Watch Fireworks in Toronto for Victoria Day 2013

The Victoria Day holiday weekend starts the Canadian summer season. My favourite annual Toronto event for Victoria Day is watching the free fireworks display at Ashbridges Bay.

Learn how to join those who arrive safely and on time.

(Added June 24, 2014): Are you looking to “Find Toronto Fireworks for Canada Day 2014“? That’s the July 1st holiday.

(Added May 8, 2014): I’ve confirmed that some of these are indeed annual Toronto events. Old details are listed further down the page. These annual events do return in 2014:

  • The Blue Mountain resort in Collingwood will host fireworks on Saturday May 17 at 10:15pm “over the Mill Pond”.
  • An “action-packed fireworks display over Wonder Mountain” at Canada’s Wonderland on Sunday May 18 at 10pm.
  • Free fireworks at Ashbridges Bay on Monday May 19, at 9:45pm.
  • Cheer for athletes running the “Inspirational Steps” event. (The link, where you can find the map, is far below. Registration is closed for 2014). They start from 7080 Dixie Road in Mississauga, sometime after 8am.

Negative feelings may also cause generic cialis for sale problems in your sexual life, you should consult an expert like Dr. One should not consider it as treatment to relieve the problem in quick way and remain purchasing here order viagra prescription useful for a long time enabling more fun in the moment, but in the long run, it’s just not worth the money they cost. People initially expect them to viagra sans prescription pamelaannschoolofdance.com be capable of stopping hair loss permanently, after a certain duration of usage. Tell them to seek out buy cialis line some hobby in order for them to take their mind off the condition.

Celebrate Queen Victoria’s Birthday with a Fireworks Display in Toronto

"Statue of Queen Victoria" image by soosalu (Sirje S)
“Statue of Queen Victoria” image by soosalu (Sirje S)

Canadians celebrate Victoria Day as a long weekend leading to the official May 24 date. We combine nostalgic fondness for the deceased queen of the British Empire with our fondness for buying beer in cases of two dozen cans, by calling it the “May 2-4 Long Weekend”.

Toronto has a proud tradition of lighting fireworks to commemorate the Queen’s birthday.

Where are the Toronto Fireworks for Victoria Day?

In 2013, the fireworks display will light up Ashbridges Bay, at the foot of Coxwell Avenue where it meets Lake Shore Blvd East. Most people cross Lake Shore Blvd; be sure to press the button to get your “walk” signal.

I get a pretty good view from Woodbine Park on the north-east corner of Coxwell and Lake Shore. Thanks to the Beaches Living Guide for noting that park officials reserve an area for “people with disabilities and their families”.

When will Toronto Light the Victoria Day Fireworks?

(Updated May 17): Toronto Parks technicians will light the first fuse between 9:45pm and 10pm on Monday night, May 20, 2013. Let me repeat: arrive early to avoid being disappointed.

How to Get to Ashbridges Bay

Take the TTC early. My best suggestion is to take the 501 Queen Streetcar to Coxwell, then walk south.

Coxwell tends to be really busy with cars, so the 22 Coxwell bus south from the subway station on the Danforth line is pretty slow going. In fact, walking along Coxwell becomes a group experience since so many people walk to the park.

The TTC will add extra service to the 22A Coxwell South, 92 Woodbine South and 64 Main bus routes.

Bicycle along the Martin Goodman Trail to Ashbridges Bay, but be prepared with your headlamp and reflective gear for the ride home. The trails are usually really busy on the holiday weekends. As well, the south trail is still restricted off Lake Shore Blvd just east of Leslie…when I was there last, a week or two ago. So bike carefully!

I’d be really cautious about cycling north after the fireworks, what with pedestrians, bus and car traffic.

If memory serves, Lake Shore Blvd East might be closed to cars for some time; the parking lot at Ashbridges Bay is pretty sure to be full.

Best Suggestions

Make this Victoria Day holiday a day of enjoying the beach and park. In other words, plan to arrive by mid afternoon, and even then don’t expect to have the beach or parking lot to yourself.

Whatever you do, plan to arrive early. No, at least an hour before whatever you’re thinking. I’ve seen too many people driving south while I’m walking north after the show is over.

Other Frugal Victoria Day Events in Toronto

Toronto Parks and Recreation lists nine alternatives for enjoying Victoria Day 2013, or any other summer day for that matter.

On the other hand, they warn that “all City of Toronto recreation centres will be closed on Monday May 20 (2013)  and there will be no City recreation programs operating on that day”.

Could You Spend More in Toronto for Victoria Day Events?

I had to work a bit to confirm that Canada’s Wonderland offers their usual fireworks on Sunday May 19, 2013 at 10pm. They too have made this an annual Toronto event; and “good on them”.

I’m sure they would like you to pay admission to spend the day enjoying the attractions. I’ve never tried to watch from outside the grounds and wouldn’t know where to park.

Other Toronto Events for the Victoria Day Weekend

I will be hard pressed to get some other important Toronto events into their own posts, but must be sure to mention two.

Inspirational Steps on Sunday May 19, 2013

The Sikh community’s “Inspirational Steps” charity run takes place on Sunday May 19, 2013. They start at 9am at 7080 Dixie Road in Mississauga. While shorter distances are available, some will run a full marathon of 42.2Km to 905 Middlefield Road in Scarborough. They will run on the sidewalks and follow standard pedestrian safety rules.

I noticed because my favourite centenarian marathon runner, Fauja Singh, will set the pace at the start. It’s worth scrolling to the bottom of the official Inspirational Steps web page for his action photo.

The Toronto International Circus Festival 2013

Harbourfront Centre hosts the Toronto International Circus Festival 2013 from May 18-20, 2013, neatly covering the Victoria Day weekend this year.

I’m completely out of time to research beyond the word “free”. Harbourfront is at 235 Queen’s Quay West. See the official Toronto Circus Festival page for details.

What about a Victoria Day 2013 Mississauga Fireworks Display?

(Added May 16, 2013): If Mississauga were to host a fireworks display on Victoria Day 2013, I’d expect to find it in Celebration Square. Although “Celebration Square gears up for summer“, their summer season begins on May 23 with a movie night. The article mentions Canada Day activities for July 1st, 2013 but nothing jumps out about “fireworks in Mississauaga”.

The PC Superdogs will perform there on Sat. May 18 from noon to 2pm, but I don’t expect to see even one firecracker.

Other GTA Fireworks Displays in 2013 for Victoria Day

(Added May 17, 2013): 680 News reports fireworks displays in 2013 for the Victoria Day weekend, down the page of “Victoria Day 2013: what’s open and closed, fireworks, events“, for the following GTA locations:

  • On Blue Mountain in Collingwood on Saturday May 18, 2013 at 9:30pm.
  • In Dundas, Ont., at the Dundas Driving Park on Sunday May 19 at 9:30pm.
  • 680 News confirms the Canada’s Wonderland fireworks display for Sunday at 10pm.

They usually add the phrase “weather permitting”, so keep that in mind. Some venues might offer a rain date.

Looking for More Annual Toronto Events?

Do you crave more events in Toronto? There are usually many venues for fireworks for Canada Day, as my “Canada Day 2012 Celebration Choices in Toronto” attested.

Things to do in Toronto

Check the “annual events” or “Toronto events” categories toward the end of the left-hand menu. We’d especially like to cover all Toronto summer attractions, and indeed all special events in Toronto; especially for Canadian holidays.

CityPASS offers discount tickets to Toronto attractions, including the Metro Toronto Zoo. You buy the voucher online, print it and take it to your first destination; let’s say it’s the zoo. They give you the coupon booklet but remove the zoo tickets. Visit the next four attractions, where helpful staff relieve your booklet of tickets but leave you with the rest of the information. You save over $40 by spending about $70. The voucher is good for almost two years, but you have to use all the discount admission tickets within nine days. This is terrific for tourists looking for multiple things to do in Toronto, or for a hometown stay-cation: use discount tickets to Casa Loma, the CN Tower, Metro Toronto Zoo, Ontario Science Centre and the Royal Ontario Museum in a nine day adventure. That’s five things to do in Toronto, and at a bargain price!

Disclaimer: DeHaan Services has no relationship to the organizer(s); I am not reimbursed for writing this article. However, DeHaan Services does write web site or advertising copy for clients. Our skills are demonstrated in online articles in Decoded Science and Decoded Pregnancy. That’s why DeHaan Services highlights these online articles on this site.

Thanks for reading about where to watch fireworks in Toronto for Victoria Day 2013.

2 thoughts on “Watch Fireworks in Toronto for Victoria Day 2013”

Comments are closed.