The Holiday period is a great time to visit Toronto. Complete all your Holiday shopping at Toronto’s array of brand name stores and funky boutiques. Visit Toronto's museums and cultural attractions such as the Art Gallery of Ontario. Enjoy dinner and a show as you tap into Toronto’s culture and cuisine. And enjoy a number of festive events at this special time of year.
The place to stay for all of this is The Chelsea Hotel - Toronto’s Holiday Headquarters and steps from the city’s best shopping. The Toronto Eaton Centre, the boutiques of Yorkville, funky shops on Queen Street West and the underground PATH are all close by.
Here is a sample of just a few of the activities coming up in Toronto for the Holidays.
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (November 6 - 15, 2015)
Once a year, the country comes to the city bringing along over 300 vendors, regal horse shows, entertaining dog shows and everything else in between. Celebrating its 90th year and promising to be the biggest year ever, The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the largest of its kind and truly a part of Canadian tradition.
Santa Claus Parade Sunday (November 15, 2015)
The Santa Claus Parade has been a Toronto tradition since 1905. Fantastic animated floats leave the corner of Christie and Bloor Street in the company of two dozen marching bands and a couple of thousand costumed participants, cheered along by excited kids.
Ice Wine and Dine (November 22 from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.)
Winter Magic continues with Ice Wine & Dine, an outdoor food fest with drinks and live entertainment. Several restaurants on or near Elm Street will have food samples from their menus along with their signature drinks, with live musicians nearby and several ice sculptures will be on display.
Illuminite (November 15 at 5:30 p.m.)
A unique combination of technology and artistry in a number of different performances from local and international artists. The evening concludes with the lighting of a 52,000 LED tree and other light installations around the downtown Yonge St area.
Cavalcade of Lights Saturday (November 28, 2015)
Toronto’s 49th annual Cavalcade of Lights presented by Great Gulf celebrates the first lighting of Toronto’s official Christmas tree, live performances by some of Canada’s top musical talent, a spectacular fireworks display and a skating party at Nathan Phillips Square.
Toronto Christmas Market (November 20 to December 20, 2015)
Inspired by the Old World and influenced by the New, this free annual event captures all of the tradition, heritage and charm of a European Christmas Market, while showcasing hundreds of unique and local handcrafted products. Family-friendly entertainment includes musicians, carolers and children’s choirs and, of course, Santa’s House.
There is great shopping, specialty beer and mulled wine gardens, and sweets and treats. The Christmas Market at The Distillery is the perfect opportunity to put the magic back in your family’s holiday time.
The Nutcracker (December 12, 2015 – January 3, 2016)
The National Ballet’s sumptuous, comical, touching and spellbinding version of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s Christmas tale was created in 1995 and has been enthralling audiences – especially children – ever since. It is a refreshingly traditional version of the story, replete with the details of childhood dreams and the appeal of fantasy. This is a ballet gloriously designed and costumed and brimming with affection for, and insight into, the passage from childhood to maturity that all children make.
The hotel you’ve always loved is now called the Chelsea Toronto . As part of the prestigious Langham Hospitality Group it has been refreshed by a multi-million dollar refurbishment over the last few years with refurbished rooms and updated restaurants.
The Chelsea Toronto is Canada's largest hotel and centrally located just steps from the city's best shopping districts, world-class theatres, vibrant nightlife and exciting attractions.
As Toronto’s self-proclaimed “Entertainment Hotel”, the Chelsea Toronto also offers an on-site ticket office where guests can book their attraction, concert and theatre tickets when they book their room.
An extra perk for guests staying at the Chelsea Toronto are special partnership discounts available through the hotel’s “SHOW YOUR KEY AND SAVE” program. This includes some of the best attractions Toronto has to offer such as the Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario, Casa Loma and many more.And when you stay at the Chelsea Toronto you will earn DOUBLE Aeroplan miles and be part of Langham’s celebrated 1865 loyalty program.
A full-service urban resort, the Chelsea Toronto has room types to suit everyone and the hotel offers four restaurants and lounges plus separate adult and family recreation areas and pools. As a premier family destination, the hotel offers a full range of services including the Family Fun Zone with Camp Chelsea supervised activities program, Kid Centre and Club 33 Teen Lounge. Plus take an exhilarating ride on downtown Toronto’s only indoor waterslide, “Corkscrew”.
One universal amenity is the free WiFi available throughout the hotel. And with a choice of 1,590 rooms the Chelsea Toronto is sure to have a configuration to match your needs. Many rooms feature balconies where guests can enjoy exceptional views of the downtown area and kitchenette rooms are also available.
The Chelsea Toronto also boasts 34 ultra-spacious suites that start from 450 ft², welcoming guests with the perfect balance of comfort, convenience and personal space. Each suite features a separate living area and bedroom for added privacy and flexibility. Suites also include self-contained kitchenettes.
The spacious and inviting two-bedroom Family Fun Suites provide the perfect solution for families looking for convenient all-in-one accommodation. The family-friendly extras include a kids' creative corner, DVD and Xbox with free access to games and movies. Additional bedding is provided with bunk beds and a pull-out sofa while the generously-sized suites ensure larger families can stay in comfort.
The Chelsea Toronto's four restaurants and lounges invite guests to indulge in world-class cuisine, relax in a comfortable setting and unwind after a day of shopping or sightseeing. From casual, convenient snacks to international dishes the Chelsea Toronto offers a range of authentic dining experiences.
Lively and energetic, Monarchs Pub is downtown Toronto's must-visit live music venue. And Monarchs Pub's menu is as enticing and diverse as its musical selection. The extensive à la carte menu features contemporary pub fare including delicious starters, hearty mains and tempting desserts, plus a special late-night menu is available.
The Market Garden and Express|o Coffee Bar, is the solution for diners with little time to spare. Browse the market-style aisles stocked with grab-and-go items, create a salad or watch chefs prepare hot and cold dishes.
T|Bar is a new, vibrant lobby lounge which celebrates the classic Canadian Caesar with its own new twist. T|Bar also features an authentic Indian lunch buffet on weekdays and a mouthwatering Brunch every Sunday.
The Art Gallery of Ontario has become one of Canada’s cultural icons. With a permanent collection of nearly 80,000 works of art, the AGO is among the most distinguished art museums in North America. And Transformation AGO over the last few years has resulted in a stunning new design by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, which has rightly won international acclaim.
The Chelsea Toronto Hotel is the official hotel partner of the AGO and you can easily walk to the Gallery if you stay at the Chelsea Toronto. In addition, as part of the Hotel’s “Show your key and save” program, show your room key and save 20% off general admission.
Completed in 2008, the Transformation AGO project was a massive expansion of the Gallery led by world-renowned Toronto-born architect, Frank Gehry. The ground-breaking redesign expanded the AGO by 97,000 square feet and increased exhibition space by 47 per cent. In addition to the stunning glass and wood façade that spans 600 feet along Dundas Street, Transformation AGO saw the creation of 7,000 feet of hosting space now known as Baillie Court, the Norma Ridley Members’ Lounge, shopAGO and the AGO’s award-winning restaurant, FRANK.
The rebirth of the AGO allowed for a number of new programs to be developed, creating a cultural hub in Toronto. These programs are often themed to reflect one of the major exhibitions going on in the Gallery. So everything from the menu at FRANK and the family activities may reflect the special art that is on display at the time.
AGO programs that you can enjoy include:
- A regular Cinq-à-Sept at FRANK restaurant.
- Yoga classes at the AGO amongst the paintings! Mon and Thursday evenings.
- Every Wednesday night admission to the general galleries is FREE and the AGO is open until 9pm!
- AGO First Thursdays, bring together an impressive roster of artists, live music and interactive art projects that invite gallery-goers to experience the art gallery in a brand new way. Designed to engage and entertain, these interactive art nights out feature a variety of performances, pop-up bars, art-making activities, artist and curator tours, talks and live events. Taking place on the first Thursday of each month, First Thursday at the AGO runs from 6:30 to 11 p.m.and are a ticket only event.
- And just launched are AGO Friday Nights where the best party in town runs until 9pm. Enjoy the art in a whole new way – participate in hands on art making, learn from guest speakers, wine and dine, listen to music and take it all in. Making it a night to remember - AGO Friday nights are included with general admission,
An appreciation of art is one of the greatest gifts that you can give a child. And the AGO has lots of programs to involve youngsters in art,
- The Kids' Gallery at the AGO is a space created especially for children and families. Together you can experience art first-hand, learn and have fun.
- The AGO’s Weston Family Learning Centre provides families a dedicated area for art instruction and creative play. Family Sundays in the Weston Family Learning Centre featuring art-making, hands-on activities and family-oriented tours and are included with regular admission and run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- For more family-friendly fun, stop by the Margaret & Jim Fleck Gallery to relax and engage with art-making, books and ideas in the Family Creativity Lounge.
- And the Dr. Mariano Elia Hands-On Centre is open to the AGO’s youngest visitors from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
J. M. W. Turner: Painting Set Free is a critically acclaimed solo exhibition from the Tate Britain and it will make its only Canadian appearance in Toronto 31 October, 2015 – 31 January, 2016. This is a rare opportunity to see the works of Britain’s most famous artist up close.
J.M.W. Turner has been described as “a towering figure of British 19th-century art”. Turner’s most radical achievements were in water colour. Over his lifetime, he invented a host of new techniques that elevated a basic sketching medium into high art, and he approached water colour with an unprecedented spontaneity that artists still seek to emulate today.
Mocked publicly in his time, Turner baffled his critics with his radical approach. Nonetheless, he carried on experimenting with unusual subject matters and different canvas formats and mastering his free and spontaneous techniques in both oil and watercolour. He said of himself “The only secret I have got is damned hard work”.
This exhibition sets out to show how his last 15 years were a time of exceptional drive and vigour, during which he continued travelling, confronting and painting the dramatic landscapes of Europe.
J. M. W. Turner: Painting Set Free focuses on the artist’s later works with more than 50 paintings and watercolours on loan from Tate Britain. These painting demonstrate Turner’s famous use of rich colour, textures and his arresting use of light.
Organized thematically, the exhibition takes a focused look at his travels across Europe, his fascination with classical history, mythology and religion, his love of the sea and his pre-occupations with capturing light and atmosphere.
Special exhibition tickets to J. M. W. Turner: Painting Set Free include access to all galleries at the AGO. This is exhibition is timed ticketed so you are able to enjoy the exhibition without it being too crowded. Find out more at www.ago.net.
Turner programming at the AGO
The AGO is now staying open later on Friday evenings! Making its debut on Nov. 6, 2016 and continuing weekly thereafter, AGO Friday Nights launches with an exciting series of Turner-themed programming throughout the month of November. Featuring drop-in art making, talks, tours, a wine bar and a delicious tapas menu,
In partnership with Tapestry Opera, Canada’s largest and most influential contemporary opera company, the AGO presents Music Set Free, a series of live performances inspired by Turner, each Friday in November from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m
AGO Friday nights are included with general admission, and free to AGO Members.
In addition to free Turner-inspired drop-in artmaking at AGO Friday Nights in November, the Adult Studio will also offer Turner & Watercolours, a special five-week workshop taught by instructor Kerry Kim.
The larger-than-life artist makes the leap from the canvas to the big screen in a special AGO screening of Mike Leigh’s biopic, Mr. Turner at the AGO’s Jackman Hall Theatre.
Family Sundays return this fall on Nov. 1, 2015 with a Turner-sized celebration for kids of all ages. Featuring Turner-themed art-making, hands-on activities and family-oriented tours,
The Gallery welcomes Sam Smiles, professor of Art History and Visual Culture and co-curator of the Tate Britain exhibition Late Turner, for a lecture on Nov. 13th, reviewing Turner’s last works.
FRANK restaurant at the AGO will celebrate the Turner exhibition with flavours of Britain and a series of vibrant prix-fixe menus that feature reimagined classics of English dining, like seared scallops and mushy peas, duck cassoulet and Eton mess.
shopAGO also welcomes Turner with an artful selection of British-inspired gifts, stationary, home décor and prints. And you can also buy a 224-page colour catalogue to accompany the exhibition entitled J.M.W. Turner: Painting Set Free which features 130 vibrant colour plates.
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