Family Day Toronto 2027: Free Skating and City Programs

Pack the mitts and pencil in a long weekend: Family Day is coming back to the calendar.

Family Day 2027 is Monday, February 15. It is one of Ontario’s nine public holidays.

What has the City planned for Family Day 2027?

Not yet. When we checked in October 2026, the City’s Festivals & Events page had no Family Day listing. For a sense of timing, last year the City issued its Family Day release on February 13, 2026, ahead of the holiday. We will update this page when the City publishes the 2027 lineup.

Last year gives a hint of the scale. For Family Day on Monday, February 16, 2026, the City said it was offering several options for residents and visitors to enjoy the holiday. Below, we have pulled out the ones that were free or familiar, so you can plan around programs worth watching for.

Where can you skate for free?

Start with the rinks the City already runs. All drop-in programs at its indoor rinks and its outdoor artificial ice rinks are free. The City says outdoor artificial ice rinks typically open in late November and close for the season in March, so February sits comfortably inside the skating season. For Family Day 2026, the City said select outdoor rinks and skating trails would be open, weather permitting.

If you need skates, you have two options. Skate rentals are available at Nathan Phillips Square during the winter season only. The free Skate Lending Library is open to all ages and needs no reservation. Its van will visit ice rink locations starting November 20, 2026, and when we checked in October 2026 the City listed the 2026/2027 schedule as coming soon. For Family Day 2026, the City said the library would be at Mel Lastman Square.

Our guide to free outdoor skating rinks in Toronto maps out places to lace up, and the Nathan Phillips Square guide covers the downtown rink.

What did the City run on Family Day 2026?

Treat last year’s list as a preview of the kinds of things to watch for, not a promise for 2027. In 2026, the City’s options included:

• Toronto History Museums. The City listed six sites for Family Day with free admission: Fort York National Historic Site, Montgomery’s Inn, Scarborough Museum, Spadina Museum, Todmorden Mills and Colborne Lodge.
• Play Mobile. The City said its Play Mobile would offer free outdoor sports.
• Swimming. The City said drop-in swimming would be available at 14 City pools on Family Day, and City-run leisure swims are free of charge.
• Animals. The City said Riverdale Farm is open daily with free admission, and that the High Park Animal Display is open every day, including on Family Day.

How do you plan the day?

Pick one anchor, then add a warm-up. If you are staying close to home, drop-in skating at a City rink is free. If you are heading downtown, Nathan Phillips Square has skate rentals on site in winter. A morning skate followed by a museum stop or a farm visit makes an easy rhythm for a family day out. Check each site before you go, since schedules and weather change. For more ideas, browse our winter activities for kids and the full Winter in Toronto guide.