2012 Toronto Christmas Market in the Distillery District

Christmas is in the air above the red brick cobblestones and inside each of the many Victorian era heritage buildings in the Distillery District until Dec 16th 2012; there’s a wide selection of hard-to-find goods and services associated with the season at the third annual Toronto Christmas Market.

The 2012 Toronto Christmas Market is distilled from the old school European – style festive organization that brings together culturally rich family entertainment including musicians, carolers and children’s choirs. These markets originated in Germany, beginning in the early 1400?s, and are now being held in many countries all over the world, and this is arguably Canada’s biggest and best example. You can follow the Toronto Christmas Market on Twitter @TOChristmasMkt

This is a world class shopping destination. The stuff sold here is very rare and special as merchants must apply and are selected by jury for the right to sell unique products all along the different streets. The Distillery District is playing host, for the third year in a row to this festive extravaganza that is expected to bring three hundred thousand people to the compound.

Lowe’s 2012 Toronto Christmas Market has a photo contest and you could win $250 cash or dinner in any of three world class Distillery District Restaurants!

Check the 2012 Toronto Christmas Market Photo Contest on Lenzr, or visit the Toronto Christmas Market website.

Sponsored by Toronto.com, this photo contest allows attendees to compare notes. Last year this same call-to-action collected over 300 pictures, which in turn accrued over seven thousand votes as folks laboured to get their pics up into the Top Ten to be eligible for the grand prize.

Prizes for the 2012 competition are as follows,

Winner will receive a $250.00 cash prize,

2nd place will receive a $150.00 Distillery Restaurant gift certificate

3rd place will receive a $100.00 Distillery Restaurant gift certificate.

RULES

Upload original photos now and until December 25th

Voting begins December 15th and ends midnight Dec 25th

Top ten images advance to judges. *Sponsor is Judge, Here is a link to the Term of Use page unique to this contest. Winner announced on Lenzr blog Jan 1st 2013. Lowe’s 2012 Toronto Christmas Market event runs from Friday Nov 30th to Sunday December 16th, 2012 at The Distillery District, Must Be 13yrs older to enter – gift certificates and cash prizes will be mailed anywhere in Canada only. Good luck!

Turning the Distillery District into the Toronto Christmas Market

Every event requires planning, in most cases the more the better. The Toronto Christmas Market in the Historic Distillery District, then, is no exception; workers began prepping the area nearly a month ago to ensure the Distillery (which can look sombre against the colourless November skies) was in a state of continuous improvement and all set for the Dec. 2 opening of the 2nd annual Toronto Christmas Market.

The first sign of Christmas in the Distillery came when Trees Ontario donated a 45 ft. Christmas tree, erected right in the middle of the cobblestone courtyard. The tree is something to see, with sashes of mint green complementing shiny red decorations and over 12,000 reed switch component Christmas lights and at its peak is a shining Christmas star.

Gorgeous Christmas tree? Check. Next on the list was the installation of the antique clock. Believe it or not, this clock has been knocked over on more than one occasion by trucks delivering goods to the Distillery, so this was more like a re-installation. This time, the 15-foot clock tower was installed amidst a barricade of four metal poles to ensure that this antique clock is in the Distillery to stay. Good thing, too; the clock is beautiful, and adds a special ambiance to the area, and the Christmas Market in particular.

Stunning antique clock? Almost. As every good Toronto mortgage broker should know, the land beneath the Distillery’s cobblestones is wet and, elevation-wise, not any higher than Lake Ontario. The suction truck actually had to remove enough moisture from the ground before workers could pour cement and secure a foundation for a timekeeper that should stand the tests of time. Stunning antique clock? Check.

Next, a sound system was installed all around the Distillery to ensure that shoppers everywhere could hear the musical performances, carollers and well-wishers amplified from the central stage in the courtyard.

Lowe’s, the sponsor of the Market, donated more than fifty 1-room wooden huts, scattered throughout the Distillery. Each hut was transformed into a little outdoor shop, selling the likes of: fudge, schnitzel, pretzels, retro movie gifts, Dutch sweets, sports team scarves, apple cider made with organic ingredients and much, much more! The Distillery really did take on a ‘Santa’s workshop’ feel that day as forklifts whizzed around the village carrying miniature houses with them.

The final days of November saw the finishing touches added to the Christmas Market. ‘Elves’ in safety jackets were seen constructing a hedge maze that leads straight to Santa’s house! ‘Biergartens’ signs started popping up (yes, the entire neighbourhood is licensed for this holiday occasion) and there’s enough mulled wine, hot chocolate, candy canes, sugar pies and plums on offer to skyrocket the business of many a Toronto dentist.

Nn its second year, the Toronto Christmas Market has more street vendors, buskers and costumed performers, and a star-studded entertainment lineup. The Toronto Christmas Market is a European market style attraction that is, as well, its own uniquely Canadian festival. Don’t miss this year’s Toronto Christmas Market in the Historic Distillery District!