What to know
- The Toronto Waterfront Marathon runs from Oct. 16–18, with a 5K race on Saturday and the half and full marathons on Sunday.
- Multiple road closures will affect downtown Toronto and the waterfront throughout the weekend.
- Several TTC routes will be diverted or replaced by buses to accommodate the races.
- Spectators can cheer on runners at designated cheer zones along the courses.
- Sunny skies are expected Saturday and Sunday, with highs of 10ºC and 16ºC, respectively.
The Toronto Waterfront Marathon is taking place this weekend, bringing significant traffic, road closures, and excitement to the downtown core.
The 37th edition of Canada’s premier running event is taking over the city this weekend, and it’s expected to bring over 100,000 athletes and supporters to downtown streets.
Whether you are planning to participate in a run, watch the race, or just navigate around the massive event, here’s everything you need to know to get ready.
Time and location
The event is taking place from Oct. 16–18, with different races taking place throughout the weekend.
A shorter, 5K course will take place on Saturday. This race will start at 9 a.m., with the starting line closing at 9:40 a.m. The course starts at the intersection of Bay and Front streets, and finishes near Toronto City Hall at the intersection of Bay and Queen streets.
A post-race celebration will take place at Nathan Phillips Square from 9:15 a.m. to 12 p.m., with an award ceremony at 10 a.m.
The full and half marathons are happening on Sunday. The starting line for both races is at Yonge St., north of Gerrard St. The finish line for both marathons will be at the intersection of Bay and Queen streets.
Both races start at 8 a.m. with starting lines closing at 9:31 a.m. The time limit for the 21K course is three hours and 30 minutes, and six hours for the 42K course. The half marathon course closes at 1 p.m., while the full marathon course closes at 3:30 p.m.
An award ceremony will be held at Nathan Phillips Square at 11:30 a.m.
The full marathon courses are available on the official website.
Road closures
There are several road closures expected downtown to accommodate the event.
On Friday, closures will include:
- Queen Street from Bay Street to York Street between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m.
- Bay Street from Dundas Street West to Queen Street West between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m.
- Hagerman Street from Elizabeth Street to Bay Street between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m.
- Elizabeth Street from Foster PI to Hagerman Street between 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- James Street from Albert Street to Queen Street West between 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Albert Street from Bay Street to James Street between 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
On Saturday, drivers should expect closures at:
- Bay Street from Queen Street West to Front Street between 4 a.m. and 1 p.m.
- Bay Street from Front Street to Lake Shore Boulevard West between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.
- Lake Shore Boulevard from Yonge Street to Bathurst Street between 8–11 a.m.
- Yonge Street from Carlton Street to Gerrard Street between 7–11 p.m.
On Sunday, other multiple road closures will take place, including:
- Bay Street from Queen Street West to Lake Shore Boulevard West between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- Yonge Street from Gerrard Street to Richmond Street between 3–11 a.m.
- Lake Shore Boulevard West from Windermere Avenue and Bathurst Street between 5 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- Westbound of Lake Shore Boulevard West from Bathurst Street to Yonge Street between 5 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- Richmond Street West from York Street to Yonge Street between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- Adelaide Street West from York Street to Yonge Street between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- Queen Street from York Street to Bay Street between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
- Temperance Street from Sheppard Street to Yonge Street between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- Wellington Street from York Street to Church Street between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Front Street East from Church Street to Jarvis Street between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- King Street West from York Street to Yonge Street between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- Yonge Street from Bloor Street West to Carlton Street between 7–11 a.m.
- Bloor Street West from Bathurst Street to Yonge Street between 7–11 a.m.
- Bathurst Street from Bloor Street West to Lake Shore Boulevard West between 7–11 a.m.
- Cherry Street North from Eastern Avenue to Mill Street between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- Front Street from Cherry Street North to Bayview Avenue between 7 a.m and 3 p.m.
- Bayview Avenue from Rosedale Valley Road to Front Street between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- Carlaw Avenue from Eastern Avenue to Lake Shore Boulevard between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Lake Shore Boulevard East from Carlaw Avenue to Woodbine Avenue between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
- Woodbine Avenue from Queen Street East to Lakeshore Boulevard East between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
- Queen Street East from Woodbine Avenue to Beach Avenue between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
- Eastern Avenue and Front Street from Jarvis Street to Carlaw Road between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Several TTC routes will be replaced by buses or will be diverted to accommodate the event. Before heading out, riders should double-check whether their commute will be affected by searching for their routes on the TTC website.
Cheer zones
Those who are not participating in the event as athletes are still welcome to attend and cheer runners on at the designated cheer zones for spectators.
For the 5K race, cheer zones include:
- The start and finish lines at the Bay and Wellington streets intersection
- Kilometres 0.7 and 4 at Bay Street and Lake Shore Boulevard
- Kilometres 0.8 and 3.5 at Lake Shore Boulevard and York Street
- Kilometres 1.2 and 3 at Lake Shore Boulevard and Rees Street
- Kilometre 2 at Lake Shore Boulevard and Dan Leckie Way
There are also several cheer zones for the 42K and 21K runs, including:
- Kilometre 1.5 at Bloor and Yonge streets
- Kilometre 1.75 at Bloor and Balmuto streets
- Kilometre 2.25 at Bloor and Bedford streets
- Kilometre 3 at Bloor Street and Spadina Avenue
- Kilometre 3.75 at Bathurst and Herrick streets
- Kilometre 4.5 at Bathurst Street and Alexandra Park
- Kilometre 5.75 at Bathurst and King streets
- Kilometre 6 at Bathurst and Front streets
- Kilometre 7/18.25 at Lake Shore Boulevard and Bathurst Street
- Kilometre 7.2/18 at Lake Shore Boulevard and Queen’s Wharf Lighthouse
- Kilometre 7.25/17.25 at Lake Shore Boulevard and Fort York
- Kilometre 7.5/17.25 at Lake Shore Boulevard and Strachan Street
- Kilometre 7.6/17.1 at Lake Shore Boulevard and Newfoundland Road
- Kilometre 7.7/17 at Lake Shore Boulevard and Newfoundland Road
- Kilometre 8.5/16.25 at Lake Shore Boulevard and Ontario Street
- Kilometre 9.25/15.5 at Lake Shore Boulevard and BC Road
- Kilometre 10/14.74 at Lake Shore Boulevard and Net Drive
- Kilometre 10.75/14 at Lake Shore Boulevard and Palais Royale
- Kilometre 11.25/13.5 at Lake Shore Boulevard and Parkside Drive
- Kilometre 12.5 at Lake Shore Boulevard and Ellis Avenue
- Kilometre 18.75 at Lake Shore Boulevard and Dan Leckie Way
- Kilometre 19.25 at Lake Shore Boulevard and Rees Street
- Kilometre 19.5 at Lake Shore Boulevard and Lower Simcoe
- Kilometre 19.75 at Lake Shore Boulevard and York Street
- Kilometre 20 at Lake Shore Boulevard and Raptors Way
- Kilometre 20.1 at Bay Street, north of Lake Shore Boulevard
- Kilometres 20.5 and 41.25 at Bay and Front streets
- Kilometre 20.7/41.25 at Bay and Wellington streets
- Kilometre 21/41.5 at Front and George streets
- Kilometre 21/41.1 at Berkzy Park
- Kilometre 21.25/40.8 at Front and George streets
- Kilometre 24.5 at Bayview Avenue and River Street
- Kilometre 27.2/38.3 at Eastern and Broadview avenues
- Kilometre 28.4/37.6 at Lake Shore Boulevard East and Carlaw Avenue
- Kilometre 29.25/36.75 at Lake Shore Boulevard East and Leslie Street
- Kilometres 30.2/35.75 at Lake Shore Boulevard East and Coxwell Avenue
- Kilometre 33.1 at Queen Street and Glen Manor Drive
Weather
Although Torontonians woke up to a gloomy day on Friday, sunny weather is expected to hit on Saturday and Sunday. However, they will be accompanied by colder temperatures.
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Skies will clear up on Saturday morning, with wind gusting to 40 km/h, and a high of 10ºC during the day, followed by a low of 4ºC at night.
It will be sunny on Sunday, with a high of 16ºC and a low of 8ºC.
