Easter long weekend guide: what’s open & closed, events

We have waited a long time for this long weekend – the last one was in February.

This long weekend is a special one for many in our community, marking Holy Week and Passover. For those of the Jewish faith, Passover continues over the weekend and ends next Tuesday evening. It is also the last week of Lent for Christians, with Good Friday and Easter Sunday this weekend.

While many people will be out and about this weekend, others may just want to chill out at home. If you are heading out, below is a list of events you may want to check out. We also have a list of what’s open and closed over the holiday weekend.

Drivers will have to deal with traffic mayhem on Saturday with the Toronto Raptors and the Toronto Blue Jays in home games, albeit not at the same time. The Raptors take on the Milwaukee Bucks at the Air Canada Centre at 5:30 p.m., in Game 1 of the first round of the NBA playoffs. The Blue Jays play the Baltimore Orioles at the Rogers Centre at 1:07 p.m.

Have a relaxing long weekend.

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What’s open and closed

 

Transit

The TTC is running on holiday service on Good Friday and regular service the rest of the weekend. GO Transit is on a Sunday schedule on Good Friday and a weekend schedule on Saturday and Easter Sunday.

Government offices and other services

Government offices, including municipal buildings like Toronto City Hall, are closed from Friday to Monday. Also, mail won’t be delivered on Good Friday and Monday.

Banks will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

All Toronto Public Library branches will be closed Friday, Sunday and Monday, but are open on Saturday.

In Toronto, daytime curbside residential collection will take place on Good Friday and is not collected on any Monday. Click here for more details.

Food and drink

All LCBO and Beer Store locations will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

All Beer Stores are open on Monday, but not all LCBO stores are. Several LCBO locations will be open but with modified hours. Also, LCBO stores that normally close at 6 p.m. on Thursday will have extended hours.

Most grocery stores will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The Loblaws on Carlton Street is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Sunday.

Shopping centres

 

Some malls will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, while others are open.

Bayview Village: Good Friday (closed, but some restaurants are open), Easter Sunday (closed)

Bramalea City Centre: Closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday

Dufferin Mall: Closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday

Eaton Centre: Open on Good Friday (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Easter Sunday (noon to 5 p.m.)

Fairview Mall: Closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday

Pacific Mall: Open 365 days a year

Scarborough Town Centre: Closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday

Sherway Gardens: Closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday

Square One: Closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday

Promenade: Open on Good Friday (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and closed Easter Sunday

Toronto Premium Outlets: Open on Good Friday (9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and Easter Sunday (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

Upper Canada Mall: Open on Good Friday (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and closed Easter Sunday

Vaughan Mills: Closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday

Yorkdale Shopping Centre: Closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday

Yorkville Village: Open on Good Friday (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Easter Sunday (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

Tourist attractions

 

Art Gallery of Ontario: Open on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, but closed on Monday. Click here for hours.

Casa Loma: Open over the Easter weekend from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

City of Toronto activities: Recreation programs won’t be held at parks and recreation facilities on Good Friday and Easter Monday. Click here for more information. The city’s 10 historic sites will be closed on Friday and most of them will also be closed on Monday.

CN Tower: Open over the Easter weekend. Click here for hours.

Hockey Hall of Fame: Open over the Easter weekend. Click here for hours.

Ontario Science Centre: Open over the Easter weekend. Click here for hours.

Ripley’s Aquarium: Open over the Easter weekend. Click here for hours.

Royal Ontario Museum: Open over the Easter weekend. Click here for hours.

Toronto Zoo: Open over the Easter weekend. Click here for hours.

Events

Easter Eggstravaganza
Hop on the ferry this weekend to take part in Toronto’s largest Easter egg hunt and scramble. The Easter Eggstravaganza has returned to Centreville Theme Park.

The park is set to hide over 50,000 eggs and hand out almost half a million treats over the long weekend. The event includes rides, giveaways, face painting and other Easter-themed events. Guests can also visit Far Enough Farm to see the brand new baby bunnies and chicks.

Beaches Easter parade
One of the longest running parades in the world will hit the streets of the Beaches neighbourhood on Easter Sunday. The annual Toronto Beaches Lions Easter Parade first began in 1967 and brings Queen Street to life with colour, music, fun and entertainment.

The parade kicks off at 2 p.m. from Queen Street East and Munro Park Avenue. It will travel west along Queen Street, ending at Woodbine Avenue. Closures will be in effect.

This year’s parade marshals are four-time Olympic swimming medalist and Beach resident Penny Oleksiak, 2016 Rio Paralympic rowing medalist Victoria Nolan, and Special Olympics Ontario backstroke gold medalist Claudia Brown.

 

Springridge Farm Easter Festival
Springridge Farm is hosting its Easter Festival this Friday through Sunday – complete with “Peter Rabbit’s Eggcellent Easter Show,” bunny face painting, wagon rides and farm tours. There will also be an Easter egg hunt with the Easter Bunny and pony rides.

Organizers say Good Friday is expected to be the busiest day of the event. Guests are encouraged to arrive early in the day. Tickets cost $12. Springridge Farm is located on Bell School Line, near Derry Road and Appleby Line.

 

Easter Brunch at Casa Loma
Experience the splendour of Casa Loma this Easter Sunday. Toronto’s famous castle is hosting an Easter Brunch, where guests are invited to dine in the stately elegance of the space. After brunch guests are invited to explore the castle.

Reservations are required. Tickets cost $55 for children aged four to 13 and $75 for adults.

2017 Spring Pet Expo
The Spring Canadian Pet Expo returns to the International Centre this long weekend. It’s the first national pet show of the year and features high-energy, interactive and pet-family friendly events in three halls.

Exhibits include Aqua Dogs, Flyball, Hands on Exotics, Woofjocks Canine All-Stars, a breeder’s village, Canada’s largest cat show, and a rabbit and guinea pig showcase. Pets are welcome.

Spring MRKT Show
If you love shopping, than this event is for you. The 2017 Spring MRKT Show is on this weekend at the Holiday Inn Yorkdale on Dufferin Street.

The market includes up to 50 vendors, selling items ranging from fashion, beauty and art to homemade goods, home decor and food. There will also be live entertainment and demonstrations. The show runs from noon on Saturday to 6 p.m. on Sunday.