Toronto's biggest indoor Christmas tree is back at CF Toronto Eaton Centre for its tenth year, and for 2026 the landmark has picked up a new trick: visitors can personalise it. A new interactive station on Level 3, near Sephora, lets guests pick the tree's colours and animations, then pull a lever to trigger their own custom light show. It runs daily from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. from November 12 onwards.
The tree itself stands 114 feet tall — Canada's tallest indoor Christmas tree — and its official lighting ceremony takes place on November 12 at 6 p.m., when the mall's multi-level atriums light up together. After launch, the tree runs hourly light and snow shows from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays, right through until January 3, 2027.
The tree is the centrepiece of a wider holiday programme from Cadillac Fairview across its Ontario shopping centres. Santa arrives at selected malls from November 13 to December 23, with a new North Pole-themed mailroom where families can take festive photos and post wish lists. For children who find the standard Santa visit overwhelming, Sensitive Santa appointments offer a quieter, lower-sensory alternative. Mrs. Claus makes weekend appearances at selected centres between November 14 and December 20.
Why care? If you're in Toronto between mid-November and early January, the Eaton Centre tree is one of the city's most reliable free festive sights — you don't need a ticket, and the hourly snow-and-light shows mean you can catch one without planning your day around it. The new interactive element is aimed squarely at families and anyone who wants a photo that isn't the same as everyone else's. The malls also run adjusted holiday hours in December, so it's worth checking the schedule before you go.
