Hundreds of rare Ontario destinations will be free to access & here’s when

Ready to do some exploring? Doors Open Ontario is coming back and it’s a rare opportunity to see hundreds of unique destinations for free.

As part of the event, cities around Ontario will unlock the doors to all kinds of buildings, spaces, and sites that are normally closed to the public or charge admission.

These spaces are of “architectural, historic, cultural, and social significance” in each city.

You can explore the inside of the iconic cenotaph clock tower in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Toronto’s abandoned TTC subway station, a real-life heritage village, and so much more, all for free.

Many destinations also offer special experiences in addition to free access, including walking tours, interactive experiences, special exhibitions, and more.

The event is put on by The Ontario Heritage Trust, and this year, the Trust is placing special focus on Ontario’s food scene.

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“From breweries to farms, Doors Open events will also include sites or special programs to highlight our culinary or agricultural heritage,” says a press release.

There will be 22 events in total and you can experience them all over the span of 13 weekends from April to October.

The first Doors Open Ontario event will be held in Guelph this upcoming weekend, followed by Hamilton and cities around the GTA.

Doors Open Toronto will take place on May 27th and 28th. This popular event is the largest of all, with around 150 buildings open to the public.

Here is the official schedule of this year’s Doors Open Ontario events:

• Guelph (April 29)
• Hamilton (May 6-7)
• Oshawa (May 6)
• Richmond Hill (May 13)
• Toronto (May 27-28)
• Ottawa (June 3-4)
• Whitchurch-Stouffville (June 3)
• Loyalist Township (June 17)
• Burlington (August 12)
• Cornwall and SDG Counties (August 19-20)
• Simcoe County (August 26-27)
• Belleville (September 9)
• Carleton Place (September 16-17)
• London (September 16-17)
• Peterborough (September 16)
• Quinte West (September 16)
• Waterloo Region (September 16)
• Kingston (September 23-24)
• St. Marys (September 23)
• Woodstock (September 23)
• Niagara-on-the-Lake (October 21)
• Dutton Dunwich (October 22)

You can plan your adventure in advance by looking at all the destinations posted on the website.

Happy exploring, Ontario!