Cheers to 2024! January is a good month for hibernating on the couch and recovering from the holiday season. But it’s also a peaceful and calm time of year for when you want to get out the house. You’ll still be able to find fun indoor and outdoor events and activities around town. Cozy up with our January Event Guide for Family Fun in Toronto and the GTA.
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Events Starting in January
WinterViews at RendezViews (Full venue opening January 4)
The outdoor downtown venue RendezViews presents WinterViews, a new skating experience that is like a cottage retreat in a winter wonderland.
TO Live: “Bugs Bunny at the Symphony” (January 11-12)
TO Live and Warner Bros. Discovery present “Bugs Bunny at the Symphony”, a thrilling blend of classical music and classic animation!
Downsview Park: Passion for Pollinators (January 15)
Downsview Park hosts the Passion for Pollinators event where three Toronto beekeepers discuss the joys of their life’s work.
Design TO Festival (January 19-28)
DesignTO is Canada’s largest annual design festival, celebrating creative thinking and making with more than 100 exhibitions and events.
Toronto International Boat Show (January 19-28)
The Toronto International Boat Show returns Exhibition Place, featuring an indoor lake, to help you get ready for boating season.
Port Union Winterfest (January 27)
This free family-friendly festival in the Port Union community of Scarborough returns with live entertainment, food and a market place.
Bracebridge Fire & Ice Festival (January 27)
Celebrate a true Canadian winter at the Bracebridge Fire & Ice Festival, featuring snow tubing down the main street of this picturesque town.
Events Continuing In January
Arcadia Earth Toronto
Find Arcadia Earth Toronto at the newest downtown destination, The Well, with an immersive adventure that takes visitors on a voyage through underwater wonders and enchanted realms.
Mirvish Productions: “SIX: The Musical”
Rock out with “SIX: The Musical”, a pop-concert-inspired show that reimagines the six wives of Henry VIII taking over the microphone to turn historical heartbreak into a musical celebration of girl power.
Toronto Union Station: TD Union Winter
Toronto Union Station gets the party going through the holiday season with TD Union Winter, inside the newly opened TD West Carriageway for a fun and magical free winter experience.
Winterlit: An Illuminated Walk Through the Woods
Bask in the natural beauty of Campbellville’s Mountsberg Conservation Area this winter by taking an illuminated walk in the woods at Winterlit.
Events Ending in January
Bata Shoe Museum: Winter Break at the BSM – Frosty Footwear (Ending January 6)
For this year’s Winter Break at the BSM holiday workshop at Bata Shoe Museum, make winter crafts and play games with the theme of Frosty Footwear.
Holiday Nights of Lights (Ending January 7)
Lights, music and holiday cheer are in abundance at Holiday Nights of Lights and the pop-up Mistletoe Lane at Vaughan’s Assembly Park.
Cavalcade of Lights (Ending January 7)
City of Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square will be bathed in light again this year with Cavalcade of Lights, transforming City Hall into a winter wonderland.
Royal Ontario Museum’s ROM for the Holidays (Ending January 7)
This holiday season, the Royal Ontario Museum hosts ROM for the Holidays, offering special daily activities and programming for all visitors.
Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights (Ending January 7)
Get your fill of sparkle and good cheer at the Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights, presented by Ontario Power Generation. It’s Canada’s largest free outdoor light festival!
Lights on Stratford (Ending January 13)
The Lights On Stratford annual winter festival transforms Stratford’s heritage downtown core and parks with luminous art and interactive light installations.
“Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!” (Ending January 14)
This comedic musical production is even more fun than staying up late and having a hot dog party, featuring a script by Mo Willems, creator of the best-selling “Pigeon” picture books.
TO Live: “Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience — A Parody by Dan and Jeff” (Ending January 14)
TO Live presents “Potted Potter”, perfect for wizard fans aged six to Dumbledore, which takes on the ultimate challenge of condensing all seven Harry Potter books into 70 hilarious minutes.
Mirvish Productions: “Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort Of) (Ending January 21)
Mirvish Productions presents “Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort Of), a unique musical comedy version of Jane Austen’s most iconic love story.
Mirvish Productions: “42nd Street” (Ending January 21)
Mirvish Productions presents “42nd Street”, the timeless and inspiring showbiz fairy tale with tap dance routines, romance and comedy.
Disney Animation: Immersive Experience (Ending January 28)
It’s your last chance to see this innovative celebration inside the greatest films of Walt Disney Animation Studios, from early groundbreaking features to today’s most beloved hit movies.
Family Fun Toronto Guides
Cheap and Free Winter Activities
Has your wallet taken a hit from the holidays? Ours too. So we have compiled a list of cheap and free activities and events in Toronto to occupy you and your family this winter.
Guide to the Best Holiday School Break Events and Activities in Toronto and the GTA
There’s always something fun to do in our busy city and no matter the season, kids will always have energy that needs to get expended before the dreaded boredom sets in. So get a move on with Guide to the Best Holiday School Break Events and Activities in Toronto and the GTA!
Guide to the Best Winter Festivals in Toronto and the GTA
Embrace the season with holiday lights, active pursuits and cultural activities in our Guide to the Best Winter Festivals in Toronto and the GTA.
Guide to Winter Roofed Camping in Ontario
To get out in nature this winter while still staying warm at night, check out our list of winter roofed camping in Ontario Parks.
Outdoor Skating in Toronto
Opportunities for outdoor ice skating have become more plentiful in the city in recent years. Freeform paths are being built in parks and even under highways. We’ve rounded up the best spots to check out.
Toboganning in Toronto
An afternoon of sledding on the hills is family winter fun at its finest and it’s completely free to enjoy!
Snow Tubing in Toronto and the GTA
Looking for a new fun and thrilling outdoor family activity? Check out snow tubing at these hills in and around Toronto!
Downhill Skiing Around the GTA
Whether you shred, jib, carve or snowplow your way down the slopes, we’ve got you covered with our Guide to Downhill Skiing around Toronto and the GTA!
Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing in the GTA
If you like it flatter and slower than those crazy sledding kids, you can do it here in Toronto and the GTA. There’s even snow loops for snowshoeing on city-run golf courses.
Indoor Pools
If you’re not so much into the wintery outdoors, you can hang out at an indoor pool. Pretend you’re at an all-inclusive resort — sorry, no cocktails allowed in the pool! City-run pools are free for City of Toronto residents.
Hiking Paths in Toronto
They might be busier in warmer months, but Toronto’s hiking paths are still beautiful in winter!
But Wait… There’s More!
Want even more ideas for Family-Friendly Events in Toronto This Weekend? For a complete listing of all the best events around Toronto, click on our Calendar and stay tuned to all the best local family events through both our Facebook and Instagram pages. Plus, we’re now on TikTok and Threads!
If you are looking for tips on how to keep your kids occupied without attending in-person events, you can find our best ideas, activities and inspiration here!
Did you know you can submit your family-friendly event to us? Fill out the form with your event details, as well as a photo, and we’ll do our best to get your event added to our events calendar.
