Weekend need-to-know: Winter markets and a downtown carnival

A winter carnival in Dundas Square kicks off this weekend if you would like to take advantage of some milder temperatures this weekend. Although there are still lots of activities to take advantage of indoors in the days leading up to Christmas.

Luckily, there will be no TTC or GO closures to get in the way of your travels, however, there will be several roads closures to keep in mind (full list below).

Winter Glow

Yonge-Dundas Square will be hosting a winter carnival this year that kicks off on Dec. 14 and runs through to Dec. 23. There will be a 45 foot tall Ferris Wheel and a carousel available to ride for a cost. A $6 ticket will get you on each ride and they will be running from Monday to Friday from 4 p.. to 10 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The Rotary Club is also offering a chance to write a message to a loved one on a yellow ribbon with a donation and attach it to their 40ft Tree of Remembrance.

Winter Market at Evergreen Brickworks

The final day of the Winter Market at Evergreen Brickworks is happening on Sunday! The pay-what-you-can will feature the Ontario Artisan Market and Ontario Vintage Market along with a food court and food trucks selling mouth-watering food and drinks.

There also may be a chance to skate through snow-covered gardens under the beams of an old brick factory. Skates and helmets will be available for rent and it will be weather-dependent.

The market runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. More details can be found here.

Christmas Bird Count in High Park

Count the birds in High Park this weekend and take part in North America’s longest-running community science program. The event helps the High Park Nature Centre and avian researchers document the winter bird populations in the park.

The group will spend the morning hiking and counting birds before compiling the numbers over hot chocolate and other tasty treats. It’s free to participate.

Leafs and Raptors in action

Both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors are in action this weekend at Scotiabank Arena. On Friday night, the Raptors will take on the Atlanta Hawks and they try to kick a four-game losing streak. The game tips off at 7:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs match up against the Pittsburgh Penguins at home on Saturday. Puck drops at 7 p.m.

TTC/GO closures

No TTC or GO closures

Road Closures

Ongoing closures

• University Avenue will be reduced to a single lane between College Street and Queen Street West to complete several infrastructure projects for the next seven months.
• Two northbound lanes on University Avenue between Queen Street West and Armoury Street are closed for Ontario Line construction until early December.
• The intersection of Adelaide and York Streets will be fully closed to traffic for TTC construction until mid-December.
• Southbound Bayview Avenue is closed from Rosedale Valley Road to River Street from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly until early January.
• In Brampton, northbound Main Street is closed from Queen Street to Nelson Street until December for watermain replacement.
• Southbound on Broadview Avenue remains closed from south of Danforth Avenue to Gerrard Street until the end of November.
• Dufferin Street Bridge has a full emergency closure for repair work and it’s expected to last into the fall.
• Broadview Avenue, between Gerrard Street East and Danforth Avenue, will be closed to southbound traffic and reduced to one northbound lane until November to replace TTC streetcar tracks.
• Teston Road in Vaughan will be closed between Pine Valley Drive and Weston Road until the end of the year for road reconstruction and bridge work.
• Queen Street is fully closed to traffic between Bay and Victoria Streets to accommodate work on a new station for the Ontario Line subway. The closure is scheduled to last for at least four-and-a-half years until 2027.
• Lake Shore Boulevard West, from Rees Street to Spadina Avenue, is reduced to two lanes until May 31, 2024, for Enwave construction.
• Military Trail is closed from Ellesmere Road to Highcastle Road for road rehabilitation and slope stabilization. The project completion date has been delayed until further notice.
• Keele Street is reduced to a single lane about 100 metres north of Langstaff in Vaughan. Construction work is scheduled to finish later this year.
• Northbound Yonge Street is reduced to one lane between Wellington and King Streets for TTC construction. The project is scheduled to continue into 2024.