Another fantastic weekend is upon us, Toronto. The winter festivals and twinkling light displays are starting up for the season, and it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas out there. If the forecast proves to be accurate, we even have snow to look forward to in the coming days. Ready or not, winter is on its way, but not before the city lights up for the holidays. As always, there are tons of other events to check out in the city that don’t revolve around Santa.
Here are 10 of the best things to do in and around Toronto this weekend!
IMMERSIVE KLIMT
A new immersive art experience has officially opened its doors in Toronto. Joining the ranks of Immersive Van Gogh and Beyond Monet is Immersive Klimt, a colourful new exhibition curated by the “world-renowned master of digital art” Italy’s Massimiliano Siccardi. Through vivid 360 projections, the revolutionary works of Gustav Klimt come to life all around you. Klimt is described as a “rebel, genius and legend” of a painter, and now you can be swept up in his electrifying world.
Where: 1 Yonge St
When: Various times
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
See the brand new award-winning works of the most famous wildlife photographers from around the world. The winners of this prestigious and longest-running photography competition will have their work on display at the ROM this month. These photos reveal the “striking wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, and the remarkable beauty and rich multiplicity of our natural world.”
Where: 100 Queen’s Park
When: Opens November 13th
SNOW MAGIC
Something magical is coming to Ontario Place and it’s like a snow globe come to life! Beginning this November, Snow Magic will invite you to “explore a wonder-filled adventure inspired by fire, ice, and light.” Drive your way through 1.7 km of magical sights, including 18 art installations, crystalline caverns, awe-inspiring creatures and “mysterious sights that only dreams are made of.”
Where: 955 Lake Shore Blvd W
When: November 12, 2021 — January 16, 2022
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CANADIAN TIRE CHRISTMAS TRAIL
Ready for a road trip to the North Pole? Thankfully, you won’t have to travel too far because it’s coming right to us this year. The Canadian Tire Christmas Trail is returning for the holiday season and you’ll see Santa’s village come to life from the warmth of your car. In addition to thousands of twinkling lights, the 1.5 km trail will take you past bright interactive displays, carolers singing your favourite holiday songs, “magically curated Christmas vignettes,” including real elves making toys in Santa’s workshop.
Where: 1000 Murray Ross Pkwy
When: November 13th — December 23rd
CANADA’S WONDERLAND WINTERFEST
Canada’s Wonderland is transforming into a holiday fairytale this November for its annual WinterFest event. Tickets are officially on sale for this year’s festival and from the sounds of it, we’re in for a real treat this holiday season. In addition to hundreds of twinkling trees and millions of spectacular lights strung throughout the amusement park, this season’s WinterFest will feature ice-skating on Snow Flake Lake, tons of live shows and entertainment, two 50-foot Christmas trees, and a brand new starlit trail!
Where: Canada’s Wonderland
When: November 13th — December 31st
WINTER FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
It’s about to get festive in Niagara Falls for the annual Winter Festival of Lights! Known as Canada’s biggest free outdoor light festival, the 8-km trail is returning in November with millions of lights on display for even longer than before. This time around, the festival will run for 101 nights from November 13th all the way until the end of February, so you can enjoy the breathtaking twinkling lights well beyond the holidays.
Where: Niagara Falls, Ontario
When: November 13th, 2021 — February 21st, 2022
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TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS VS. CALGARY FLAMES
The Leafs are back on home ice and they’re inviting fans at full capacity to cheer in the stands. After missing out on live sports for 18 months straight, the energy this season is higher than ever. There’s nothing quite like the electrifying energy of a packed arena, especially when we take the W!
Where: Scotiabank Arena, 40 Bay St
When: November 12th at 7:00 PM
PICASSO: PAINTING THE BLUE PERIOD
Joining the ranks of Monet and Van Gogh is Pablo Picasso, with a landmark celebration of his iconic modernist masterpieces. The Picasso exhibit now running at the AGO takes visitors through the early projects from his signature Blue Period with over 100 works sourced from 15 countries. You’ll get to experience the world as he interpreted it as a young artist in the early 1900s.
Where: 317 Dundas St W
When: Until January 16, 2022
TORONTO RAPTORS VS. DETROIT PISTONS
It’s a big weekend for games at Scotiabank Arena. The Raptors are taking on their rivals from across the border this Saturday night and the vibes are sure to be high. Watch the Raps in action with cheering fans, Nav Bhatia, and maybe even Drake. At 9th place in the Eastern Conference, this season is already off to a pretty hot start.
Where: Scotiabank Arena, 40 Bay St
When: November 13th at 7:30 PM
BEYOND MONET
This breathtaking exhibit is now open for the first time in the world — here’s a sneak peek so you know exactly what to expect. Over 400 of Claude Monet’s works come alive before your eyes through vivid 360-degree displays that swirl all around you, enhanced by sound effects and music. Forget the world and get lost the mind and masterpieces of this great painter.
Where: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 255 Front St W
When: Hours vary
There you have it! Ten of the best things to do in Toronto this weekend.
