You can walk across this pedestrian bridge over Lake Ontario once again

I dislike these type of headlines, but sometimes you just have to have fun! I have walked over this bridge many times in the past as it crosses over a marina in Toronto and lands by Harbourfront Centre. Then five years ago it closed, or really the lifting part of the bridge was removed and it was blocked to keep people from falling in the water. The lift bridge was necessary to allow the boats to get in and out of Marina Four, part of Harbourfront Centre Marine.

This bridge was originally named the Spadina Wavedeck pedestrian bridge and with the repair and reopening of the bridge you too can save valuable minutes on your journey. It was renamed the Amsterdam Bridge because it was originally gifted to the city by the Mayor of Amsterdam in 1974, not because it is by the adjacent Amsterdam Brewhouse. On Sunday, May 31, 2026 it opened once again with the help of the Deputy Mayor, a representative of Harbourfront Centre and CreateTO along with the Dutch Consul General.

You can see the Amsterdam Bridge missing the lift bridge portion in the above photo from early May 2026.

Toronto Waterfront Festival taking a break for 2026

Sadly FIFA seems to be hogging the sponsorship money and so the annual Toronto Waterfront Festival has been deferred for 2026 and will return in 2027 - with the giant rubber ducky! The inflatable bathtub toy is 6 stories tall and weighs over 16,000 pounds. I don't know if ICE being in town for FIFA led to the duck thinking it might be apprehended and deported so it decided to skip this year's event. These type of ducks obviously migrate across borders, without papers, which is something that infuriates a certain someone.

“The Toronto Waterfront Festival has been an award-winning event for 16 years. We have welcomed millions of visitors, driven tens of millions of dollars in economic impact, and consistently delivered world-class programming that put Toronto’s waterfront on an international scale. Taking a year off is not a decision we made lightly. As a free, not-for-profit festival, without any government grant support and a decrease in corporate sponsorship, we are not in a financial position to put on a successful event for 2026. We are committed to doing this right, and we will be back,” said Mike Riehl, Chair, Water’s Edge Festivals & Events Board of Directors.

"The festival team is using the 2026 pause to plan a GIANT return. To give Torontonians something to look forward to, Water’s Edge Festivals & Events is thrilled to announce that the World’s Largest Rubber Duck will be returning to Toronto’s waterfront in 2027. “Mama Duck floated into Toronto in 2017 to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary. A decade later, we felt it was only fitting for her to waddle back for Canada’s 160th in 2027,” states Victoria Mahoney, Co-Producer of the festival."

Lumière 2026 light festival at Ontario Place

Lumière: The Art of Light began on Family Day (Monday, February 16) in Trillium Park on the east side of Ontario Place. The free light festival features fourteen installations and will continue until March 27, 2026 from 6pm to 11pm. Rhythms of Chaos set up prior to the official opening in the photo above.

From their website, "Lumière transforms Trillium Park into a glowing outdoor gallery filled with illuminated art installations. This free experience is ideal for families, art enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys a winter stroll with a little extra magic. Bonfires: Warm up by the Trillium Park fire pit on opening night, Friday and Saturday evenings, and nightly during March Break (weather permitting)."

Lumiere 2026 theme is "Rhythms of Light: Motion, Sound and Time". This year's event includes the following light installations.

Arbor – MattCreative
Blueberry Babies Signal Path – Winta (Wintana) Hagos
Constellation Range – Jordan Shaw
Echoes of Light – Jordan St. Claire
Möbius Ensemble – Bitbrainz
Moment – M. Joakim
PORTAL – Tonya Hart
Rhythms of Chaos – Binalpreet Kalra, Maggie Wang, Kallie Zhang
Ripples in Time – Gathering
switch/grass – The Treehouse Collective
Urbanombre – Little Dada + the Boys
Voice in Matter – James Craig, Agata Wszolek, Alex Warner
We Move Together – Tyler Burey
WIND II: The Wave – Samuel Kiehoon Lee

The easiest way to get to Trillium Park is to public transit, walk or bike, otherwise you could find paid parking nearby - at Coronation Park or in Exhibition Place. There are also great bathrooms available at the entrance to Trillium Park and the skyline views to the downtown skyline are excellent.

@jmhcet #moment art and light installation in #ontarioplace as part of #lumiere ♬ Let Me Entertain You - Robbie Williams

@jmhcet #rhythmsofchaos art and light installation in #ontarioplace as part of #lumiere the art of light, #Toronto ♬ sonido original - vieja guardia

Toronto Winter Stations Exhibition 2026

The design competition has been completed and the artistic and architectural installations have been built along the water's edge of Woodbine Beach as part of Toronto Winter Stations. Beginning in 2015 the non-profit, international competition tries to place four to six installations each year in the Beaches - an open air, free to attend art festival. After reviewing and approving the submissions, winners are given a budget for construction and a small monetary prize with the installations exhibited from February's Family Day until the end of March (February 16 to March 30, 2026).

This year features five winners which competed under the theme of Mirage as described by the Winter Stations organization, "A mirage is a shimmer at the edge of reality, appearing real only to dissolve when approached. The present moment feels much the same, bent and distorted by the rise of digital silos and artificial intelligence, where the truth we seek is always shifting."

My favourites for 2026 include Embrace as well as Chimera, however they are all worth the visit to the eastern beaches and I always look forward to the escape from winter's grey hold on the psyche. Here are the winners with insight by the creatorsdesigners.

"Colossal hands, reaching out. To hold the horizon. To present the day.

An invitation to behold and to be held. Welcome their embrace. Change your point of view."

Embrace by Will Cuthbert (Canada)

"Moving closer – the illusion unravels, revealing the framework that sustains it. In this encounter, the viewer meets their own reflection multiplied and displaced, a shifting constellation of selves that provokes an uneasy awareness of being observed."

Chimera by Denys Horodnyak & Enzo Zak Lux (Germany & Ukraine)

See more of the installations after the jump.

Lumière: The Art of Light in Ontario Place coming mid Feb 2026

Winter in Toronto is always made better by outdoor festivals and I really enjoy the light festivals that pop up occasionally like Lumière: The Art of Light 2026 which takes place in Trillium Park Ontario Place. This year the theme is “Rhythms of Light: Motion, Sound, and Time” and the 2026 festival is scheduled from February 16 to March 27 and is free to attend.

The illuminated art works are by Ontario-based artists featuring 14 pieces to help wipe away the winter doldrums and put a smile on your face. You can find most of the 2025 works on my post here. Some are even more interesting in the day, so drop by a couple of times to view the installations.

From the festival, "Whether you’re seeking inspiration, igniting curiosity, or simply embracing a sense of wonder, Lumière invites you to explore the magic where light and art converge.

Lumière welcomes the following installations to this year’s exhibition: 

Arbor - MattCreative
Constellation Range - Jordan Shaw
Echoes of Light - Jordan St. Claire
Möbius Ensemble - Bitbrainz
Moment - M. Joakim
PORTAL - Tonya Hart
Rhythms of Chaos - Binalpreet Kalra, Maggie Wang, Kallie Zhang
Ripples in Time - Gathering
switch/grass - The Treehouse Collective
Urbanombre - Little Dada + the Boys
Voice in Matter - James Craig, Agata Wszolek, Alex Warner
We Move Together - Tyler Burey
WIND II: The Wave - Samuel Kiehoon Lee
Wintana - Wintana Hagos

Cozy up at the Trillium Park fire pit on opening night, Friday and Saturday evenings, and nightly during March Break (weather permitting)."

@jmhcet Lux Array in #trilliumpark as part of #Toronto #lumiere #theartoflight. #2025 #artinstallation #lightart #ontarioplace ♬ som original - amannoficial

Toronto Polar Bear Dip 2026

It's a gorgeous looking day along the waterfront, sunny and crisp, maybe a little too crisp at -10 degrees Celsius but you committed to being brave and you will 'dare to dip'. I am here early to check on things and note that the inner harbour is full of ice and in the dip area the ice is in chunks so unless they clear it away you won't be running into the water.

Entertainment crews are here and setup but there is no registration desks or roped off beach area. Word at the pavillion is that they are still considering if the dip will proceed. Ps I don't see any porta-potties on site were dropped off and it doesn't look like they have opened the pavilion's bathroom at this time. There is no status update on their website or social media accounts at this time. Update: it's a go!!!! They moved west about 50 to 100m where there was some open water.

see more photos after the jump.

2025 and 2026 Toronto Polar events coming up soon

The Polar Bear Skate at the Bentway Park, just outside Old Fort York and under the Gardiner Expressway, is where you skate in your underwear, and the 2024 skate is already sold out. The event happens on Sunday, December 28, 2025 at 12 noon and asks for donations of warm winter clothing. Home Network and Flavour Network are providing complimentary rental skates along with free beverages and cookies (while supplies last). See photos of the 2024 skate on my post here.

From their website, "The Bentway’s boldest winter ritual returns on December 28 with the cheeky Polar Bear Skate! Brave Torontonians are invited to strip down to their skivvies and take a fearless lap around trail to bid farewell to 2025."

Round two is the polar dips happening on New Year's Day (Thursday, January 1, 2026). There is two swims happening - one at Sunnyside Beach and one at Woodbine Beach.

--------------------------Polar Bear Dip 2026----------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes it will be cold as the Polar Bear Dip "Dare to Dip" takes place at the famous lake side building known as the Sunnyside Bathing Pavilion. Taking place on New Year's Day at 12 noon, come earlier to register (opens at 10am), find a waiting spot and help raise money for Boost Child and Youth Advocacy Centre.

Their checklist is a great idea on the preparations you should make for running into the winter time Lake Ontario.

"Dip Day checklist:

To make your experience as enjoyable as possible, we recommend at least the following:
Proper Footwear – Stepping on something rocky or pointy isn’t fun in freezing cold water.
Wear full water sandles or water socks (best) or old running shoes (ok, just make sure they fit snugly).
DON’T WEAR FLIP FLOPS!
Lots of towels
A blanket to claim your patch of beach and to change on
Warm loose fitting clothes and footwear that are easy to put on in a hurry when you get out of the water (big loose fitting boots are amazing)
!!! Important !!! Bring a friend to mind your stuff and help you when you get out of the water.
If it’s a really cold day, your feet and fingers won’t work real well after the dip so you’ll probably need some help and since we don’t have change rooms,
someone to hold up a towel for you can be handy…"

--------------------------Record Breaker Cold Plunge 2026---------------------------------------------------------

Jack Org is back in Woodbine Beach for another polar event. It was previously known as Brainfreeze, now known as the Record Breaker World Record Cold Plunge. Also held on New Year's Day Thursday, January 1, 2026 but further east at Woodbine Beach from 1-2pm.

From their website, "Join us January 1st, 2026 at Woodbine Beach to plunge yourself into the chilly waters with like-minded individuals on the first day of the New Year. Get ready to dive into an invigorating experience that will leave you feeling refreshed, energized and ready to take on 2026 feeling more capable than ever.

Whether you're a seasoned cold plunging enthusiast or a first-timer, this event is open to all. Come join us in collaboration with Jack.org to raise funds towards youth mental health. Grab your swimsuit, towel, and a sense of adventure, and prepare to plunge into the cold waters together, as a community. Let's get uncomfortable for a cause."

Waterfront Toronto's floating art

Floating in Toronto Harbour appears to be a jumbled set of letters, but no, these letters aren't random, they spell "IT COMES IN WAVES", read from back to front, just like waves rolling into shore. This installation is part of a series of art works commissioned by Waterfront Toronto and it is in the Harbour Square Park Basin, just west of the Toronto Island ferry terminal. It is best read from the east side of the park where you can get some separation between the lines of letters to more easily read the words.

@jmhcet Waterfront #Toronto temporary floating #artinstallation by Ben Johnston called IT COMES IN WAVES. #itcomesinwaves ♬ Gilligan's Island Theme - The Hit Party Band

The work is by by Ben Johnston and features large yellow, drifting letters which will remain until early October. It is number five in Waterfront Toronto's temporary floating art series.

Canadian International Air Show 2025

The 76th annual Toronto Air Show, or Canadian International Air Show (CIAS), is now on for the Labour Day weekend running Aug 30 to Sept 1 and with an initial practice on Friday, August 29. All shows will fall between noon and 3:40pm so keep your eyes on the skies over Toronto and Lake Ontario near Exhibition Place to see the planes take centre stage as an important part of the Canadian National Exhibition.

F-35

Some cool aircraft are participating in 2025 such as the P51 Mustang, the CF-18 and F-35 along with the long range patrol plane the Aurora, of course the Canadian Snowbird air demonstration team will be closing out the show.

Canadian Snowbirds

I find Hanlan's Point Beach near the Island Airport to be one of the best places to watch the aerial show, you can see the CN Tower and the City's skyline while the sun is behind you. It's less busy on the island and you can relax in the water waiting for the show to begin. Keep in mind that the beach is clothing optional so it might not be the place to watch for some.

CF-18

Northern Stars Pitts Team

The Snowbirds with the P-51 Mustang

See more plane pics after the jump.

HMCS Haida National Historic Site

Along Hamilton Harbour's Pier 8 is His Majesties Canadian Ship (HMCS) Haida National Historic Site, floating much like it did in Toronto near Ontario Place before it was spruced up and moved to Hamilton. And Hamilton Harbour itself is also being beautified with great multi-use paths, parks, restaurants, marinas and other attractions.

A memorial for the port crane sits beside the ship

The large warship was made during WWII and later took part in the Korean and Cold Wars, serving Canada from 1943 to 1963 before it was decommissioned and became the ceremonial flagship of the Canadian Navy. The series of destroyers were made for Britain (where they were designed and built), Canada and Australia with 13 sunk during the Second World War.

From the ship's website, "HMCS Haida is Canada’s “most fightingest ship,” the first-ever ceremonial flagship of the Royal Canadian Navy, and the last of the twenty-seven tribal class destroyers in the world. Canada’s most famous warship served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1943 to 1963, participating in the Second World War, the Korean Conflict, and the Cold War. HMCS Haida is now a Parks Canada National Historic Site docked in Hamilton, Ontario. As a museum ship, she now serves as a place to remember, explore, and connect. HMCS Haida began service escorting supply convoys to Murmansk, in Russia, above the Arctic Circle. Convoys were run in winter, when there is almost constant darkness, to make it more difficult for the German Lufftwaffe to spot them and direct submarine wolfpacks to attack. HMCS Haida and the ship's men earned their first battle honour, an honourary distinction recognizing active participation in battle for this Arctic service, during which the German battlecruiser Scharnhorst was sunk."

After a long period of distinguished service Haida was decommissioned from the Navy in 1963 and a private group turned the vessel into a museum ship beside Ontario Place. The ship was bought by the Ontario Government in 1970 and it was later transferred to Parks Canada in 2002, refurbished and moved to Hamilton. The floating museum opened in 2004 as a Parks Canada National Historic Site and for less than $5 you can visit the ship yourself.

See more of the ship after the jump.