Cavalcade of Lights 2026: Toronto Tree Lighting Nov. 28, 6:30 p.m.

Toronto’s Cavalcade of Lights opening night is Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, from 6 to 11 p.m. at Nathan Phillips Square, and the Christmas tree is lit at 6:30 p.m., according to the City of Toronto’s Cavalcade of Lights page, dated Nov. 13, 2026. The city lists the event as running from Nov. 28 to Jan. 8, presented by Desjardins Financial Group, and calls it a free event that “welcomes winter with a celebration of light and local artists.” Below is the city’s full timed schedule for opening night and a printable version.

What is the Cavalcade of Lights 2026 opening-night schedule?

The city lists these times for Saturday, Nov. 28. One heading on the city page reads “Saturday, November 29, 6 to 11 p.m.” under “Opening Night Schedule: November 28”. Nov. 29, 2026 is a Sunday, and the page’s own text gives Nov. 28, so this story uses Nov. 28.

Time (ET)	What	Where
6 p.m.	Greetings by host Britta Badour; welcome and blessing by Cat Criger, Elder of the Cayuga Nation, Turtle Clan; music by Semiah	Main stage
6 to 6:45 p.m.	Public skating	Rink
6 to 8:30 p.m.	Carolling by McGregor Carollers	Roaming the Square
6 to 10 p.m.	Drop-in lantern workshops led by Shadowland Theatre	Large tent near City Hall
6 to 10 p.m.	Costumed stilt walkers and Jack Frost juggler from Hala Circus Arts	Roaming the Square
6:30 p.m.	Remarks, then the countdown to lighting the Christmas tree and Nathan Phillips Square	Main stage
6:45 to 7:15 p.m.	Ammoye, reggae, dancehall and RnB fusion artist	Main stage
7:15 p.m.	Jack Frost juggler (Hala Circus Arts)	Main stage
7:25 p.m.	Ice skating performances by Star Doll and Carmen Sutra, presented by Desjardins Financial Group	Rink
7:35 to 8:30 p.m.	Public skating	Rink
7:40 p.m.	Fire in Motion performance from Hala Circus Arts	Main stage
8 to 8:30 p.m.	Lantern parade with Shadowland Theatre and its workshop participants, marching band Gayly Forward and other performers	On the Square
8:30 p.m.	Jack Frost juggler	Main stage
9:05 p.m.	Ice skating performances by Star Doll and Carmen Sutra	Rink
9:15 to 11 p.m.	Public skating	Rink
9:15 p.m.	Fire in Motion	Main stage
9:30 p.m.	Holiday classics with Sole Power Productions Choir	Main stage
10 p.m.	Closing remarks	Not listed

Source: City of Toronto, toronto.ca/cavalcade, Nov. 13, 2026.

How should you plan the opening night?

The tree lighting is at 6:30 p.m., half an hour after the 6 p.m. start of opening night, so arriving before 6:30 p.m. puts you at the square for the countdown. The city lists no fireworks in its 2026 opening-night program.

Public skating on the rink is listed in three windows: 6 to 6:45 p.m., 7:35 to 8:30 p.m. and 9:15 to 11 p.m. The rink hosts the Star Doll and Carmen Sutra skating performances at 7:25 p.m. and 9:05 p.m. The lantern parade runs from 8 to 8:30 p.m., and the lantern workshops that feed it are open from 6 to 10 p.m. The city says to bring your own skates or rent them on site; it does not list rental prices.

Which Wednesdays have free skate rentals?

The city says free skate rentals, courtesy of Desjardins Financial Group, run “Wednesdays, 7 to 10 p.m.” on these dates:

Date	Hours
Wed., Dec. 2, 2026	7 to 10 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 9, 2026	7 to 10 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 16, 2026	7 to 10 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 23, 2026	7 to 10 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 30, 2026	7 to 10 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 6, 2027	7 to 10 p.m.

What else is on at Nathan Phillips Square during the run?

Two art installations are “illuminated daily from 6 to 11 p.m.”: Echo, an interactive voice installation produced by Desjardins Financial Group, and Ripples in Time, a human-scale spatial clock by Gathering. From Dec. 4 to 12 the city’s official Menorah is illuminated “at approximately 4 p.m.” every evening during Hanukkah, and one more candle is lit each night. The city has not published the rink’s 2026-27 season opening date, regular hours or the nightly hours of the tree lights on this page.

How do you get to Nathan Phillips Square?

The square is at 100 Queen St. W. The city says Queen Street West is closed between York Street and Bay Street from 3 to 10 p.m., and Queen Street remains closed between Bay Street and Church Street. Parking is available nearby and under the square. The city’s page says only to visit the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) website, TTC.ca, to plan a trip, and it mentions a GO Transit One-Day Weekend Pass and a Weekday Group Pass. It also says the square offers accessible ramps, underground parking and washroom facilities for people who use wheelchairs and mobility aids.

Which other Toronto holiday dates are close to Nov. 28?

The Toronto Santa Claus Parade is on Sunday, Nov. 22; see the Toronto Santa Claus Parade 2026 story. Markets are in the Canada Christmas markets 2026 dates. For a U.S. comparison, see the NYC holiday calendar 2026. Mark Nov. 28 on the November 2026 printable calendar and the free skate Wednesdays on the December 2026 printable calendar.