FREE Things To Do Winter Break 2022/2023 | Entertain Kids on a Dime Blog

Who says you can’t do anything for FREE this winter break? Below are some events and activities you can do with your children in Ontario.

FROZEN FRIDAYS (NEWMARKET)
December 23, 2022, December 30, 2022 6pm-8:30pm

Riverwalk Commons, Newmarket

Free Frozen Fridays presented by Mercedes-Benz Newmarket are the coolest place in town on Friday nights. Join us for live DJ music, outdoor skating, train rides on the Tim Hortons Express Train (weather permitting), free hot chocolate prepared by Hungry Brew Hops (while supplies last), fire & LED busker performances, LED Mega Tree shows, photo opportunities and more.

https://www.newmarket.ca/ThingsToDo/Pages/Event-Description.aspx?EventID=12359

Fantasy Of Lights (Uxbridge) Now – January 1, 2023 6pm-9:30pm

Elgin Park, Uxbridge

While the Uxbridge Optimist Fantasy of Lights is famously a drive-through event, we are happy to announce that the Fantasy Trail foot path is back! You may once again walk through the lights as well as drive. However, please note that due to the size of the event, we can no longer facilitate parking onsite. Instead, each Friday and Saturday night for the duration of the event, you can catch the Town Trolley and be shuttled to and from the event. Plus, enjoy driving through the lights in the cozy, Christmas lit Town Trolley before embarking on the trail. Alternatively, you can park in town and walk to Elgin Park along the beautiful Uxbridge Holiday Trail and down Main Street.

www.uxbridgeoptimist.com/fantasy-of-lights

Festival Of Lights Drive-Thru (Georgina) On Now – Mon, Jan 2 2023 Roc Parkway and Civic Centre Grounds

Dusk – 11pm Daily

Enjoy the lights all season long. Experience the Festival of Lights Nov. 26 through until Jan. 2, 2023. Travel along the ROC parkway and Civic Centre grounds in your vehicle while experiencing a magical holiday tribute with festive animated lighting set to music that can be enjoyed through your car radio on channel 101.7FM.

https://www.georgina.ca/events/festival-lights-0

Lakeside Festival Of Lights (Burlington) Now-January 8, 2023 4pm-midnight

Spencer Smith Park, Burlington

The Festival of Lights illuminates Burlington’s waterfront through December to early January each year. Thousands of local residents and visitors from across the region, and beyond, have made it a seasonal tradition to wander through the park with family and friends to view the themed displays. Tens of thousands more take in the attraction while driving along Lakeshore Road at the City’s waterfront throughout the holiday season. It represents a popular annual tradition in the community. The Festival marks its 27th anniversary in 2022.

Come share your holiday spirits with family and friends while strolling through the magical lighting displays this year!

https://burlingtonfestivaloflights.com

Centennial Park Flower Show (Toronto) Now – January 8, 2023 Open Daily, 10am-5pm

Centennial Park And Conservatory

The entire conservatory is decorated and filled with thousands of flowering plants, over 30 varieties of poinsettia and amazing seasonal topiary masterpieces made entirely of plant material.

https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/parks-gardens-beaches/gardens-and-horticulture/conservatories/centennial-park-conservatory

Toronto History Museums Free Admission (Toronto)
Now until December 31, 2022

General admission to all 10 Toronto History Museums is permanently free to provide everyone with an opportunity to fully participate in cultural heritage and spaces. This is one of many initiatives at Toronto History Museums to advance diversity, equity and inclusion. Toronto History Museums is committed to dismantling museums’ ongoing colonial legacies and working towards fostering reconciliation and healing as well as enhancing the understanding of Toronto’s diverse stories from multiple perspectives.
Free tickets must be ordered for guided tours:

Fort York National Historic Site, 250 Fort York Blvd. Mackenzie House, 82 Bond St. Market Gallery, 2nd Floor, St. Lawrence Market Spadina Museum, 285 Spadina Road Gibson House, 5172 Yonge St. Zion Schoolhouse, 1091 Finch Avenue East Scarborough Museum, 1007 Brimley Road Todmorden Mills, 67 Pottery Road Colborne Lodge, 11 Colborne Lodge Dr.

Montgomery’s Inn, 4709 Dundas Street West

https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/museums/plan-your-museum-visit

Nature Connection: Bonfire Program (Toronto) January 8, 2023 2pm-3:30pm

Downsview Park, Toronto

Start off 2023 by joining us around the campfire. We will be learning how to build fires, roasting some snacks and enjoying some time in the forest.

https://downsviewpark.ca/events/nature-connection-bonfire-program

Winter Activities Spotlight (Toronto/Oakville/Ottawa)
Various Dates December 2022 & January 2023

Sign up for FREE activities at participating Staples locations in Toronto, Oakville and Ottawa.

https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/winter-activities-118569

Public Library Winter Break Programs (All Over Ontario)

Contact your local library to find out the free events taking place over winter break for families.

Here are some Public Library links:

Vaughan Public Library: www.vaughanpl.info
Richmond Hill Public Library: www.rhpl.richmondhill.on.ca
Aurora Public Library: www.library.aurora.on.ca
Newmarket Public Library: www.newmarketpl.ca
Bradford Public Library: www.bradford.library.on.ca
King City Public Library: www.kinglibrary.ca
Stouffville Public Library: www.wsplibrary.ca
Markham Public Library: www.city.markham.on.ca/mpl
Toronto Public Library: www.torontopubliclibrary.ca
Milton Public Library: www.mpl.on.ca
Oakville Public Library: www.opl.on.ca
Port Credit Public Library: www.mississauga.ca/portal/residents/portcreditlibrary
Mississauga Public Library: www.mississauga.ca/portal/residents/library
Brampton Public Library: www.bramlib.on.ca
Caledon Public Library: www.caledon.library.on.ca
Orangeville Public Library: www.orangevillelibrary.ca/en/index.aspx
Kitchener Public Library: www.kpl.org
Cambridge Public Library: www.cambridge.ca/en/parks-recreation-culture/Library.aspx
Guelph Public Library: www.guelphpl.ca
London Public Library: www.londonpubliclibrary.ca
Brantford Public Library: www.brantfordlibrary.ca/en/index.aspx
Hamilton Public Library: www.hpl.ca
Burlington Public Library: www.bpl.on.ca
St. Catherines Public Library: www.myscpl.ca
Niagara Falls Public Library: www.niagarafallspubliclib.org
Pickering Public Library: www.pickeringlibrary.ca
Ajax Public Library: www.ajaxlibrary.ca
Oshawa Public Library: www.oshawalibrary.on.ca
Whitby Public Library: www.whitbylibrary.ca
Clarington Public Library: www.clarington-library.on.ca
Peterborough Public Library: www.ptbolibrary.ca/en/index.aspx
Georgina Public Library: www.georginalibrary.ca
Innisfil Public Library: www.innisfil.library.on.ca
Barrie Public Library: www.barrielibrary.ca

Outdoor Ice Skating (All Over Ontario)

* Note: a lot of cities offer FREE outdoor ice skating at community centres or local parks. You can search online to find out.

Here is the list of FREE outdoor Toronto Skating Rinks posted by Blog To

Here’s a list of outdoor skating rinks that are open from November 26 to March 19. Alexandra Park/Harry Gairey Broadlands Community Centre Cedarvale Park Christie Pits College Park Colonel Samuel Smith Park Dieppe Park Dufferin Grove Park Ethennonnhawahstihnen Park Giovanni Caboto Glen Longo Community Centre Greenwood Park High Park Hodgson Public School Grounds Irving W Chapley Community Centre Kew Gardens Ledbury Park McCowan District Park Mel Lastman Square Monarch Park Nathan Phillips Square North Toronto Memorial Community Recreation Centre/Eglinton Park Otter Creek Centre Ramsden Park Regent Park Rennie Park Riverdale Park East Rosedale Park Royalcrest Rink Scarborough Civic Centre/Albert Campbell Square Sherbourne Common/Paul Quarrington Ice Rink Sir Adam Beck Rink Sunnydale Acres Rink Trinity Bellwoods Park Valleyfield Park Van Horne Park/Pleasantview Rink Wallace Emerson Park West Deane Park/Martingrove West Mall Rink Westway Outdoor Rink

Withrow Park

Here’s a list of the outdoor rinks that are open on December 3 to February 26. Buttonwood Park Campbell Avenue Playground Humber Valley Rink Jimmie Simpson Park Joseph Bannon Park Lambton-Kingsway Rink Prince of Wales Rink Queensway Rink Rivercrest Rink Ryerson Community Park Summerlea Rink Wedgewood Park

Westgrove Rink

TOBOGGANING (All Over Ontario)

Check Out The Tobaggan Hill List taken from To Do Canada

I. Tobogganing in the City of Toronto Adams Park, 2 Rozell Road, Scarborough Baycrest Park, 160 Neptune Dr, Toronto Bickford Park, 400 Grace Street, Toronto Birchmount Park, 95 Birchmount Road, Scarborough Bridlewood Park, 445 Huntingwood Drive, Scarborough Burnett Park, 352 Burnett Avenue, North York Byng Park, 299 Pharmacy Avenue, Scarborough Cedarvale Park. 443 Arlington Avenue, York Centennial Park (Etobicoke), 165 Centennial Park Boulevard, Toronto Charlottetown Park, 65 Charlottetown Boulevard, Scarborough Cornell Park, 18 Beran Drive, Scarborough Elizabeth Simcoe Park, 180 Sylvan Avenue, Scarborough Fairmount Park, 1725 Gerrard Street East, Toronto Glendora Park, 201 Glendora Ave, North York Glen Stewart Park, 351 Glen Manor Drive, Toronto Graydon Hall Park, 25 Graydon Hall Drive, North York Greenwood Park, 150 Greenwood Avenue, Toronto Humber Sheppard Park, 3100 Weston Road, North York L’Amoreaux Sports Complex, 100 Silver Springs Boulevard, Scarborough Milliken Park, 4325 McCowan Road, Scarborough Murison Park, 99 Murison Boulevard, Scarborough Riverdale Park East, 550 Broadview Avenue, Toronto Riverdale Park West, 375 Sumach Street, Toronto Thomson Memorial Park, 1005 Brimley Road, Scarborough Weston Lions Park, 2125 Lawrence Avenue West, Toronto Withrow Park, 725 Logan Avenue, Toronto

high-park-toboganning

II. Tobogganing in Durham Region
Pickering Toboggan at Kinsmen Park, Pickering. Alex Robertson Park, Pickering.

Amberlea Park, Pickering.

Ajax Greenwood Conservation Area, 5th Concession Rd, Ajax Hill at Ajax Waterfront Trail, along Lake shore Drive East

Paulynn Park, 1571 Ravenscroft Road

Whitby Hy-Hope Farm, Ashburn Guthrie Park Otter Creek Park Pringle Creek Park Glen Hill Park Bowmanville

Darlington Provincial Park

III. Tobogganing in Region of York
Markham Milliken Mills Parks, 4277 14th Avenue(West side of the park, Kennedy Road and 14th Avenue) Paramount Park, East side of Paramount Drive, Between Fincham Avenue south to Church Street, Markham Milne Dam Conservation Park (Main Street & Hwy 7 ) – east end

Mint Leaf Park (Fincham Avenue just East of Larkin )

Richmond Hill
Chapman Park, Hwy. 7 and Misty Moore Dr., Richmond Hill ( Hunter’s Point Park down into Chapman Park)

Aurora Fleury Park: In the dedicated area just south of Aurora Heights Drive and the Aurora Community Centre Parking Lot Machell Park: In the dedicated area just north of the parking area on the west side of the park. Aurora Leisure Complex / Lambert Willson Park: Strictly in the dedicated area along the east side of the Complex Building.

Copland Park: Strictly in the designated area along the north side of the park.

Newmarket
Dennis Park, Cane Parkway & William Roe Blvd.

Vaughan Designated Tobogganing Hill of Vaughan – Hill at Uplands Golf Club, 46 Uplands Ave, Vaughan (Straw bales set up at the bottom of the run). Helmets Mandatory.

Hill at Boyd Conservation Area, 8739 Islington Ave, Woodbridge

Georgina
Hill adjacent to the Tube & Terrain Park – ROC, 26479 Civic Centre Rd, Georgina

East Gwillimbury
Sharon Hill Park, at Colonel Wayling Blvd. and Maplehyrn Avenue.

Uxbridge
Uxbridge Arena Hill, 291 Brock Street West, Uxbridge

IV. Tobogganing in Region of Peel
Mississauga Birchwood Park, 1075 Clarkson Rd. N Brookmede Park, 2254 Council Ring Rd. Castlegreen Meadows, 2829 Castlebridge Dr. Erindale Park, 1695 Dundas St. W

Jack Darling Memorial Park, 1180 Lakeshore Rd. W

Brampton Major Oaks Park, Williams Pkwy and Hwy. 410, Brampton

Mount Chinguacousy

Caledon
Albion Hills Conservation Area

V. Toboggan Hills in Halton Region
Oakville Bronte Creek Provincial Park, 1219 Burloak Dr., Oakville Old Abbey Park, 1110 Old Abbey Lane, Oakville

Appleby College, 540 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville (located on school grounds)

Burlington LaSalle Park, east of the parking lot Tyandaga Golf Course, at hole No. 4, on west slope Central Park, the hill northwest of Community Garden Brant Hills Park, southwest of tennis courts Nelson Park, east side of park, north of Centennial Bike Path

Lowville Park, the hill on southwest end of park

Milton Sixteen-Mile Creek, Commercial and Laurier Livingston Park, north side of Mill Pond

Laurier Valley, corner of Commercial and Laurier

Halton Hills Sir Donald Mann Park, Halton Hills

Cedarvale Park, Halton Hills

Click HERE to SAVE on Holiday Events happening in the GTA!