What to know
- Toronto’s 122nd Santa Claus Parade returns Sunday, Nov. 22, starting at Christie Pits around 12:30 p.m. and ending near St. Lawrence Market.
- Due to ongoing water main repairs near College Street, the parade will take a detour, travelling farther along Bloor Street before turning south onto Yonge Street and heading toward Queen Street.
- Several major roads will be closed along the parade route, including sections of Bloor, Yonge, University, Bay, College and Front streets.
- Road reopening times will vary, so drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and check the parade’s official website for closure details and updates.
Santa Claus is coming to town! But instead of his usual route down University Ave, Old Saint Nick will have to make a detour to avoid ongoing construction work while parading through Toronto.
The 122nd Santa Claus Parade returns to the city this month, lining the streets once again with elves, music, and familiar Toronto brands and sites as they march to St. Lawrence Market.
Although, while Santa usually makes his way down University Ave for a major stretch of the route, this year he and his elves will have to make a detour due to ongoing water main repairs going on near College St.
According to the city, the construction impacts sections of University Avenue and Queen’s Park Cres. E., as well as the following intersections:
- University Ave. (west side) from College St. to 120 metres north of Queen St. W. (complete)
- University Ave. (east side) from College St. to Armoury St.
- Queens Park Cres. E. from College St. to approximately 150 metres south of Charles St. W.
While Santa loves Toronto and its citizens, he definitely does not want to get stuck in traffic like the rest of us, so instead, the parade route will be travelling further down Bloor St., and turning down Yonge St., making the trek until Queen St., where the procession will turn right to return to its original route.
Road closures around the parade
While Old Saint Nick is avoiding the University Ave. lane closures, the parade itself will be causing its own closures.
For those driving in the area, be sure to plan ahead due to the following closures:
- Queens Park from Charles St to Bloor St
- Bloor St W from Dovercourt to Ossington
- Bloor St W from Ossington Ave E and Ossington Ave S to Clinton St
- Christie St from Bloor St to Barton Ave
- Bloor St from Clinton St. to Church St.
- Yonge St from Cumberland St to Adelaide St E
- Richmond St from Victoria St to Simcoe St
- University Ave from Queen St to Front St
- Wellington St W from Simcoe St to Yonge St
- Wellington St E from Yonge St to Church St.
- Bay St from Queen St to Lake Shore Blvd
- Yonge St from Adelaide St W to Lake Shore Blvd
- Front St W from Simcoe St to Sherbourne St W and Sherbourne St S
- Jarvis St from King St to Lake Shore Blvd
- Avenue Rd from Davenport Rd to Bloor St W
- Bay St from Cumberland St to Charles St W
- Bathurst St from Lennox St to London St
- Spadina Ave from Sussex Ave to Lowther Ave
- St George St from Sussex Ave to Prince Arthur Ave
- Wellesley St E from Church St to Bay St
- College St from Church St to Bay St
- Dundas St from Church St to Bay St
- Gerrard St from Church St to Bay St
- York St from Richmond St to Front St
- Adelaide St from Simcoe St to York St
- King St W from Simcoe St to York St
- Church St from King St to The Esplanade
When roads will open varies. For timings, check the Santa Claus Parade official website.
The Santa Claus Parade will return on Sunday, Nov. 22, beginning at Christie Pitts around 12:30 p.m., ending around St. Lawrence Market.
