9 distanced things to do over the Thanksgiving weekend in Toronto

Looking for something to do with your household this Thanksgiving weekend in Toronto? You’re in luck. Many socially distanced events are taking place in and close to the city over the holiday weekend.

Make sure to join in on some of the local, and safe, fun.

FALL n’ Leaves Pop-Up

A mini pumpkin patch pop-up right in the heart of downtown! Enjoy a cozy and socially distanced food & wine bar experience outside, at the corner of Bathurst and Richmond. The pop-up includes a fire pit and a wood oven, offering fall inspired pizzas, pastas, and soups – all served in a squash or pumpkin.

When: October 1 to 31, Monday to Friday from 5 pm to 11 pm, Saturday and Sunday 12 pm to 11 pm

Where: 621 Richmond Street West

Tickets: No tickets required for general entry. Reservations required for groups.

Movies at Ontario Place Drive-In

Visit to the Toronto waterfront and enjoy a drive-in movie! Relax in the comfort of your own car while watching some of your favourites. Spots are issued on a first-come, first-serve basis, so plan ahead!

When: Saturdays at 7:30 pm from October 3 to 31

Where: Ontario Place, 955 Lake Shore Blvd West

Tickets: $10 per person; can be purchased online here or in-person at the booth at the entrance.

BigArtTO

Want to see some public art this weekend? BigArtTO is a city-led initiative that exhibits large-scale art pieces all over Toronto. Created by Toronto artists, the artworks will be projected outdoors onto local buildings and landmarks and will play on 10-minute loops.

When: October 7 to 10 – 7:30 to 10:30 pm

Where: Alex Duff Memorial Pool at Christie Pits Park, 779 Crawford St. and Thistletown Community Centre, 925 Albion Rd.

Halloween Nights of Lights

Featuring more than 700,000 LED lights animated and synchronized to your favourite Halloween tunes, this event is definitely one you won’t want to miss out on. As a drive-thru experience, you can enjoy the Halloween spirit from the comfort of your own car!

When: October 1 to November 1

Where: Improve Canada, 7250 Keele Street.

Tickets: Available for purchase here.

Boo at the Zoo

Various fall and Halloween themed events are taking place at the Toronto Zoo! Come to enjoy a ride on the Boomobile, or take a walk through Hay-lloween Town.

When: Weekends from October 10 to 31

Where: Toronto Zoo – 2000 Meadowvale Road

Tickets: Available for purchase here.

Horror Hallways

Do you love anything spooky or haunted? Then this haunted maze is for you! Horror Hallways is sure to be super creepy and insane, and will get the hairs on the back of your neck standing! participants must wear a mask upon entry, touch-free temperature checks will be required at the door, and guests must sanitize hands before entering.

When:  Weekends October 9 to November 8 – from 6 to 11 pm (10 pm on Sundays)

Where: 401 Mini-Indy Go-Karts, 37 Stoffel Drive.

Tickets: $19.99 upon arrival, cash only.

Check out the fall foliage at Evergreen Brickworks

The leaves are changing! Pay a visit to Evergreen Brickworks to marvel in the stunning fall colours this weekend. Boasting paved trails and a great lookout spot, its a great place to see all of the fall foliage with a great view of the downtown core!

When: No specific dates or times.

Where: 550 Bayview Ave, Toronto.

Mr. Brainwash Pop-Up

Known for their collaborations with big names like Madonna, KYGO, and the Pope, global contemporary artist Mr. Brainwash is returning to Toronto for a Canadian exclusive pop-up to showcase his new collection, “We’re in this Together.” The new collection features a mix of mediums with paper, sculpture, and canvas works, and combines pop-art with raw elements of street art, all with a focus on Marilyn Monroe.

When: Until December 31 from 11 am to 7 pm – closed on Mondays

Where: 87 Yorkville Ave.

Check out other parks displaying fall foliage

Head outside safely and check out the best spots to see the leaves change colour in Toronto.

Where: Across the city

Bonus: Visit a pumpkin patch near Toronto

Throw on your boots and prepare to get muddy — there are amazing pumpkin patches near Toronto to check this fall! But remember, when outdoors you must physically distance from those not in your social bubble. And many of the farms are asking for customers to wear face masks and to reserve spots beforehand to avoid overcrowding.

Where: Pumpkin patches around Toronto

Note: While local parks, shops, and events are reopening, Toronto Public Health is reminding individuals to monitor their health for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. And if you’re not feeling well, they recommend staying home at this time. If you decide to go out, maintain the six-feet physical distancing guidelines and wear a mask.