Free activities coming up in Toronto

There are still some activities in Toronto that can be enjoyed for free.

Published Apr 19, 2026  •  4 minute read

Thoroughbreds horses are trained at Woodbine Racetrack in preparation for the thoroughbred race season. Photo by Michael Burns /Woodbine Entertainment

Even though the price of everything seems to be going up, there are still some activities in Toronto that can be enjoyed for free.

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For the next four weeks, here are some of those events:

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A day at the races

The thoroughbred racing season at Woodbine Racetrack began on April 18.

Other than King’s Plate day (in 2026, that’s Aug. 15), admission to the track and parking are free. Before each race, visitors can get close to the horses by going to the walking ring, where each horse receives its final preparations.

Nobody is forcing you to make a wager — just take a seat in the grandstand and enjoy the pageantry and excitement of the races, which take place roughly every 20-25 minutes.

Races are scheduled to be held on Saturdays and Sundays, with Friday dates beginning on May 8 and Thursday cards starting on June 11. The last of the 128 scheduled race dates is Dec. 13.

Tip: If you do plan to make a bet or two, rub the nose of the statue of Northern Dancer outside Woodbine’s main entrance for luck.

This file photo taken on June 30, 2011 shows U.S. singer and musician Prince performing on stage at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris. Prince died on April 21, 2016. Photo by Bertramd Guay /Getty Images

Listen to the music

April 21 makes the 10th anniversary of the death of Prince Rogers Nelson, the musician better known as Prince.

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To remember and salute him, a celebration of Prince will be held at The Cat’s Cradle – Sports and Spirits at 1245 St. Clair Ave. W. There will not be any live musicians, but Prince’s performances will be presented in audio and video form from 7 p.m. to almost midnight.

Admission is free, but to reserve a spot, go to this website.

For live music, consider the free noonhour concerts at the Four Seasons Centre, Toronto’s opera and ballet house. Each concert is conducted in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, which features an immense glass wall on the building’s west side allowing guests to peek out at University Ave.

The doors open 30 minutes before each performance, and seating is limited. You may also want to bring your own seat cushion.

Scheduled to perform on April 21 is Italian pianist Giuseppe Guarrera, who will be presenting a program of Historical Counterpoints & Literature in Music.

More noonhour concert dates are listed on the Canadian Opera Company website. The season concludes on May 20.

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Exterior of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) located at Bloor Street West and Queens Park. Photo by Peter J Thompson /Postmedia Network

Cultural connections

Two of Toronto’s major museums set aside a few hours each month for free admission.

The Royal Ontario Museum has free Third Tuesdays, including on April 21. Advance tickets are required, which can be booked on the ROM’s website, starting two weeks before each of the Third Tuesdays. Access begins at 4 p.m. and goes until the museum closes for the day at 8:30 p.m.

Reminder: The ROM’s special exhibitions require a separate paid ticket.

The Art Gallery of Ontario has a First Wednesday Free every month, allowing visitors to check out the AGO’s exhibits, including Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm, starting at 6 p.m. Tickets must be reserved at the AGO’s website, starting at 10 a.m. on the Monday before the First Wednesday.

A local art celebration

In the western part of Toronto, the Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery has served its community since 1976. In the 50 years since it opened, the gallery has been home to more than 500 exhibitions.

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To commemorate the facility, a 50 Years of Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery Exhibition is scheduled to run from April 21 to August 8, with a special 50th anniversary celebration on April 25 from 2 to 4 p.m.

The exhibition will present artwork from the City of Toronto’s permanent collections, a new work by teenage artist Lise Round, and plans for the future of the art gallery.

Khalsa Day activities in Toronto on April 24, 2022. Photo by Ernest Doroszuk /Toronto Sun

A new path for Khalsa Day

The annual Khalsa Day celebration in downtown Toronto is scheduled for April 26, but one of its main activities will have a different look.

The parade will not leave from the CNE grounds this year because of “FIFA-related events,” according to the event website.

Instead, the parade will start at Bay and Queen at 1:30 p.m., go south to Wellington, west to University, north to Armoury, and finish at City Hall.

Most of the Khalsa Day event will still take place at Nathan Phillips Square, beginning with a religious ceremony at 11 a.m. Organized by the Ontario Sikhs and Gurdwaras Council (OSGC), the event celebrates the Sikh New Year and the establishment of the Sikh community in 1699.

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The event is open to everyone. As in previous years, the square will be filled with free food stalls, demonstrations, and various information booths.

Exterior of OCAD University on McCaul St. in downtown Toronto. Photo by Richard Johnson interiorimages.ca /CNW Group/OCAD University

Creativity on display

In early May, OCAD University in downtown Toronto opens its doors to the public for its annual exhibition of work by this year’s graduates.

“GradEx 111” takes place from May 6 to 10 at OCAD U’s campus, which features a futuristic tabletop-style fifth and sixth floors at its 100 McCaul St. location.

The creativity of the graduating students, in drawing, painting, sculpture, animation, design work, and more, will be on full display throughout all areas of the building.

Tip: Take a moment when visiting the fifth and sixth floors to look out the windows and appreciate the views of the city.

Cherry blossoms are seen on trees outside the Robarts Library at the University of Toronto on April 30, 2020. Photo by Jack Boland /Toronto Sun

The wait for sakura

At some point in the spring, cherry blossoms will begin to show up at various Toronto locations, such as High Park, Trinity Bellwoods Park, and outside the Robarts Library at U of T.

The first cherry trees in High Park were donated in 1959.

The sakura (Japanese for cherry blossoms) usually last for only about a week.

Enjoy the view, and take plenty of pictures, but do not touch or otherwise damage the trees or blossoms.

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