The Distillery District

While the Distillery District is a popular destination throughout the year, it is during this pre-Christmas season that it really shines. The Toronto Christmas Market, now in its sixth year, begins November 20. The staggering crowds attracted last year (over half a million people visited in 2014) have prompted two changes to this year's market. First, it's longer, running for 28 days. Second, they have instituted a $5 admission charge for visits on Saturdays and Sundays. It is hoped that ticketed weekend entrance will help redirect some of the visitors to the less crowded weeknights. Whenever you decide to go, you can expect to find food, shopping, free entertainment and lots of festive cheer.

Now, because there's so much more to the Distillery District, and because everyone seems to love lists, here are my top 5 affordable things to do in the Distillery, regardless of when you come:

1) Take your picture with the giant red heart. This installation, called "Under the Mistletoe", was installed for the 2014 Christmas market but remained after the market was dismantled.

2) Visit the Mill Street Brewery on a Thursday night for Tap That Cask. The brewers at Mill Street like to experiment and every Thursday they tap a cask of something a little different. At 7 pm they distribute free samples with a cheese pairing, and for the rest of the evening, or until the cask runs dry, pints are only $5. There's also live music. If you're interested in taking part, you can also apply to be a guest cask tapper.

3) Pop in to Soma and breathe deeply. The smell alone is heaven, but take it a step further and buy yourself one of their unique truffles. Each one is a mini masterpiece and makes for an affordable but luxurious treat.

4) Get rush tickets for a play at Soulpepper. While it's not unusual for shows to be sold out, if they're not, tickets are available 60 minutes prior to the performance for only $25, or $5 if you're under 21. Cash only.

5) Learn a little about the site's history. Artifacts from the distillery's industrial past, complete with explanatory signage, are displayed throughout the site. If you're not the type to walk through unmarked doors, they can be easy to miss as many are located in building pass-throughs. So get brave. If the door isn't marked "Private", take a peek!