Toronto/CMEDIA: Exciting activities for everyone this holiday season are being offered by the City of Toronto
Dazzling light displays to outdoor winter activities, residents can plan to make the most of the weeks ahead.
Here’s a guide for what’s happening, and what’s open or closed, in Toronto this holiday season:
Family-friendly events
Cavalcade of Lights
Continuing until Wednesday, Jan 7, 2026, the Cavalcade of Lights at Nathan Phillips Square featuring interactive light installations and free skating, transforms it into a festive winter destination.
More information is available on the City’s Cavalcade of Lights webpage.
New Year’s Eve
A free 10-minute, high-altitude fireworks show launched by Toronto will ring in 2026 from the inner harbour at midnight, synchronized to music and accompanied by live performances and festive programming along the waterfront.
The event will also be livestreamed via the City’s Culture YouTube channel.
More information is available on the City’s New Year’s Eve webpage.
New Year’s Skating Parties
On Sunday, January 4, 2026, from 1 to 5 p.m., residents are invited to the City’s free, family-friendly New Year’s Skating Parties at locations across Toronto, featuring skating, free rentals, hot chocolate, local DJs and winter activities for all ages. More information is available on the City’s webpage.
Enjoying the great outdoors
Ice and Snow Activities
The city’s parks, outdoor ice rinks and trails are a winter adventure for all ages, offering skating, tobogganing and cross-country skiing. For more information, visit the City’s Ice & Snow Activities webpage.
Skating rinks
Offering free leisure activities including figure skating, shinny and ringette, the City’s outdoor ice rinks and skating trails encourage skaters to check the status of their local rink before heading out.
More information about outdoor skating rinks is available on the City’s Drop-in Skating webpage.
The City is once again partnering with Desjardins Financial Group to make it easy and fun for residents and families to go skating by providing free access to skates, helmets and skate aids.
The mobile Skate Lending Library will be at several outdoor ice rinks throughout the season so all Toronto residents can try this Canadian winter pastime.
More information about the program and skate lending locations is available on the City’s webpage.
High Park Animal Display
The High Park Animal Display will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Roads in the park will be closed to vehicular traffic on weekends, as well as on Thursday, Dec 25, Friday, Dec 26, and Thurs, Jan 1, 2026. Learn more on the City’s Zoos & Farms webpage.
Riverdale Farm
Riverdale Farm will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free. More information is available on the City’s Zoos & Farms webpage.
Indoor holiday fun
Community recreation centres
A variety of fitness classes and other drop-in recreation programs throughout the holiday season are offered by the City. Community recreation centres will be open until 4:30 p.m. on Wed, Dec 24 and Wed, Dec 31 but closed on Thurs, Dec 25, Fri, Dec 26 and Thurs, Jan 1, 2026. Some facilities may also be closed during the holiday period for annual maintenance.
Neighbourhood centre hours of operation are listed on the City’s recreation webpage.
Toronto History Museums
All Toronto History Museums are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays as well as Thursday, December 25, Friday, December 26 and Thursday January 1, 2026. For more details, visit the City’s webpage.
The Sky & Bone exhibition at 401 Richmond St W. is closed on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays as well as Thursday, December 25, Friday December 26 and Thursday, January 1, 2026. For more details, visit the City’s webpage.
Toronto Public Library
Toronto Public Library branches will close early at 1 p.m. on Wed, Dec 24, and Wed, Dec 31. All branches will be closed on Thurs, Dec 25, Fri, Dec 26, Mon, Dec 29 and Thurs, Jan 1, 2026.
A complete list of Toronto Public Library branch locations and hours of operation is available on the City’s webpage .
Residents can download and stream eBooks, eAudiobooks, magazines, newspapers, movies and music anytime by visiting the eBooks & Online Content webpage .
Cultural Centres and City-run Galleries
Assembly Hall, Cedar Ridge Creative Centre and Clark Centre for the Arts will be closed Wed, Dec 24, to Wed, Dec 31, 2025 and on Thurs, Jan 1, 2026. Sites will re-open Friday, January 2, 2026.
More information including visiting hours and directions can be found on the City’s Cultural Centres & Galleries webpage.
The Union Station Indoor Roller Express Rink
The indoor rink will be available to the public throughout the holidays, closing only from Wednesday, December 24 to Friday, December 26. Learn more about the rink, including operating hours, on the website .
St. Lawrence Market
The South Market will operate over the following hours:
Monday, December 22 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, December 23 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, December 24: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thursday, December 25: Closed
Friday, December 26: Closed
Saturday December 27: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday December 28: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Saturday Farmer’s Market will be open on Saturdays, from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m., maintaining regular hours throughout the holiday season.
For more details, visit the St. Lawrence Market website .
Plan ahead – What’s open and closed:
City Civic Centres
Toronto City Hall, the City’s Civic Centres, tax and utility counters and the Toronto Archives are closed on Thursday, December 25, Friday, December 26 and Thursday, January 1, 2026.
Garbage Collection and Recycling
There will be no curbside residential waste collection on Thursday, December 25 and Thursday, January 1, 2026. Collection will shift by one day, with Thursday moving to Friday, and Friday moving to Saturday, for both weeks. Nighttime curbside residential, commercial and premium organics collection will follow the same schedule.
On Thursday, December 25 and Thursday, January 1, 2026, drop-off depots and transfer stations will be closed to the public for drop-off of garbage, yard waste, recyclables, household hazardous waste and electronics.
Christmas tree collection will take place on regularly scheduled garbage collection days in January 2026. For more information, please visit the Holiday Collection & Drop-Off Depot webpage: https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/recycling-organics-garbage/holiday-impacts/
Starting January 1, 2026, all requests for residential Blue Bin recycling services, including missed collection, bin repair or replacements should be directed to the new provider, Circular Materials, at 1-888-921-2686 or circularmaterials.ca/toronto .
Road Restrictions
Several road closures and traffic management measures will be in effect for events and critical construction. Residents are encouraged to plan their travel in advance, allow for extra time, considering public transit or other travel methods such as walking or cycling. Residents are also asked to follow all signage to keep everyone safe. A map of all road closures is available on the City’s webpage .
TTC service updates
On certain days during the holiday season, the TTC will run on a holiday schedule. Residents are encouraged to plan by visiting the TTC website for up-to-date service information.
Green P Parking and Bike Share Toronto
For those planning to drive or charge an EV over the holidays, the Green P parking website provides information on parking and EV charging.
The Bike Share Toronto app offers a convenient and sustainable mode of transportation. Users can plan their trip and hop on a Bike Share Toronto classic bike or e-bike. More information is available on Bike Share Toronto’s webpage .
Toronto Island Ferry Service
Ferries to and from the Toronto Islands will follow the usual winter schedule throughout the holidays. More information is available on the City’s Ferries webpage.
Celebrate safely and responsibly
Torontonians are encouraged to make the most of this holiday season by celebrating safely and responsibly which includes adhering to the following tips:
Fire safety
Fire incidents are at their highest rate during the holidays as heating, holiday decorations, unattended cooking and candles can increase risk. The City encourages people to be mindful of fire safety this holiday by ensuring their smoke alarms work properly. Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of the home and tested monthly.
More safety and fire prevention tips are available on the City’s Safety Tips & Prevention webpage.
Food safety
Residents are encouraged to visit Toronto Public Health’s Food Safety at Home webpage for a delicious and worry-free holiday meal gathering with family and friends. Review tips on safer food preparation and serving and learn how to store food safely, even during a power outage. More information can be found on the City’s webpage.
Those planning to skip cooking at home and dine out instead can find the food safety records of food establishments across the city through DineSafe. This tool allows Toronto diners to make informed decisions about where to eat. More information is available on the City’s DineSafe webpage.
Prevent virus spread
As Toronto experiences a rapid increase in flu activity, Toronto Public Health is reminding residents to protect themselves, their families and the community this holiday season.
Residents are strongly encouraged to use all available layers of protection to prevent respiratory virus spread: vaccination, staying home when sick, washing hands often, choosing well-ventilated spaces when possible and wearing masks in crowded indoor spaces.
Vaccination remains one of the most effective tools for preventing serious illness and hospitalization. Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are free for everyone six months and older and are available through participating pharmacies and primary care providers. Respiratory Syncytial Virus immunization is also available for eligible residents. More information is available on the City’s webpage.
