Fun things to do in Toronto March & April 2025

You know winter is too long when they have to throw in a March break to keep us from going crazy, so welcome to the start of Spring and warmer temperatures.

Winter Stations in the Beach continues from Feb 17 into March.
Toronto Spring Camping & RV Show Thurs, Feb 27 to Sun Mar 2.
Illuminite interactive light festival in the Downtown Yonge neighbourhood Mar 1-31. To be confirmed.
Biolumen Music and Light March 1 to April 1. Daily from noon till 10pm at Yonge-Dundas Square. TBC.
Toronto Catstravaganza Sat to Sun, Mar 1-2. Exhibition Place - Queen Elizabeth Bldg.
Toronto’s 2024 International Women’s Day Rally and March Sat, Mar 8. Rally at 1pm.

Toronto Bicycle Show and E-Bike Expo Fri to Sun, Mar 7-9.
Toronto Rock Lacrosse till April.

Toronto Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival Sat, Mar 8 to Sun, Apr 6.

Toronto FC First home game Sat, Mar TBC.

Celebrate Toronto Sat, Mar 8 in Nathan Phillips Square - It's birthday number 191.

Toronto Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival Sat, Mar 9 to Sun, April 7.

Green Living Show Fri to Sun, Mar. To be confirmed.

National Home Show  Fri to Sun, Mar 7-16.

Toronto Motorama Custom Car and Motorsports Expo Fri to Sun, Mar 7-9. 

Toronto International Bicycle Show Fri to Sun, Mar 7-9.

Sugar Shack Sat to Sun, Mar 8-9 down at the waterfront.

Lumiere The Art of Light in Ontario Place Trillium Park. Tue, Mar to Sat, Apr Dates to be confirmed.

Toronto Sportsmen's Show Thurs to Sun, Mar 13-16.

Toronto ComicCON Fri to Sun, Mar 14-16. Come for the costumes, read a few comics and meet some stars.

St Patricks Day Parade Sun, Mar 16.

Spring Cottage Life Show Thurs to Sun, Mar 20-23.

CANNEXPO 2024 Fri to Sun, Mar 21-22 at the Enercare Centre
Earth Hour Sat, Mar 22 at 8:30 pm.

Toronto Blue Jays Home Opener Thurs, Mar 27.

The New Boat Show at the International Centre Thurs to Sun, Mar 27-30.

Partial Eclipse of the Sun Sat, Mar 29 beginning at 6:56am.

Spring Toronto Motorcycle Supershow Sat to Sun, Mar 29-30.

Toronto Pillow Fight Sat, Apr 5 at 3pm at Nathan Phillips Square, to be confirmed. During World Pillow Fight Day.

Grand Slam of Curling: Princess Auto Players' Championship Tue to Sun, April 8-13 at the Mattamy Centre.

Toronto Food and Drink Festival Fri to Sun, Apr 11-13.

Toronto Beaches Lions Easter Parade Fri & Sun, Apr 18 & 20.

Record Store Day in Toronto Sat, Apr 12. Twenty one record stores in Toronto are participating.

ImportExpo - Toronto Opener Sat, Apr TBD. Better Living Building in Exhibition Place.

420 Smokeout Sun, Apr 20 at ?

Born for More: Soulful Beauty event Sun, Apr TBD. Inner and Outer Beauty event. 

Fashion Art Toronto Thurs to Sun, Apr TBD.
Future of Innovation, Technology and Creativity FITC Mon to Tue, Apr TBD

Battle of York Weekend TBD

Hopefully the fruit blossoms will come out to play, along with the warm weather. Check out the famous High Park Cherry Blossoms Festival.

Moved into May 2024

Planted Expo Toronto Sat to Sun, May 10-11 at the Enercare Centre.

Toronto Comic Arts Festival TCAF Sat to Sun, May TBD. They are looking for a new location for 2025-2026 while the library is undergoing renovations.

Fun things to do in #Toronto in Jan and Feb 2025

Winter starts on the December Solstice and darn it hits pretty hard by the time it gets into January and February, even in southern Ontario, so bundle up and check out what is going on in the big city of Toronto.

Note the Bentway Polar Bear Skate is December 31, 2024 (To Be Confirmed) New Year's Eve Day - registration at noon, skating starts at 1pm. Famous for skating in your skivvies under the Gardiner Expressway.

Polar Bear Dip at Sunnyside Beach. Wednesday, Jan 1. Noon at Sunnyside Beach. 'Do the Dip'.

North American International Motorcycle Supershow Fri to Sun, Jan 3-5 at the International Centre. 
Toronto No Pants Subway Ride Sun, Jan 12. Meet at 3pm at Eaton Centre Dundas Street entrance, 3:20pm head out on the rails. 

Canada's Bridal Show Fri to Sun, Jan 10-12.

The Franchise Expo Sat to Sun, Jan 11-12.

Interior Design Show IDS2025 Thurs to Sun, Jan 23-26.
Toronto International Boat Show Sat to Sun, Jan 18-26.

Winterlicious Fri, Jan 31 to Thurs, Feb 13. "Savour every bite"

Harbourfront Centre Kuumba Feb 2025. A celebration of Black Culture.

OCAD U Black History Month Digital Exhibition Thurs to Thurs, Feb TBD. On the screens of Yonge-Dundas Square.

Toronto NHL Fan Fair Thurs to Sun, Feb TBD at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, south building.
Hey, it's Groundhog Day on Sun, Feb 2. Groundhogs can't be stopped! Don't forget about Wiarton Willie!

Toronto Golf and Travel Show presented by Golf Town Fri, Jan 31 to Sun, Feb 2.

Toronto Chinatown Lunar New Year Celebrations Sat to Sun, Feb 1-2. Lunar New Year is Saturday and it's the Year of the Snake.
Maple Leafs Hockey outdoor practice Feb TBD at noon in Nathan Phillips Square. Festivities from Feb TBD including an alumni game on Saturday.

Sweet City Fest Fri to Mon, Feb TBD in the Stackt Market.
Roundhouse Winter Craft Beer Festival Sat, Feb TBD. Brought to you by Steam Whistle and the Toronto Railway Museum.

Toronto Erotic Arts and Craft Fair Sat, Feb 8. Free admission at the Parkdale Hall.

Toronto Coldest Day of the Year Ride Sat, Feb TBD. Meet at 11:30am at Tom Riley Park.

Black Film Festival Wed to Mon, Feb 12-17.

Happy Valentine's Day Fri, Feb 14. Hugs and kisses everyone.

Motorcycle Show Toronto Fri to Sun, Feb 14-16. Down in Exhibition Place.

Spring Fish and Boat Show Fri to Sun, Feb 14-16.
Canadian International AutoShow Fri to Sun, Feb 14-23.

Winterfolk Festival Fri to Sun, Feb 14-16.

I Heart Beer and Taco Festival Sat, Feb TBD.

Bloor-Yorkville Icefest Festival Sun to Tue, Feb TBD.

Beaches Winter Stations Design Competition Displays start Mon, Feb 17.
Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show Fri to Sun, Feb 21-23.

Toronto Spring Camping and RV Show Thurs, Feb 27 to Sun, Mar 2 at the International Centre

Moved into March....

Toronto International Bicycle Show Fri to Sun, Mar 7-9.
Toronto Sportsmen's Show Thurs to Sun, Mar 13-16.

The New Boat Show at the International Centre Thurs to Sun, Mar 27-30.

Royal Horse Show Toronto 2024

Bringing some of the best equestrian talent, both horses and riders, from around the world into Toronto for ten days of exciting competitions and exhibitions, the Royal Horse Show is on now in Exhibition Place (November 1-10, 2024). This show is a great companion to the annual Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and tickets to the daily shows include general admission into the Fair. The horse show is in the Coca-Cola Coliseum adjacent to the Fair in the Enercare Centre.

The big boys returned early to the show, the magnificent Percherons, Belgians and Clydesdales, so imposing in their size but you can still see them in hitch competitions and for the Royal Heavy Horse Team Championship. For strength and agility the jumpers are ready to wow the crowd with many performances throughout the fair but the jumping ends with the world's best taking part in the Longines FEI World Cup on November 9 beginning at 7pm. This competition will see 24 horses and riders show jumping for the biggest purse at The Royal an astounding $272,000!

From the Show, "The Royal Horse Show received a record number of entries for the five-star division, including from last year’s Longines World Cup winner, Daniel Bluman of Israel, and runner-up, Jessica Mendoza of Great Britain. Germany will have two entries in Rene Dittmer and Richard Vogel while American legends Kent Farrington and McLain Ward rarely miss an opportunity to compete at The Royal. Canadian Show Jumping Team veterans Mario Deslauriers, Tiffany Foster, and Amy Millar all arrive in Toronto fresh off their 2024 Paris Olympic appearance to represent the home side."

Here is what is on for tap on Thursday, November 7: Clydesdale Six Horse Hitch, Hackney & Harness Pony Championships, Feature: Dueling Fiddles Challenge Dual Aerialists and the Mad Barn Big Ben International Challenge.

There is still plenty to see at the Royal Horse Show with "Then it’s into the final weekend with the Mad Barn Big Ben International Challenge on Thursday evening, the Royal International Speed Challenge on Friday evening, and closing out with the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto on Saturday night." Also remaining is the Canadian Cowgirls and a performance by Dual Aerialists & The Royal Dance Team for “Celebration of the Horse”(Nov 9), a choreographed Drumline (Nov 8), along with two rodeo sessions on closing day Sunday, November 10.

Richard Vogel riding Levi Noesar is the winner of the $170,000 Mad Barn Big Ben Challenge. Scott Cieslar (far right), CEO and Chief Nutritionist of Mad Barn, accompanied by his daughters present the winning cup.

From the Royal "At only eight years old, Levi Noesar turned heads in the Coca-Cola Coliseum while carrying Vogel to victory in a six-horse jump-off over courses designed by Oscar Soberon of the United States. Vogel was the pathfinder in round one and set an immediate time to chase over the short course. After foot-perfect rollbacks, he broke the timers in a blistering 37.87 seconds aboard the Dutch Warmblood stallion (Zirocco Blue x Baloubet du Rouet), owned by MP Sporthorses GmbH."

Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Toronto 2024

We are back at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair which happens every November in Exhibition Place since 1922 and is currently on from November 1 to 10, 2024. The Fair puts on "the best in agriculture, local food, and equestrian competitions from across the country." It is the world's largest combined agricultural fair and international equestrian competition held indoors and takes place in the Enercare Centre and Coca Cola Coliseum within Exhibition Place. There is always something to see and experience, even midweek, at the Royal Winter Fair and its companion, the Royal Horse Show.

Two of the cutest Royal Ambassadors have joined the Fair and they are both fuzzy alpacas named Dawson and Pacey and they hope to welcome all visitors who luck for interesting and fun things to do in Toronto. You can find entertainment on the OLG Entertainment Stage, watch the animals at the Animal Theatre, explore The Future of Food by the University of Guelph, play in the Farm and Play Zone and take part in Animal Encounters. 

Chefs table

One of the best experiences you can try is taking part in the Royal's 2024 Chefs Table Dinner Series where culinary experts teach you how to make  multi-course meals perfectly paired with curated drinks. As for equestrian stuff you can see the best horses in the world competing in the Royal Horse Show along with end of the show rodeos on Sunday (additional ticket required).

Butter Sculpture

The OLG Entertainment Stage will be all fiddles as Square Dancing takes over on the final Sunday of the fair for the Royal Square Dancing Competition. But every day you can go check out the Butter Sculpture Display Presented by Gay Lea where yellow butter is sculpted into works of art.

Fair Hours

Sun. 9 AM - 6 PM

Mon. 9 AM - 6 PM

Tues. 9 AM - 8 PM

Wed. 9 AM - 8 PM

Thur. 9 AM - 8 PM

Fri. 9 AM - 8 PM

Sat. 9 AM - 8 PM

It's not the Royal Winter Fair unless you can get a free apple!

Rider competing in the Mad Barn Big Ben Challenge jumping competition

Toronto Biennial of Art 2024 Starfighter at the Sculpture Garden

The biennial celebration of art comes back for the third time to Toronto from September 21 to December 1, 2024. This year the title of the 2024 Toronto Biennial of Art is called Precarious Joys which takes place at 12 locations, including the Toronto Sculpture Garden at 115 King Street East.

You can find the art locations as follows, "The Toronto Biennial of Art will have a central exhibition and programs hub at 32 Lisgar Street, in the heart of West Queen Street West. TBA will operate two additional hubs on the 9th floor of 158 Sterling Road and at Collision Gallery. TBA 2024 exhibitions and programs will take place at the following venues: ● 32 Lisgar Street ● The Auto Bldg, 158 Sterling Road ○ 9th Floor ● Collision Gallery, 30 Wellington Street West ● Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas Street West ● Gallery TPW, 170 St Helens Ave ● TIFF Lightbox, Reitman Square, 350 King St W, TIFF Gallery ● Toronto Sculpture Garden, 115 King Street East ● Toronto Union Station, 55 Front Street ● The Image Centre (TMU), 33 Gould St, Toronto, University Gallery ● The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, 231 Queens Quay West"

In the little parkette off King Street you can find a futuristic, cosmic fighter ready for a cowboy-sci-fi crossover as the flying machine has a lot of fringe, swaying in the breeze. Sponsored by the Biennia along with the City of Toronto this installation will remain until March 20, 2025 and if you close your eyes you can almost hear the "pew pew pew" of the laser canons blasting away.

From the City's Sculpture Garden website, "Vimana (N1 Starfighter) (2024) is a newly commissioned sculptural installation. This sculpture is the latest in a series of spacecraft lanterns that draw inspiration from mainstream science fiction and Traditional Buddhist Vesak kūdu. The lanterns are historically made from bamboo and rice paper and are constructed with symbolic geometry; Rajni’s modern rendition features plywood and translucent acrylic lit with LED lights. The work explores themes of spacefaring and immigration, incorporating the Sanskrit term vimāna (which has various meanings related to flying) to challenge Western narratives of advanced aerospace technology.

Rajni Perera is an artist whose practice explores themes of hybridity, ancestral connections, the future, and migrant and marginalized identities, as well as the realms of monsters and dreamscapes through the lens of science fiction. Rajni’s concepts intertwine across various artistic mediums, from traditional drawing and painting to clay sculpting, woodworking, lantern crafting, new media sculpture, textiles, and the innovative realm of synthetic taxidermy. She unveils the vitality inherent in the icons, beings, and objects she brings forth. Through a subversive approach, she dismantles outdated narratives of oppression, allowing these creations to serve as a healing and rejuvenating force."

Upcoming Christmas and the Toronto Cavalcade of Lights

Fall colours will soon fall to the ground and cooler winter temperatures will start to hit Toronto and the city has started the long process of putting up Christmas decorations. The annual Cavalcade of Lights taking place at city hall requires a lot of prep to get the lights and giant Christmas tree installed. Already the reflecting pond is drained and two manlifts are preparing the arches for lights. The tree lighting ceremony and Cavalcade of Lights opening is expected on November 30, 2024 to be held in Nathan Phillips Square.

Setting up for Cavalcade of Lights

The Toronto Eaton Centre is installing their large herd of decorative deer statues and the extremely tall Christmas tree near the fountain looks like it is in place and covered up with a red curtain.

Over at Commerce Court the aluminum, illuminated Christmas trees have been placed at the King Street entrance as well as back in the courtyard where the elephants roam.

Spirit Garden and Toronto City Hall in the Fall

Toronto is adding a Spirit Garden onto the west side of Nathan Phillips Square and it is shaping up nicely, especially as Fall colours are taking over the city hall property. The new park is dedicated to stepping closer to the Indigenous communities in a Call to Action with a highly visible space featuring and sharing the traditions of the Original Peoples.

From the City of Toronto, "The Spirit Garden also incorporates diverse elements that represent First Nations, Inuit and Métis cultures, such as a Teaching Lodge, an amphitheatre, a Three Sisters seasonal garden, a Two Row Wampum walkway and more. The 20,650-square-foot garden serves as a space for contemplation, gatherings and spiritual ceremonies, open to all people seeking connection and understanding."

Featured art works and artists include a giant turtle sculpture in a reflecting pool, a wall with the names of 18 former residential schools in Ontario, a shiny 36-fool, stainless steel canoe, an Inuksuk symbol of guidance, etched Three Sisters artwork and a Teaching Lodge.

See more of city hall in autumn after the jump.