Free to attend, the event  invites the community to gather with family and friends and celebrate the festive season.

The Toronto foreshore, from the Royal Motor Yacht Club in Bath St to Tinto Espresso at the swimming pool, will be adorned in lights and festive decorations providing a 1.5km round trip walk along the waterfront paths and through the CBD for event goers to enjoy.  

There will be a Mini Carnival with jumping castles and rides near the Royal Motor Yacht Club (tickets available individually or a dated armband for $12), or walk along the path to the historical Toronto Train Station and experience the World of Harry Potter.

The Australiana display features familiar birds and animals on the walk to the fairy light tunnel, past Christmas Tree Grove into the Enchanted Forest.  Emerge at the lakes edge to view water themed displays and on to a Christmas Wonderland.

Continue on to up The Boulevarde to view the fabulous Christmas Shop Window displays all vying for a spectacular trophy to display for the year.

Many of the displays have been created by the local school children from the Fairies in the Fairy Glen decorated by the children of Macquarie Pre-schools to the Pallet Christmas Trees created by the student of Blackalls Park Public School.

All the lighting and decorations have been purchased with Community raised funds and have been erected as part of a Work for the Dole project along with volunteers from Toronto Men’s Shed, Toronto Chamber of Commerce, Lake Side Marketing and Lake Macquarie Historical Society along with local contractors.

Santa will be at the festival on Dec 7, 8, 14 and 15 from 5pm to 8pm for Santa photos courtesy of Ray White Real Estate Toronto.  

You can find his temporary home in the Rotunda area.  For just a gold coin donation to Variety, photos can be taken by our official Santa photographer, Alicia from Billy June Photography and emailed or printed.

Letters to Santa will be accepted in the Special Santa mailbox at Australia Post during office hours and also during Festival hours 6pm to 9.30pm Thursday and Friday. For instructions on how to send a letter to Santa and receive a reply, please search Australia Post Letter to Santa or ask at Australia Post.

Download the event program, maps and details from the Toronto Festival of Lights website (torontofestivaloflights.com.au) or the event app (http://my.yapp.us/TFOL).  

On Thursday afternoons from 3pm to 9.30pm you can enjoy an old-fashioned Christmas Market stretching from the foreshore into The Boulevarde with Apple Cider, Gingerbread, Ice Cream, Christmas Gifts, decorations and lots of great bargains from the retailers in the Toronto CBD.  The many dining options available in Toronto will be supplemented with a few gourmet savory and sweet options on the foreshore.

Toronto Chamber of Commerce will be selling Magic Glasses and the Toronto Festival of Lights Christmas Decoration and prints of the winning entries of the Toronto Photograph and Art competition.

The 23rd Carols by the Lake will be held on December 8 at the Toronto Foreshore.  From 5.30pm Blackalls Park School Band will play as everyone arrives for a traditional carols evening culminating at 9pm with Fireworks over Toronto Bay.

Hear the children from Coal Point and Teralba Public School along with local Lake Macquarie Talent such as new talent Rosie and Jack from Swansea, Just Friends, Sandy Louise and Anna Weatherup.  A special appearance by the Peace Angels will help the audience really get into the spirit of the season.

MC Stephen Clarke, everyones’ favourite Town Crier, will entertain with stories and commentary throughout the evening and Santa will make an appearance on stage around 8.30pm.  

The finale of the evening will be performed by the Lake Macquarie Pipe Band to herald in and accompany the fireworks spectacular at 9pm.

Fridays will feature music in the park, from 6pm to 9.30pm.  Friday Dec 15, 22 and 28 will feature various local performances on the Rotunda stage and caroling and busking throughout the CBD.  

Listen to local talent with a great variety of Festive music to celebrate the season and enjoy some great food from local restaurants and cafes. 

With the Streetscape almost complete the town is proving to be both a convenient and pleasant place to spend a few hours shopping and enjoying the lakefront aspect.

Without the generous contributions of local businesses and major sponsors in the region, the festival would not be possible. 

Tornoto Business Chamber thanks the Toronto Hotel, Toronto Diggers, Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto, The Brighton, Fairfax Media, Pumps 2000, Origin Energy, Toronto Private Hospital, Centennial Coal and Lake Macquarie City Council.