Family New Year’s Eve Fun + Things to Do Around Toronto in January

Good-bye 2024. Hello 2025! Toronto in January continues its tradition of being one of the quieter months events-wise (and let’s be honest, we could probably all do with a bit of at-home downtime), there are more than a couple fun, family-friendly things happening this month.

Below we round up a few ways to keep your kids entertained in January and a few spots where you can celebrate a family-friendly New Year’s Eve. And don’t forget that there are multiple events from our December round-up that are running into January, thanks to the kids not heading back to school until the second week of the month. These attractions include the return of Ross Petty’s annual panto with The Wizard of Oz that’s running until Sunday January 5th and Winterfest at Canada’s Wonderland until Saturday January 4.

Or, if you’d prefer something outdoors, illumi Toronto will light up the skies until Sunday January 5th.

We hope that you and your family have a great winter break that includes at least some time to relax and recharge.

Family Celebrations for New Year’s Eve in Toronto

Noon Year’s Eve Party

Toronto Public Library; Various Locations
Tuesday December 31st

Families across the GTA can ring in the New Year at the more kid-friendly time of 11:00am onwards at several locations of the Toronto Public Library. The TPL’s Noon Year’s Eve Parties feature books, songs, and rhymes that are perfect for children ages zero through five. The drop-in events are free to attend and by taking place during the day on the 31st allows you to celebrate New Year’s as a family later that evening.

Noon Year’s Eve Balloon Drop at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre

Vaughan Mills, 1 Bass Pro Mills Dr., Vaughan
Sunday December 31st

Celebrate the last day of the year at one of your kid’s favourite spots: LEGOLAND Discovery Centre! Just make sure that you’re there at noon when there will be “an epic balloon drop” that will be way more fun than staying up until midnight. Before (or after) the balloons, enjoy LEGOLAND’s many attractions, including the Kingdom Quest Ride, the 4D cinema, and the Ninjago City Adventure climbing gym.

Tickets start at $26.99 (included with admission).

City of Toronto Fireworks

Tuesday December 31st

• Toronto Music Garden, 476 Queens Quay W.
• Sherbourne Common, 61 Dockside Dr.
• Sugar Beach Park, 11 Dockside Dr.
• HTO Park, 339 Queens Quay W.
• HTO Park West, 375 Queens Quay W.
• Harbour Square Park, 25 Queens Quay W.
• Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W

The City of Toronto is once again ringing the new year with a 10-minute-long fireworks display viewable from anywhere along the inner harbour. The celebrations start at 10pm with special musical performances that will be broadcast at several lakeside locations. There will also be “pop-up participatory dance performances taking place at Sherbourne Common (61 Dockside Dr.) and the Toronto Music Garden (476 Queens Quay W.). Don’t want to head out into the cold? Then your family can livestream the show from the comfort of your home.

New Year’s Eve 2025

Celebration Square, 300 City Centre Dr., Mississauga
Sunday December 31st

Hip-hop legends ring in 2025 at Celebration Square with the biggest NYE block party in town with fireworks presented by Tim Hortons. Little ones can ring in 2025 and still make bedtime with a jam-packed hour of family-friendly hip-hop fun as Maestro Fresh Wes brings his kid-friendly album, Young Maestro, to the main stage. Then DijahSB hits the main stage, followed by co-headliners Shad and Mississauga’s own, AR Paisley who brings his raw energy and explosive flow that’s currently taking over the South-Asian hip-hop scene.

Family Fun Things to Do Around Toronto in January

Arcadia Earth

The Well, 486 Front St. E., Toronto
Now Open

Immerse your family in a unique multimedia experience that will take you on a multi-sensory trip around the world while learning about different ecosystems and the impacts humans on having on them. Spread over 17,000 square-feet and 10 rooms, Arcadia features floor-to-ceiling projections, recycled and upcycled creations and even augmented reality to create something quite unlike any other experience in the city. The entire trip takes about an hour and is stroller friendly. Tickets start at $24 and kids under four are free.

Bentway Skate Trail

250 Fort York Blvd., Toronto
Trail Now Open

Grab your skates (or rent a pair) and check out one of the city’s coolest outdoor skating trails. Featuring 220 metres of ice shaped into a figure-eight, this trail takes things up a notch with free hot chocolate on Monday evenings, and free skate rentals on Thursdays. Access to the trail is free.

Love and Peace Lantern Festival

Woodside Square South Parking Lot, 1571 Sandhurst Cir., Toronto
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays until Friday, February 28

Light up your January with the Love and Peace Lantern Festival. This outdoor, walk-through event features dozens of lanterns handcrafted by over 50 Chinese artisans. Your family will be amazed at the beautiful, colourful creations and with a bit of luck, you’ll get some amazing photos. The lanterns are lit around 3:00 pm each festival day and access to the festival is $5 per person.

Power Kids: From Story to Stage

The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, 231 Queen Quay W., Toronto
Sunday January 12th

In this workshop, families will have the chance to work together to create a scene of a play. Inspired by Lap-See Lam’s storytelling in Floating Sea Palace, participants will collaborate in groups to make costumes, backdrops, and props for a mythological story. This hands-on experience encourages creativity and teamwork as families bring stories to life on stage.

Downsview Park Family Events

70 Canuck Ave., Toronto
Assorted Sundays and Mondays in January

At Downsview Park, their  Nature Connection program offers nature-themed sessions every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month from 2:00 to 3:30 pm that explore the natural world that makes Downsview Park unique. The Jr. Forest Explorers run 90 minutes (twice per month in the winter) for children between 18 months and 3 1/2 (with caregivers) to connect with nature through hands-on outdoor activities

Frozen Sing-Along (Family Screening)

Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, 506 Bloor St. W
Saturday January 12th

Don your finest princess gowns, tiaras, or favourite costume for this family screening of Frozen Sing-Along. Your little ones  may have seen Frozen a thousand times, but they haven’t experienced Elsa’s magic on the big screen while singing and dancing in a theatre full of princesses and princes.