It’s November and while the snow has already disappeared, that doesn’t mean you can’t take part in fun winter activities because after all, ’tis the season for ice skating and drinking a few glasses of mulled wine. We’ve rounded up our 11 favourite free places to get our skate on in Toronto to help narrow down your options. Bundle up, grab your friends or significant other, and visit one or all of these picturesque rinks. Winter has almost arrived, so we might as well suck it up and embrace the chillier temps. Now, go practice those triple axels you didn’t master last year.
Nathan Phillips Square
A unique fixture in Toronto is Nathan Phillips Square that’s right by City Hall. This popular spot offers an exceptional space to skate right in the heart of our city. Brightly lit and decorated for the holidays, this rink is totally Instagrammable, especially with that world recognized “Toronto” sign. Skate rentals are $10 per adult for 2 hours and $5 for children 12 and under, plus snacks and washrooms are located on site.
Where: 100 Queen St. West
Date Opening: November 30th
Harbourfront Natrel Rink
Arguably one the best skating rinks in Toronto is the Natrel Rink at the Harbourfront that has fabulous views Lake Ontario and the CN Tower. Skating here is completely free, but skate rentals are $13/adult. Hot food and drinks are available rink-side at Boxcar Social, and heated indoor changing rooms are on site.
Where: 235 Queens Quay West
Date Opening: November 16th
High Park
High Park has free ice skating for everyone of all ages, as well as organized games for child hockey. There are separate hours for unsupervised public skating but unfortunately, no skate rentals available.
Where: 1873 Bloor St. West
Date Opening: November 30th
Greenwood Park
Greenwood Park is a great place for an evening skate if you’re out and about in the city’s east end. While the rink is outdoors, it features a covered roof that provides some much needed shelter if it’s a snowy or rainy night. This park offers skating, hockey skills, and power skating classes for all ages. While no skate rentals are available, the rink is free to skate on.
Where: 150 Greenwood Ave
Date Opening: November 30th
Colonel Samuel Smith Park
Located along a stretch of wooded shoreline in the Kipling and Lakeshore area (next to the Power House Recreation Centre), this ice skating rink is more of a figure-eight trail than it is a rink. There may not be food vendors, change rooms, or skate rentals available on-site, but skating is free!
Where: 3145 Lake Shore Blvd West
Date Opening: November 30th
Christie Pits Park
Located in the city’s west end, free ice skating is available at Christie Pits Park 7 days a week. Varying hours for women-only, children-only, all ages, and adult-only skating. There is no skate rental at this rink but there are change rooms.
Where: 750 Bloor St W
Date Opening: November 30th
Trinity Bellwoods Park
Another west-end rink is the one at Trinity Bellwoods Park, but this one is located north east section of the park. Aside from public skating, the rink also shinny for kids and adults.
Where: 790 Queen St West
Date Opening: November 30th
Evergreen Brick Works
Evergreen Brick Works offers free public skating and skating lessons for all ages throughout the week with a rink that surrounds a small garden of evergreen trees. Skate rentals are available for $5 a pair and they even provide free helmets for skaters 18 and under. The rink was supposed to open on November 30 but because of the warmer weather, it’s slated to open December 7.
Where: 550 Bayview Ave
Date Opening: December 7th
Ontario Place
Ontario Place will be transformed into the Aurora Winter Festival that’s great fun for the whole family. In addition to skating, there’s a tube park, massive light displays, a Christmas Market, amusement rides, food, and much more. Skating on the frozen pond is no extra charge when you purchase a ticket, but skate rentals cost $7.
Where: 955 Lake Shore Blvd W
Date Opening: November 22nd
The Bentway Skating Trail
It’s back! The Bentway’s magical 220-meter skating trail will be open under the Gardiner Expressway. In addition to all the skating fun, The Bentway offers free skating lessons and rentals will also be abailable.
Where: 250 Fort York Blvd
Date Opening: December 20
Union Station
Head to Union Station on November 29 until January 4th to go for a skate. This is the first time that Union Station’s Sir John A. McDonald Plaza on Front Street will be home to a free outdoor skating rink in Toronto, that’s approximately half of the size of an NHL ice rink. What’s even better is that even skating lessons, skate rentals, and helmet rentals will also be offered by TD and Union for free.
Where: 65 Front Street West
Date Opening: November 29