatures, join JFT’s in-person screenings of the Yōkai Monsters trilogy of films from the late 1960s. Watch ‘100 Monsters’ on December 3; ‘Along with Ghosts’ on December 10; and ‘Spook Warfare’ on January 9, 2025. Get a free membership to the JFT Library and JF Canada Digital Library to explore and borrow newly arrived books, e-books, and audiobooks from a wide array of genres. For information about upcoming events and other programming please visit their website.
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir
Only 2 Performances—Tickets Are Selling Fast! Celebrate the holiday season with Tafelmusik’s Messiah! Performed in the style of Handel’s own productions, it “radiates brilliance and energy, along with an emotional depth” (AllMusic). This timeless masterpiece, with its message of goodwill, hope, and humanity, remains as moving today as it was at its 1742 premiere. Joining the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir are acclaimed soloists: soprano Myriam Leblanc, praised as “perhaps the most beautiful voice to come out of Quebec in 10 years” (Samedi et rien d’autre); mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabó, a “master of nuance and expressivity” (Toronto Star); tenor Jacob Perry, whose solos “give audiences goosebumps” (Stir.ca); and bass-baritone Philippe Sly, celebrated for his “expansive tonal grace” (SFGate). Conducted by Ivars Taurins, these performances at Koerner Hall are a cherished annual tradition. Don’t miss this uplifting musical experience! Tickets at their website.
The Royal Conservatory
The Royal Conservatory’s December concerts feature the Koerner Hall debut of the Czech Philharmonic conducted by Semyon Bychkov with pianist Daniil Trifonov and violinist Jan Mráček on December 7 and 8. Do not miss a special holiday presentation of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods in concert from December 28 to 31, featuring an all-star cast of Canadian theatre and television icons, including Tess Benger, Gabi Epstein, Sara Farb, Mike Nadajewski, Eric Peterson, Fiona Reid, and many more. Additional concerts this month include a recital of cello sonatas by pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason and cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason on December 11, jazz songbird Emilie-Claire Barlow spreading some holiday cheer on December 14, a piano recital by Canadian prodigy Kevin Chen on December 15, and more. Head to their website to learn more.
Toronto Reference Library
Join the Toronto Reference Library’s monthly Open Mic at the Library, where musicians, singers, poets and storytellers can showcase their talents in a supportive and lively environment. Whether you’re a seasoned performer or a first-timer, this is your chance to shine. Guitars and piano are provided, and each performer gets 5 minutes to captivate the audience. Open to adults, teens and seniors, Open Mic at the Library welcomes all ages to share their creativity. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with others and express yourself through music, poetry and storytelling. The next event is on Friday, December 20. Sign up today for your moment on stage! Learn more.
ROM
Go wild this winter break for 3 nature exhibitions. Anywhere you look in nature, colour holds meaning. From fiery reds of warning to soothing blues of calm waters, Nature in Brilliant Colour opens December 14. On December 21, a new edition of breathtaking images are on view in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. If you’ve been saving up your best nature photos all year long, don’t forget to enter the ROM Wildlife Photo Contest for a chance to win a Sony Camera Kit courtesy of Henry’s and have your photo on display in the exhibition. Technical mastery and nature combine in the final weeks of Earth: An Immersive Journey where high-definition projections, scent diffusions, spatial audio and atmospheric lighting provide you with a unique journey from a windswept Arctic vista to a lush rainforest. Don’t miss it all this ROM for the Holidays from December 26 to January 5 with free programming for families included with admission! Learn more at their website.
Image © Denver Museum of Nature & Science
918 Bathurst
918 Bathurst is lighting up December with a diverse lineup of events to close the year! On December 5 and 6, immerse yourself in Ark, a Canada Council-funded exhibition on communal bonding drawing from indigenous African wisdom led by artist Odudu. On December 19, don’t miss Henri Fabergé Crashes the Creskins Ball—a whimsical evening of elegant chaos, games, and mystery. Finally, join the Morris Winchevsky School on December 22 for a Chanukah celebration, featuring candle lighting, traditional foods, and a social justice-focused retelling of the Maccabees’ story. Dance enthusiasts can look forward to the Kylie Thompson intensive dance workshop in the New Year on January 4 and 5, where dancers can refine their dance skills in our Sanctuary space. The team at 918 Bathurst is deeply thankful to everyone who hosted an event with them this year. They wish you all a joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year! For more information, head to their website.
Women’s Art Association of Canada
This winter, the Women’s Art Association of Canada (WAAC) presents an inspiring schedule of exhibitions and workshops at the Dignam Gallery. From November 30-December 1, explore the Ankara Library: Turkish Bazaar featuring original paintings and jewelry. Join the Winter Magic Makers Workshop on December 4 (11 am–4 pm) for a hands-on DIY ornaments session. From December 5-January 11, visit Small Gems 2024, a group exhibition showcasing exquisite works from the members at WAAC. Don’t miss the WAAC Craft Sale from December 13–15. The WAAC Library is open to the public on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month. For more details, visit them at 23 Prince Arthur Ave., Toronto, ON, M5R 1B2, open Tuesday–Saturday from 11 am–5pm. For more information on events, visit their website.
The Native Canadian Centre of Toronto
Visits to the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto include prize draws, live artist interviews, and live music. Discover unique, handmade arts and crafts from local vendors—perfect for holiday gifts! Visit them November 22-24, November 29-December 1, and December 6-8, 2024, at 16 Spadina Road, Toronto, ON. Take advantage of live streams of artist interviews and prize giveaways at noon daily. Support local, shop local, and find something special this holiday season! Visit their website to start shopping today.
