The holidays are an expensive time of year, but luckily, getting your fill of holiday fun and cheer doesn’t have to be! There are plenty of free and festive activities to take part in from now until the end of the year.
From movie showings to skating galore, here are 16 free things to do in Toronto over the holidays.
Grab your skates and head down to The Bentway, the 220 metre skate trail underneath the Gardiner Expressway. The figure eight loop is open seven days a week and it’s completely free to visit! If you don’t have skates, there are rentals (for a fee) on site, as well as an outdoor Corona Après Patio bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic bevvies and The Quaker Lounge, stocked with delicious oat-based eats. Get more details.
You don’t need to own a pair of skates to skate Union Station! From now until January 4, the skating rink at Union Station is completely free to check out. There are free skate rentals, free skating lessons daily from 12 to 4 p.m., and DJ skate nights on Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 9 p.m. Get more details.
It’s your last weekend to visit the free Winter Village at Evergreen Brickworks. There’s a picturesque outdoor skating rink, a local market for browsing, live music, and plenty of delicious eats. The last day of the market is December 22. Get more details.
Nathan Phillips Square has been transformed into a beautiful festive market! Take part in festive fun in the heart of downtown Toronto and enjoy skating, rides and games, seasonal treats, or a drink at the outdoor bar. Browsing is free, but you’ll need a little pocket change for everything else. The fair is open until December 23. Get more details.
If you’re in the area, be sure to visit the Square One Merry & Bright Holiday Market! There are tons of Instagrammable moments and free DIY workshops, plus opportunities to win some amazing prizes like a SMEG stand mixer, IKEA gift cards, and more. The market is open until December 24. Get more details.
Check out a free screening of the Christmas favourite ELF over the holidays! The screening will take place at Revue Cinema on Roncesvalles Avenue. While the screening is free, they will be accepting donations for the Parkdale Community Food Bank. You can register for tickets online for the 1 p.m. showing, however, the tickets don’t guarantee entry, so be sure to get there early to save your seat! Get more details.
Another free movie screening happening in support of the Parkdale Community Food Bank is one for A Christmas Story. Like the showing for Elf, tickets can be reserved online for the 1 p.m. showing, but they don’t guarantee a seat. Get more details.
North Toronto yogis will be happy to hear that Lululemon will be hosting a free yoga class on December 22 at its Yorkdale Shopping Centre location. All you have to do is register online and show up with your mat to take part in the 45-minute practice. Get more details.
Photography enthusiasts will love this event. On December 22 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., join TDot Shots and other photographers to explore downtown Toronto, shoot new spots, and meet other likeminded folks. Get more details.
On December 22, Scotiabank will be throwing a special event at The Bentway in celebration of the Toronto Maple Leafs Next Generation Game. Hockey fans won’t want to miss this — from 1 to 3 p.m., you can #SkateThe8 with the Toronto Maple Leafs’ official mascot Carlton the Bear and meet NHL alum Shayne Corson. Get more details.
On the hunt for a super last minute gift? Here’s your opportunity to make one that’s super personal. The Toronto Reference Library will be making free 3D printed holiday ornaments for drop in visitors between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. on December 24. There’s a limit of 1 ornament per person and it’s first-come-first-serve, so get there early! Get more details.
The Toronto Public Library – Lilian H. Smith Branch on College St. will be hosting a free family-friendly screening of the Isle Of Dogs on December 27 from 1 to 3 p.m. Get there early for the best spot! Get more details.
From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on December 29, head to the Fjallraven flagship store on Queen St. West for a free Pilates for Hikers class. Register online for the opportunity to do a free one-hour pilates class, light refreshments, and leave with a goodie bag with freebies from Manitoba Harvest, Love Good Fats, Well Told, Flow Hydration, and more. Get more details.
You’ve heard of the polar bear dip, but what about the Polar Bear Skate? Another fun event happening at The Bentway will have you skating in your skivvies. From 1 to 4 p.m., join others in skating in their underwear on the figure eight loop — the first 100 pre-registrants will get free hot chocolate! Get more details.
Calling all Potter Heads! On December 30 at 7 p.m., Poor As Shoes will be hosting a watch party for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and there will be games, prizes, and more, including a best dressed prize for the person who comes in their best Harry Potter garb. An RSVP doesn’t guarantee seating, so head there before 7 p.m. to guarantee your spot. Get more details.
Just like years past, this New Year’s Eve, Nathan Phillips Square will be putting on a big celebration to ring in the New Year. The annual event will have a DJ skate party, live musical performances, and fireworks, making it a perfect event for the family! Get more details.
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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.
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
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 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 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
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
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
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 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 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
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
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
Great news for all cider enthusiasts in Toronto. One of the leading cider producers in Canada, Brickworks Ciderhouse, is opening the first urban ciderhouse in the country and offering the best craft ciders to its visitors starting February 2018. The ciderhouse will be located in downtown Toronto at 709 Queen Street East.
The new space is slated to be the epicentre for cider innovation in Canada and will feature a cider production facility and a restaurant under one roof. Guests will be able to enjoy Brickworks Ciderhouse favourites, exclusive small-batch releases and an exclusive locally sourced seasonal menu to complement the Ciderhouse portfolio. One interesting fact about Brickworks Ciderhouse is that the company uses locally grown apples found within 300 km radius of Toronto in the production of all their ciders.
According to the company, the seasonal menu will be designed to pair with Brickworks local favourites as well as new and exclusive ciders. Visitors will also be able to indulge in locally inspired dishes including Ontario classic apple pies created in-house using the same apples as the ciders.
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“As the cider market continues to evolve so do Canadians palates for more diverse ciders which is why the opening of the Ciderhouse will enable us to offer a best in class cider experience right here in Toronto,” said Adam Gerrits, Co-Founder, Brickworks Cider. “We’re excited to be part of the thriving Riverdale neighbourhood and take part in local initiatives.”
Here’s what you can expect at the first Ciderhouse in Canada:
? Cider selection: The Toronto Ciderhouse will serve Brickworks classic favourites and seasonals, alongside innovative micro-batches using rare apple varieties. The bar will feature a total of 16 drinks on taps, 10 cider and 6 local craft beer favourites from Mill Street, ultimately producing up to 40 new, rare and experimental micro-batch ciders.
? Innovative facilities: The Ciderhouse will feature superior barrel and bottle ageing facilities for our cider makers to experiment with, bringing Torontonians a new palette of French, Spanish, and UK style ciders to enjoy.
? Seasonal menu: The Ciderhouse will offer an exciting menu featuring fresh and local ingredients, designed to pair with the locally made ciders and classic favourites.
? Community Involvement: In an effort to further their commitment to the community, Brickworks will be partnering with Not Far From The Tree, a local initiative that helps Torontonians with fruit trees to harvest, share, and enjoy what they produce by providing volunteers to pick the bounty. The harvest is divided three ways: 1/3 is offered to the homeowner, 1/3 is shared among the volunteers, and 1/3 is delivered by bicycle to local food banks, shelters, and community kitchens. Every fall, the Ciderhouse will use the collected apples from the community to brew local, one-of-a-kind micro-batch ciders on-site.
The Brickworks Ciderhouse will be open Monday to Wednesday, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. and Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday to Saturday, from 11:00 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
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Featured image: Instagram/ @brickworkscider
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The Evergreen Brickworks, on Bayview Avenue, is hosting lots of fun, seasonal entertainment worth checking out this winter. There are numerous food markets coming up to tantalize your taste buds. Make sure to head to the ongoing Saturday Farmers Markets and Tasty Eats at Evergreen’s Winter Village, which opens on Saturday, December 2nd. Take a hike through the park to work off all the food you just ate, and discover amazing views of the CN Tower.
Find out more information here.
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Featured Image: Instagram/EtsyCanada
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Winter is one of the best seasons to take in everything Toronto has to offer. It may get cold here in the Great White North, but that doesn’t mean you should stay inside and hibernate all season long. Bundle up, get outside, and enjoy the chilly season. With everything from holiday markets, to skating and skiing, and winter vineyard tours, there’s so much to do in Toronto come winter.
If you’re looking for ideas on how to spend your days (and nights) this season, here are 5 cliché but totally awesome things to do in and around Toronto this winter!
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The Toronto Christmas Market is a must-visit for a true Torontonian winter. The city’s Distillery District is transformed into a magical, holiday fest with activities for all ages to enjoy. It boasts one of Toronto’s largest real Christmas trees, locally crafted products, festive lighting, beer gardens, a carousel, and of course, Santa and his reindeer. It’s one of the best ways to spend a day (or night) this winter!
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If you’re a skier or snowboarder or want to try your luck on the slopes this year, there are quite a few ski hills in the surrounding Toronto area. From Blue Mountain, about 2.5 hours north, to Hockley Valley, less than two hours North West and Ski Dagmar to the East, you can spend the day on the slopes and warm up with a warm hot chocolate and poutine in the chalet afterwards.
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If you’re looking to get back to nature and enjoy the outdoors this winter, head to Evergreen Brickworks Winter Village to embrace the cold and snow. From campfires to tours of the Don Valley trails, you can see the winter wonderland Toronto has to offer. You can also browse the Holiday Etsy Market on Sundays and shop fresh produce at the Saturday Farmers Market.
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If you thought winery tours were just for spring and summer, think again. Less than a three hour drive from Toronto, the Grey county region offers snowshoeing vineyard tours at the Georgian Hills Vineyards. Snowshoe through the wineries, and end the day cozying up by the fire with a glass of vino and artisan cheese board.
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Come February, the Bloor-Yorkville annual ice fest will have the neighbourhood transformed into a showcase of intricate ice sculptures and ice carving demonstrations. This year’s Ice Fest theme will be Canada 150, so you can expect gorgeous creations including Canadian Mounties and the Parliament Buildings. Bundle up, grab a hot drink, and take in the gorgeous sculptures. The event is free and takes place on Saturday, February 25 (12 noon – 8 pm) & Sunday, February 26 (12 noon – 5 pm.)
Featured image: torontochristmasmarket.com
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