Weekend need to know: Santa Claus Parade and other events; road closures

It’s the official holiday season kick-off in parts of the Greater Toronto Area as the Toronto Christmas Market returns to the Distillery District and the Santa Claus Parade also makes a comeback.

Other non-holiday related events are happening as well like the conclusion of the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival.

There are no subway closures for this weekend, but construction along Lake Shore Boulevard is causing major traffic jams for drivers. Scroll below for those details.

Here’s what’s happening this weekend:

Top events

Toronto Christmas Market

The annual Christmas Market at the Distillery Historic District has returned. It starts daily at 10 a.m.

The outdoor shopping cabins and food vendors will be open beginning at Noon, Tuesdays to Sundays. Those amenities will be closed on Mondays.

On Thursday at 6 p.m., the market will host its first Christmas tree lighting ceremony of the season. Tickets are not needed to attend the ceremony.

The market is free all day between Mondays and Thursdays until 4 p.m.

In order to access the winter village after 4 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays up until Dec. 23, you’ll need to buy tickets on the website. The cost is $11 plus HST (free for children nine and younger). The same policy applies between Dec. 27 and 31. All other times tickets aren’t needed. Click here to check the calendar for the day you want to go to confirm operating hours.

The market is closed on Christmas Day.

WATCH: Melissa Nakhavoly has more from the tree lighting ceremony marking the official opening of the winter village.

Santa Claus Parade

The Santa Claus Parade returns this Sunday at 12:30 p.m. in Toronto.

The parade will start at Christie Pits, march throughout downtown, and end at St. Lawrence Market around 3 p.m.

About 45 minutes before the parade, the 5k run Holly Jolly Fun Run, will take place along the same route.

Runners are encouraged to dress in festive clothing and finish at Maple Leaf Square before the parade starts.

The TTC will also be running additional subway service on Lines 1 and 2 to accommodate those going to festivities.

The following TTC routes will be diverting during the Santa Claus Parade and the Holly Jolly Fun Run:

• 13 Avenue Road
• 19 Bay
• 72 Pape
• 75 Sherbourne
• 94 Wellesley
• 121 Esplanade – River
• 126 Christie
• 161 Rogers Road
• 300 Bloor-Danforth

Eaton Centre Merry Merry Music

If you’re shopping at the CF Toronto Eaton Centre this month, you may notice some musical guests at the mall to celebrate the holiday season.

The live performances are part of the mall’s launch of its one-of-a-kind program Merry Merry Music.

The opening performance kicked off festivities on Thursday, and was hosted by Kardinal Offishall and Santa Claus himself, with musical guests Raine Maida, Chantal Kreviazuk and Choir! Choir! Choir!

The program runs until Christmas Eve.

Santa Claus at CF malls

Speaking of Santa, Santa Claus is coming to participating Cadillac Fairview malls for photos and meet and greets.

There will also be Sensitive Santa experiences, a program arranged specifically for those with autism and their families in collaboration with Autism Speaks Canada from Saturday until Christmas Eve.

(Photo credit: Cadillac Fairview)

Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival (last weekend)

It’s the last weekend to enjoy the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival at venues including the Isabel Bader Theatre and Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema.

This year’s lineup consisted of dozens of in-person and digital film screenings and events.

The films come from over a dozen regions including North America, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, India and Pakistan.

Road closures

Santa Claus Parade

The estimated road closure times for Sunday:

• Bloor Street West, from Ossington Avenue to Christie Street, at 7 a.m.
• Bloor Street West, from Christie Street to Bathurst Street, at 10 a.m.
• Bloor Street West, from Bathurst Street to Bay Street, at 10:30 a.m.
• Avenue Road/Queen’s Park, from Davenport Road to College Street, at 10:30 a.m.
• University Avenue, from College Street to Dundas Street, at 11 a.m.
• University Avenue, from Dundas Street to Front Street, at 11:15 a.m.
• Wellington Street, from University Avenue to Jarvis Street, at 11:30 a.m.
• Front Street, from Bay Street to Jarvis Street, at 11:45 a.m.
• Front Street, from Jarvis Street to Sherbourne Street, at 11 a.m.

The roads are expected to be reopened by 6 p.m.

Toronto police say vehicles parked along the parade route will be towed starting at 6 a.m. Vehicles will be relocated to a nearby street at no charge to the drivers and owners. Drivers parked west of Spadina Avenue can call 416-808-1400 to find out the location of their vehicle, and those parked east of Yonge Street can call 416-808-5100, and to call 416-808-5200 if they were parked in between.

Construction along Lake Shore Boulevard East near Jarvis Street

Downtown traffic along Lake Shore Boulevard East caused by construction has become a nightmare for drivers on a daily basis.

The 500-metre stretch between Yonge and Jarvis streets takes seven minutes to walk, but in recent days drivers have reported being stuck there for up to three hours as four lanes of Lake Shore Boulevard East were reduced to one with almost no warning.

The construction is being conducted by Enbridge Gas. Crews are replacing portions of a 4.5-kilometre gas pipeline along Lake Shore Boulevard East between Cherry Street and just west of Yonge Street.

Other ongoing construction

• Adelaide Street between west of Simcoe Street and Bay Street is reduced to one shared lane. There are partial intersection closures south of Adelaide Street at Simcoe, Duncan and John streets.
• College Street is undergoing a major overhaul with full and partial closures of the road between Bathurst and Bay streets.
• Expect closures on Bloor Street East between Parliament and Sherbourne street, which has been impacted by long-term construction that is behind schedule.