There are so many great things to do in Toronto this January to make the first month of 2024 a memorable one. Stay cozy indoors and check out some of the city’s most captivating art exhibits, catch a show, or bundle up and embrace the winter with an outdoor experience.
Here’s a list of 15 incredible things to do this January in Toronto.
1. Be transported to a winter wonderland at WinterViews
Toronto’s largest outdoor patio has transformed into a winter wonderland called WinterViews, complete with a skating rink, cozy cabins, firepits, and more! Found at 229 Richmond St W, you can ice skate for free, warm up with a seasonal beverage at the Back Country Lodge, or book a more private dining experience in one of their 10 Northern Cabins complete with a personal fire pit you can roast marshmallows over.
2. Watch The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody
Burlesque meets Star Wars in a one-of-a-kind experience where your favourite sci-fi characters put on a playful yet seductive performance – with a little less clothes on. Coming to The Royal Cinema at 608 College Street, you can now catch the experience that has audiences raving around the world.
As the show has previously sold out in cities like Seattle, Portland, New York, Chicago, LA, and Vancouver, grab your tickets soon before the Toronto dates sell out!
3. Take in free art at DesignTO
DesignTO, Canada’s biggest design festival, returns to the city from January 19 – 28. Explore over 100 free exhibitions spread throughout Toronto created by more than 500 artists and designers. From interactive pieces to virtual ones, there are countless things to see. Besides the art itself, you can also sit in for expert talks, go on a studio tour, or attend a party.
4. Attend a romantic Candlelight Concert
For the perfect cozy evening or date night idea this month, consider attending one of Toronto’s mesmerizing Candlelight Concerts. Sit back and relax as a talented string quartet covers songs by some of the world’s most recognizable artists, including Coldplay & Imagine Dragons, Adele, and Queen.
Select tributes are only in town for a limited time, so be sure to secure your tickets soon to avoid disappointment!
Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift
Candlelight: A Tribute to ABBA
Candlelight: Best of Joe Hisaishi
Candlelight Jazz: Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, and the Women of Jazz feat. Joanna Majoko
Candlelight Jazz: Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, and the Women of Jazz feat. Joanna Majoko
5. Break a sweat at Sweat & Tonic
Kick off your weekend with a sweat sesh at Sweat & Tonic’s glamorous new studio at The Well. With over 205 classes per week to choose from, you can try everything from an immersive hot yoga flow to a triple sweat class, which features a combination of weights, treadmill, and boxing.
6. Take yourself on a hot chocolate tour
There’s nothing like a good cup of hot chocolate to warm you up in the winter, so why not try some of Toronto’s best spots for the indulgent treat? Check out our round-up of six of the best spots for hot chocolate in the city, whether you prefer yours piled high with marshmallows or like it with a little kick of spice.
7. Eat your way through Winterlicious
Every winter, restaurants across the city participate in this exciting food festival by offering prix fixe lunch and dinner menus, usually showcasing their best dishes for a great price. This year, over 200 local restaurants are joining in on the fun, some offering meals for as low as $20. You can see the full list of restaurants and their menus on the City of Toronto website here. Winterlicious runs from January 26 through February 8.
8. Roller skate indoors at Union Station
Last month, Union Station opened a free, massive indoor roller skating area called Roller Express, expanding over 5,500 sq ft of skating surface along with an illuminated tunnel trail to explore. You can rent equipment onsite, attend a 19+ Beats & Boogie Skate night with a live DJ, or come during another one of their immersive activities and activations provided by AriZona. Roller Express runs until February 4 and is located at TD West Carriageway within Union Station.
9. Test your Swiftie knowledge at an escape room
It’s time to put your Swiftie knowledge to good use at a new trivia escape room themed around the global superstar. Open to all ages, the hour-long event called The Swiftie Escape can be played with two to eight participants. Your mission? To decode snakes, 13’s, and various other clues to advance through the Labyrinth as you help the world’s biggest Swiftie uncover the ultimate secret. The Swiftie Escape runs until April 13, 2024 at Trivia Escape Rooms, located at 1615 Dupont St. in Toronto.
10. Sip fine tea at the Toronto Tea Festival
Tea lovers shouldn’t miss out on Canada’s largest tea festival, held at the Toronto Reference Library on January 27 and 28. Taste some of the finest teas in the world at various tastings, shop for tea-related products, or learn about the history of tea from one of the expert speakers. Tickets start at $17.
11. Catch must-see artworks at the AGO
From KAWS to Keith Haring, the Art Gallery of Ontario is the perfect January activity, where you can browse awe-inducing works of art from international artists while staying warm indoors. You can find the AGO’s current list of exhibitions on their website. Entry is free for those 25 years and under, or attend on a Wednesday night between 6 – 9 p.m. for free access to their collection galleries.
12. Ice skate under the Gardiner
Lace up those skates and head to The Bentway, one of downtown’s largest skating rinks which takes you right under the Gardiner Expressway. The 220m figure-eight path also has a new art installation inspired by the Northern lights this year. Skaters can enjoy free hot chocolate nights on Mondays beginning January 8, free skate rentals on Friday evenings starting January 12, and skating lessons.
13. Treat yourself to hot and cold therapy
The city just got an incredible new wellness hub in the form of Alter, a sauna and ice bath studio. You can either opt for a drop-in session and experience the circuit at your own leisure, or book one of their two signature 60-minute classes, the Foundation or the Unwind, both of which are led by some of the most tenured meditation, breathwork, and yoga instructors in the city.
14. Take a multi-sensory journey at Arcadia Earth
Arcadia Earth is now open at The Well, offering visitors an “immersive journey through planet earth” as described on the website. With a combination of creative art installations and modern technology, the experience showcases the beauty of our planet while simultaneously inspiring visitors to take action towards a more sustainable future. Tickets are priced at $39 for adults.
15. See a free concert by the Canadian Opera Company
You can experience diverse artistic programming from around the world all for free at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre’s Free Concert Series this winter. There will be concerts, dance performances, engaging presentations, and more from both up-and-coming young artists as well as international stars. See the schedule on their website here.