What's open and closed in Toronto this August long weekend - Action News
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Toronto

What's open and closed in Toronto this August long weekend

Many road closures are in effectahead of Monday's civic holiday in Toronto. Here's a list of what's open and closed on the August long weekend, plus all the road closures drivers should be aware ofahead of time.

Many city attractions will remain open on holiday Monday including CN Tower and Casa Loma

Door signs that say 'sorry we're closed' and 'come in, we're open.'
Ahead of the civic holiday Monday, here is a list of what's open and closed in Toronto this August long weekend. (CBC)

City streets will be flooded with colour as Toronto's Caribbean Carnivalmakes its returnfor another year this long weekend but many road closures are in effectahead of Monday's civic holiday.

Here's a list of what's open and closed on the long weekend, plus all the road closures drivers should be aware ofahead of time:

Staying cool

The city's outdoor pools, splash pads and wading pools will be open all weekend and on the holiday Monday, with the exception ofindoor pools and community centres.

Bathers swim at Sunnyside Gus Ryder Outdoor Pool, on Torontos lakeshore, during a heatwave on July 20, 2022.
Toronto's public outdoor swimming pools will be open all through the long weekend, along with splash pads and wading pools. Indoor public pools will be closed Monday. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Though last month's flooding dumped 500 Olympic-sized swimming pools of partially treated sewageinto Lake Ontario, many public beaches have been deemed safe to swim again. You can check status updates here. The city encourages people to swim only within supervised swimming areas when lifeguards are on duty.

Transit

A Toronto Transit Commission streetcar drives past the downtown skyline in Toronto on Thursday June 6, 2024.  TTC workers will be in a position to strike at midnight on June 6. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
The TTC and GO Transit will operate on modified schedules this holiday Monday. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press)

Transit will be running on different hours Monday. GO Transit will operate on its Saturday schedule and the TTC will run on its holiday schedule. On Aug. 3, GO Transit is increasing train service on the Milton line to accommodate more people travelling to the Toronto Caribbean Carnival.

Alcohol, groceries, shopping

Exterior photo of an LCBO location.
Select LCBO and Beer Store locations will be open on the holiday Monday. (Michael Wilson/CBC)

Most Beer Store and LCBO locations will be closed Monday, but select stores will stay open. Check online to see the holiday hours of your nearest LCBO and Beer Store locations.

Most grocery stores will be open Monday, though hours may vary for the holiday. As for drug stores, select Shoppers Drug Mart and Rexall locations will stay open on the holiday.

The city's malls will also be open, though most are operating with reduced hours, so check ahead before you go shopping. CF Shops at Don Mills will also host an Olympic Games watch party through the long weekend. Hosted by former Olympians and featuring live musical performances, FanFest will be showing live broadcasts of Olympic events all weekend.

Movie theatres across town will remain open Monday.

Post offices, banks and government offices will be closed Monday. Toronto Public Library branches will be closed Sunday and Monday.

City attractions

ROM
The Royal Ontario Museum is one of many attractions open in the city on the holiday Monday. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Almost all city attractions, from the CN Tower to Casa Loma to the Royal Ontario Museum will be open Monday, though it's best to check ahead for modified hours. Canada's Wonderland will have fireworks Sunday night and the Toronto Zoo is celebrating its 50th anniversary this weekend.

The Gardiner Museum and Museum of Ontario Contemporary Art will be closed this weekend due to ongoing work.

Toronto History Museums sites are open on Saturday and Sunday with free activities and programs through the weekend.

Toronto Island Park ferries

Photos of Toronto's Inner Harbour, during heatwave. Including some aerial (drone) images. Toronto city Skyline, harbour Taxis, Toronto Ferry service and pleasure craft. Shot from Toronto Islands
The city said its full fleet of four ferries will be available to shuttle visitors to and from Toronto Island Parks this long weekend. Visitors are advised to avoid peak ferry hours between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Patrick Morrell/CBC)

The city said its full fleet of four ferries will be availableto take visitors to and from Toronto Island Park over the long weekend. Afifth "legacy ferry" may also run, depending on weather conditions, spokesperson Nitish Bissonauth said on Friday.

People are urged to plan their trip ahead of time and avoid peak ferry hours. The ferry is busiest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The ferry schedule is available on the city's website.

You can also buy your tickets online to avoid lineups at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal.

Fireworks

Though Canada's Wonderland will have a fireworks display on Sunday, the city said the long weekend does not include adesignated fireworks day.

That means you'll need a permit from Toronto Fire Services if you want to set off fireworks on yourproperty.

Fireworks aren't allowed in city parks, beaches, balconies, streets, parking lots or on anyone else's property, the city said.

Festivals

The Veld Music festival is on at Downsview Park from Friday to Sunday.This year's lineup of electronic musicians includes Steve Aoki, Alesso and Martin Garrix.

On the east side of town, the Toronto Food Truck Festival takes place at Woodbine Park all weekend.

Dozens of trucks will be set upwith a variety of delicious offerings. The festival runs 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday. Admission is free.

Scenes of dancers in costumes from the 55th Toronto Caribbean Carnival's Grand Parade at the Exhibition Place on July 30, 2022.
Toronto Caribbean Carnival returns to Exhibition Place and Lake Shore Boulevard W. on Saturday. (Sabah Rahman/CBC)

And then there's Toronto's Caribbean Carnival.

The city's biggest celebration of Caribbean culture returns with events running through Sunday. Just under one million people are expected to attend the festival, the city said, whichincludes a steel pan festival on Saturday and a rum festival Sunday. The King and Queen showcase will take place Saturday night, with colourful costumes showcased at Lamport Stadium.The St. Lawrence Market will also have Caribbean food, culture and crafts on display on Market Street. The market will be open on Monday too.

The Grand Parade happens Saturday at Exhibition Place and Lake Shore Boulevard from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. There will also be lots of music, food and dancing and some ticketed events.

Road closures

The carnival is causing some traffic disruptions around Exhibition Place, where construction on the Gardiner Expressway and King Street W. is already slowing things down.

A sign saying
The Caribbean Carnival will cause road closures around Exhibition Place this weekend. (David Donnelly/CBC)

Road closures for the parade will be in effect all day Saturday and will end Sunday at 7 a.m.:

  • Lake Shore Boulevard W.from Fort York Boulevard to Colborne Lodge Drive.
  • Lake Shore Boulevard W. westbound between Bathurst Street and Fort York Boulevard isopen to local traffic only.
  • Strachan Avenue southbound from Fleet Street.

The following Gardiner Expressway ramps will also be closed:

  • Westbound Gardiner Expressway on ramp at Jameson Avenue.
  • Eastbound Gardiner Expressway off ramp at Jameson Avenue.
  • Eastbound Gardiner Expressway on rampfrom Jameson Avenue, and Lake Shore Boulevard W. at British Columbia Road.
  • Westbound Gardiner Expressway off ramp at Dunn Avenue.
  • Lake Shore Boulevard W. will close to traffic from westbound Strachan Avenue to Parkside Drive, and eastbound Lake Shore Boulevard W. from Colborne Lodge Drive to Strachan Avenue.
  • The Princes' Gates will close to vehicle traffic on Saturday starting at 1 a.m..

To assist with the flow of traffic surrounding the carnival,the following streets will be restricted to local traffic only:

  • Dufferin Street south of King Street W.
  • Dowling Avenue south of King Street W.
  • Stadium Road south of Lake Shore Boulevard W.
  • Queens Quay W., west of Bathurst Street.
  • Springhurst Avenue, west of Jameson Avenue.
  • Springhurst Avenue, east of Jameson Avenue.
  • Remembrance Drive.