Since 2004 Toronto's WinterCity Festival has provided free, discounted and decadent entertainment and eats in the midst of the winter months. There are three aspects of the 14-day festival - the WOW! Series, the Warm Up Series, and Winterlicious - and between them there should be something to please just about every taste.
Visit the official WinterCity Festival site.
In 2008, the WinterCity Festival was sponsored by RBC and ran from January 25th to February 7th. Dates for 2009 have yet to be announced.
The WOW! Series
As it does for so many other events in Toronto, during WinterCity Nathan Phillips Square serves as a sort of base camp. Every weekend there's free entertainment in the square, including skating parties, evening concerts and spectacular performances by international groups. The Toronto City Hall Rotunda and temporary tents provide the space for indoor events ranging from daytime crafts and family entertainment to evening dance parties.
The Warm Up Series
During the fourteen days of WinterCity many of Toronto's attractions and arts companies provide special programming for both adults and kids, while also offering deals on admission. To take advantage of the discounts, be sure to visit the City of Toronto's official WinterCity Festival site and print off all the coupons you'll need.
Winterlicious
What's a celebration without food? Winterlicious is best known as the time when numerous fine dining restaurants have special prix fixe menus available, allowing tourists and Torontonian's alike to sample their fare for a reduced price. But there's even more to Winterlicious, with cooking demonstrations and other culinary events taking place at a variety of locations. This is the part of WinterCity that does involve some spending and some planning ahead, so look into the Winterlicious events early.
