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| - I went to the Christmas Market last year and had a blast, I was certainly looking forward to repeating the experience this year and luckily? I did.
We went on opening night, the first day of the winter that was truly cold, it dipped down to -14 that evening but if anything, it made the night more festive.
Firstly, FREE SAMPLES right at the forefront. If you come from Parliament where the giant monster sculpture is, there's a truck of Nabob coffee to warm you up. If you choose to pay for your bevvies, a mulled wine and hot apple cider station is right behind it.
Once you head further in to the square, you'll pass the Santa maze, a bevy of small booths selling treats and toys and boom, the giant Christmas tree. Onstage we heard Measha Brueggergosman sing alongside a choir and some other performers, it was fantastic. I got some poutine which for $5 is a STEAL while the boyfriend bought a gourmet corn dog from outside Mill St that he swears was totally worth the $7.
But continue down the pathways for the real treats, there is a Glenfidditch sampling bar that offers a taste test of their 12/15/18 year old vintages, Irish Coffee samples and scotch apple ciders. Across from that? Mill St pouring some of their festive favourites.
Round the corner from Pure Spirits is the motherlode. Amarula, Frangelico, boozy eggnog, apple brandy, honey liquour served in ginger green tea and some others I'm forgetting. The lines go fast, don't be scared off.
Down the way from that is a wine sample station but avoid unless your palate is already shot.
Other than that, there are tarts, pies, goodies, licorice and other Dutch treats to purchase and all the regular Distillery shops to peruse.I live in the area so I spent more time looking at the seasonal tables. Also, buy all the mulled wine you can but AVOID THE BARLEY WINE, unless you like barley wine...but seriously avoid it. It was great to be able to wander down the Distillery sipping my mulled wine with friends.
All in all, a great night, but the market closes up around 9:30 and everything other than licensed restaurants close by 10, so get there EARLY.
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