What's open and closed in Toronto this holiday season 2017
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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 Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day. 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 pm 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 for drop-in leisure swimming, note that most pools across the City are closed on Christmas Day proper.
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 and Centennial Park Ski and Snowboard Centre both open for the season on January 1 (weather permitting).
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 including holidays.
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 7 and admission is free.
Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo will be open throughout the holiday period except on December 25.
Historic Sites and History Museums
While closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day, six of the City’s History Museums are offering holiday-themed events and tours for families over the holiday season. Times and participant age details for activities vary by day and by location. Holiday season admission prices apply.
Colborne Lodge (11 Colborne Lodge Drive, High Park)
Through January 7, visitors can enjoy a holiday-themed tour of the historic site along with the new exhibit Innovation Circa 1867, highlighting Canadian inventions from the Confederation era.
Fort York National Historic Site (250 Fort York Boulevard)
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. Upon arrival, sign up at the Museum Store for a tour of the fort – included with regular admission.
Gibson House Museum (5172 Yonge Street)
Visitors will experience the elegant traditions of the Scottish holiday season and learn how the Gibson family celebrated Hogmanay in the 19th century. On December 28 and 29, evening dinner events will celebrate the Scottish traditions of Hogmanay. Pre-registration with payment is required. Gibson House will be closed for maintenance from January 1 to 15.
Mackenzie House (82 Bond Street)
Through January 7, visitors will learn the story of how families celebrated Christmas in 19th century Toronto. Until December 24, children can write a letter to Santa Claus during their visit and select a card from the 1845 printing press. From December 27 to 31, children can make a New Year’s Eve noisemaker in the print shop.
Market Gallery (95 Front Street East, second floor)
Building Toronto: Stories of the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood explores how the city’s first planned neighbourhood contributed to Toronto’s commercial, cultural, social and political history. This free exhibit is on display until February 24.
Montgomery’s Inn (4709 Dundas Street West)
The inn will be open regular hours offering tours throughout the holiday season, though the weekly farmers market will not run December 27 and January 3.
Scarborough Museum (1007 Brimley Road)
On December 27 to 29 and January 2 to 5, the museum offers camps for children six to 11 years of age. Pre-registration is required online or by calling 416-338-4FUN (4386).
Spadina Museum (285 Spadina Road)
Through January 7, visitors can experience a 1920s holiday season on a guided tour of Spadina Museum decorated with holly wreaths, evergreen garlands, and mistletoe. In the re-created 1930s kitchen, visitors can have holiday treats including mulled cider.
Todmorden Mills Heritage Site (67 Pottery Road)
Visitors can experience two different eras’ Christmas traditions – the 1890s and the 1940s – through January 7. The public can tour Todmorden Mills’ two historic houses, sample historic recipes and create a take-home craft.
Toronto Public Libraries
Toronto’s Public Libraries are open throughout the holiday season with the exception of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Garbage pick-up by the City
There will be no impact to daytime curbside collection on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day at residential addresses. Nighttime curbside collection is however cancelled on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day for residential households, residential units above businesses, and commercial customers. Those with collection scheduled on the holiday Mondays will receive collection on the following day. Regular service is otherwise not impacted.
Canada Post
No collection or delivery of mail will occur on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day.
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): December 25, 8 am to 9 pm; December 26, 7 am to midnight; January 1, 8 am to midnight; (389 Spadina Rd.) December 25, 8 am to 11 pm; December 26, 8 am to midnight; January 1, 8 am to midnight; (595 Bay St., at Atrium on Bay) December 25, 10 am to 8, December 26, 9 am to 11 pm; January 1, 10 am to 10 pm; (705 King St. West) December 25, 8 am to 11 pm; December 26, 8 am to 2 am; January 1, 8 am to midnight.
LCBO
All LCBO stores will open at regular hours and close at 6 pm on Christmas Eve and on New Year’s Eve. LCBO stores will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
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