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4 Festive Shopping Experiences to Get You in the Holiday Spirit
December 9, 2024 3 Minute Read
The holiday season is upon us. For those who don’t have an army of helpers, like Santa has his elves, shopping centres are the next best thing. Here’s what’s happening in four Canadian retail hotspots to get shoppers in the mood this holiday season.
The Well (Toronto)
The Well has a full slate of Nordic-inspired winter activities. The indoor-outdoor retail complex will offer cocktail making workshops, chocolate sampling, skating performances and live music. A vendor village will feature local small businesses selling handcrafted gifts and treats from Wednesday to Sunday until Dec. 31.
While at The Well check out newly opened shops like Park & Fifth, Bone & Biscuit and Frank And Oak.
Get a break from the cold and grab comfort food at one of Wellington Market’s 50 food merchants. Warm up with a signature Shoyu Ramen from Ramen Ryu, Toronto’s first chicken-based ramen restaurant, or satisfy your sweet tooth with freshly baked apple pie from Sweetie Pie.
CF Chinook Centre (Calgary)
Calgary’s CF Chinook Centre is hosting a variety of festive activities until Christmas.
In addition to the always popular visits with Santa, the mall will have live DJ sets and holiday giveaways on Wednesdays, holiday ornament-making workshops on Saturdays, and Santa letter-writing sessions on Sundays.
Don’t miss Chinook Centre’s newly opened stores while you’re there. Get your better half Canadian-made jewellery from Ann-Louise, surprise your teen with skincare products from Kiokii and… Inc., and fill stockings with colourful scented products from The Bomb Bar.
After you shop till you almost drop, fuel up with a tasty treat from Calgary-based Hoopla Donuts or enjoy a sit-down meal at Surfy Surfy, a local beach-inspired restaurant.
Metropolis at Metrotown (Burnaby)
B.C.’s biggest mall has a range of programming to get shoppers in the holiday spirit.
There will be live music events and a charity gift wrap until Dec. 24. Proceeds from the gift wrapping will go to Burnaby Neighbourhood House.
While at Metrotown, stock up on gifts for the adventurers on your list at B.C.’s first Decathlon store and grab fashionista-approved blazers at Max Mara’s new store, which opened in the spring. Then treat yourself to a famous Basque cheesecake from Vancouver-based Castella Cheesecake or grab lunch from Hula Poké.
Royalmount (Montreal)
Luxury lovers are going gaga for Montreal’s new super mall.
Easily accessible by metro and by car, Royalmount is well worth the detour. Wander around the ground floor to admire extravagant storefronts, including Quebec’s first standalone Louis Vuitton, Versace and Yves Saint-Laurent stores.
Pick up stocking stuffers at Rennaï, Royalmount’s beauty boutique, which includes booths from leading self-care and makeup brands such as Aēsop, Diptyque and La Mer. It’s like a department store beauty section, but with a DJ, manicurists and massage therapists.
Grab some skates and channel your inner Olympian at Royalmount’s skating rink. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, stop by European-style food hall Le FouFou to try il Miglio’s mushroom risotto with porcini cream – a Royalmount exclusive – or quench your thirst with one of Bar Le FouFou’s signature cocktails. And don’t miss Le FouFou’s Ugly Christmas Sweater Night on Dec. 21.
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