8 things to do at Evergreen Brick Works this winter

There’s no shortage of family-friendly activities at the Brick Works to make the winter months more exciting. Whether you’re the outdoorsy type and love embracing the chilly temperatures, or you like to stay cozy with indoor activities, you’re sure to find something on the list that excites you.

Check out these family-friendly activities at the Brick Works this winter:

1. Go skating at a picturesque outdoor rink

Destination Toronto calls our rink one of Toronto’s best-kept secrets! The Evergreen Brick Works rink, supported by Interacu00ae, weaves through snow-covered gardens under the roof of an old brick factory. It truly is a skating experience like no other! We offer lessons for all ages as well as free public skating. Click here to see the free public skating schedule.

We are excited to announce we are able to offer free skate rentals during public skating and free skate sharpening on select dates, courtesy of our friends at Interac.

Consider making a dontation on site to Evergreen using Interac Debit and Interac will double your donation up to 25,000! Your gift will go towards supporting a place that you love, Evergreen Brick Works.

Keep an eye on our Free Public Skating webpage and Instagram stories for updates on weather-related closures.

2. Do your weekly food shop at the Indoor Farmers Market

During the winter the Saturday Farmers Market is located in the beautiful CRH Gallery and is open from 9am – 1pm. We’re one of the few farmers markets in Toronto that stays open throughout the winter!

Shop from local vendors selling seasonal fruits and veggies, jams, meats, baked goods, kombucha, fish, and so much more! The Market is the perfect place to meet up with a friend or to bring the family.

Here’s where you’ll find the Farmers Market:

3. Explore the Don River Valley Park trails by bike

Colder temperatures are no reason to put away your bike for the season! Cycling throughout the winter can be a great way to get outside and get some exercise. Just make sure to bundle up, plan your route and use bright lights as the colder months have less hours of sunlight.

The trails in the Don River Valley Park are beautiful to explore after a fresh snowfall. These trails run alongside the river and connect neighbourhoods in Toronto to valuable green space. So, grab a Bike Share or your own bike and meet us at the Brick Works as you explore Toronto’s trails this winter by bike!

4. Spot winter wildlife at the Brick Works

While some species have flown south for the winter, there are still many furry friends that call the Don Valley home during the colder months. So, who’s hanging out in the snow at the Brick Works? You might be lucky enough to spot red-tail hawks, beavers, white-tailed deer, chickadees, eastern cottontails and winter owls. Learn more about winter wildlife at the Brick Works here.

5. Get outdoors with Weekend Nature Play at the Children’s Garden

It’s so important to stay connected with nature, especially during the chilly, dark winter months. Weekend Nature Play is the perfect activity for you to enjoy the outdoors with your family! In the snowy Children’s Garden, you can play with loose parts, build shelters, make crafts and so much more.

The Children’s Garden is open to the public for Weekend Nature Play from 10am – 1pm on Saturdays during the winter. This is a free, drop-in and supervised program at the Brick Works.

6. Shop from local vendors at the Garden Market

Have you been to the Garden Market lately? We carry so many products from talented local vendors, ranging from handmade greeting cards to dog collars and leashes! It’s the perfect place to pick up a present for your loved one, shop for unique home du00e9cor or buy another house plant.

The Garden Market is open from 10am – 5pm from Monday to Friday and from 9am – 5pm on Saturdays.

7. Register for March Break Camp

Are you looking for some fun kids’ activities over March Break? Don’t miss out on giving your kids an exciting, active and nature-filled week off from school. We’ll track animals through the snow, learn about winter survival strategies from the critters that thrive in the Lower Don Valley, learn to identify edible plants, build shelters and forts, and make crafts with ice around the Brick Works campus. You can learn more and register for March Break Camp here.

8. Grab a drink & bite to eat at Picnic Cafe

Picnic Cafe  is open on Mondays from 9am – 4pm, on Tuesday to Friday from 8:30am – 5pm, on Saturdays from 8am – 6pm and on Sundays from 9am – 5pm. Their menu includes pastries, soups, sandwiches and more!

Getting here:

We have a free Shuttle Bus that departs every 30-45 mins from the parkette just north of Broadview Subway Station. There’s also a TTC Bus that goes to the Brick Works. Note: We offer paid parking, but it does fill up on the weekends. Please consider using sustainable forms of transportation like biking, walking and public transportation when possible.

If you visit the Brick Works this winter, tag us in your photos @evergreen_brick_works. We love seeing them!