Exploring Toronto during the holidays and beyond

As Torontonians, we love to brag about how harsh winters are in our city. According to many unreliable sources, we are headed for four miserable months of minus forty-degree weather, hellish blizzards, and complete immobilization due to our awful climate. This may not be the case, however. Few Torontonians will admit that our winters are hardly as harsh as those endured by most of our fellow Canadians. With temperatures averaging between only minus one and minus seven degrees, “harsh” is probably not an appropriate word to describe winter in Toronto. In fact, this year according to almost every meteorologist, the winter months are supposed to be particularly warm, making the winter season an excellent time to explore the city. Whether you’re looking for unique Toronto ways to be active during the winter, or some interesting events to help you enjoy the holidays, we’ve got you covered.

Most popular of Toronto’s winter activities is skating at Nathan Phillips Square. The large reflecting pool in front of City Hall turns into a beautiful rink surrounded by twinkling lights. It is open daily and offers inexpensive skate rentals—although can get quite busy on the weekends. You can impress your date by pointing out that a segment of the Berlin Wall is actually visible in the south base of the central arch that stretches over the rink. If downtown scenery isn’t your thing, a lesser known but equally enjoyable outdoor rink in Toronto is the Harbourfront’s Natrel Rink, which on a sunny winter day offers spectacular views of Lake Ontario while you skate.

For those interested in some holiday cheer, the city has a long list of free and inexpensive events. The Toronto Christmas Market in the Distillery District has become a staple in Toronto’s Christmas traditions. There are dozens of vendors, a huge Christmas tree and on the weekends there are performers and carolers. But be forewarned, the market has become extremely popular and will be very busy on weekends—especially as Christmas approaches. However, quieter markets can be found in other parts of the city: The Evergreen Brickworks Farmers Market offers live music and lots of Christmas treats, for example. The St. Lawrence market always has something to offer in regards to festive foods every Saturday if tasty treats are all you’re looking for.

The Hudson Bay Christmas windows in the front of their Queen Street location are also worth checking out. Every year they are decorated with moving figurines who tell an interesting Christmas tale.

Speaking of long-running traditions in Toronto, the Church of the Holy Trinity’s Christmas pageant is something worth visiting. Since the Great Depression, this church has been re-enacting the story of Jesus’ birth annually with a different live baby every night! But if Western religion is not your flavour, you may find the Winter Solstice Festival that welcomes the shortest day of the year to Kensington Market on December 22. It celebrates art and the importance of community with displays and a variety of musical performances.

As the holiday season comes to an end and the break concludes, there are still lots of ways to have fun in the city in the remaining winter months. Gourmet restaurants across the city have discounted menus for Winterlicious, which begins at the end of January. Yorkville hosts Ice Fest, which has dozens of ice sculptures and a distinctly European feel in February.

Finally, for the more adventurous, a journey to the Toronto Islands can also be interesting during the colder months. A chilly ferry ride begins a day of hiking, cross country skiing or snowshoeing. The deserted amusement park and the quiet snowy beaches also have an eeriness that outdoorsy people will appreciate. The Brickwork also has a new event called Storienteering, which leads participants through a complex scavenger hunt to reveal facts about Toronto’s history.

Toronto doesn’t shut down during the winter and this year’s milder season will provide us with an excellent opportunity to explore the city’s different public spaces and holiday events. Whether this is your first winter in the city or one of many, it’s worth the time to go out and enjoy it.

Featured image courtesy of iLoveToronto