Toronto’s Beaches Easter Parade will return this Sunday.
A cherished tradition that brings the community together with a burst of colour, music, and joy will begin at 2:00 pm.
The parade will start from Queen Street East and Munro Park Avenue and will continue for approximately two hours, captivating spectators along Queen Street East until Woodbine Avenue.
The Toronto Police will close roads along Queen Street East and surrounding areas, including Nursewood Road, Woodbine Avenue, and Lake Shore Boulevard East.
The closures will affect traffic, and police advise considering alternative transportation. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) will reroute services, anticipating delays (see below).
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The parade’s roots trace back to 1967 when the East Toronto Community Association initiated it to celebrate Canada’s Centennial year. However, starting in 1973, the Toronto Beaches Lions Club played a pivotal role in organizing and supervising the event, officially taking over in 1981. Originally parading along the boardwalk, its growing popularity saw it relocated to Queen Street in 1974.
According to the Toronto Beaches Lions Club, it is the world’s largest and longest-running Easter Parade, attracting over 50,000 global attendees.
So, head to the Beaches community on Sunday, March 31st, for the annual parade, which once famously featured elephants. The parade promises to deliver an unforgettable experience, rain or shine.
Trip Planning – Beaches Easter Parade
When: March 31, 2024 – 2:00pm
Parade Route
- Road closure: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (partial road): Queen Street East, from Munroe Park Avenue to Fallingbrook Road
- Road closure: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (full road): Queen Street East, from Munroe Park Avenue to Fallingbrook Road; Nursewood Road, from Queen Street East to #24 Nursewood Road
- Road closure: 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (full road): Queen Street East, from Woodbine Avenue to Fallingbrook Road
- Road closure: 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (full road): Woodbine Avenue, from Queen Street East to Lake Shore Boulevard East and Lake Shore Boulevard East, from Coxwell Avenue to Woodbine Avenue
TTC Route Changes:
- 92 Woodbine South: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. — 92 Woodbine South will divert from Woodbine Avenue, via south on Kingston Road, west on Eastern Avenue, north on Coxwell Avenue, east on Queen Street and north on Kingston Road, to regular route. Stops not served; Woodbine Avenue, south of Kingston Road.
- 64 Main: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. — 64 Main will divert, via south on Southwood Drive, west on Glen Stewart Crescent and east on Kingston Road, to regular route. Stops not served; south of Kingston Road.
- 501 Queen: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. — 501 Queen streetcars will turn back at Kingston Road. Stops not served; Queen Street, between Kingston Road and Neville Park Loop (Victoria Park Avenue).
Parking: Paid Parking at paid parking lots near the parade route.