Toronto Santa Claus Parade detours around construction

The 122nd Toronto Santa Claus Parade on Sunday, Nov. 22 will detour around downtown construction, bypassing University Avenue and heading south on Yonge Street, NOW Toronto reported.

The change comes because of ongoing water main repairs near College Street, according to NOW Toronto. The parade usually uses the University Avenue stretch.

Instead, the procession will continue farther along Bloor Street and turn south on Yonge Street toward Queen Street, NOW Toronto said. There it will turn right to rejoin its original route.

The parade starts at Christie Pits at about 12:30 p.m. and ends near St. Lawrence Market, NOW Toronto reported.

City construction notices listed by NOW Toronto cover the west side of University Avenue from College Street to 120 metres north of Queen Street West, which is marked complete, and the east side of University Avenue from College Street to Armoury Street. Work is also under way on Queens Park Crescent East from College Street to about 150 metres south of Charles Street West.

Road closures for the parade will extend across much of the downtown core, NOW Toronto said. They include Bloor Street West from Dovercourt Road to Ossington Avenue, Christie Street from Bloor Street to Barton Avenue, Bloor Street from Clinton Street to Church Street, and Yonge Street from Cumberland Street to Adelaide Street East.

Other closures listed include University Avenue from Queen Street to Front Street, Bay Street from Queen Street to Lake Shore Boulevard, Jarvis Street from King Street to Lake Shore Boulevard, and Church Street from King Street to The Esplanade. College, Dundas, Gerrard and Wellesley streets will also close between Church and Bay streets.

Reopening times vary by street. The parade’s official website, thesantaclausparade.com, carries the full list, NOW Toronto said.

CityNews Toronto also reported the route change on Nov. 12, saying the parade moves to Yonge Street because of downtown construction.

A separate parade takes place a week earlier in the city’s east end. The Beaches Santa Parade is scheduled for Nov. 15 and marks its 20th anniversary this year, blogTO reported. It starts at 1 p.m. at Kingston Road and Victoria Park Avenue, travels west on Kingston Road, then north on Walter Street, and ends at Centre 55 near Swanwick Avenue and Main Street. Centre 55 hosts a free outdoor party after the parade. blogTO noted that the City of Toronto had not officially announced road closures for that event.

Winnipeg also closed downtown streets for its parade on Saturday, as Canada News Media reported. Dates for other cities are in our Santa Claus parade guide for 2026, and more seasonal events are listed in our Christmas lights guide.

Anyone planning to drive downtown on Nov. 22 should check the official closure list before leaving.

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Via NOW Toronto, with additional reporting from CityNews Toronto and blogTO.