Victoria Day long weekend: what's open and closed in Toronto

There's outdoor fun, city-wide art and lots more on deck this Victoria Day long weekend, according to the City of Toronto.

With spring in full effect, the city says it's pleased to offer a wide variety of activities and attractions, including parks and beaches, the first in-person display of fireworks since 2019 and the return of ActiveTO.

Here's a list of some of those attractions and what's open and closed:

Fireworks:

• The fireworks display at Ashbridges Bay Park returns for the first time since 2019. The show starts at 10 p.m. on Monday. It 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.

• Catch a fireworks display in Scarborough at Birchmount Park on Sunday at 8:30 p.m.

• Canada's Wonderland will present its fireworks display when the park closes at 10 p.m. on Sunday.

Attractions: 

• CN Tower: 10:00 a.m. to 9 p.m. all weekend, including Monday.

• Ripley's Aquarium of Canada:  9 a.m. to 8 p.m. all weekend, including Monday.

• Ontario Science Centre: Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday: closed.

• Toronto Zoo: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. all weekend, including Monday.

• High Park Zoo: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. all weekend, including Monday.

• Royal Ontario Museum: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. all weekend, including Monday.

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

• St. Lawrence Market's long weekend hours are: 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 for 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.
  

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 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.

Toronto Island Park: It's a great place 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.

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.

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 Park will be closed to vehicular traffic for all three days of the Victoria Day long weekend.

ArtworxTO: You 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.

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.

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. 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.

Conservatories and greenhouses: Flowers are in full bloom at Centennial Park Conservatory and Allan Gardens Conservatory. Both 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.

ActiveTO returns: 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.

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.

Public Transit:

• TTC routes will operate on their holiday schedule on Monday.

• GO Transit will operate on their Saturday schedule on Monday.

• The TTC will be increasing service beginning at 12 p.m. Monday on the 22 Coxwell, 92 Woodbine, and 501 Queen routes to accommodate travel to and from Ashbridges Bay Park for the Victoria Day fireworks display.

Grocery Stores / LCBO / Beer Stores:

• Most major grocery-store chains are closed on Monday.

• LCBO stores are closed on Monday.

• Select Beer Store locations will open Monday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Malls:

• CF Eaton Centre: Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• Yorkdale Mall: Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday: closed.

• Scarborough Town Centre: Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 pm., Monday: closed.

• Square One Shopping Centre: Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Vaughan Mills: Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Pacific Mall: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. all weekend, including Monday.

• Toronto Premium outlets: Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday 9:30 to 7 p.m.

Other:

• Government offices and Toronto Public Library branches will be closed on Monday.

• There will be no collection or delivery of mail via Canada Post on Monday.