Victoria Day weekend reigns supreme in Toronto

We can thank Queen Victoria for this: a long weekend that marks the unofficial start of summer. And while one of her descendants is getting married this weekend, the rest of us will either be heading to the cottage or puttering around in town. One thing is for sure though, we are all destined to have fun this weekend, whether we are royals or not. So take your crown and scepter and rule the weekend.

If you are staying in town this weekend, you will be dazzled with fireworks and a slew of other events taking place around the city. As you make your plans, consult the list below of what’s open and closed on holiday Monday.

What’s open and closed on Monday

Open

• TTC will run on a holiday schedule
• GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule
• Tourist attractions: ROM, CN Tower, Casa Loma, Toronto Zoo, Hockey Hall of Fame, Ontario Science Centre, Canada’s Wonderland, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
• Most malls: Bramalea City Centre (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.), Eaton Centre (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.), Square One (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.), The Promenade (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.), Toronto Premium Outlets (9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.), Upper Canada Mall (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.), Vaughan Mills (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.), Yorkville Village (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
• Curbside garbage is not collected on any Monday, but other services will be affected. Click here for details.

Closed

• LCBO stores are closed on Monday
• Beer Store locations will also be closed on Monday but some stores will open later on Sunday
• Government offices, municipal buildings and banks
• Toronto Public Library locations are closed on Sunday and Monday
• No mail delivery
• Recreation centres and programs in Toronto
• Some malls: Dufferin Mall, Fairview Mall, Scarborough Town Centre, Sherway Gardens, Yorkdale Shopping Centre

Events

Fireworks
The season of fireworks starts this weekend with light shows at Asbridges Bay Park and Canada’s Wonderland. The fireworks at Wonderland is at 10 p.m. on Sunday, while the light show at Asbridges is at 10 p.m. on Monday.

Royal wedding
Get your fascinators ready! The city will be buzzing all the way from Windsor Castle as royal watchers take in the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle this long weekend. The couple will be married Saturday at noon local time, which is 7 a.m. ET. Watch the wedding live on CityNews.ca starting at 6 a.m.

David Mirvish is hosting a massive viewing party at the Princess of Wales Theatre from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. As many as 2,000 people will pack the venue for the sold-out event, to experience the wedding projected live on a big screen. After the ceremony ends, Harry and Meghan will take a horse drawn carriage procession through Windsor as husband and wife.

Artfest Toronto
Artfest Toronto is taking over the Distillery District for its 12th annual event this Victoria Day weekend. The outdoor arts show celebrates painting, photography, sculpture, fine craft and live music from Canada’s top artists. It runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday through Monday. Admission is free and there will also be art workshops for kids all weekend long.

Spring BeerFest TO
Escape to the cottage-in-the-city this weekend at the Spring BeerFest TO at Fort York Garrison Common. The event will serve up 17 top-notch cold beers, delicious food from Toronto’s most popular food trucks, roasted marshmallows, campfires and outdoor games. The 19+ BeerFest runs on Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Queen Victoria’s Secret
Brewer’s Backyard is back with its annual Victoria Day event — Queen Victoria’s Secret — where the beers available are only revealed when the event starts. Queen Victoria’s Secret will be held at Evergreen Brick Works, and will feature Ontario breweries, including Shacklands Brewing Co, Muddy York Brewing, Big Rock Brewery and Collective Arts Brewing. There will also be food, and a “first call” special during the first hour of the event, which kicks off at 11 a.m. on Monday.

Victoria Day at Fort York
If you’re looking for some family fun and history this Victoria Day, head on over to the Fort York National Historic Site. Guests will be able to join a guided tour, take part in soldier’s drills, or watch historic cooking demonstrations in one of the oldest kitchens in the city. Visitors can also stop by the Fort York Visitor Centre and explore interactive exhibits on the history of Toronto and the Fort. The Victoria Day event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Regular admission applies.

POPnology at the Science Centre
A new exhibit is opening at the Ontario Science Centre this weekend — POPnology showcases how people connect, move, play, live and work. It also looks at how books, movies and games have inspired the world’s greatest technological innovations. Visitors will be able to test drive robotics, rovers and sci-fi inspired tech, as well as work with a robot arm and see the world’s first 3-D printed car. POPnology opens on Saturday and continues through August 6th.

City of Toronto activities
Not everyone is getting away to the cottage this long weekend. Others will be staying in town or heading to Toronto to soak in what the city has to offer. Ferries to the island will be running every 15 minutes, and to avoid the rush, you can purchase your tickets online. Splash pads also start running on Saturday. Most of the city’s historic sites will be open on Sunday, but only Fort York National Historic Site and Spadina Museum will be open on Monday. Anyone who enjoys outdoor sports can use the golf courses or tennis courts. Click here for a full list of Toronto-run activities.