It’s back for its eighth year. Yep, Toronto’s beloved 220 m figure-eight skating trail under the Gardiner opens on Dec. 20, and the opening weekend is promising a ton of fun activities.

According to The Bentway, “Kick off the season from Saturday, Dec. 20 to Tuesday, Dec. 23, during The Bentway’s extended Opening Weekend. Enjoy a cozy skate-and-sip featuring complimentary skate rentals, hot drinks, maple taffy, and photo moments courtesy of Batiste Dry Shampoo and Hero Patches.”

While opening weekend will include skate rentals free of charge, you will need to either plan ahead to bring your own or pay to rent some after that weekend.

The rink will be open daily from Dec. 20, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026, from noon to 9 p.m., with rentals available from noon to 8 p.m. The Concession Stand, where you can grab a warm drink and snack, is also open daily from noon to 8:30 p.m.

After Jan. 4, from Jan. 5 to Feb. 16, winter skating will change its hours to Monday to Friday from 5 to 9 p.m., and Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from noon to 9 p.m.

During this time, skate rentals will be available on Thursdays and Fridays from 5 to 8 p.m. and on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and PA Days, from 5 to 8 p.m. Rentals won’t be available Mondays to Wednesdays after Jan. 4.

As for the Concession Stand, it will be open on Thursdays and Fridays from 5 to 8:30 p.m. and on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and PA Days from noon to 8:30 p.m. Just like rentals, concessions won’t be available Mondays to Wednesdays during this period.

“The Bentway Skate Trail has become a beloved winter tradition in Toronto,” said Ilana Altman, CEO of The Bentway. “Every year, I’m reminded of how special it is to see people from all corners of the city come together in this shared space.”

There’s also the cheeky Polar Bear Skate, happening at noon on Dec. 28. Torontonians are invited “to strip down to their skivvies and take a fearless lap around the trail” as a final goodbye to 2025.

All of that to say, the Bentway skating trail is back, baby! Grab a date, some friends, your family, whoever, and enjoy gliding your evening (or day) away.

The Bentway Skating Trail

When: Open Dec. 20, 2025, to Feb. 16, 2026
Where: 250 Fort York Blvd.
Cost: Free admission

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Taylor Lucas

Associate Editor – Taylor is a Toronto-based journalist with a passion for storytelling. Whether chasing a story, writing, or editing, she brings a creative spin to the media world and has a blast doing it. Taylor brings years of journalism experience in sports, local/national news, and entertainment. In her spare time, you can typically find Taylor trying out a new restaurant or cocktail bar, cooking, golfing or binge-watching true crime documentaries.

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