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Your guide to City of London services and programs over the holiday season
With the holidays upon us, I wanted to share a quick guide to what City services and programs are open or closed, along with a few ways to make the most of the winter break here in London.
If you’re looking to stay active and spend time with family and friends, the City of London has a range of festive recreation options available over the holidays, including skating, swimming, and free drop-in programs.
Indoor and outdoor skating
Indoor public skating is available at arenas across the city throughout the holiday season, including free public skate sessions. Pre-registration is required for all indoor skate times. Full schedules and registration for free skating are available online. Arenas will be closed on December 24 and December 31 starting at 11 a.m., and fully closed on December 25 and January 1.
The Victoria Park ice rink is open for free outdoor skating throughout the holidays, weather permitting, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The rink closes each day from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for ice resurfacing. To check for weather-related closures, residents can call 519-661-4529.
You can also experience winter skating at Storybook Gardens, featuring a 250-metre skate trail looping through the park. After skating, warm up with hot chocolate or a Beavertails pastry. Holiday hours, admission details, and tickets are available at Storybook Gardens’ Winter Glow.
Free holiday recreation drop-in programs
On Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, the City is offering free recreation drop-in activities for all ages. Options include Zumba, badminton, family open gym, arts and crafts, and science workshops. Pre-registration is required, and a full list of available programs can be found here.
Free parking in the Core Area
If you’re doing last-minute holiday shopping or planning ahead for Boxing Day, one hour of free parking is available at on-street meters in London’s core until December 31. Starting January 1, 2026, this increases to two hours of free parking. To use the offer, enter the promo code CORE in the HONK app at checkout. More parking details are available here.
Free parking is also available in Old East Village Lots #1 and #2 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Ring in the New Year in Victoria Park
London’s annual New Year’s Eve in the Park returns on Wednesday, December 31, from 7 p.m. to midnight in Victoria Park. The evening includes live music, food trucks, a 360-degree photo booth, and two fireworks displays. Full event details are available here.
Aquatic facilities
The Canada Games Aquatic Centre, Carling Heights Pool, East Lions Community Centre, and South London Community Pool remain open over the holidays, though schedules and drop-in swim times vary. Residents can view schedules, including free recreation swims, and book swim times online here.
Overnight parking
If you have guests visiting over the holidays, remember to register for an overnight parking pass if parking on-street overnight. Passes are free, can be obtained here, and do not need to be printed or displayed. Each household receives 15 free passes per year, with additional passes available for purchase once those are used.
The overnight parking program applies to most City streets. All other parking regulations remain in effect, including restrictions near fire hydrants, on boulevards, front lawns, or on streets where signage prohibits parking. Always check posted signage before parking.
Snow updates and winter information
With unpredictable winter weather, residents are encouraged to check our page for snow clearing updates, on-street parking status, and any changes to community centre or recreation program hours.
City services during the holiday closure
Many City offices, programs, and services will be closed starting at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, December 24, and will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, January 2. A full list of services that remain open during the holidays is available here.
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