Over a Century of Champions at the Toronto Royal Winter Fair

Every day over the ten days of the Toronto Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and Royal Horse Show you can find an amazing amount of events and attractions to discover. The Royal takes place from November 7 to 16, 2025 at Enercare Centre in Exhibition Place and head over to their website to look at the extensive schedules and get a couple of tickets to the RAWF and the Royal Horse Show. Royal hours are Sun and Mon 9am to 6pm and Tues to Sat from 9am to 8pm with some performances running beyond these times. 

From the Royal, "This November discover, learn and celebrate over ‘A Century of Champions’! Today The Royal has grown to be the largest indoor agricultural and equestrian event in the world. The Royal Horse Show is one of the world’s finest equestrian spectacles and attracts athletes from across the planet. A win at The Royal means something, regardless of whether you’re pickling, jamming, raising beef or driving six-horse hitches. Every year, 300,000 people come to The Fair to celebrate the very best food, livestock and horsemanship this country has to offer."

It was a busy weekday at the Royal as dozens of buses brought in about 4,000 students to explore animals and agricultural, many probably for the first time. The petting farm and the farm and play zone were very popular for the school children.

Mid-week has many activities ready to experience on Wednesday, November 12 with three horse shows including two free shows (8am morning and 1pm afternoon matinee) and a paid evening performance beginning at 7pm. Entertainment on the OLG Stage has Kristin Nicholls (11:00 AM, 12:30 PM), Craig McRae (2:00 PM, 3:30 PM) and Matthew Runaway Duo 5:00 PM. On Wednesday's schedule is also the following.

Chef's Table Cooking Classes Presented by Milk with Rafael Covarrubias at 3pm.
SuperDogs Shows will be in the Ring of Excellence at 10am, 12 noon, 2pm and 5pm.
9am to 4pm watch the Royal Canadian Horseshoeing Classic.

Bee23 Natural Beauty

Ontario Ford Dealers have a large display of vehicles and a contest spin wheel

There were a couple of large LONGINES timepieces around the building, they are the official timekeeper of the Royal

You can also visit the Royal Petting Farm, see the Butter Sculptures and so much more. Also following is Wednesday's Royal Horse Show events.

Wednesday November 12 2025 Royal Horse Schedule
Morning - Free Performance
Roadster Pony, Junior Exhibitor 8:00 AM
Percheron Cart 8:10 9 Candian Owned Hackney Pony 8:20
Clydesdale Cart 8:30
Hackney or Harness Pony, Junior Exhibitor 8:40
Course Build 8:55
Combined Hunter 9:15
Combined Hunter Stake 10:15
Combined Hunter National Championship 11:10
Rainer Lange-Mechlen Trophy
Killer Tom Award Course Build & Walk 11:15
CET Medal National Finals - Flat & Gymnastic, Presented by Running Fox Equestrian 11:50
End of Performance 1:00 PM

Afternoon – Free Performance
Percheron Two Horse Team 1:30
Roadster Pony, Open 1:40
Clydesdale Unicorn 1:50
Pair or Tandem, Driving 2:00
Hackney Pony Open 2:10
Royal Classic Cart class 2:25
Course Build & Walk 2:40
FEI 5* International Welcome 3:15
Course Adjustment & Walk 4:15
Ride Every Stride Junior/Amateur 1.30m Final 4:35
Junior/Amateur 1.30m National Championship 5:30
End of Performance 5:35 PM

Evening - Paid Performance
Belgian Six Horse Hitch 7:00 PM
Harness Pony, Open 7:20
Green Meadows 7:35
Freedman Award 7:50
Special Feature - The Parade of Hounds 7:55
Road Horse to Bike Canadian Championship 8:05
Featured Entertainment - Sylvia Zerbini Liberte 8:15
Intermission & Course Build 8:35
McKee Family International 5* Jumping Challenge 9:05
End of Performance 10:00 PM

See more photos after the jump.

Toronto Cavalcade of Lights 2025 coming Nov 29

As November is brightened by the recent snowfall we need to remember that winter sucks and we need fun to forget about the cold, so the Cavalcade of Lights is returning to Nathan Phillips Square beginning Saturday, November 29. The fest is presented by Desjardins Group and will run to January 7, 2026. Photo at top supplied by City of Toronto.

From the City, "This year’s Cavalcade of Lights embraces the theme of illumination, cross-cultural celebration and winter activity, highlighting Toronto’s diversity through music, dance, skating, visual arts and site animation. The festival will once again feature Toronto’s official Christmas tree and more than 300,000 energy-efficient LED lights, illuminating Nathan Phillips Square nightly from dusk until 11 p.m. The Christmas tree will arrive on Wednesday, November 12 marking the start of the holiday season."

Opening night will be crowded and feature a lot of activities and attractions such as a countdown to the lighting of Toronto’s official Christmas tree, a candlelight concert under the stars, a skating show, indigenous performances, family friend activities, performance by Tyler Shaw and interactive light and sound installations.

Desjardins has also sponsored free skate rentals every Saturday (Dec 6 to Jan 3) from 4-10pm.

Residents can also enjoy the annual New Year’s Skating Party on Sunday, January 4, 2026, from 1 to 5 p.m., "hosted by Mayor Olivia Chow and Members of Council. Skating parties will take place at McCowan District Park, North Toronto Memorial Community Centre, Colonel Samuel Smith Park and Nathan Phillips Square, featuring free skate rentals, hot chocolate, local DJs and winter activities for all ages."

Fall Colours at the Bluffs and Guild Park Scarborough

It's the perfect one-two punch destination along the water's edge in Toronto's east end, first Bluffer's Park and the Scarborough Bluffs then second, the art in Guild Park and Gardens further to the east. Add in the beautiful fall colours along the vertical parkland and boom, what a visit.

One of the floating walkways has flipped in the water control area using a multi-cell system 

Now the bluffs aren't made of low-eroding Canadian Shield rocks, they are made from the deposits of sand and clay deposited from the advancing and retreating glaciers between the colden days (combo of old and cold!) of 70,000 to 12,000 years ago. This stuff erodes on a daily basis and you can compare pictures over the years and see the changing face of the bluffs and note the piles of materials that fall to the ground. There are relatively few piles of the gray soils at the base of the cliffs because they keep getting washed away by the currents of Lake Ontario, taken toward the Toronto Islands which were formed by the deposit of soils far from the bluffs.

A lone abandoned sailboat, the Genetic Drifter, sits along the rocky western beach of Bluffer's Park, pounded by the waves. 

Toronto has eleven parks along a 15km stretch of Scarborough Bluffs starting from the Eastern Beaches and proceeding east to East Point Park. The pull of gravity combined with wind and water have created the exposed cliffs which are fascinating and make a great backdrop for exploring the areas. Bluffer's Park has parking (free during weekdays prior to 5pm), bathrooms, beaches and pathways along with a marina (with real live-in house boats). Summer weekends can get a little crowded and often results in traffic restrictions and Brimley Road is a little more vertical than pedestrians or bicyclists would like, especially with narrow roads lacking in pathways. The park itself was built in the 1970s and 80s with about 2.6 million cubic metres of fill poured into the lake.

Then just a quick 20 minutes away to the east you can find Guild Park and Gardens which is a sculpture and architectural component sanctuary in a large park running along the bluffs along with an inn and lots of history. Lately the park has been upgraded and banquet facilities have been bookended to the inn and it really has become home and support for the artist community.

Built in 1914 the Guild Inn was a mansion for a war hero before being purchased and turned into a residence and centre for arts and artists. Then it was taken over for a number of years during World War II by the Canadian Government before returned to the owners in 1947. The art continued to expand after the war but was split from the property and made into a City Park in 1978, while the hotel continued in operation until finally closing in 2002.

Now the park is open for exploring and special events as well as the annual art festival "Guild Alive with Culture Arts Festival" as well as the Guild Festival Theatre operating in the Greek Theatre (the one with all the columns) during the summer.

The outdoor stage Greek Theatre

Toronto Snowmobile, ATV & Powersports Show 2025

I woke up to frost today so it is a great time to start thinking about your next sled at the annual Toronto International Snowmobile,  ATV and Powersports Show. It's on October 24-26, 2025 in Halls 1 and 2 of the International Centre and the parking is free.

In addition to snowmobiles and atvs you can find motorcycles, toy haulers, representation from race tracks and recreational trails - from from snow to mud they say.  Sadly there is no extreme sports this year, no young men flying through the air with the greatest of ease.

From the show's website, "If you’re into snowmobiles, ATVS and an all around Powersports enthusiast, this is the show for you! As soon as you step foot on the show floor, you’ll be blown away with the incredible roster of exhibitors and the feature events taking place around the show. The enormous Outdoors Event Centre with Live test drives and Freestyle Shows featuring snowmobiles, ATVs, motocross and street bikes. You’ll find huge Manufacturer Displays showcasing all of the new snowmobile and ATV line-ups. This show has more corporate manufacturer displays than any other snowmobile and/or ATV show across North America. All of the new machines under one roof, over one weekend, you can’t miss it! We guarantee it will be worth the drive to get here."

See more of the show and hours after the jump.

Toronto Outdoor Rinks expected to open in late November

The City of Toronto operates over 50 outdoor rinks and a popular spot is right downtown in Nathan Phillips Square when the pond is emptied in mid-October and they wait for colder weather to start making ice at City Hall. You can rent skates at the square and washrooms are nearby.

Typically the rinks operate from late November into March before closing for the season, as well as any weather events such as snowfalls where it takes a bit to clear off the ice.

From the City's website, "Sometimes on warm days, the City has to close some rinks temporarily until the weather cools down. This is due to the size and type of a rink’s refrigeration system and its ability to keep ice hard and smooth when temperatures rise above zero degrees Celsius. To check if a rink is open on a warm day, check the rink status or call 311. Rinks are maintained by being flooded on a regular basis but schedules are adjusted daily to accommodate inclement weather, staffing issues, equipment breakdowns, permits/programs and heavy traffic conditions."

Mono Cliffs Park in Fall

Mono Cliffs Provincial Park is full of beautiful forests, ponds and trails, including part of the famous Bruce Trail, and with fall colours it really pops.  You can walk along the cliff top or take a stairs and a boardwalk through breaks in the cliffs. The park is open year round and requires a day use parking pass.

Parking entrance is through an automated gate which scans a bar code which you need to buy online, preferably before you get to the park because cars can stack up waiting to buy online at the park and there is not much of a driveway while you wait. The pass can be bought up to five days in advance and you have to pick your time, four hour blocks ($8.50) or an all day pass ($18.00).

Mono Cliffs is just over an hour north-west of Toronto, just past Orangeville.

Take the stairs on the north-west side of the cliff top/Bruce Trail to go down into the cracks and crevices of the escarpment cliffs

The park map

See more photos of the park after the jump.

Toronto Royal Horse Show and Royal Winter Fair return November 2025

Fall fairs across Ontario have been leading up to the famous Royal Horse Show and Royal Agricultural Winter Fair to take place in Exhibition Place, Toronto from November 7 to 16, 2025. The Fair started in 1922 and was awarded the Royal designation by King George of England, now it is the "largest combined indoor agricultural fair and international equestrian competition in the world".

As the country comes to the city, the Royal takes over Enercare Centre and the Royal Coliseum (now Coca Cola Coliseum) for the ten day show which features excellence in livestock, crops, food and of course the beautiful horses. You can buy tickets separately for the Winter Fair and the Horse Show, or if you buy tickets to the Horse Show your entrance into the Winter Fair is included.

From the Agricultural Winter Fair, "The Royal’s nine food competitions (Cheese & Butter, Ready-To-Eat Meats, Ice Cream, Jams & Jellies, Pickles, Honey, Maple, Hot Sauce, and Butter Tarts) will take place in late October 2025. You can expect to see the Royal Champions in all these competitions integrated into various restaurants, hospitality and digital initiatives at this year’s Fair."

And the Royal Horse Show, "International show jumping is the highlight of The Royal Horse Show, featuring the $280,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto, presented by Ecclestone Horse Transport, on closing night, Saturday, November 15. The world’s best will be in attendance, including Daniel Coyle (IRL) and McLain Ward (USA), both currently in the top 10 on the Longines World Rider Rankings. Alex Matz (USA) will be back to defend his Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto title and faces stiff competition from 2023 winner, Daniel Bluman (ISR), as well as Irish stalwarts Conor Swail and Shane Sweetnam."

You can find plenty to see and do at the shows from displays, specialized vendors and food and drink available for all tastes. It's hard to take in all that you want to see in one day, so come back for a few days! Some of the highlights of the shows are described below.

On November 8 see the Farmers versus First Responders Royal Challenge as the teams go head to head for a victory of strength, skill and stamina.

Take in the Animal Theatre with Super Dogs and horse demonstrations.

Watch horse jumping from the World's best competitors.

Enjoy the large horses like the powerful Belgians, Percherons and Clydesdales.

Amber Marshall, the star of CBC’s Heartland, returns to the Royal.

Be amazed by the horse and dog K9-Equine competitions.

Heritage Court will have live music and entertainment on the OLG Entertainment Stage.

Learn to cook by booking a Chef’s Table presented by Milk offers daily cooking classes.

Watch the judging competitions in the ring of excellence including the Grand Champion beef and dairy winners.

On the final day of the show watch the entertaining Royal Rodeo qualifier and finals featuring the Canadian Cowgirls.

An amazing butter sculpture

Competitions in the Ring of Excellence

Fair Hours
Sun. 9 AM - 6 PM
Mon. 9 AM - 6 PM
Tues. 9 AM - 8 PM
Wed. 9 AM - 8 PM
Thur. 9 AM - 8 PM
Fri. 9 AM - 8 PM
Sat. 9 AM - 8 PM