Weekend need to know: Cavalcade of Lights, FIFA World Cup; road closures
The Cavalcade of Lights returns to Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square this weekend alongside plenty of charitable holiday-themed events across the GTA.
Team Canada also takes on Croatia in the FIFA World Cup. Watch parties are happening around the GTA for all football fans, and one group hosting a special watch party is the Toronto High Park FC team.
Fortunately, we’ll see another weekend of no scheduled subway closures, but weekend road closures continue in the city.
Here’s what to do this weekend:
Top events
Cavalcade of Lights
The opening night celebration of Cavalcade of Lights goes from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, with the tree-lighting ceremony taking place at 8:30 p.m. at Nathan Phillips Square.
The opening night will include family-friendly activities, live entertainment and food vendors.
The City of Toronto says this year’s festivities will transform City Hall and its surroundings into a winter wonderland, featuring the lit up Christmas tree, a public skating rink and thousands of energy-efficient light bulbs.
Cavalcade of Lights will run until Jan. 7, 2023.
One Of A Kind Winter Show
This event is great for shopping local and supporting local artisans.
The One Of A Kind Winter Show features over 600 Canadian artisans, with products ranging from home décor to fashion, toys, artisanal food items and more.
The show goes from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
The event will have a special late night show on December 1 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The show runs until December 4 at the Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place.
FIFA World Cup watch party
The Toronto High Park FC team are renting out High Park Brewery pub on Sunday starting at 11 a.m. to catch the Canadian men’s national soccer team play against Croatia in the 2022 World Cup match.
The Toronto High Park FC team manager tells CityNews the community watch party is meant to showcase young, impressionable soccer players and their passion for the sport.
Organizers say the football club is a club open for all ages and abilities. They also offer programs for those aged 3-18 as well as adult programs.
Junction Window Wonderland
Toronto’s immersive urban art walk, titled Window Wonderland, returns to the Junction for its third consecutive year this weekend.
From Friday to Jan. 1, 2023, Window Wonderland, will transform the Junction into a free, outdoor gallery featuring augmented reality (AR) installations and animated wall murals.
The event is presented by Isaan Der Authentic Thai Kitchen.
WATCH: One of the unique AR installations at Isaan Der (Video credit: The Junction BIA)
We Love Willowdale Christmas Market
The We Love Willowdale Christmas Market is back to celebrate the holiday season while giving back to the community through promoting local shopping.
The outdoor home-grown market of local artisans, food vendors and small businesses will take place at Willowdale Presbyterian Church located at 38 Ellerslie Ave. from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m on Saturday.
There will also be a chance to meet Santa Claus before he leads the market’s parade at 7:30 p.m.
This market features Ukrainian newcomers, neighbours living in poverty and those experiencing homelessness to sell their items. Organizers say these individuals will receive a table to sell their art work or merchandise for free and access marketing supports leading up to the event.
All funds raised at the market will go toward purchasing fresh food for Willowdale families that use NeighbourLink’s food bank in North York.
Road closures
Construction
- Richmond Street between Parliament and Sherbourne streets is reduced to two lanes, and the dedicated bike lane is closed.
- Adelaide Street is down to a single lane in sections between Spadina Avenue and Bay Street. The work, which is expected to be completed in spring 2023, is taking place ahead of the Ontario Line subway construction.
- College Street is undergoing a major overhaul, with full and partial closures of the road between Bathurst and Bay streets. City of Toronto officials said the project is expected to be done by the end of the year.
- Bloor Street is impacted by long-term construction, which is already behind schedule, between Parliament and Sherbourne streets.