Wednesday, March 04, 2026

Lumière 2026 light festival at Ontario Place

Lumière: The Art of Light began on Family Day (Monday, February 16) in Trillium Park on the east side of Ontario Place. The free light festival features fourteen installations and will continue until March 27, 2026 from 6pm to 11pm. Rhythms of Chaos set up prior to the official opening in the photo above.


From their website, "Lumière transforms Trillium Park into a glowing outdoor gallery filled with illuminated art installations. This free experience is ideal for families, art enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys a winter stroll with a little extra magic. Bonfires: Warm up by the Trillium Park fire pit on opening night, Friday and Saturday evenings, and nightly during March Break (weather permitting)."

Lumiere 2026 theme is "Rhythms of Light: Motion, Sound and Time". This year's event includes the following light installations.

Arbor – MattCreative
Blueberry Babies Signal Path – Winta (Wintana) Hagos
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

The easiest way to get to Trillium Park is to public transit, walk or bike, otherwise you could find paid parking nearby - at Coronation Park or in Exhibition Place. There are also great bathrooms available at the entrance to Trillium Park and the skyline views to the downtown skyline are excellent.




@jmhcet #moment art and light installation in #ontarioplace as part of #lumiere ♬ Let Me Entertain You - Robbie Williams
@jmhcet #rhythmsofchaos art and light installation in #ontarioplace as part of #lumiere the art of light, #Toronto ♬ sonido original - vieja guardia

Friday, February 20, 2026

Toronto Motorcycle and Powersport Show 2026

Ready to ride? Probably not just yet, but it is warming up so come by the Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place from February 20 to 22, 2026 to check out the latest models during the Toronto Motorcycle and Powersport Show. Also get ready for some excitement with Canada’s very own Highway Heathens putting on a motorcycle stunt performance as well as guest Seth Enslow, freestyle motocross superstar.
Highway Heathens put on quick demo before show opens. Their first show is Friday at noon.

TerreMX all-electric motorcycles demos

From the show, "Get ready for an action-packed weekend celebrating the world of motorcycles and powersports! Discover the latest bikes, gear, and accessories from top brands, plus exciting displays and hands-on experiences for riders of all ages. This is more than just a show — it’s the best place to buy. Exclusive show-only deals on motorcycles. Huge savings on riding gear, apparel, parts, and accessories with special promotions you won’t find anywhere else."

There are several areas along the outside of the hall where you can find Moto Intro, ADV Showcase, Yamaha Riding Academy, Electric MX Test Rides, Jordan Szoke Demo and the Westjet EXPLR Zone.

Dylan Wright will be signing autographs in the Honda area over the weekend.

Show Hours:
Fri Feb 20 11am – 8pm
Sat Feb 21 10am – 7pm
Sun Feb 22 10am – 5pm

2026's show has the machines, gear and attractions - like Seth Enslow's legendary Metal Mulisha Honda 250 (featured in Crusty Demons of Dirt 7), to make this a fantastic weekend in Exhibition Place. You can also see the TerreMX all-electric motorcycles demos on an indoor dirt track and a synthetic X-Track.



There is even an app you can download that provides all sorts of info including a floor plan and event schedules, it is called myshowapp and you can use it for multiple shows.

See more of the show after the jump.

Monday, February 16, 2026

Toronto Winter Stations Exhibition 2026

The design competition has been completed and the artistic and architectural installations have been built along the water's edge of Woodbine Beach as part of Toronto Winter Stations. Beginning in 2015 the non-profit, international competition tries to place four to six installations each year in the Beaches - an open air, free to attend art festival. After reviewing and approving the submissions, winners are given a budget for construction and a small monetary prize with the installations exhibited from February's Family Day until the end of March (February 16 to March 30, 2026).

This year features five winners which competed under the theme of Mirage as described by the Winter Stations organization, "A mirage is a shimmer at the edge of reality, appearing real only to dissolve when approached. The present moment feels much the same, bent and distorted by the rise of digital silos and artificial intelligence, where the truth we seek is always shifting."

My favourites for 2026 include Embrace as well as Chimera, however they are all worth the visit to the eastern beaches and I always look forward to the escape from winter's grey hold on the psyche. Here are the winners with insight by the creatorsdesigners.



"Colossal hands, reaching out. To hold the horizon. To present the day.
An invitation to behold and to be held. Welcome their embrace. Change your point of view."
Embrace by Will Cuthbert (Canada)

"Moving closer – the illusion unravels, revealing the framework that sustains it. In this encounter, the viewer meets their own reflection multiplied and displaced, a shifting constellation of selves that provokes an uneasy awareness of being observed."
Chimera by Denys Horodnyak & Enzo Zak Lux (Germany & Ukraine)

See more of the installations after the jump.

Sunday, February 15, 2026

Toronto Illuminite light festival 2026

oronto has the Illuminite light festival returning for 2026 with five light installations spread around the downtown Yonge area. Below is a copy of the route map for the event.

From the Illuminite website, "From February 13 to March 8, 2026, the city will glow with creativity and colour at 777 Bay Plaza, College Park, Granby Parkette, Sankofa Square, and Trinity Square Park. Each site will feature a playful, interactive experience designed to spark joy, movement, and connection in the heart of winter. Whether you’re a curious explorer or just passing through, ILLUMINITE 2026 invites everyone to pause, play, and light up the city together."

The installations are as follows.
5. DOMINO EFFECT by Ingrid Ingrid in Trinity Square Park 19 Trinity Square.

OVAL SWINGS by Prevail Activations and is located at 777 Bay Plaza.

HORIZON by MattCreative in College Park at the Yonge Street entrance 420 Yonge St.

HEARTS AT PLAY by Daria Domnikova in Granby Parkette 431 Yonge St.
POP! by Gentilhomme in Sankofa Square 1 Dundas St E. You have to speak, sing or dance and the installations will transform.
@jmhcet #dominoeffect in #trinitysquarepark #Toronto as part of #illuminite light festival. #downtownyonge ♬ original sound - BringingTheNostalgia
@jmhcet #ovalswings in #Toronto by Prevail Activations as part of #yongebia #illuminite light festival #art ♬ How Bizarre - OMC
@jmhcet #POP! by Gentilhomme in #sankofasquare #Toronto, part of #yongebia #illuminite ♬ The Rockafeller Skank - Fatboy Slim

Saturday, February 14, 2026

Toronto Spring Lunar New Year Celebration 2026

This is the final weekend of the current Lunar New Year and now, as the Year of the Horse arrives on Tuesday, February 17, it's time to begin your journey of renewal and hope while enjoying Chinese traditions during the Toronto Spring Lunar New Year and Spring Festival Fireworks in Nathan Phillips Square. The festival takes place Saturday and Sunday, February 14 to 15, 2026 from 2pm till 11pm. Their website poster is shown in the photo at top.

Fireworks are an integral part of Chinese culture and have been around for a couple thousand years and they will be part of this year's event with the fireworks countdown beginning at 8:30pm on Sunday. "Join us as we light up the night to chase away the cold and welcome the Year of the Horse - a journey filled with warmth, inclusivity, and prosperity."

Schedule of Free Events

Saturday Feb. 14th, Outdoor | Free 

ECHO Market from 2:30 pm

Main Stage
Energy Boost Workout 3pm
Cultural Showcase 3:30pm and 7:55pm
Variety Shows 5:00pm and 8:20pm
DJ 9:15pm

Ice Shows
Dragon & Lion Dance on Ice 4:00pm, 6:00pm and 8:30pm
Couture on Ice Fashion Show 6:40pm


Sunday Feb. 15th, Outdoor | Free 

ECHO Market from 2:30 pm

Ice Shows
Dragon & Lion Dance on Ice 3:00pm, 5:30pm and 7:00pm

Main Stage
Energy Boost Workout 9:30pm
Variety Shows 6:20pm and 7:40pm

Fireworks Countdown 8:30pm


See more photos after the jump.

Sweet City Fest 2026 in Stackt Market

The sweet, Sweet City Fest is back for another lick as the free mini festival takes over Stackt Market from February 13 to 16, 2026 (noon to 8pm). This weekend is the time for relationships with both Valentine's Day and Family Day happening, so there is plenty of love to go around.


Stackt Market is located at 28 Bathurst St, not far north from Lake Shore Boulevard West, home to a conglomeration of storage containers made into stores and art galleries along with a brewery, restaurants and other spaces.


The festival will include music, entertainment, vendor markets, workshops and experiences and as their website says, "Whether you’re celebrating love, family, or your sweet tooth, Sweet City Fest is the place to be. Don’t miss the tastiest event of the season." The schedule for the four day festival is chock full and continues into the holiday Monday.

See more after the jump.

Doors Open

Scarborough Bluffs

Pride

Redball

Beaches

Graffiti

Lake Ontario

Nathan Phillips Square

Transportation