Who says you can’t do anything for FREE this winter break? Below are some events and activities you can do with your children in Ontario.
FROZEN FRIDAYS (NEWMARKET)
December 23, 2022, December 30, 2022
6pm-8:30pm
Riverwalk Commons, Newmarket
Free Frozen Fridays presented by Mercedes-Benz Newmarket are the coolest place in town on Friday nights. Join us for live DJ music, outdoor skating, train rides on the Tim Hortons Express Train (weather permitting), free hot chocolate prepared by Hungry Brew Hops (while supplies last), fire & LED busker performances, LED Mega Tree shows, photo opportunities and more.
https://www.newmarket.ca/ThingsToDo/Pages/Event-Description.aspx?EventID=12359
Fantasy Of Lights (Uxbridge)
Now – January 1, 2023
6pm-9:30pm
Elgin Park, Uxbridge
While the Uxbridge Optimist Fantasy of Lights is famously a drive-through event, we are happy to announce that the Fantasy Trail foot path is back! You may once again walk through the lights as well as drive. However, please note that due to the size of the event, we can no longer facilitate parking onsite. Instead, each Friday and Saturday night for the duration of the event, you can catch the Town Trolley and be shuttled to and from the event. Plus, enjoy driving through the lights in the cozy, Christmas lit Town Trolley before embarking on the trail. Alternatively, you can park in town and walk to Elgin Park along the beautiful Uxbridge Holiday Trail and down Main Street.
www.uxbridgeoptimist.com/fantasy-of-lights
Festival Of Lights Drive-Thru (Georgina)
On Now – Mon, Jan 2 2023
Roc Parkway and Civic Centre Grounds
Dusk – 11pm Daily
Enjoy the lights all season long. Experience the Festival of Lights Nov. 26 through until Jan. 2, 2023. Travel along the ROC parkway and Civic Centre grounds in your vehicle while experiencing a magical holiday tribute with festive animated lighting set to music that can be enjoyed through your car radio on channel 101.7FM.
https://www.georgina.ca/events/festival-lights-0
Lakeside Festival Of Lights (Burlington)
Now-January 8, 2023
4pm-midnight
Spencer Smith Park, Burlington
The Festival of Lights illuminates Burlington’s waterfront through December to early January each year. Thousands of local residents and visitors from across the region, and beyond, have made it a seasonal tradition to wander through the park with family and friends to view the themed displays. Tens of thousands more take in the attraction while driving along Lakeshore Road at the City’s waterfront throughout the holiday season. It represents a popular annual tradition in the community. The Festival marks its 27th anniversary in 2022.
Come share your holiday spirits with family and friends while strolling through the magical lighting displays this year!
https://burlingtonfestivaloflights.com
Centennial Park Flower Show (Toronto)
Now – January 8, 2023
Open Daily, 10am-5pm
Centennial Park And Conservatory
The entire conservatory is decorated and filled with thousands of flowering plants, over 30 varieties of poinsettia and amazing seasonal topiary masterpieces made entirely of plant material.
Toronto History Museums Free Admission (Toronto)
Now until December 31, 2022
General admission to all 10 Toronto History Museums is permanently free to provide everyone with an opportunity to fully participate in cultural heritage and spaces. This is one of many initiatives at Toronto History Museums to advance diversity, equity and inclusion. Toronto History Museums is committed to dismantling museums’ ongoing colonial legacies and working towards fostering reconciliation and healing as well as enhancing the understanding of Toronto’s diverse stories from multiple perspectives.
Free tickets must be ordered for guided tours:
Fort York National Historic Site, 250 Fort York Blvd.
Mackenzie House, 82 Bond St.
Market Gallery, 2nd Floor, St. Lawrence Market
Spadina Museum, 285 Spadina Road
Gibson House, 5172 Yonge St.
Zion Schoolhouse, 1091 Finch Avenue East
Scarborough Museum, 1007 Brimley Road
Todmorden Mills, 67 Pottery Road
Colborne Lodge, 11 Colborne Lodge Dr.
Montgomery’s Inn, 4709 Dundas Street West
https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/museums/plan-your-museum-visit
Nature Connection: Bonfire Program (Toronto)
January 8, 2023
2pm-3:30pm
Downsview Park, Toronto
Start off 2023 by joining us around the campfire. We will be learning how to build fires, roasting some snacks and enjoying some time in the forest.
https://downsviewpark.ca/events/nature-connection-bonfire-program
Winter Activities Spotlight (Toronto/Oakville/Ottawa)
Various Dates December 2022 & January 2023
Sign up for FREE activities at participating Staples locations in Toronto, Oakville and Ottawa.
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/winter-activities-118569
Public Library Winter Break Programs (All Over Ontario)
Contact your local library to find out the free events taking place over winter break for families.
Here are some Public Library links:
Vaughan Public Library: www.vaughanpl.info
Richmond Hill Public Library: www.rhpl.richmondhill.on.ca
Aurora Public Library: www.library.aurora.on.ca
Newmarket Public Library: www.newmarketpl.ca
Bradford Public Library: www.bradford.library.on.ca
King City Public Library: www.kinglibrary.ca
Stouffville Public Library: www.wsplibrary.ca
Markham Public Library: www.city.markham.on.ca/mpl
Toronto Public Library: www.torontopubliclibrary.ca
Milton Public Library: www.mpl.on.ca
Oakville Public Library: www.opl.on.ca
Port Credit Public Library: www.mississauga.ca/portal/residents/portcreditlibrary
Mississauga Public Library: www.mississauga.ca/portal/residents/library
Brampton Public Library: www.bramlib.on.ca
Caledon Public Library: www.caledon.library.on.ca
Orangeville Public Library: www.orangevillelibrary.ca/en/index.aspx
Kitchener Public Library: www.kpl.org
Cambridge Public Library: www.cambridge.ca/en/parks-recreation-culture/Library.aspx
Guelph Public Library: www.guelphpl.ca
London Public Library: www.londonpubliclibrary.ca
Brantford Public Library: www.brantfordlibrary.ca/en/index.aspx
Hamilton Public Library: www.hpl.ca
Burlington Public Library: www.bpl.on.ca
St. Catherines Public Library: www.myscpl.ca
Niagara Falls Public Library: www.niagarafallspubliclib.org
Pickering Public Library: www.pickeringlibrary.ca
Ajax Public Library: www.ajaxlibrary.ca
Oshawa Public Library: www.oshawalibrary.on.ca
Whitby Public Library: www.whitbylibrary.ca
Clarington Public Library: www.clarington-library.on.ca
Peterborough Public Library: www.ptbolibrary.ca/en/index.aspx
Georgina Public Library: www.georginalibrary.ca
Innisfil Public Library: www.innisfil.library.on.ca
Barrie Public Library: www.barrielibrary.ca
Outdoor Ice Skating (All Over Ontario)
* Note: a lot of cities offer FREE outdoor ice skating at community centres or local parks. You can search online to find out.
Here is the list of FREE outdoor Toronto Skating Rinks posted by Blog To
Here’s a list of outdoor skating rinks that are open from November 26 to March 19.
Alexandra Park/Harry Gairey
Broadlands Community Centre
Cedarvale Park
Christie Pits
College Park
Colonel Samuel Smith Park
Dieppe Park
Dufferin Grove Park
Ethennonnhawahstihnen Park
Giovanni Caboto
Glen Longo Community Centre
Greenwood Park
High Park
Hodgson Public School Grounds
Irving W Chapley Community Centre
Kew Gardens
Ledbury Park
McCowan District Park
Mel Lastman Square
Monarch Park
Nathan Phillips Square
North Toronto Memorial Community Recreation Centre/Eglinton Park
Otter Creek Centre
Ramsden Park
Regent Park
Rennie Park
Riverdale Park East
Rosedale Park
Royalcrest Rink
Scarborough Civic Centre/Albert Campbell Square
Sherbourne Common/Paul Quarrington Ice Rink
Sir Adam Beck Rink
Sunnydale Acres Rink
Trinity Bellwoods Park
Valleyfield Park
Van Horne Park/Pleasantview Rink
Wallace Emerson Park
West Deane Park/Martingrove
West Mall Rink
Westway Outdoor Rink
Withrow Park
Here’s a list of the outdoor rinks that are open on December 3 to February 26.
Buttonwood Park
Campbell Avenue Playground
Humber Valley Rink
Jimmie Simpson Park
Joseph Bannon Park
Lambton-Kingsway Rink
Prince of Wales Rink
Queensway Rink
Rivercrest Rink
Ryerson Community Park
Summerlea Rink
Wedgewood Park
Westgrove Rink
TOBOGGANING (All Over Ontario)
Check Out The Tobaggan Hill List taken from To Do Canada
I. Tobogganing in the City of Toronto
Adams Park, 2 Rozell Road, Scarborough
Baycrest Park, 160 Neptune Dr, Toronto
Bickford Park, 400 Grace Street, Toronto
Birchmount Park, 95 Birchmount Road, Scarborough
Bridlewood Park, 445 Huntingwood Drive, Scarborough
Burnett Park, 352 Burnett Avenue, North York
Byng Park, 299 Pharmacy Avenue, Scarborough
Cedarvale Park. 443 Arlington Avenue, York
Centennial Park (Etobicoke), 165 Centennial Park Boulevard, Toronto
Charlottetown Park, 65 Charlottetown Boulevard, Scarborough
Cornell Park, 18 Beran Drive, Scarborough
Elizabeth Simcoe Park, 180 Sylvan Avenue, Scarborough
Fairmount Park, 1725 Gerrard Street East, Toronto
Glendora Park, 201 Glendora Ave, North York
Glen Stewart Park, 351 Glen Manor Drive, Toronto
Graydon Hall Park, 25 Graydon Hall Drive, North York
Greenwood Park, 150 Greenwood Avenue, Toronto
Humber Sheppard Park, 3100 Weston Road, North York
L’Amoreaux Sports Complex, 100 Silver Springs Boulevard, Scarborough
Milliken Park, 4325 McCowan Road, Scarborough
Murison Park, 99 Murison Boulevard, Scarborough
Riverdale Park East, 550 Broadview Avenue, Toronto
Riverdale Park West, 375 Sumach Street, Toronto
Thomson Memorial Park, 1005 Brimley Road, Scarborough
Weston Lions Park, 2125 Lawrence Avenue West, Toronto
Withrow Park, 725 Logan Avenue, Toronto
high-park-toboganning
II. Tobogganing in Durham Region
Pickering
Toboggan at Kinsmen Park, Pickering.
Alex Robertson Park, Pickering.
Amberlea Park, Pickering.
Ajax
Greenwood Conservation Area, 5th Concession Rd, Ajax
Hill at Ajax Waterfront Trail, along Lake shore Drive East
Paulynn Park, 1571 Ravenscroft Road
Whitby
Hy-Hope Farm, Ashburn
Guthrie Park
Otter Creek Park
Pringle Creek Park
Glen Hill Park
Bowmanville
Darlington Provincial Park
III. Tobogganing in Region of York
Markham
Milliken Mills Parks, 4277 14th Avenue(West side of the park, Kennedy Road and 14th Avenue)
Paramount Park, East side of Paramount Drive, Between Fincham Avenue south to Church Street, Markham
Milne Dam Conservation Park (Main Street & Hwy 7 ) – east end
Mint Leaf Park (Fincham Avenue just East of Larkin )
Richmond Hill
Chapman Park, Hwy. 7 and Misty Moore Dr., Richmond Hill ( Hunter’s Point Park down into Chapman Park)
Aurora
Fleury Park: In the dedicated area just south of Aurora Heights Drive and the Aurora Community Centre Parking Lot
Machell Park: In the dedicated area just north of the parking area on the west side of the park.
Aurora Leisure Complex / Lambert Willson Park: Strictly in the dedicated area along the east side of the Complex Building.
Copland Park: Strictly in the designated area along the north side of the park.
Newmarket
Dennis Park, Cane Parkway & William Roe Blvd.
Vaughan
Designated Tobogganing Hill of Vaughan – Hill at Uplands Golf Club, 46 Uplands Ave, Vaughan (Straw bales set up at the bottom of the run). Helmets Mandatory.
Hill at Boyd Conservation Area, 8739 Islington Ave, Woodbridge
Georgina
Hill adjacent to the Tube & Terrain Park – ROC, 26479 Civic Centre Rd, Georgina
East Gwillimbury
Sharon Hill Park, at Colonel Wayling Blvd. and Maplehyrn Avenue.
Uxbridge
Uxbridge Arena Hill, 291 Brock Street West, Uxbridge
IV. Tobogganing in Region of Peel
Mississauga
Birchwood Park, 1075 Clarkson Rd. N
Brookmede Park, 2254 Council Ring Rd.
Castlegreen Meadows, 2829 Castlebridge Dr.
Erindale Park, 1695 Dundas St. W
Jack Darling Memorial Park, 1180 Lakeshore Rd. W
Brampton
Major Oaks Park, Williams Pkwy and Hwy. 410, Brampton
Mount Chinguacousy
Caledon
Albion Hills Conservation Area
V. Toboggan Hills in Halton Region
Oakville
Bronte Creek Provincial Park, 1219 Burloak Dr., Oakville
Old Abbey Park, 1110 Old Abbey Lane, Oakville
Appleby College, 540 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville (located on school grounds)
Burlington
LaSalle Park, east of the parking lot
Tyandaga Golf Course, at hole No. 4, on west slope
Central Park, the hill northwest of Community Garden
Brant Hills Park, southwest of tennis courts
Nelson Park, east side of park, north of Centennial Bike Path
Lowville Park, the hill on southwest end of park
Milton
Sixteen-Mile Creek, Commercial and Laurier
Livingston Park, north side of Mill Pond
Laurier Valley, corner of Commercial and Laurier
Halton Hills
Sir Donald Mann Park, Halton Hills
Cedarvale Park, Halton Hills
Click HERE to SAVE on Holiday Events happening in the GTA!
