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Take the opportunity to indulge your foodie - One of Toronto’s best qualities is its wide array of cuisine, so use the cold as an excuse to pack on some delicious winter weight, especially with Winterlicious’s discounted prix fixe meals at over 200 participating restaurants.

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Warm up in an indoor garden - Escape the blank white of winter at free indoor gardens like Centennial Park Conservatory and Cloud Garden, where you can thaw out while immersing yourself in some beautiful tropical foliage.

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See the Christmas Flower Show at Allan Gardens Conservatory - Around Christmastime, Allan Gardens Conservatory is transformed and filled with thousands of flowering plants, including over 30 varieties of poinsettia and creatively-shaped plant material. Go on the first Sunday in December for the grand opening, with horse and wagon rides, carolers, hot apple cider, and a visit from Santa.

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Submerge yourself in Ripley's Aquarium of Canada - This world-renowned aquarium lets you touch stingrays, walk among sharks, and escape the winter weather with 16,000 marine creatures.

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Get yourself to the Toronto Christmas Market - It's popular for a reason! From November 15 to December 23, the gorgeous cobble-stoned Distillery District will again transform into a winter wonderland, with warm apple cider, sweet pastry treats, joyous carolers, and a really, really tall tree. It's CAD$6.00 on weekends, and free before 5 pm on Fridays.

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Dance outside during DJ Skate Nights at Harbourfront - Beat the winter blues by lacing up your skates at the Harbourfront Center. On Saturdays, you can party on the ice from 8 pm to 11 pm. The free event runs until February 20.

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Cozy up in a café - Cafés like Black Bear Espresso, Dineen Outpost, Famous Last Words, and One In The Only offer comforts like book-lined walls, soft lighting, plush seating, warm sugary drinks, and even a fireplace!

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Go sledding - One of the best free things to do in the winter is busting out a sled (or an old sheet pan) and heading to a snowy hill for an afternoon of thrilling fun. There are numerous spots to choose from in the city, including Trinity Bellwoods Park, Cedarvale Park, Centennial Park in Etobicoke, and Christie Pitts Park.

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Enjoy a free concert -

The Canadian Opera Company's Free Concert Series runs from late September to May, and takes place at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre. Toronto provides the backdrop to incredibly talented artists as they sing, dance, play piano, jazz things up, and dazzle you with elevated chamber music. 

(Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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Cannonball into an indoor pool - Did you know the City of Toronto operates over 60 public indoor pools? And the admission is free!

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Curl up with a good book - While away some winter hours at a public library, and if you're not into reading, sign up for one of the many free classes covering everything from crafts and hobbies, to technology and career advancement.

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Enjoy an array of music at Winterfolk Music Festival - The blues, folk, jazz, and roots festival takes over the Danforth Music Hall
from February 12 to 14. The event will feature over 150 artists on five intimate stages, for a series of both free and paid events. Tickets for some of the paid events start at just CAD$10, provided  you buy in advance.

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Check out some art at Winter Stations - Bundle up, grab a hot chocolate, and head to Toronto's east end lakefront. There, you can see teams of artists and designers transform lifeguard stations into temporary interactive art installations, from Woodbine to Victoria Park. The exhibit opens on February 15, and will run until March 20.

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Embrace the frost at Icefest - This February's Icefest theme is Medieval Times, with the Village of Yorkville Park transforming into a magical display of ice sculptures. 

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Get through March at the Winter Brewfest - By the time March rolls around, the magic of winter is lost, and your heating bills will have you down, but 150 beers crafted from brewers from across Ontario and Quebec are there to get you all warmed up.

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Steam up at the Toronto Tea Festival - If you're trying to beat your winter bloat, cozy up at the Toronto Reference Library in the first few days of February. While you're there, learn about the history of tea, while tasting different types of the drink.

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Catch a free holiday flick - 'Elf,' 'White Christmas,' 'Love Actually,' 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation'—you name it, and the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema is screening it. Screenings are free of charge in the days leading up to Christmas! Bring a food donation to pass on the holiday cheer.

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Watch the Winter Solstice Parade in Kensington Market - Celebrate the longest, darkest night of the year by watching RedPepper Spectacle Arts spread warmth and light through one of Toronto's trendiest areas on December 21.

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Head to Winter Village at Evergreen Brick Works - Play, skate, eat, and shop at this artisan holiday market, nestled in the Don Valley.

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Holiday Fair in the Square - Nathan Phillips Square is the best place for people who don't want to pay to get into the Toronto Christmas Market, as it combines the charm and elegance of a market, with the excitement of a carnival all through December, and for free! You can find that perfect gift, enjoy a drink at the ice bar, and go skating.

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Tour the Steam Whistle Brewery - Steam Whistle Brewery offers 30-minute tours, where you can learn all about the brewing process, and enjoy some quality beer. Not only does it taste great, but this beer will also warm you right up. 

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General survival tips - To avoid slipping on ice, walk like a penguin—seriously. Keep your center of gravity over your front leg instead of splitting the weight mid-stride.

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Don't skimp on winter gear! - Peacoats are cute and parkas are expensive, but opt for style over function and you'll be cursing yourself all winter long.

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Get excited about cool accessories - Hats, mittens, boots, scarves, long underwear, thermal shirts, thick socks (and multiples of each) are a necessity, but you can style them in any way you want. After all, Toronto is a city of style.

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Get your pets dressed up too... - ...And fool yourself into thinking you're doing it for them.

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Make use of the underground PATH - When you finish your shopping at the Eaton Centre, walk all the way to Union Station's Holiday Market, and only spend a few seconds outdoors while working in some cardio.

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Wear fun sweaters - Even better, throw an ugly sweater party and revel in the warmth of ironic fashion.

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Find an outdoor hot tub - There's something so wrong but so incredibly right about running half-naked into the freezing cold, only to thaw in the bubbling hot waters of a Jacuzzi. Canadians know this experience well. Ring a friend!

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Fight the hibernation - While it's an amazing excuse to cancel plans, don't let the weather stop you from going outside. Toronto has so much to offer year round, and staving off seasonal affective disorder takes real work. If you've spent too much on gifts, rotate dinners at your friends' places!

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Surrender to the beauty of it -

While it's trendy to be grumpy about cold weather, allow yourself to appreciate the silent, crisp morning air and the magnificent beauty of fresh fallen snow, covering the city in a soft white blanket.

See also: Cities that are even more beautiful during winter.

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