Christmas Day falls on a Saturday this year, meaning your regular weekend will also be your holiday weekend.
That means you should plan to have your last-minute errands done before Friday, Dec. 24, as the city will start shutting down.
As one example, the Eaton Centre will close at 6 p.m. on Dec. 24 and remain closed on Christmas Day. This holds true for other major malls in Toronto with the exception of Pacific Mall.
Markham’s Pacific Mall, located at 4300 Steeles Ave. E. at the intersection with Kennedy Road, remains open on statutory holidays. (It's designated as tourist destination and is exempted from the province's holiday closing law.)
For those seeking some holiday cheer, the LCBO and Beer Store outlets will be closing Friday, Dec. 24 at 6 p.m. and remaining closed over the weekend. They will re-open on Monday, Dec. 27.
Grocery shoppers will have extended hours leading up to the Christmas period.
Metro advises its shoppers that regular stores will be closed by 6 p.m. on Dec. 24, but 24-hour stores will be open until 11 p.m.
Loblaw advises that starting Dec. 24, you should check online for a specific store's hours as they will vary by location and "banner" (i.e. Superstore, Loblaws or Nofrills).
While the Ontario Science Centre is normally open seven days a week, it will be closed on Dec. 25.
Other tourist attractions that will also be closed down include:
- Casa Loma (closed at 1 p.m. on Dec. 24)
- CN Tower (closed at 8 p.m. on Dec. 24)
- Royal Ontario Museum (closes at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 24)
- Toronto Zoo (last admission on Dec. 24 is 3:30 p.m.; closed at 4:30 p.m.)
- Art Gallery of Ontario
"The city's two ski and snowboard centres, at Earl Bales Park and Centennial Park, are open with operating hours every day throughout the holidays, with the exception of Dec. 25," the city of Toronto said in a news release.
Check with your favourite restaurant for its holiday hours, but if you’re on the hunt for a place to eat on Christmas day, many Asian restaurants on Spadina Avenue between Sullivan Street and College Street West tend to be open.
The Lakeview Restaurant Dundas Street West and Ossington Avenue will be offering its deep-fried Christmas turkey marathon. On Ossington, a block north of Queen Street West, Pho Tien Thanh will be open.
If you want to take in a film, many of the city's movie theatres will be open on Christmas Day.
The city's performing stages will largely be quiet.
Soulpepper Threatre's "A Christmas Carol" continues until Christmas Eve, takes a two-day break and then picks up again on Dec. 27.
Mirvish productions has two ongoing musicals: "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum" and “Priscilla Queen of the Desert.” They won't be performed on Christmas Day.
The National Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” continues at the Four Seasons Centre until Jan. 2. However, it will take a break from Dec. 25 to 27, and from Dec. 31-Jan. 1.
Many businesses and agencies will be taking Monday and even Tuesday off to extend the weekend, so keep that in mind. The city of Toronto said its offices will be closed on Dec. 27 and 28. The AGO, as one example, is routinely closed on Mondays.
For transit, the TTC started reduced peak-period service on Dec. 20.
On Christmas Eve, it was to reduce its morning and afternoon peak service.
For both Christmas Day and Boxing Day, the TTC will offer Sunday service. The subways and most surface routes will start at 9 a.m.
Monday, Dec. 27 will offer holiday service, with the subway and most surface routes starting at 6 a.m.
GO Transit will be altering its schedule for Dec. 24, with an earlier afternoon rush hour. On Christmas Day and Boxing Day, it will offer its holiday schedule. On Dec. 27 and 28, it will follow a Saturday schedule. See its website for details.
