Weekend need-to-know: DJ Skate Nights, Toronto International Boat Show kick off

Embrace the cold with the start of DJ Skate Nights at Evergreen Brick Works or dream of summer at the Toronto International Boat Show. There is one significant TTC subway closure to keep in mind this weekend (see below).

Here are the events happening over the next two days:

Toronto International Boat Show

The Toronto International Boat Show is back for its 66th annual event. The show takes over the Enercare Centre beginning Friday afternoon until Jan. 28.

It features 500 exhibitors, the industry’s top boat dealers, and the world’s largest indoor lake. New for this year is a glow-in-the-dark boating, an immersive experience in the Coca-Cola Coliseum with colorful LED lights.

The Indoor Wakeboard Canadian Championship will be held on this opening weekend. More information can be found here.

DJ Skate Nights

The first of four Dj Skate Nights at Evergreen Brick Works kicks off this Saturday night. Brick Works transforms their skating rink into a dance floor for a free event where the community can come skate among the trees to DJ tunes.

There will be food and drinks for purchase as well as lawn games, smores and firepits in the Après Skate Lounge for pre- and post-skating. Skates will be available to rent.

Each night will have a theme, kicking off with 90s Night on January 20. The other skate nights are happening on Jan. 27, Feb. 10 and Feb. 1. On Jan. 27 a Newcomer’s Night will feature free skating lessons for new Canadians.

It kicks off at 6 p.m.

DesignTO Festival 2024

The 14th annual DesignTO Festival is happening at venues across Toronto this weekend, starting Friday night. The largest design festival will see over 100 free exhibitions, installations and events from artist and designers.

The designs are focused around ideas of climate crisis and sustainability, technology, ethics and social justice, city building and more.

The festival runs from Jan. 19 to Jan. 28 and most exhibitions are free, but some require an RSVP and a paid ticket. You can find more details here.

Wintersong

An annual celebration of community, music and culture will bring Stouffville back to life with Wintersong, featuring a line-up of 50+ musical performances, installations and interactive experiences on Jan. 19 and 20.

People from across York Region are invited for the free two-day event. It’s happening across various venues in Stouffville. All the details, including the musical lineup, can be found on their website.

TTC/GO closures

• No service on TTC Line 1 Yonge-University between St. George and St. Andrew on Saturday and Sunday. No shuttle buses will be running due to ongoing construction along the route.

Road closures

Ongoing city 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.
• Southbound Bayview Avenue is closed from Rosedale Valley Road to River Street from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly until early January.
• 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.
• Northbound Yonge Street is reduced to one lane between Wellington and King Streets for TTC construction. The project is scheduled to continue into 2024.