Dogs-only Swim, Pickleball, Zoos and more – Fun Things to do Labour Day weekend in Toronto

TORONTO, August 31, 2023 – The City of Toronto is offering summer fun and sun options for Toronto residents and visitors to enjoy this Labour Day long weekend. Best of all, many of the options are available at no cost.

Beaches

Lifeguard supervision and beach maintenance will continue at the City’s swimming beaches, from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., until Monday, September 4. More information, including the status of each designated swimming beach, is available on the City’s Beach Safety webpage www.toronto.ca/beach.

While visiting a City swimming beach, visitors are asked to:
• Only swim in supervised swimming areas when lifeguards are on duty
• Stay within arm’s reach of children at all times
• Hydrate with water, wear sunscreen and don’t swim while under the influence of alcohol or drugs

As a reminder, City beaches that meet high standards for water quality, safety, environmental management and education fly The Blue Flag. Each lifesaving stand across the waterfront will be marked with a Parks Locate Point (PLP), an identification point used when contacting emergency services and 911 signs to support further safety measures for the public during the beach season. Emergency services use PLPs to identify locations on the beach to respond to an emergency.

Visitors are asked to stay within supervised swimming areas that are marked by red and yellow flags on either side of the beach and buoy markers in the water. Swimming past or outside these areas can be dangerous due to water conditions such as undertows and rip currents.

When no flags are flying at a Toronto beach, lifeguards are not on duty and beach goers should not swim.

City Dogs-only swim

Dogs who have waited all summer are welcome to enjoy a free swim on two occasions in September. Select pool locations will have dog-only swim on Sunday, September 3, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and three additional pools will have dog-only swim on Sunday, September 24, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

An adult aged 18 or older must accompany the dog and watch from the side. One adult can bring a maximum of two dogs.

Residents interested in bringing their dog out for a dip are asked to visit the Dog-only Swim tab on the City’s Swim & Water Play webpage.

The City will accept pet donations at the pools on behalf of Toronto Animal Services of peanut butter, freeze-dried treats (liver, chicken, and beef) and dog toys. Torontonians can also support shelter pets online at any time by donating items from the City’s Our Wish List webpage. 

City outdoor swimming pools

The City’s outdoor swimming pools will be open on Saturday, September 2 and Sunday, September 3. The City is extending dates at 10 outdoor pools for up to three additional weeks, starting September 4 until Sunday, September 24, from 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays and noon to 7 p.m. on weekends.

Up-to-date information on outdoor pool hours and locations, along with splash and spray pads, is available by calling 311 or visiting the City’s Swim & Water Play webpage.

City parks, indoor pools, wading pools and splash pads

City parks, wading pools and splash pads will be open on holiday Monday. Indoor pools and community centres, including washrooms inside community centres, will be closed.

The City’s more than 140 splash and spray pads have been open across Toronto since May 20 and will continue to operate until Sunday, September 17. Splash pads operate daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and are activated with push-button features. Caregivers are reminded to supervise children, as these are unsupervised water-play areas.

More information, including swimming pool schedules, is available on the City’s Swim & Water Play webpage.

Community recreation centres

Community recreation centres will be open for regular program hours on Saturday, September 2 and Sunday, September 3, but will be closed on September 4. A full list of community recreation centres in Toronto with contact information is available on the City’s Recreation Centres webpage. 

Conservatories and greenhouses

Allan Gardens and Centennial Park conservatories continue to be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. More information is available on the City’s Conservatories webpage.

Cultural centres & City-run galleries

Cultural centres will be open standard weekend hours and closed on September 4. More information and visiting hours are available on the City’s Cultural Centres & Galleries webpage.

Golf at municipal courses

Toronto’s five municipal golf courses will be open over the Labour Day long weekend, offering holiday rates for September 4. These affordable, high-quality and TTC-accessible courses are open daily for the golfing season, which typically runs until the end of November, weather permitting. More information about City-run golf courses is available on the City’s Golf webpage. 

High Park Animal Display

Toronto’s oldest animal display has been entertaining people for more than 130 years and is open daily between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Visitors heading to the High Park animal display are reminded that roads in the park will be closed to vehicular traffic for all three days of the Labour Day long weekend. More information is available on the City’s Zoos & Farms webpage. 

Riverdale Farm

Residents and visitors to Toronto can visit a working farm in the centre of the city. Riverdale Farm is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free. More information is available on the City’s Zoos & Farms webpage.

St. Lawrence Market

Taste of the Caribbean returns on Market Street on Sunday, September 3. Discover authentic flavours, live music, and unique artisan crafts from the local community between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. St. Lawrence Market will also be open for regular hours during Labour Day weekend. The main building will be open on September 2 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on September 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The weekly Farmer’s Market will be open on September 2 from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. St. Lawrence Market is closed on Mondays. More information is available at www.stlawrencemarket.com   

Tennis and pickleball courts

Public tennis and pickleball courts across the city will have nets up and will be available throughout the long weekend. These public sites are free. If people are waiting to use the courts, players are asked to share the courts by limiting their play time to 30-minute intervals. More information about public tennis courts is available on City’s Tennis Court Listings webpage. Information on pickleball courts is available on the City’s Pickleball Court webpage. 

Toronto History Museums

Toronto History Museums are open on September 2 and 3, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with many free activities and programs listed on the City’s Festivals and Events Calendar webpage www.toronto.ca/eventscalendar.

All museum sites are closed on September 4.

Toronto Island Park

Toronto Island Park is a great place for residents to enjoy a scenic picnic, hike or bike ride and is home to the interactive Franklin Children’s Garden, Centreville Theme Park and Far Enough Farm. Tram tours and Boat House rentals will be available during the Labour Day long weekend.

There may be longer wait times for the ferry on long weekends. Island visitors are encouraged to get tickets in advance. The summer ferry schedule and fares are available on the Ferries to Toronto Island Park webpage. 

Information about the amusement park and farm is available on the Toronto Island website.  

Toronto Zoo

Guests can discover more than 3,000 animals while exploring more than 10km of walking trails and four indoor tropical pavilions at the Toronto Zoo. Visitors can also check out the new outdoor orangutan habitat, including the new water sprayer that the orangutan’s control.

The Toronto Zoo is one of the largest zoos in the world and remains committed to connecting people, animals and conservation science to fight extinction. For more information or to book your tickets, visit www.torontozoo.com .

Road restrictions and closures

A number of road restrictions and closures related to events and critical City-led infrastructure work are in effect, which may impact travel throughout the Labour Day long weekend. Residents are encouraged to plan ahead and visit the City’s Road Restrictions & Closures webpage for more information: www.toronto.ca/roadrestrictions.

More information about festivals and events is available on the City’s Festivals & Events Calendar webpage www.toronto.ca/eventscalendar.

TTC

TTC will operate a holiday service schedule on. September 4. Routes and schedules are available on the TTC Service Details and Holidays webpage.  

Union Station Events and Exhibitions

Union is proud to present a year-round rotation of free public art exhibits and pieces throughout the station. More information can be found on the Union Station website www.torontounion.ca/events .

Important reminder about fireworks

During the Labour Day long weekend residents are only permitted to set off fireworks on their own property if they have obtained a permit from Toronto Fire Services. Fireworks are not allowed in City parks or on beaches, balconies, streets, parking lots or other private properties.

The misuse or illegal sale of fireworks can be reported to 311 by phone or by submitting a service request on the City’s 311 webpage. 

Bylaw enforcement officers will monitor busy parks and beaches to respond to issues. More information about fireworks rules is available on the City’s Fireworks webpage.

Service impact: waste drop-off depots

The City’s Drop-off Depots will be closed for residential drop-off of garbage, yard waste, recyclables, household hazardous waste and electronics on September 4.
More information is available under the Labour Day (September 4) tab on the City’s 2023 Holiday Collection & Drop-off Depot Impacts webpage.

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