I lurve me some old world European charm and the cobbles always get me :) No better way to get into the Christmas mood than the Toronto Christmas Market at the Distillery.
Yes, there's tons of people, but what event does not want crowds? Yes, the weather can be wet or cold, but that's Toronto winter for ya! I've been to the market when it was nice and sunny, super cold and windy or a bit of wet snow... nothing we can't handle.
To get a good experience, go early on a weekend. It still gets crowded but you can check out all the booths and shops. But stick around in the evening for the lights... they're real purrdy! You'll just have to deal with long line-ups for hot chocolate at Soma or Cluny. If you want to avoid the big crowds, opt for a weekday evening. I usually avoid taking pictures with Santa since the line-ups were always long, but we were able to get a picture when we visited on a weeknight... plus it's free!
I always look forward to the Christmas Market... my niece and nephews love the rides and free chocolates!