Lights are up until mid-February!
Opening night for 2016 will be on November 25 at 6:30 p.m. (in support of The Michael Garron Hospital Foundation). There's no season when it's not fun to walk along the beach (as long as you dress for the season and don't forget that the temperature can drop 5 degrees by the water). At night, one can enjoy the tranquillity, the fresh air, the sound of waves and Toronto's cityscape. Since 2007, from the end of November to mid-February, there's the additional pleasure of discovering thousands of little lights wrapped around the black trunks and branches of tall trees. DeClute Real Estate is the major sponsor of Light Up the Beach, investing time and money to install the 20,000 feet of wire (80,000 lights) it takes to create the magical effect, made even better when there's snow on the ground, catching the colourful reflection.
The event starts with an opening ceremony at the end of November, complete with music and hot chocolate. The lights are up until mid-February. The first cluster of lit trees is at the foot of Leuty Avenue, just east of Kew Gardens. (The Leuty Lifeguard Station is also lit! Watch our short Youtube clip. See my photo gallery from 2015.) Going eastbound, you'll see more lights, up to Balmy Beach Club. Not all the trees along the boardwalk are adorned so you'll be hopping from one patch of lights to the next.
