#FIRSTLOOK: HOLIDAYS AT SCARBOROUGH TOWN CENTRE 2026

Scarborough Town Centre (STC) is ready to unwrap holiday magic this festive season. STC is bringing together the traditions and experiences that create unforgettable moments, including the tallest holiday tree in Toronto’s east end, an iconic STC hot air balloon, festive pop-ups and much more for visitors to discover.

“The holidays are about bringing people together, and STC has long been a place where our community comes to connect, celebrate and create memories,” said Jason Bos, Director and General Manager of Scarborough Town Centre. “This season, we’re bringing the magic of the holidays to life with festive experiences that inspire joy and togetherness. Whether it’s capturing a special family photo, finding the perfect gift or giving back to neighbours in need, we want every visit to STC to be a meaningful part of the season.”

A holiday landmark returns | Launching Nov. 12

Soaring 44 feet high, STC’s towering holiday tree is a standout sight of the season. Back for the holidays, the display is a must-see seasonal spectacle and the picture-perfect backdrop for festive photos.

Step inside Planet Santa | Nov. 12 to Dec. 24

Planet Santa touches down in Centre Court with one of the largest and most interactive holiday displays in the GTA. Surrounded by decorated Christmas trees, life-sized snow globes, and immersive festive décor, guests can explore a whimsical holiday world before capturing their annual photo with Santa. Visits can be booked through the STC Santa Experience website.

Planet Santa hours:

Monday to Saturday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Christmas Eve: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Baby’s First Christmas at Planet Santa
For families marking a special milestone, Baby’s First Christmas returns to Planet Santa for its second year, offering dedicated photo sessions with Santa for little ones aged 12 months and under. Visits can be booked through the STC Baby’s First Christmas website.

Nov. 15 and 21: 9 to 11 a.m.
Nov. 16 and 17: 10 a.m. to noon
Take flight for a nostalgic holiday photo | Open daily until Dec. 24

A beloved photo moment is ready for takeoff at STC’s West Court. Back by popular demand, the 16-foot-tall Hot Air Balloon Photo Experience inspired by STC’s original hot air balloon installation invites visitors to strike a pose and capture a nostalgic holiday keepsake with family and friends.

A gift that gives back | Nov. 30 to Dec. 24

Holiday shoppers can add a little more meaning to their gifts this season at STC’s gift-wrapping station. Located in West Court, 100 per cent of proceeds from this initiative support BGC East Scarborough’s Magic of Snowflakes program. Through food drives, gift boxes, gift cards and other support, the program has helped more than 7,500 Scarborough families celebrate the holidays over the past 15 years.

Shop local, gift meaningful
Holiday shopping at STC comes with plenty of opportunities to discover local finds and support small businesses. Visitors can personalize holiday décor at SantaVille, pick up giftable treats at Hickory Farms and explore seasonal pop-ups offering even more ways to shop thoughtfully for everyone on their list.

Meet the makers at the Run the World Holiday Market | Dec. 14 to 24
Taking the local focus one step further, the Run the World Holiday Market returns to East Court with a curated, rotating lineup of small businesses. From one-of-a-kind gifts to seasonal finds, shoppers can discover local makers and bring home something with a story behind it.

Fill the season with community care | Nov. 30 to Dec. 18

STC is partnering with the Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities for a holiday food drive supporting local families in need. Visitors can help stock local shelves by donating non-perishable food items at the Security Office by Entrance 6.

Help build Toy Mountain | December 11

A single toy can create a big holiday moment. Toy Mountain returns to STC, inviting visitors to donate a new, unwrapped toy and help make the season brighter for children and families in need.

For more information and updates, please visit the STC website.

Scarborough Town Centre

Scarborough Town Centre is the largest regional shopping centre in the eastern Greater Toronto Area, with more than 200 shops and services and 1.6 million square feet of retail space. Ranked as one of the top 20 performing shopping centres in Canada, Scarborough Town Centre welcomes 20 million shoppers per year. Located at Highway 401 between Brimley Road and McCowan Road, Scarborough Town Centre is managed by Oxford Properties Group and owned by AIMCo and OMERS Realty.

Oxford Properties Group

Oxford Properties Group (“Oxford”) is a leading global real estate investor, asset manager and business builder. It builds, buys and grows defined real estate operating businesses with world-class management teams. Established in 1960, Oxford and its portfolio companies manage approximately C$82 billion of assets across four continents on behalf of their investment partners. Oxford’s owned portfolio encompasses office, logistics, retail, multifamily residential, life sciences, hotels and credit in global gateway cities and high-growth hubs. A thematic investor with a committed source of capital, Oxford invests in properties, portfolios, development sites, debt, securities and real estate businesses across the risk-reward spectrum. Together with its portfolio companies, Oxford is one of the world’s most active developers, with more than 100 projects currently underway globally across all major asset classes. Oxford is owned by OMERS, the Canadian defined benefit pension plan for Ontario’s municipal employees.