Holiday festivities are in full swing in the Beach, so be sure to mark down these seasonal favourites.
Join the DeClute family for their fifth annual Light Up the Beach! on Saturday, Dec. 8, beginning at 7 p.m. Meet at the foot of Leuty Avenue and stroll along the boardwalk to Beech Avenue, illuminating 20 trees in sequence along the way — a total of 80,000 Christmas lights. There will be music and hot chocolate. The event is free but organizers are asking for donations of non-perishable food items, or cash, for Second Harvest food bank. For more information visit lightupthebeach.com.
Start doing vocal warm-ups for the 24th year of Carolling in the Park. This popular event will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 11 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Glen Stewart Park, just south of the foot bridge. Sing along with the Salvation Army Band and the choir from Beach United Church. Candy canes, hot chocolate and hot apple cider will be available, and a visit from Santa is guaranteed. A collection for the Salvation Army Band will be taken. For more information call 416-759-9997.
Flapjacks and maple syrup are on the menu at the annual Beaches Recreation Centre Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, Dec. 15 between 9:30 and 11 a.m. The event is hosted by the Centre’s Advisory Council. Please bring a non-perishable food item as a donation. The Beaches Rec Centre is located at 6 Williamson Rd.
The Toronto Beach Rotary is once again hosting Santa at the Gardener’s Cottage on Saturday, Dec. 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The youngsters have an opportunity to discuss the serious business of Christmas lists with Santa in a quiet, Victorian-decorated setting, while the parents take their own pictures of their children chatting with the man in red. Rotary Club members will be serving hot chocolate and cookies. Donations to Community Centre 55’s Hamper program are gratefully accepted.
The annual Hannukiah Lighting in Kew Gardens will take place on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. After the candles of the Menorah are lit, the Beach Synagogue will hold a delicious potato latka fest at the synagogue, 109 Kenilworth Ave. For more information call 416-694-7942 or visit beachhebrewinstitute.ca
Community Centre 55’s year-long Share A Christmas campaign culminates in the days leading up to December 25 with the delivering of baskets of food and gifts to local families in need. Volunteers are always needed to sort, assemble and deliver these seasonal care packages. Sorting begins on Tuesday, Dec. 18 and continues each day until delivery day, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 22. Everything takes place at CC55, 97 Main St. For more information call 416-691-1113. In the meantime, donations of non-perishable foods are still being accepted at the Centre, and at the Beaches Recreation Centre, 6 Williamson Rd., FreshCo grocery store at Victoria Park and Gerrard, Price Chopper grocery store at Leslie and Lakeshore, and five area CIBC branches (Woodbine and Queen, Balsam and Kingston Road, Coxwell and Danforth, Birchmount and Danforth, and Shoppers World).
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