Toronto Christmas Market 2020 has been cancelled due to COVID-19. 

According to an a statement issued by the organizers, the annual holiday festival will not be taking place at the Distillery District as usual. 

This year would have marked the Toronto Christmas Market's 11th year. 

The news comes as no surprise as COVID-19 cases continue to spike across in Ontario, with 425 new infections confirmed on Monday morning alone. 

On Saturday, Premier Doug Ford rolled back gathering limits province-wide.

Unmonitored private social gatherings are now capped at 25 people for outdoor events and gatherings, down from 100 people. 

The cancellation of the Toronto Christmas Market is just another tally in a long list of highly-anticipated Toronto events to get the axe since the pandemic began, from Caribana to the CNE — the latter of which might not recover from 2020 at all.

The statement from the organizers reads as follows

As we continue to work together through these challenging and unprecedented times, the health and well-being of our patrons is of the upmost importance.

Every year, we typically welcome over 700,000 people to The Toronto Christmas Market, over a six-week period. Given the pandemic and the number of patrons who attend this event, we regret to advise that, for the first time in 11 years, The Toronto Christmas Market will be cancelled, as the crowds are just too large for safe physical distancing.

However The Distillery Historic District will remain open for holiday shopping.

Guests will enjoy starry light canopies, a grand Christmas Tree in Trinity Square and festive music as part of a charming “Winter Village” experience, which will extend from early November until the end of March.

Favourite Distillery shops, galleries and restaurants are all open, offering a unique blend of specialty gifts, art, foods and fashion, in our open-air, safe environment of pedestrian-only streets.

Throughout, we remain committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment in compliance with provincial health regulations. We will be providing more details regarding the “Winter Village” shortly.