Weekend need-to-know: Mayor’s skating party happening across the city

The first weekend of 2025 will be the last chance to check out some winter festivals before they shut down for the year and to skate with the mayor.

There are no TTC or GO closures this weekend.

Mayor’s Skating Party 2025

Mayor Olivia Chow will be hosting the annual Mayor’s Skating Party at four different locations this Sunday. It’s a chance to rub shoulders with Chow and other city council members.

Here are the locations of the parties:

• McCowan District Park
• North Toronto Memorial
• Colonel Samuel Smith Park
• Nathan Phillips Square

Nathan Phillips Square will also have Indigenous sports and storytelling.

There will be free skates, free hot chocolate, and an opportunity to meet the people who run your city.

It’s all ages and runs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Last weekend of Distillery Winter Village

It’s the last weekend to get a chance to see the Distillery Winter Village until the next holiday season. All vendors will still be open on Saturday and Sunday for the last days of the festival and entry is now free with no tickets required.

It will be open from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Saturday, but will close at 9 p.m. on Sunday.

For all the details and the schedule, you can find it here.

Toronto hockey action

The Maple Leafs and the Marlies have a busy weekend ahead with both teams playing twice

The Toronto Maple Leafs will take on the Boston Bruins at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday evening. Puck drops at 7 p.m. Then the Flyers head to down for another 7 p.m. game on Sunday

Meanwhile, at Coca-Cola Coliseum, the Marlies have a two-game stretch against the Cleveland Monsters on Saturday and Sunday. The puck drops at 4 p.m. for both games.

TTC/GO closures

No TTC/GO closures this weekend

Road closures

Gardiner Expressway closure

As part of the long-term construction plan on the Gardiner Expressway, one westbound lane and one eastbound lane are closed between Dufferin Street and Strachan Avenue. The eastbound on-ramp from Lake Shore Boulevard at Jameson Avenue is also closed.

Temporary closures