Phoebe Thompson, 2, gets support at the Riverdale Park skating trail on Dec. 17, 2017.Christopher Katsarov/The Globe and Mail
Sub-zero temperatures are upon us. As expected, Torontonians are flocking to many of the city's 52 outdoor rinks to lace up their skates. In preparation for colder days ahead, here are three of the city's new outdoor rinks and skating trails.
Riverdale Park East Rink and Skating Trail
(Open Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., weekends 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.)
Originally expected to open in early 2018, the Riverdale Park East Rink and Skating Trail is open ahead of schedule. The park was under construction for nearly two years and has plenty of twists and turns for families looking for a smooth glide, while those craving a game of shinny can take to centre ice on the outdoor rink.
Winter at Ontario Place festival
(Open Friday 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
If you don't mind a crowd while you skate, then Winter at Ontario Place might be the place for you. Visitors can catch their breath on the sidelines and enjoy many of the festival's other attractions, such as warming up next to a bonfire on the West Island, or catching a glimpse of the 12 light installations that pay tribute to winter in Ontario.
The Bentway under the Gardiner Expressway
(Grand opening at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6, regular hours Monday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
No one enjoys gridlock on the Gardiner Expressway, but this January there's a new way to cut down on bumper-to-bumper traffic. Well, some of it at least. A new skating trail known as The Bentway is opening underneath the Gardiner that spans just over a kilometre and connects seven of Toronto's neighbourhoods by a path of ice.
The space will feature work from local artists and will host several events, allowing skaters to enjoy plenty of festivities as they skate past Fork York.