What's open and closed in Toronto this holiday season
FEATURED ON THE LISTED GUIDE
It’s that time of year again.
The holidays are in full swing over the next two weeks, and to help you maneuver life, we’ve compiled a list of what is open and closed during the holidays.
City of Toronto
Most city operations and all municipal offices will be closed on Monday, December 26 and Tuesday, December 27, as well as Monday, January 2. City services that regularly operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week such as 311 Toronto and emergency services will be available.
Community recreation centres
Community centres in the city will be open until 4 p.m. on December 24 and 31 (later for those with scheduled permits) and closed on December 25 and 26 and January 1. Some facilities may be closed during the holiday period for annual maintenance.
Swimming at City pools
While a few pools remain open over the holidays, note that most pools across the City are closed for maintenance through to January.
Skating
The City offers a variety of free, leisure ice-skating programs for all ages and abilities at indoor arenas and outdoor rinks. Outdoor rinks that are open may be unsupervised. Indoor arenas will be closed on December 25 and 26 and January 1.
Skiing/snowboarding
The City of Toronto operates two ski/snowboard centres. Earl Bales Ski and Snowboard Centre will be closed on December 25. Centennial Park Ski and Snowboard Centre has not yet opened for the season.
Riverdale Farm
Looking for some fun family activity? The City’s Riverdale Farm is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.
High Park Zoo
If not the farm, perhaps the zoo. The High Park Zoo is home to domestic and exotic animals, including Toronto’s famous capybaras Bonnie and Clyde, and is open daily from dawn to dusk. Admission to the zoo is free.
Christmas flower shows
Christmas flower shows at the City’s Allan Gardens and Centennial Park conservatories are a tradition during the holiday season. The flower shows are open daily from 10 am to 5 pm until January 8 and admission is free.
Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo will be open throughout the holiday period except on December 25.
Historic Sites
Eight of the City’s historic sites are offering holiday-themed events and tours for families and adults until January 3. Most of the historic sites are open daily except Mondays. All the sites will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and on January 2. Highlights for individual locations are noted below. Times and participant age details for activities vary by day and by location. Holiday season admission prices apply.
Fort York National Historic Site
During special programming from December 27 to 31, at 11 am and 2 pm daily, children can join the cooks in the historic kitchen to help make gingerbread cookies. Signup is in the Museum Store upon arrival for a tour of the fort – included with regular admission to Fort York.
Toronto Public Libraries
Toronto’s Public Libraries will operate on limited hours on Christmas eve, and will be closed on December 25 and 26, as well as January 1 and 2.
Solid waste pickup by the City
Given the days of the week that Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day fall on, the three holidays have no impact on the daytime curbside residential collection schedule. All transfer stations and drop-off depots for residential drop-off of garbage, yard waste, recyclables, household hazardous waste and electronics will be closed on Boxing Day (Monday, December 26) and also on Monday, January 2, re-opening for business on Tuesday both weeks. Depots for household hazardous waste and electronics drop-off will be open regular hours on Saturday, December 31.
Canada Post
Canada Post locations, and delivery, will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day. When a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, it may be applied to the next business day. As such, post offices will be closed, and there will be no collection or delivery of mail.
Shopping Malls
Most malls in the GTA will be operating on holiday hours on Christmas Eve, and closed on Christmas Day. Toronto’s Eaton Centre will be open on New Year’s Day from 12 to 5 pm.
Grocery Stores
While many will be closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day, these grocery stores will be open.
Rabba’s (various locations): open 24 hours
Food Depot (155 Dupont St., at Davenport): open 24 hours
Bloor Superfresh (384 Bloor St. W): open 24 hours
Kitchen Table (10 Queens Quay West): 9 am to 11 pm, (389 Spadina Rd.) 7 am to 10 pm (595 Bay St., at Atrium on Bay) 10 am to 8 pm, (705 King St. West) 8 am to 12 am.
LCBO
All LCBO stores will open at regular hours and close at 6:00 pm on Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24, and on New Year’s Eve, Saturday, December 31.
LCBO stores will be closed on Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25 and Boxing Day, Monday, December 26. LCBO stores will re-open on Tuesday, December 27. LCBO stores will be closed New Year’s Day, Sunday, January 1 and will re-open on Monday January 2.
See also
Follow Channels and Categories