Happy Sunday, everyone! I hope you’ve had a great weekend, and a jolly start to the holiday season. I’ve spent the last couple of weeks doing all the Christmas things: decorating the house, pinning cookie recipes, getting a start on gift shopping, and mailing out cards. Speaking of which, how cute are the cards I found this year?! They’re by London-based illustrator Eleanor Stuart and I love their retro vibe. I got them at HomeSense – they always have the best holiday cards!
In November, I promised that I’d be sharing some fun holiday activities around the GTA and Southern Ontario on the blog in the coming weeks, and I’m holding true to that promise! Today I’ve got a cute Christmas-themed pop-up to share with you all: The Holiday Hideaway. Tania and I were recently invited* for a visit, and we had so much fun! If you’re looking to kick your December off on a merry note, you have to add this adorable spot to your list.
The Holiday Hideaway is an immersive experience filled with themed rooms, festive photo ops, tasty treats, and fun activities for kids (and kids at heart!) They have two locations: one in Etobicoke and one inside Vaughan Mills. Last week, Tania and I headed to their Etobicoke location to experience the holiday magic for ourselves.
Upon entering The Holiday Hideaway, we were immediately greeted by this charming wall of nutcrackers. How handsome are they!? Right beside them was a green velvet curtain with a red neon “Kiss Me” sign and – naturally – mistletoe.
The Holiday Hideaway has several different rooms you can explore, all with a different theme. The rooms were designed with photos in mind, so each one is set up with adjustable ring lights, tripods and fun props to help you get the best shots for the ‘gram! The first room we entered is like a life-sized version of Candyland! It features a swing set, giant heart-shaped lollipops and a rainbow of Christmas trees.
The next room was like something out of Disney’s Frozen. I loved playing around with all the festive props – how do I look as a reindeer??
My favourite room was draped in sparkly silver fabric and had disco balls everywhere – there was even a disco snowman! I was having a little Dolly Parton moment in this bedazzled cowboy hat…
I can’t decide whether the theme of this room was gothic Christmas or retro ’80s Christmas… perhaps a little bit of both? It features a red and black living room set with a dramatic black fireplace, tree and wreath.
After checking out the different rooms, Tania and I headed into the central area, which is set up like a cozy living room. There’s a ornament-trimmed fireplace, a TV playing classic holiday movies, and even a reindeer. And can we all just take a moment to appreciate the beauty of this glamorous white tree? Tania and I bought a new artificial (green) tree this year so I sold my beloved white one… I honestly didn’t think I would miss it, but I really do! Even though I love our new one, there’s just something so charming and nostalgic about a white tree.
Right beside the living room, there’s a kitchen with a hot cocoa bar where you can fix yourself a festive beverage. Everyone knows hot cocoa is only as good as its toppings, and The Holiday Hideaway has plenty to choose from: mini marshmallows, chocolate syrup, caramel syrup, crushed candy canes, cocoa powder, and cinnamon sugar. I went for the marshmallows, chocolate syrup and crushed candy canes, and enjoyed a cup with Tania by the fireplace. You can also help yourself to a cup of “reindeer food”: a surprisingly addictive mixture of Cheerios, sprinkles and flaked coconut.
If you’re coming with kids, they can write a letter to Santa and drop it off in the “mail” – how cute is that?!
The Holiday Hideaway’s Etobicoke location is at 866 The Queensway and runs until December 23, and you’ll need to reserve your tickets in advance online. I’m excited to offer a 20% ticket discount to all my readers! Just enter promo code STEPHANIEGALT at checkout.
As I mentioned earlier, The Holiday Hideaway also has a location at Vaughan Mills, which features a similar concept but different rooms. The Vaughan Mills location is open until December 24, and there’s no need to pre-book tickets – just purchase them when you arrive.
If you’re looking for a place where you can indulge your inner kid, take some cute holiday photos and enjoy a whimsical dose of nostalgia, The Holiday Hideaway is the spot for you! Be sure to check out my Instagram reel of the experience, and click here to reserve your tickets. Remember to use promo code STEPHANIEGALT for 20% off!
As always, thank you for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful week ahead!
*Our tickets to The Holiday Hideaway were generously gifted by the event organizers. As always, all opinions and thoughts are entirely my own.