Tired of the doom and gloom in Toronto lately? Well, here’s something to look forward to! The most spectacular golden hour of the year is about to happen in Toronto next month – “Torontohenge”. This rare phenomenon happens when the sunset aligns with the city’s east and west streets. And you’ll get to see it four times this year. Here’s what to know.

The jaw-dropping display, “Torontohenge,” was named after the same phenomenon in Manhattan called “Manhattanhenge,” coined by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, according to The Weather Network.

The sun’s rays between the skyscrapers create an effect similar to Stonehenge, a prehistoric sundial-shaped monument in England, hence the word “henge” in its name.

In an email to Curiocity, Civil engineer Ralph Bouwmeester, who specializes in tracking the sun and shadows, filled us in on this year’s predictions.

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It is predicted that Torontohenge will happen on February 15th at precisely 5:47 PM EDT, marking the first Torontohenge sunset of 2024.

As for the rest of the year, Bouwmeester shares that we will see this event on April 19th at 6:27 AM EDT, August 23rd at 6:32 AM EDT, and October 25th at 6:17 PM EDT.

According to The Weather Network, the best places to catch the sunset are along skyscraper-lined roads in the city’s downtown core with unobstructed views of the western horizon.

Areas include:

  • Wellington Street W
  • King Street W
  • Adelaide Street W
  • Richmond Street W

“On King Street W, outside of Roy Thomson Hall, is especially good. Farther north, Bloor Street W near the intersection with Yonge Street is also a great spot,” shared TWN back in 2022.

Since the winter weather is very unpredictable, we’ll keep you updated on conditions closer to.

But we’ll keep our fingers crossed and hope to see the stunning spectacle clear as day, this February.

Karen Doradea

Karen Doradea

Senior Staff Writer, Toronto – Karen is a multimedia journalist based in Toronto. With a strong knowledge of reporting and editing through all forms of media, she has a true passion for storytelling. She carries several years of journalistic experience and has covered the Toronto scene from local stories to national news. When Karen isn’t publishing fire content, you can find her binge-watching sitcoms on Netflix, at a must-try restaurant, or scrolling endlessly on TikTok looking for the next best thing – News never sleeps.

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