18 Free Holiday Programs to Check Out This Season

As the year comes to an end, ring in the holidays with a little library cheer!

With over 400 programs to choose from in the last couple of weeks of 2018, we're confident that there's a program for everyone. And they are all free!

If you're still looking for the perfect gift for someone, why not take them to a library program? To help you decide from our broad range of programs, we've narrowed it down to 18 recommended holiday programs:

For the crafty:

Holiday Craft-a-Card

Get inspired to create your own greeting cards. For ages 12 and up.

Don Mills Branch - Friday, December 14, 4 to 6 pm.

Winter Celebrations

Presented as part of the Library Settlement Partnerships (LSP), enjoy a festive afternoon learning about holiday celebrations in different cultures. Make gift boxes and greeting cards to take home. All ages welcome.

Fairview Branch - Saturday, December 15, 10:30 am to 12 pm.

Holiday Cookie Decorating Workshop

Decorate tasty treats to take home for the holiday season. For youth ages 12-19.

Parliament Street Branch, Community Room - Tuesday, December 18, 4 to 5 pm.

Paper Gingerbread House Craft

No crumbs, no sugar - create a gingerbread house out of paper!

Eglinton Square Branch - Friday, December 28, 2 to 3 pm. *DATE CHANGED*

For the music aficionado:

Jingle Bell Time

An interactive festive holiday musical experience for the whole family complete with props, books, instruments and a solo performance to warm your hearts. Presented by soprano Karen Usha Gray. Check each location below for details.

Holiday Flute Performance

Enjoy holiday songs performed by solo flutist Jessica Kanowitz while learning about the history of this musical instrument. All ages welcome. No registration required.

Spadina Road Branch - Tuesday, December 18, 6 to 7 pm.

Music of the Ancients: Renaissance Music

Join students from the University of Toronto's Early Music Studio for an evening of music from the late 1300s to the beginnings of the Baroque era. Delight in a fascinating world full of sacred and secular songs with dance, carols, madrigals, troubadours and counter-tenors! All ages welcome. No registration required.

North York Central Library, Auditorium - Thursday, Dec 27, 7 to 8 pm.

For the techie:

2 to 3:30 pm.

For the film buff:

For the party-goer:

Celebrate holiday stories, songs, rhymes and activities. For children with their parents or caregivers.

Mad Hatter Tea Party

Celebrate the TD Gallery's Alice Opens the Door exhibit and make your own Mad Hat. For children with their parents or caregivers. No registration required.

Toronto Reference Library, Beeton Hall - Thursday, December 27, 2 to 4 pm.

New Year's Eve with kids

Noon Year's Eve Celebrations

No need to stay up late to ring in the new year, count down to noon with crafts, activities, dancing, and stories! Check each location below for details.

Other Ideas

Can't make it out to a program? No problem - we've got you covered! Why not try:

Downloading your holiday reads with OverDrive eBooks and eAudiobooks.

Getting festive recipes through your favourite magazines online.

Enjoying the sounds of the season or build your party playlist using Naxos Music Library or Hoopla.

Holiday Hours

And for something else to do over the holidays, why not pay us a visit? Here are our holiday hours:

Sunday, December 23, 2018 - Closed

Monday, December 24, 2018 - Christmas Eve - Open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Tuesday, December 25, 2018 - Christmas Day - Closed

Wednesday, December 26, 2018 - Boxing Day - Closed

Sunday, December 30, 2018 - Closed

Monday, December 31, 2018 - New Year's Eve - Open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Tuesday, January 1, 2019 - Closed

Happy holidays from Toronto Public Library!