Things to do in Toronto on St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day is 10 days away, but Toronto’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is this Sunday, March 13th.

Looking for things to do in Toronto on St. Patrick's Day?

“May the lilt of Irish laughter lighten every load. May the mist of Irish magic shorten every road… And may all your friends remember all the favours you are owed!”

Toronto St. Patrick’s Day fun fact: The Toronto Maple Leafs were once the Toronto St. Patricks (1919-1927) and wore green jerseys.

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade starts at noon at Boor and St. George, heading to Yonge Street, then across Queen Street and ending at University Avenue just past Nathan Philips Square. The parade is expected to be about 90 minutes long.

The parade happens rain or shine (or snow), although as of now Sunday’s forecasted temperatures look to be a little on the colder side.

Toronto St. Patrick's Day Parade Route

Things to do at the Toronto Waterfront

This weekend is expected to be very mild in Toronto, especially at Tommy Thompson Park.

While many Canadians might flock to the south over winter to stay warm, several species of arctic birds actually fly to the Toronto’s man-made peninsula for the very same reason.

Waterfowl pictured at Tommy Thompson Park.

The Winter Waterfowl event at Tommy Thompson park is a look at some of the different types of waterfowl that migrate to the Greater Toronto Area every year to enjoy a warmer winter than they’re generally used to up North. Get a chance to see interesting birds, drink some hot chocolate (bring a travel mug!), don’t forget your binoculars and realize that Toronto isn’t that cold.

This event is free, but participants are asked to register here.

Things to do for couples in Toronto

It’s date night at Casa Loma, Toronto’s very own castle. Casa Loma is hosting a couple’s archery workshop on Friday, March 4th and Saturday, March 5th from either 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. or 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

A sugar cube castle from Toronto's Casa Loma. Looking for things to do with kids in Toronto?

The class combines couple-themed games and a very small class size.

Pre-registration is required for this event, and if you’re interested in attending the couple’s archery workshop, call 416-923-1171 ext 205.

If you’re looking for things to do in Toronto with the kids, Casa Loma has a couple of very kid-friendly events coming up:

On March 17th, 18th and 19th from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Snow White and Prince Charming will be attending a pancake breakfast at Casa Loma, and the price includes admission to Casa Loma, breakfast and a visit with Snow White herself.

On March 16th and March 18th, the prince and princess theme continues as kids are invited to build their own castle out of sugar cubes. Then, they’ll decorate cupcakes and embark on a scavenger hunt through Casa Loma.

All programs require pre-registration, so call 416-923-1171 ext 205.

Casa Loma

1 Austin Terrace

Things to do in Toronto: Toronto Mediatheque

If you love documentaries and animations that you can’t quite find in your Netflix queue, checkout the National Film Board of Canada’s Mediatheque in Toronto. The Toronto Mediatheque houses over 5,500 National Film Board of Canada films that are available for free public viewing on their Digital Viewing Stations.

The Toronto Mediatheque has 5,500 National Film Board of Canada films to watch if you're looking for things to do in Toronto.

Over 500,000 people have visited this Toronto video library since it opened in 2002. The Toronto also holds events like animation workshops and special viewings for families every so often.

A searchable list of the National Film Board of Canada’s Toronto Mediatheque is available here.

A list of winter programs at the Toronto Mediatheque is available here.

Toronto Mediatheque

50 John Street
Toronto, ON M5V 3C6
(416) 973-3012

Things to do in Toronto: Toronto Car Show

If you’re a car buff, this show is for you. The Canadian International AutoShow is underway now in Toronto, running until February 27th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Front Street.

The Canadian International AutoShow is underway in Toronto this week.

Canadian International AutoShow is from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day and 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the last day. It’s the only officially endorsed auto show in North America after the big show in Detroit. This year’s theme is “Discover. Connect. Experience.”

This event showcases everything automotive: spectacle, design and engineering, including classic cars, automotive art, advanced in-vehicle technologies, electric and hydrogen-powered models, hybrids, special offers, industry-leading displays, a Chevrolet Camaro exhibit, Canadian fuel consumption ratings winners, test-drive opportunities and more.

Tickets are available (at a 10% discount online) here.

Families: $40.00
Adults: $20.00
Children 7-10: $7.00
Children 6 and under: free

Things to do in Toronto: Win $250,000 and bragging rights for life

You know you’ve got a killer recipe lying around somewhere… something you make that everyone loves, or maybe you’re always being told you should write a cookbook.

Food Network Canada is looking for a new recipe to showcase on their new show, Recipes to Riches. Food Network Canada is coming to Toronto to look for a home chef who has the ultimate recipe, on February 26th from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Have a killer recipe? Try out for Recipe to Riches in Toronto this week.

The competition consists of seven different food categories. Each category will have a $25,000 winner whose recipe will also become a new President’s Choice product. In addition, the Grand Prize Winner chosen by Canadian voters in the final episode will win $250,000.

Register for this Toronto event at this website here.

The categories are:

Appetizers
Sweet and Savory Snacks (including crisps, brittles, clusters, tarts, cookies, bars and squares).
Cakes (including cheesecakes).
Sweet Pies (along with crumbles, crisps and cobblers).
Savoury Pies (such as shepherd’s pie and meat pies, along with pizza).
Entrees (must be freezable).
Frozen treats (such as gelato, sorbet and ice cream).

Hyatt Regency Hotel
370 King Street West

Fort York

Fort York has a synthetic ice rink available for skating on Family Day, as well as a selection of Canadian music and dance.

Things to do in Toronto on Family Day!

Mel Lastman Square (North York), Albert Campbell Square (Scarborough) and Colonel Samuel Smith Park (Etobicoke)

Each of these locations has a skating rink and live music.

Hockey Hall of Fame

Free admission to the Hockey Hall of Fame for kids on Family Day. For more information on the Hockey Hall of Fame, visit our 365 Things to Do in Toronto post here.

Toronto Zoo

The Toronto Zoo is showcasing their different zoo animal families on Family Day along with their family trees.

Inflatable Show

At the International Centre in Mississauga, Kids-Fest is an inflatables show: giant bouncy castles and everything else inflatable will be on display and available for rides for 2$ each.

Things to do in Toronto on Family Day

Family Day is fast approaching in the Greater Toronto Area (Family Day is February 21st), and the city has a ton of events planned.

Visit Toronto's waterfront for fun things to do on Family Day.

Family Day on Toronto’s Waterfront
Presented by the Toronto Waterfront BIA, Toronto’s Waterfront Family Day celebration will be found at various indoor and outdoor points of interest along the waterfront from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., including Harbourfront Centre, PawsWay and Queen’s Quay. Activities include free face painting, family portraits, bouncy tents, magic tricks, a chance to meet Canadian Olympic Athletes and a family skating party at the Harbourfront: Free ice skating at the Harbourfront Centre’s Natrel Rink or the Kinder Rink, which is indoors and made from a synthetic material that resembles ice – perfect for people and small children who don’t know quite how to skate yet.

Family Day at Toronto’s Casa Loma
Toronto’s own castle is hosting several unique Family Day events: Kids between ages 5 and 10 can undergo knight training, learn about knighthood and participate in a knighting ceremony, complete with a certificate. (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.) Dora the Explorer is also stopping by Casa Loma on Family Day from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and a day-long scavenger hunt is taking place from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Family Day Fest at Downsview Park
All day long on Family Day, Downsview Park is hosting an indoor amusement park that includes jumping castles, rides, obstacle courses and carnival and arcade games. The majority of rides at this event are specially geared towards children ages 2 to 12, with a few other rides for the whole family.

Check back later this week for more things to do in Toronto on Family Day!

Things to do in Toronto on Valentine’s Day – Skiing and Skating in Toronto

Looking for things to do in Toronto for Valentine’s Day? Why not go for a romantic ski trip or skating trip?

Looking for things to do on Valentine's Day? Go skiing or skating in Toronto.

Toronto has a huge selection of indoor and outdoor skating rinks and two ski hills, perfect for a romantic getaway on Valentine’s Day or even Valentine’s Day night. Most of Toronto’s outdoor skating rinks are open until February 27th, but some are open until mid-March. Perhaps the most famous outdoor skating rink in Toronto is Nathan Phillips Square, but Toronto has many more outdoor rinks.

For a complete list of outdoor rinks in Toronto, click here.

In addition, Toronto has two fully-operational ski hills. It’s rare to not have to travel very far to go skiing outside of living in the mountains or at least a couple hours away, but Toronto has it all. Toronto’s ski hills are located in Centennial park and Earl Bales Park. Both ski hills have night skiing and Earl Bales Park has a fire place.

For more information on Toronto’s two ski hills, click here.

Things To Do In Toronto For Valentine’s Day

Only one more day of Winterlicious is left, so celebrate Valentine’s Day a bit early this year and get in on some great deals at some of Toronto’s tastiest, most reputable and famous restaurants while you still have a chance to partake in Winterlicious prices.

Looking for things to do in Toronto for Valentine's Day? It's your last chance to hit up Winterlicious.

Take your Valentine to any of the fine-dining locations on this Toronto Winterlicious list available here.

Read more about Toronto’s 2011 Winterlicious Food Festival here, or read more about this year’s special 2011 Winterlicious culinary events here.

There are other restaurants in Toronto celebrating Valentine’s Day with special menus, including:

360 at the CN Tower

Labelled one of Toronto’s most romantic restaurants, this restaurant has breathtaking views and is situated at the top of the city of Toronto’s most iconic landmark, the CN Tower.

309 Dhaba

If you love Indian food, head to 309 Dhaba at King and John Streets for a special four-course Valentine’s Day meal.

Tundra at the Hilton Toronto

On February 12th, 13th and on the big day itself, Tundra restaurant at 145 Richmond Street West is offering a special Valentine’s Day menu for $59 per person that features Canadian-inspired ingredients.

For more information and a listing of special Valentine’s Day menus across the city of Toronto, visit this website here.