Toronto neighbourhoods light up the city for the annual Cavalcade of Lights
Toronto’s multi-award-winning holiday celebration, Cavalcade of Lights presented by Scotiabank, illuminates 19 Toronto neighbourhoods with a series of magnificent energy-efficient LED lighting displays sponsored by the Toronto Hydro-Electric System.
Many neighbourhoods will be offering free First Lighting celebrations featuring activities for families, entertainment and refreshments. In addition, Toronto Hydro – Electric System is also getting into the spirit of the season offering Toronto residents one free set of energy-efficient LED festive lights in exchange for two sets of old incandescent (traditional) seasonal lights (while quantities last/some restrictions apply). Full details can be found at: http://www.torontohydro.com/flex.
The neighbourhood first lighting celebrations will take place the following dates:
Thursday, November 12
• Bloor West Village – N-W corner of Bloor Street West and Jane Street (First Lighting: 6 p.m.; LED Lighting Exchange: 6:30-8:30 p.m.) http://www.bloorwestvillage.com
Friday, November 13
• Korea Town, 750 Bloor St. W at Christie Street (First Lighting: 6 p.m.) http://www.koreatownbia.com
Saturday, November 14
• Downtown Yonge, Yonge-Dundas Square and along Yonge Street (First Lighting: 6 p.m.)
http://www.wintermagic.ca/illuminite
Thursday, November 19
GreekTown on the Danforth, Alexander the Great Parkette (near Danforth and Logan avenues) (First Lighting: 6:30 p.m.; LED Lighting Exchange: 6:30 – 8 p.m.) http://www.greektowntoronto.com
Friday, November 20
• St. Clair Gardens, St Clair Garden’s Parkette (3 Prescott Ave.) First Lighting: 6 p.m.; LED Lighting Exchange: 6-8 p.m.) http://www.stclairgardens-bia.com
• Chinatown, 280 Spadina Ave. (LED Lighting Exchange: noon-4 p.m.)
http://www.chinatownbia.com
Saturday, November 21
• Albion Islington Square, S-E corner of Albion Rd. and Islington Avenue (LED Lighting Exchange: 6:30-8:30 p.m.) http://www.albionislingtonsquare.com
• Bloordale Village, Bloor Street West (from Dufferin Street to Landsdowne Avenue) (Light, Art & Food: 4-8 p.m.) http://www.bloordale-bia.com
• Bloor-Yorkville, Corner of Cumberland Street and Bellair Street (First Lighting: 5-6 p.m.) http://www.bloor-yorkville.com
• The Kingsway, N-W corner of Royal York Road and Bloor Street (First Lighting: 5-8 p.m.; LED Lighting Exchange: 6-8 p.m.) http://www.thekingswaytoronto.ca
• Rosedale Main Street, 10 Scrivener Square (First Lighting: 5-6 p.m.; LED Lighting Exchange: 5-6:30 p.m.) http://www.rosedalemainstreet.ca
Thursday, November 26
• Little Italy, College Street at Grace Street (First Lighting 6 p.m., LED Lighting Exchange: 6:30-8:30 p.m.) http://www.littleitaly.ca
Friday, November 27
• Corso Italia, 1277 St.Clair Ave. West at Earlscourt (First Lighting at 6:30 pm; LED Lighting Exchange: 6-8 p.m) http://www.torontocorsoitalia.com
• Downsview Park, 1-35 Carl Hall Road (Keele Street and Sheppard Avenue West) (Trail of Lights begins: Friday, November 27 (ticketed). LED Lighting Exchange: Saturday, Nov. 28, 2-4 p.m.) http://www.downsviewpark.ca
Saturday, November 28
• Waterfront, Address: Queens Quay West at Simcoe Street. http://www.qqhbia.com
Sunday, November 29
• Emery Village, 3100 Weston Rd. at Sheppard Avenue (First Lighting 3:00 pm; LED Lighting Exchange: 3-6 p.m. in community centre) http://www.emeryvillagebia.ca
Tuesday, December 1
• Church-Wellesley Village, Cawthra Square Park (Church Street at Monteith Street) http://www.churchwellesleyvillage.ca
Saturday, December 5
• Bloorcourt Village, S-W corner of Bloor Street West and Concord Avenue (LED Lighting Exchange: (1-3 p.m) http://www.bloorwestvillage.ca
For more information about Cavalcade of Lights the public can call 311 or visit www.toronto.ca/special_events.
A holiday tradition spanning over four decades, Cavalcade of Lights, Toronto’s free city-wide holiday celebration, offers brilliant fireworks, sparkling lighting displays, a calendar of festive concerts and light displays at some of Toronto’s most unique neighbourhoods. One of Canada’s foremost festivals of illumination, the award-winning Cavalcade of Lights captures the magic of the holiday season from November 28 – December 31, 2009.