Events in Toronto during the Family Day and Valentine's weekend

Goodness gracious, it's almost balmy around the city as we head into the Valentine's Day weekend 2026 in Toronto. There are plenty of events taking place mid-February so you won't even have time for the winter doldrums, plus we might even be warmer than the Caribbean now!

I love a good light festival and we have two this weekend; Illuminite in the downtown Yonge area and Lumiere happening at Trillium Park in Ontario Place. Illuminite features five illuminated art pieces at five separate locations, starting Feb 13, whereas Lumiere has fourteen pieces within Trillium Park, starting Feb 16.

Sweet City Fest is on from Feb 13-16 in Stackt Market and they say "Get ready for the sweetest takeover of the season. Sweet City Fest is taking over at STACKT market for 4 days filled with treats, fun, and feel-good moments. Landing perfectly around Valentine’s Day and Family Day, this festival brings something for everyone—from couples and families to friend groups and dessert devotees."

A Blues and Roots Festival called Winterfolk is in Tranzac Club from Feb 12-15.

February is also Black History Month and Harbourfront is hosting Kuumba for the month and there is an exhibition by OCAD U on at Sankofa Square as well as a Black Film Festival Feb 11-16
The Canadian International Auto Show continues until Feb 22.

Of course love is in the air as Valentine's Day hits on Saturday, Feb 14. Hugs to all! You might want to visit the Toronto Erotic Arts and Craft Fair on the 14th at Parkdale Hall if you want a little spice to go with your romance.

Queen's Park free Family Fun Day Enjoy a family festival on both Sat and Mon, Feb 14 and 16.

A massive celebration always comes to town with the Toronto Spring Lunar New Year Celebration in Nathan Phillips Square Feb 14-15. Fireworks are scheduled for Sunday beginning at 8:30pm. Note the following weekend has the Toronto Chinatown beginning its Lunar New Year Celebrations Feb 21-22.

Family Day is also the start of the Winter Stations at Woodbine Beach and it will remain until the end of March. This is the artfest designed around the lifeguard stations along the water's edge, who knew the beach would be this much fun in the middle of Winter. There are five art installations planned for this year's event.

Check out more February events on my post here.

Here is the media release from the City of Toronto for the Family Day weekend events.

"Celebrate Family Day weekend with a range of activities
The City of Toronto is offering several fun-packed options to help residents and visitors enjoy this year’s Family Day on Monday, February 16. The long weekend is the perfect opportunity to get out and about and rediscover Toronto.

A full list of Family Day fun is available on the City’s website: www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/festivals-events/family-day/.

Drop in on a recreation program
Select City recreation centres are offering free drop-in programs for individuals and the whole family. Find your nearest centre for details and schedules on the City’s recreation listings webpage:
www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/parks-recreation/places-spaces/parks-and-recreation-facilities/recreation-centre-listings/.

Lace up and glide
February is the perfect time to hit the ice in Toronto, and the City offers several free skating options. Select outdoor ice rinks and skating trails will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Family Day, weather permitting – you can find more details about rink conditions and schedules on the City’s ice and snow activities webpage:
https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/parks-recreation/program-activities/ice-snow-activities/

If you have never tried skating before, you can try it out for free by borrowing ice skates, helmets and skate aids via the City’s Skate Lending Library (in partnership with Desjardins Financial Group). The library will be at Mel Lastman Square this Family Day from noon to 4 p.m. You can find more details here:
www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/parks-recreation/program-activities/ice-snow-activities/public-leisure-skating/skate-lending-library.

Get out and play
Participate in a variety of free outdoor sports with Play Mobile (a sport development initiative, in partnership with Nike) for children, youth, families and adults looking to get active. On Family Day, you can find the Play Mobiles from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Colonel Sam Smith Park and McCowan District Park, and from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at West Mall Rink and L’Amoreaux Community Recreation Centre. For more information, including the full schedule, visit the City’s Play Mobile webpage at:
https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/parks-recreation/program-activities/sports/playmobile/

Hit the slopes
The Earl Bales Ski and Snowboard Centre will be open, weather permitting, from 2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Check the status and holiday hours on the City’s Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding Centre webpage:
www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/parks-recreation/program-activities/ice-snow-activities/downhill-skiing-snowboarding-centres/.

Go for a dip
Drop-in swimming will be available at 14 City pools on Family Day. City-run leisure swims are free of charge for everyone. You can find more information on the City Family Day webpage:
https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/festivals-events/family-day/

Take a breath of fresh air
If you want to get moving, check out the City’s scenic parks and trails. Whether it’s going on a chilly bicycle ride, or taking a trail walk, check out the City’s Winter Weather Together webpage for some great ideas:
www.toronto.ca/services-payments/weather-winter-together/.

Gather and celebrate Toronto’s history
Families and visitors of all ages are invited to gather at the City’s Toronto History Museums for fun hands-on activities offered from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. All sites are open Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, February 16, head to one of six locations: Fort York National Historic Site, Montgomery’s Inn, Scarborough Museum, Spadina Museum, Todmorden Mills and Colborne Lodge. Admission is free. More information about long weekend museum programming is available at the Toronto History Museums website: www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/museums/.

Join a Black History Month storytelling session
Celebrate Black History Month by visiting Montgomery's Inn and joining storyteller Kesha Christie from Talkin’ Tales. Kesha will present Anansi stories and African and Caribbean folktales about family, community and traditions. on February 16 from noon to12:45 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. You can find more details at the City's webpage here: www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/exhibits-events/?event_id=3e67d4f4-34f1-4e3c-83b6-717653f16a9a&event_name=Gather%20for%20Family%20Day%20Storytelling%20at%20Montgomery%27s%20Inn&calendar_date=2026-02-16T12:00:00-05:00.

Art exhibition and collage-making
Visit Market Gallery Offsite at 401 Richmond Street W. to experience Sky & Bone: Realities Unbound, an exhibition featuring more than 30 artworks from the City’s collection alongside works from contemporary Canadian artists. Drop in for collage making in the gallery on Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14 from noon to 6 p.m. For more information: www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/museums/sky-bone-realities-unbound/.

Cultural Centres
Cultural Centres will be closed on Monday, February 16. More information is available on the City’s Cultural Centres & Galleries webpage: https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/cultural-centres-galleries/

See some creatures up close
Check out what our animal friends are up to this Family Day by visiting Riverdale Farm, High Park Animal Display or the Toronto Zoo.

Located in the heart of the city, Riverdale Farm is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is free. More information is available on the City’s Riverdale Farm webpage:
www.toronto.ca/data/parks/prd/facilities/complex/345/index.html

Toronto’s oldest animal display in High Park is open every day, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., including on Family Day. This weekend, like all weekends and public holidays, High Park is closed to vehicle traffic. More information is available on the High Park Animal Display webpage:
www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/parks-gardens-beaches/zoos-farms/high-park-animal-display/

Guests can enjoy the world-class Toronto Zoo, open year-round, exploring 10 km of walking trails, five indoor tropical pavilions, daily Meet-the-Guardians talks with wildlife care experts, and 3,000 animals to visit. Open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., more information is available on the Toronto Zoo website:
https://www.torontozoo.com/plan?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20803266460&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIocO-9MzWkgMVTRmtBh1AFSXGEAAYASAAEgIXa_D_BwE "

Toronto Motorcycle and Powersport Show coming in February 2026

Toronto just got walloped with a ton of snow and we are only in January. Do you know what wouldn't have been a good idea? Getting around the city on a motorcycle! No, that's what we save for the other three seasons and until Spring comes it is time to think of driving motorcycles and maybe to buy motorcycles. Luckily, February brings the Toronto Motorcycle and Powersports Show to the Enercare Centre Feb 20-22, 2026.

From the show, "Returning to the Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place February 20th to 22nd, the show floor will be buzzing with the latest models of off-road motorcycles, ATVs and side-by-sides, street cruisers and scooters, and all the latest gear and accessories that make riding safe and fun. With a roster of special events and features, the Toronto Motorcycle and Powersport Show offers plenty of excitement, fun and new discoveries for everyone — from the most seasoned rider to the greenest rookie, for all ages and styles."

“Whether you need some new gear or are looking for a new ride, the Toronto Motorcycle and Powersport Show is the place to start,” says Landon French, President and CEO of Moto Canada. “All of Canada’s leading manufacturers and top badges will be together in one place, making it easy to check out all of the new models that will be rolling into showrooms. This is where riders connect with the community; where they can see what’s new and make confident choices for the year ahead.”

Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place, Show hours:
Friday, February 20: 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 21: 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 22: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The top manufacturers and dealers will be on site with their lineups, including the latest models and electric motorcycles. You can also find plenty of features for all interests at the show, such as the following.

She Rides Night. Happens Friday night with prize draws and special ticket prices.
EXPLR Adventure Riding Zone
Adventure Riding Skills
Moto Intro for the Moto curious
Yamaha Riding Academy for children aged 6 to 12
Custom Bike Lounge with Motorcraft
A synthetic, indoor track for all-electric dirt track demonstrations

Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place, Show Hours:
Friday, February 20: 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 21: 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 22: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

"Moto Canada is the nation’s leading industry association representing the interests of the world’s best powersports brands — including Arctic Cat, Aprilia, BMW Motorrad, BRP, Can-AM, CF Moto, Ducati, GasGas, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Husqvarna, Indian Motorcycles, Kawasaki, KTM, MV Agusta, Moto Guzzi, Piaggio, Polaris, Royal Enfield, Suzuki, Triumph, Vespa, and Yamaha. Moto Canada is a driving force, uniting Canadians with the exhilarating world of powersports and as industry advocates, we champion Canadians’ ability to ride both on and off road."

Toronto Interior Design Show 2026

It's time to celebrate the design industry during the four day Interior Design Show running January 22 to 25 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (North Building). The combination of art and materials for living, or working make this a one stop shop for knowledge and networking, as they say "it’s a total design experience." I present a massive photo gallery from the night.

I loved the Coors PR campaign "Home DeCoors, designed for the big game" where beer cases become furniture during high traffic events, can't wait to see their booth.

Some VIP Influencers at the pre-party

Pre-party fun

Lovely faux fur hat

Will Sorrell National Director, IDS Canada (left) poses with a guest 

Ann and I are here in the Thursday night media opening, prior to tonight's party. The flower type arrangement is in the media/VIP room. More photos from the show to follow with beautiful art and beautiful people.

The show is split into three phases. One, the Professional Trade Days Thursday and Friday. Two, a shared day with the Professional Trades and the public on Saturday, and three, a public day on Sunday. To help start off the show is the amazing IDS Party on Thursday, January 22 from 7 to 11 pm. In addition to the displays and vendors you can catch the seminars which are priced individually or watch a keynote address.

Show Hours: Thursday, January 22; 9AM-4PM, Friday, January 23; 9AM-6PM, Saturday January 24; 10am - 5pm and Sunday, January 25; 10am - 5pm. What a great party and such perfect decor items.

From IDS, "The doors to IDS 2026 officially open for our first Trade Day, presented by Grohe! There is so much to see and do at the show. This year's show will feature 250 exhibitors, inspiring and immersive installations throughout and a curated selection of talks. Here are just some of the things that are happening on our opening day."

Many of the outstanding features of the show focus on specific design types such as Illuminate with contemporary lighting products, "How we Work" which looks at current and future work environments and Prototype within Studio North where you can see prototypes of possible future products.

It was funny to see the Coors display for the "Home DeCoors, Designed for the big game". In a pinch you can use these cases for everything, much like the time you started living on your own! It was also quite the contrast to the other art and other high value home decorating pieces populating the show.

See more of the IDS2026 after the jump.

Lumière: The Art of Light in Ontario Place coming mid Feb 2026

Winter in Toronto is always made better by outdoor festivals and I really enjoy the light festivals that pop up occasionally like Lumière: The Art of Light 2026 which takes place in Trillium Park Ontario Place. This year the theme is “Rhythms of Light: Motion, Sound, and Time” and the 2026 festival is scheduled from February 16 to March 27 and is free to attend.

The illuminated art works are by Ontario-based artists featuring 14 pieces to help wipe away the winter doldrums and put a smile on your face. You can find most of the 2025 works on my post here. Some are even more interesting in the day, so drop by a couple of times to view the installations.

From the festival, "Whether you’re seeking inspiration, igniting curiosity, or simply embracing a sense of wonder, Lumière invites you to explore the magic where light and art converge.

Lumière welcomes the following installations to this year’s exhibition: 

Arbor - MattCreative
Constellation Range - Jordan Shaw
Echoes of Light - Jordan St. Claire
Möbius Ensemble - Bitbrainz
Moment - M. Joakim
PORTAL - Tonya Hart
Rhythms of Chaos - Binalpreet Kalra, Maggie Wang, Kallie Zhang
Ripples in Time - Gathering
switch/grass - The Treehouse Collective
Urbanombre - Little Dada + the Boys
Voice in Matter - James Craig, Agata Wszolek, Alex Warner
We Move Together - Tyler Burey
WIND II: The Wave - Samuel Kiehoon Lee
Wintana - Wintana Hagos

Cozy up at the Trillium Park fire pit on opening night, Friday and Saturday evenings, and nightly during March Break (weather permitting)."

@jmhcet Lux Array in #trilliumpark as part of #Toronto #lumiere #theartoflight. #2025 #artinstallation #lightart #ontarioplace ♬ som original - amannoficial

Toronto Beer and Spirit Festivals 2026

Time to get warm and fuzzy, play games and listen to some musical entertainment. Check out these adult beverage events happening around town.

Winter Craft Beer Festival at the Roundhouse Sat, Feb 21.
I (Heart) BEER & Taco Festival Sat, Jan 31.

T.O. Food and Drink Fest Fri to Sun, Apr 17-19.
Spirit of Toronto Sat, May 9.

WineFest Toronto Festival May and November, 2026.

Toronto Festival of Beer Fri to Sun, July 24-26 (To be confirmed) - see photos from 2017 here. 

Toronto Oktoberfest Sep TBD. Cancelled in 2025, hoping to come back for 2026.
Cask Days at the Evergreen Brick Works Fri to Sun, Oct TBD.

It's still a little too early to get all the events scheduled but I will update this post when more details are known.

North American International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW 2026

Brr, it's cold out here, there must be some motorcycles in the International Centre! Warm up at the 50th Anniversary of the North American International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW January 9-11, 2026. Over half a million square feet of everything motorcycle and now featuring exciting indoor motocross racing.

The AMA FIM North America Arenacross Championship Presented by Kicker will hold Rounds 4 and 5 of the pro motocross races on January 9 and 10. These races are part of the only two Canadian cities in the North American schedule and you would have to go to Calgary to see them if you miss the SUPERSHOW, so check them out while they are in Toronto. Amateurs will take over the track on Sunday, January 11.

You will have to buy a separate ticket to watch the arenacross races at $61.50. If you buy this ticket it also includes entrance to the Motorcycle SUPERSHOW.

Some of the other features of the show include the following.

Tony Sharpless Super Sonic School will teach you how to ride a motorcycle.

The Canada Cup Championship Custom Show Bike competition - Custom Bike Builders from across North America compete for $50,000 in cash prizes.
The Century of Motorcycles Vintage display- where 100 bikes from the past 100 years will be on display.
New 2026 Motorcycle Models
Huge selection of used bikes
Learn to Ride Programs
Clothing and Gear

Bands will take to the stage to provide some great entertainment

See more photos after the jump.

NASCAR Canada Series 2026 Schedule back in Canadian Indy Race

NASCAR is down one province and up 2 more races from the 2025 to the 2026 schedule and they are back in to the upcoming 2026 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy on the Streets of Markham race weekend, where the last time with Indy was 2023. The stockcar series is run on ovals, roads and street circuits and starts with the May Victoria Day holiday weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.

From Nascar Canada Series “The 2026 schedule reflects our continued commitment to offering a balanced and competitive season for our teams and our fans,” said Alan Labrosse, General Manager of the NASCAR Canada Series. “With a variety of track types and strategic event spacing, we believe this calendar provides a strong foundation for both sporting and operational success.”

"The 2026 season includes three doubleheaders at Autodrome Chaudière, Autodrome Montmagny and Edmonton International Raceway, with events spanning across Québec, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Alberta. The calendar features five oval tracks, along with three road course venues, including a return to Calabogie Motorsports Park following a successful first appearance last year.

The schedule also features two street circuits. The Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières (GP3R), a pillar of Canadian motorsport tradition, once again delivers its unmistakable urban challenge. The Ontario Honda Dealers Indy returns to the calendar as well, now hosted on the streets of Markham, reviving one of Canada’s most celebrated motorsport weekends."

Two photos by Fresh Joe from the time of CASCAR before it became the NASCAR Series

2026 NASCAR Canada Schedule

1) May 16-17: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (ON)

2) June 6: Autodrome Chaudière (QC) *Double header

3) June 27: Riverside International Speedway (NS)

4) July 4: Autodrome Montmagny (QC) *Double header

5) July 18–19: Calabogie Motorsports Park (ON)

6) July 25: Edmonton International Raceway (AB) *Double header

7) August 8-9: Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières (QC) Street Circuit

8) August 14-15: Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham (ON) Street Circuit

9) August 29: Complexe ICAR (QC)

10) September 5-6: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (ON)

11) September 12: Delaware Speedway (ON)