Winter Glow celebrations continue with Family Weekend, taking place December 13 to 15
Santa Claus, Buskers, Carolers, a Friday Mr. Beast experience, OHYO FUN claw machines, plus other games, giveaways, and holiday fun!
MEDIA RELEASE — TORONTO, ON, Dec 9, 2024 — This weekend, bring the whole family together at Sankofa Square (formerly Yonge-Dundas Square) for a fun-filled Winter Glow Family Weekend. Sponsored by BMO Eaton Centre Branch and The Thornton-Smith Corporation.
Winter Glow Family Weekend takes place Friday, December 13 to Sunday, December 15, 4 pm to 10 pm on Friday and 12 pm to 10 pm on Saturday and Sunday. The weekend will be a festive blend of activities, performances, and surprises that will delight guests of all ages.
Families will enjoy discounted rides, food, and beverages with opportunities to create lasting memories together among the dazzling lights, carnival rides, delicious treats and live festive entertainment for all ages.
Robert Parrott, Regional Vice President, BMO Eaton Centre Branch, “We are proud to sponsor the Winter Glow Family Weekend. At BMO, part of our community investment philosophy is celebrating and supporting families and bringing communities together. With our new BMO flagship location at Eaton Centre, steps away from Sankofa Square, we are excited to be part of the downtown Yonge community and supporting the holiday experience of families in the area.”
Ken Rutherford, owner of The Thornton-Smith Corporation adds, “My family has been part of the downtown Yonge Street community for the past 57 years and we are honoured to support Winter Glow as a presenting partner and a sponsor of Family Weekend. This holiday festival is part of our strategy to seek out fun and innovative ways to foster the historic vibrancy of the neighbourhood while supporting the needs of the growing number of families who visit and experience our community. Please join us in celebration.”
Julian Sleath, General Manager of Sankofa Square shares, “Families are an important part of the downtown community and the Winter Glow Family Weekend is for them and other families visiting the area. Thanks to the BMO Eaton Centre Branch and The Thornton-Smith Corporation for their community engagement and making the Winter Glow Family Weekend possible.”
Winter Glow Family Weekend Admission
Admission to Winter Glow is free. Families will enjoy discounted rides, food, and beverages. Family Weekend ride tickets, midway games, carnival treats, and more are available for purchase onsite.
Free Ride Happy Hour for Kids 12 and Under!
Kids 12 years old and under can enjoy free rides on Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15 from 12pm to 2pm. Free Ride Happy Hour is courtesy of the Downtown Yonge BIA.
Don’t Miss Out!
Look out for additional surprises throughout Family Weekend! Visit sankofasquare.ca/winterglow frequently for updates, subscribe to the Sankofa Square Newsletter, and follow #SankofaSquare and #WinterGlowTO hashtags on social media.
Family Weekend is made possible through the generous support of BMO Eaton Centre Branch and The Thornton-Smith Corporation, whose commitment to supporting the local downtown community helps make this event a reality.
Winter Glow Family Weekend Highlights
Santa Claus
Santa Claus will be at Sankofa Square on Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15 between 12pm and 5 pm each day. BYOC – bring your own cameras as there will be photo opportunities with Santa.
Carnival Rides, Games, and Treats
Astro Amusements' brightly lit 45-foot Ferris Wheel and the Great Canadian Carousel return with the addition of the colourful and spinning Teacups ride. Indulge the sweet tooth and enjoy mini donuts, hot chocolate, and more before testing your midway game skills.
Plus, for Family Weekend only, try out one of the OHYO FUN claw machines, each filled with tons of unique and exciting gifts waiting to be won.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
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4pm: Winter Glow opens, including:
Rides, games, and snacks available to purchase
BMO Eaton Centre Branch hosted games and prizes
Chevrolet Silverado and GM EV Experience
Mr. Beast hosted experience
Cirque du Soleil Pop-up with opportunities to win tickets to see their show Twas the Night Before
OHYO FUN claw machines, each filled with tons of unique and exciting gifts waiting to be won
4pm to 9pm: Jack Frost busker
10pm: Winter Glow closes
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12pm: Winter Glow opens, including:
Rides, games, and snacks available to purchase
BMO Eaton Centre Branch hosted games and prizes
Chevrolet Silverado and GM EV Experience
Cirque du Soleil Pop-up with opportunities to win tickets to see their show Twas the Night Before
OHYO FUN claw machines, each filled with tons of unique and exciting gifts waiting to be won
12pm to 2pm: Free Ride Happy Hour for Kids 12 and Under! Courtesy of Downtown Yonge BIA
12pm to 5pm: Santa Claus
12pm to 3pm: Jingle Jolly Carolers
2pm to 7pm: Winter King busker
10pm: Winter Glow closes
-
12pm: Winter Glow opens, including:
Rides, games, and snacks available to purchase
BMO Eaton Centre Branch hosted games and prizes
Chevrolet Silverado and GM EV Experience
Cirque du Soleil Pop-up with opportunities to win tickets to see their show Twas the Night Before
OHYO FUN claw machines, each filled with tons of unique and exciting gifts waiting to be won
12pm to 2pm: Free Ride Happy Hour for Kids 12 and Under! Courtesy of Downtown Yonge BIA
12pm to 5pm: Santa Claus
1pm to 6pm: Jack Frost busker
5pm to 8pm: Jingle Jolly Carolers
10pm: Winter Glow closes
Due to the nature of events, live performances, and weather conditions, this schedule is subject to change.
Music & Entertainment
Family-friendly holiday hits will be streamed on to the Square thanks to music provided by Chevrolet Silverado EV partner SiriusXM. Plus:
Buskers (Jack Frost - December 13 & 15, Winter King - December 14)
Jingle Jolly Carolers
Brand Hosted Experiences & Giveaways
During Winter Glow Family Weekend, there will be a number of brand-hosted experiences and pop-ups to add to the festive fun, including:
BMO Eaton Centre Branch family games and prizes;
Mr. Beast experience (Friday, December 13 only);
Cirque du Soleil pop-up with opportunities to win tickets to see their show Twas the Night Before; and,
Chevrolet Silverado and GM EV Experience (for the parents) to explore the vehicles on site including branded EV-themed giveaways and more.
Visit sankofasquare.ca/winterglow for the latest information on participating brands and experiences
The Rotary Club of Toronto Tree of Remembrance
The Rotary Club of Toronto’s 30-foot Tree of Remembrance invites visitors to donate and write a message to a loved one on a yellow ribbon that will be attached to the tree. This fundraising initiative supports local charities through The Rotary Club of Toronto and its Foundation.
Photo Ops
Winter Glow Family Weekend is a perfect spot to capture glowing family photo memories whether on a carnival ride, with Santa Claus, or in front of a giant tree! Make sure to tag us on your socials with #SankofaSquare and #WinterGlowTO.
About Winter Glow
Winter Glow continues until December 22. Winter Glow is holiday fun for all in the glow of the city that transforms Sankofa Square into a winter wonderland. It’s the magic of the season with twinkling lights, classic carnival rides, and midway games in the heart of downtown Toronto. Plus lots of surprises throughout Winter Glow including buskers, carolers, and exciting brand hosted experiences and giveaways.
Regular ride tickets are $6 for a single ticket, $20 for 4 tickets, or $37 for 8 tickets. Tickets can be purchased onsite or in advance at sankofasquare.ca/winterglow. Midway games, carnival treats, and more are available for purchase onsite.
Visit sankofasquare.ca regularly or follow the Square on social media to find out more.
Winter Glow is produced by Sankofa Square in partnership with The Thornton-Smith Corporation, Astro Amusements, and The Rotary Club of Toronto.
Winter Glow Sponsored by: Chevrolet Silverado EV
Family Weekend Sponsored by: BMO Eaton Centre Branch and The Thornton-Smith Corporation
Community Supporters: Downtown Yonge BIA and Barberian's Steak House
Website: sankofasquare.ca/winterglow
Social Media: #SankofaSquare #WinterGlowTO
Media Kit: Images and video from Winter Glow can be found in this Google Drive folder.
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Winter Glow Family Weekend Sponsors
BMO Eaton Centre Branch
BMO is excited to open a large flagship location at Eaton Centre that brings all our partners together under one roof to provide sound financial guidance and be there for our customers where and when they need us. We are located right in the heart of the action, steps away from TTC Dundas Station and right off of the famous Sankofa Square. We will be surrounded by so many businesses, organizations, tourist attractions and residential units that we can help grow the good in business and life. bmo.com
The Thornton-Smith Corporation
The Thornton-Smith Building, owned by community advocate Ken Rutherford, is a vibrant heritage property located in the heart of Toronto at 340 Yonge Street. The building was designed in 1922 by prominent architect John M. Lyle for The Thornton-Smith Corporation, an exclusive furniture and design firm. Today, the world class building is home to OHYO Spree, offering fun for the whole family, Salad King, one of Toronto’s favourite Thai restaurants and the Aperture Room, an exclusive event venue in the heart of the city. thorntonsmith.ca
Winter Glow Sponsor
Chevrolet Silverado EV
Chevrolet Silverado is proud to be a sponsor of Winter Glow this holiday season. Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at chevrolet.ca.
Winter Glow Presenting Partners
Sankofa Square
Sankofa Square (formerly Yonge-Dundas Square) is a bustling gathering place for millions of visitors each year. Established in 2004, the Square hosts hundreds of diverse events including community-based festivals, concerts, public art, and commercial experiences. The Square is an open space that welcomes everyone. It is managed by the Sankofa Square Board of Management, a City of Toronto agency. sankofasquare.ca
Astro Amusements
Astro Amusements is a family-owned and operated midway provider operating in and around the Greater Toronto Area since 1979. We specialize in providing midway rides, games, and concessions to local events and festivals both large and small and are specifically the most widely used provider for local BIA street Festivals. astroamusements.ca
The Thornton-Smith Corporation
The Thornton-Smith Building, owned by community advocate Ken Rutherford, is a vibrant heritage property located in the heart of Toronto at 340 Yonge Street. The building was designed in 1922 by prominent architect John M. Lyle for The Thornton-Smith Corporation, an exclusive furniture and design firm. Today the world class building is home to OHYO Spree, offering fun for the whole family, Salad King, one of Toronto’s favourite Thai restaurants and the Aperture Room, an exclusive event venue in the heart of the city. thorntonsmith.ca
The Rotary Club of Toronto
The Rotary is a worldwide organization of more than 1.3 million business, professional, and community leaders in 200 countries, who make a difference in the communities in which they live. At over 170 members strong, The Rotary Club of Toronto is one of the largest Clubs in Canada and oldest Rotary clubs in the world. Our members develop exciting community service projects that address many critical issues, including children at risk, poverty and hunger, urban violence, illiteracy, drug abuse, and many more. rotarytoronto.com
For more information or to arrange an interview with a member of Sankofa Square or Winter Glow producers and sponsors, contact:
Kieran Sagar
PR & Media Outreach Specialist
SPECTRE Agency
kieran@thespectreagency.com | (289) 983-8812
OR
Marnie Grona
Sankofa Square
Marketing & Communications
marnie@sankofasquare.ca | (416) 979-9960 ext. 125
