Outdoor fun, city-wide art installations and more on deck this Victoria Day long weekend

Victoria Day long weekend

With spring in full effect, the City of Toronto is pleased to offer a wide variety of activities and attractions for residents and visitors to enjoy this Victoria Day long weekend, including parks and beaches, art installations, the first in-person display of fireworks since 2019 and the return of ActiveTO.

Fireworks at Ashbridges Bay Park
The City will present Victoria Day fireworks at Ashbridges Bay Park starting at 10 p.m. on Monday, May 23. The show will feature approximately 2,000 individual fireworks, with a spectacular finale. Ashbridges Bay Park is located on Lake Shore Boulevard East at the foot of Coxwell Avenue and is readily accessible by public transit. Attendees are encouraged to use public transit and leave personal vehicles at home. More information about TTC schedules, routes and expanded long weekend service is available at www.ttc.ca.

City bylaws prohibit the public from setting off or selling fireworks at any City park. Enforcement officers will be onsite at Ashbridges Bay Park to help ensure a safe and enjoyable event for all.

Important safety reminder about fireworks and bonfires
Fireworks are allowed without a permit only on Victoria Day and Canada Day until 11 p.m. on residents’ private property. Fireworks are not permitted in city parks and on beaches, balconies, streets, parking lots or a property that is not owned by the person setting off the fireworks. Only adults 18 years of age or older should supervise or set off fireworks.

The City is asking people to be mindful of their surroundings, and not discharge fireworks where they may be a nuisance or pose a risk of fire, injury or damage to any person or property. To report the misuse or illegal sale of fireworks, residents can call 311 or submit a service request at www.toronto.ca/311. More information about fireworks including proper use and disposal is available at www.toronto.ca/fireworks.

Residents are reminded that bonfires are not permitted in parks, beaches or public spaces, except for City-designed fire pits which require a permit. Amplified sound such as DJ equipment and large wireless speakers, and littering in parks and on beaches, are also not permitted.

The Toronto Police Service will continue to respond to public safety issues in parks and beaches this weekend. In addition, City Bylaw Enforcement Officers will be present to monitor busy parks and beaches this weekend to respond to issues.

Splash and spray pads
Splash and spray pads will begin to operate across the city on Saturday, May 21, with a few exceptions at sites that are undergoing maintenance or those located on outdoor pool decks. Splash pads operate daily from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and are activated with push-button features. Caregivers are reminded to supervise their children at these are unsupervised water-play areas. Information about splash-pad locations is available on the City’s Splash and Spray Pads webpage: www.toronto.ca/data/parks/prd/facilities/splash-pads/index.html.

Toronto Island Park
Toronto Island Park is a great place for residents to enjoy a scenic picnic, hike or bike ride, and features the interactive Franklin Children’s Garden. Many attractions offered by independent operators are also onsite, including Centreville Theme Park and Far Enough Farm. Ferry schedule and fares at www.toronto.ca/ferry. Information about the amusement park and farm are available at www.torontoisland.com/center.php.

Golf at municipal courses
Toronto’s five municipal golf courses are located on beautiful parklands and offer early-bird rates. These affordable, high-quality and TTC-accessible courses are open daily, including Victoria Day. More information about City-run golf courses is available at www.toronto.ca/golf.

Tennis courts
Public tennis courts across the city will have nets up and available for use throughout the Victoria Day long weekend. Public sites are free and available to the public. Tennis players are asked to share the courts by limiting their play time to half-hour intervals if others are waiting to use the courts. More information about public tennis courts is available at www.toronto.ca/tennis.

Conservatories and greenhouses
Flowers are in full bloom at Centennial Park Conservatory and Allan Gardens Conservatory. Both conservatories are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free. While Allen Gardens is undergoing renovations, washrooms inside the conservatory are closed. Portable washrooms are available outside by the playground. Learn more on the Conservatories by visiting www.toronto.ca/conservatories.

Riverdale Farm
Residents and visitors to Toronto can visit a working farm in the centre of the city. Riverdale Farm is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free. More information is available at www.toronto.ca/zoos-farms.

High Park animal attraction
Toronto’s oldest animal attraction has been entertaining people for 120 years and is open every day between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Roads in High Parks will be closed to vehicular traffic for all three days of the Victoria Day long weekend. More information is available at www.toronto.ca/zoos-farms.

Toronto Zoo
What better place to spend the Victoria Day long weekend than at the Toronto Zoo, where visitors can discover over 4,000 animals while exploring over 10 km of walking trails and four tropical pavilions? Visitors can meet the Zoo’s baby Masai giraffe, Matumaini, and his sister, Amani, who just turned two as well as a baby Sumatran orangutan! The Zoo’s behind the scenes Wild Encounters are back and timeslots can be booked online at www.torontozoo.com.

Toronto Zoo is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday to Wednesday, and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday to Saturday. The Zoo is open Victoria Day Monday.

ArtworxTO: Toronto’s Year of Public Art (2021-2022)
Residents can explore free public art across the city through ArtworxTO, a year-long celebration of Toronto’s exceptional public art collection and the creative community behind it. The exciting new initiative supports artists and art projects that reflect Toronto’s diversity and creates more opportunities for the public to engage with art in their everyday lives.

Residents and visitors can use the Interactive ArtworxTO Map (https://www.artworxto.ca/#Artworks) to discover public art near you. Apply filters to sort through artist, artwork name, type, neighbourhood or City program, and favourite all the works you’d like to visit. Create your own customized route with the GPS-enabled Interactive ArtworxTO map and email it to yourself and friends. Learn more and start discovering at www.artworxto.ca.

Exhibitions at City-run galleries
Life of ‘In-betweener’ is showing at Assembly Hall Gallery on Saturday, May 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The gallery is closed Sunday, May 22 and Monday, May 23 (Victoria Day). More information about the City’s Assembly Hall Gallery is at www.toronto.ca/AssemblyHall.

Under the Soil is showing at Cedar Ridge Creative Centre on Saturday, May 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The centre is closed Sunday, May 22 and Monday, May 23 (Victoria Day). More information about the City’s Cedar Ridge Creative Centre is at www.toronto.ca/CedarRidge.

Toronto History Museums
All Toronto History Museums are closed on Monday, May 23, but will be operating at regular hours over the course of the weekend.

General admission to all 10 Toronto History Museums is permanently free to provide everyone an opportunity to fully participate in cultural heritage and spaces. For locations, hours of operation and more, visit Toronto History Museums’ Plan Your Visit webpage (www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/museums/plan-your-museum-visit/) or consult the webpage of the specific museum for details.

St. Lawrence Market
Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market long weekend hours are as follows:

Saturday, May 21: the South (main) Market building will be open from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Saturday Farmers Market indoor and outdoor areas will be open from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sunday, May 22: the Sunday Antique Market will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The South Market building will be closed except Paddington’s Pump restaurant, which will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the Corner Shop Garden centre, which will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday, May 23: closed.

More information available at www.stlawrencemarket.com.

Toronto Public Library
All Toronto Public Library (TPL) branches will be closed on Sunday, May 22 and Monday, May 23 (Victoria Day). Branches will be open during regular hours on Saturday, May 21. A full list of TPL branch locations and corresponding hours of operation is available at www.tpl.ca/branches.

Residents can download and stream eBooks, eAudiobooks, magazines, newspapers, movies and music at any time by visiting www.tpl.ca/downloads.

Beaches
Toronto’s beaches are open, but will not be supervised by lifeguards until early June when the water is warmer. For safety, residents should not swim without the supervision of a lifeguard. More information is available at www.toronto.ca/beaches.

ActiveTO returns
The City announced that ActiveTO will take place over the Victoria Day long weekend along sections of Lake Shore Boulevard West, Bayview Avenue and The Meadoway, in addition to an ActiveTO COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Monday, May 23. ActiveTO will take place on Bayview Avenue from Rosedale Valley Road to Lawren Harris Square, River Street between Bayview Avenue and Spruce Street, and The Meadoway from Brimley Road to Scarborough Golf Club Road, from 7 a.m. on Saturday, May 21 until 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 22. ActiveTO will also take place on Lake Shore Boulevard West (eastbound lanes only), between Windermere Avenue and Stadium Road, on Monday, May 23 (Victoria Day) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

These road closures are recurring short-term closures of major streets adjacent to highly used trails that provide space for thousands of people to be active, contributing to the overall health and wellbeing of Toronto residents. More information is available in the City-issued announcement: www.toronto.ca/news/city-of-toronto-announces-victoria-day-weekend-activeto-road-closures/.

Other road restrictions for Victoria Day long weekend

Residents should be advised of the following road restrictions due to critical City-led infrastructure work that may impact travel throughout the weekend:
•       Bloor Street East from Sherbourne Street to Parliament Street is reduced to one lane in each direction for bridge and tunnel construction.
•       Sherbourne Street from King Street East to Dundas Street East has reduced lanes in both directions for watermain replacement.
•       Jarvis Street from Carlton Street to Bloor Street East, including Ted Rogers Way, is reduced to one lane in each direction for road resurfacing, sidewalk repairs and intersection safety modifications.
•       Wellesley Street East from Ontario Street to Sherbourne Street is reduced to one westbound lane for bikeway and road reconstruction.
•       Wellington Street from Yonge Street to Church Street is reduced to one westbound lane for TTC track replacement and sidewalk improvements. More information is available at www.toronto.ca/WellingtonConstruction.
•       Travel lanes on The Queensway between Parkside Drive and Roncesvalles Avenue are reduced to minimum of one shared travel lane in each direction for King-Queen-Queensway-Roncesvalles (KQQR) TTC track replacement and road reconstruction work. People not travelling to the area are encouraged to use Parkside Drive, Jameson Avenue, Lansdowne Avenue or Dufferin Street for north-south travel; and Dundas Street West, Bloor Street West, Lake Shore Boulevard West or the Gardiner Expressway for east-west travel. More information is available at www.toronto.ca/KQQR.

COVID-19 vaccination options
With health and safety top of mind and as Team Toronto continues its efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, opportunities to receive a first, second, third, fourth or paediatric dose of vaccine will be available for residents on a walk-in basis at 34 immunization clinics across the city this weekend. More information is available in the City-issued announcement: www.toronto.ca/news/team-toronto-hosting-34-covid-19-vaccine-clinics-across-the-city-this-victoria-day-long-weekend/.

The hyper-local Shop And Vax campaign has been extended through May, with daily clinics at local shopping centres across the city. Learn more on the City’s COVID-19: Pop-Up Immunization Clinics webpage: www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-how-to-get-vaccinated/covid-19-pop-up-immunization-clinics/.

Residents can also get their doses at more than 525 local pharmacies that are offering the COVID-19 vaccine, Indigenous-led vaccination clinics, select primary care offices and other Team Toronto health care partner clinics. More information is available on the City’s COVID-19: How to Get Vaccinated webpage: www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-how-to-get-vaccinated/.

Source City of Toronto 

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