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Tag: College Park

Illuminite 2026

February 24, 2026 / / 2 Comments

Illuminite is a free, annual winter outdoor art festival organized by the Downtown Yonge BIA that transforms the Downtown Yonge area into a public gallery with interactive light installations. This year the event features five main installations focused on the theme of “Play”.

Each site features a playful, interactive experience designed to spark joy, movement, and connection in the heart of winter. Whether you’re a curious explorer or just passing through, Illuminite 2026 invites everyone to pause, play, and light up the city together.

This year the five art installations are located at:

  • Yonge-Dundas Square
  • Trinity Square Park
  • College Park
  • 777 Bay Plaza
  • Granby Parkette

I paid a little visit to each site; here’s what I found (installation descriptions courtesy of the Illuminite 2026 website):

Pop!

Something Fun Is Popping Up
Company: Gentilhomme
Location: Yonge-Dundas Square (1 Dundas Street East)

Something playful is bubbling beneath the surface at Yonge-Dundas Square, and it’s ready to POP! Hidden inside glowing monoliths are five quirky characters – named Popo, Popup, Popli, Popette, and Popotin – just waiting to burst out and start the party.

To set them free, you’ll need to call out, sing, or dance your way into their world. As each figure responds with movement, sound, and colour, the installation transforms into a joyful, collective celebration of music, surprise, and togetherness.

Domino Effect

Sparks In Sequence
Artist: Ingrid Ingrid
Location: Trinity Square Park (19 Trinity Square, behind Eaton Centre)

Get ready to knock down winter blues with a musical chain reaction! Domino Effect invites visitors of all ages to play, collaborate, and co-create a symphony of sound and light using giant pastel-coloured dominos.

Each domino triggers a unique note, from vocals to percussion, and every cascade becomes a playful performance of rhythm, colour, and connection. Work together to build longer sequences, reverse the direction, and unlock new melodies in this interactive orchestra of joy.

Horizon

The Light Is In Sight
Artist: MattCreative
Location: College Park – Yonge Street Entrance (420 Yonge Street)

Step into a glowing field of motion and colour. Horizon is a large-scale 3D LED matrix that visualizes waves of light as they move through space and time. With over 3,000 LEDs and interactive controls, this immersive installation invites you to shape shifting patterns of light in real time, turning College Park into a dynamic playground of sight and sound.

Oval Swings

Coming Full Circle
Company: Prevail Activations
Location: 777 Bay Plaza (777 Bay Street)

Feel the glow and let yourself sway. Oval Swings bring playful energy and luminous charm to 777 Bay Plaza. Designed for all ages, these glowing LED swings invite you to pause, connect, and capture the moment: a joyful blend of movement, light, and pure winter magic.

A delightful, hands-on experience that turns Trinity Square Park into a hub of movement, laughter, and collective creativity.

Hearts At Play

Find The Missing Piece
Artist: Daria Domnikova
Location: Granby Parkette (431 Yonge Street)

Granby Parkette comes alive with Hearts at Play, a vibrant trio of interactive sculptures that celebrate community, creativity, and connection in Downtown Yonge.

Bold in colour and glowing with light, these artworks encourage visitors to pause, play, reflect, and rediscover the heart of the city, and their place within it.

Illuminite runs until March 8, 2026. The event is now in its third year.

The Carlu

July 13, 2024 / / 1 Comment

Originally opened in 1930 as “Eaton’s Seventh Floor,” The Carlu was spearheaded by businessman Timothy Eaton. Lady Eaton, who aspired to bring high society and world-class culture to Toronto, was actively involved in the planning and design of Eaton’s College Street and the Seventh Floor. To realize her desire for style and elegance, she commissioned famed French architect, Jacques Carlu.

The College Park elevator to The Carlu on the 7th floor
Arriving at the 7th floor

Carlu was renowned for his masterpieces in the Art Moderne style, known as streamlined monumentalism for its clean lines and grand scale. The Seventh Floor exemplified this style in every element, including the colour palette, architectural details, artwork, room appointments, as well as the glorious Lalique fountain gracing the centre of The Round Room. In fact, it is said that the sheer beauty and unique shape of The Round Room may have inspired the design of The Rockefeller Center’s iconic Rainbow Room.

In 2003, the space at 444 Yonge Street in College Park was reopened as The Carlu event venue after an extensive restoration.

Event Rooms

The Carlu has 4 event rooms, namely the Concert Hall, the Sky Room, the Round Room and the Clipper Room. The following room descriptions are from Carlu’s website:

The Concert Hall

The Concert Hall can accommodate large functions ranging from 600-1500 guests. The versatile space can be transformed from a state-of-the-art concert space, to an exquisite backdrop for large galas, conventions, award ceremonies and more:

The Round Room

The Round Room is said to have inspired the design of The Rockefeller Center’s iconic Rainbow Room. Its unique shape, paired with the Lalique fountain that graces the centre of the room, make it an impressive space:

The Clipper Room

From an intimate corporate reception, to an on-site bridal suite, the Clipper Room functions as a flexible lounge, dining and reception space that can be used independently or in conjunction with The Carlu’s additional event spaces:

Recognized as one of Toronto’s best examples of Art Moderne architecture, the style is in evidence throughout the space:

Exiting through the Carlu’s South Lobby we get one last look at the graceful Art Moderne details:

The Carlu has been designated as a National Historic Site of Canada, and has played host to royalty on several occasions as the preferred space for high profile social fetes, conventions, and corporate celebrations.

Historical data courtesy of The Carlu’s website

Click here to view the complete photo gallery of my Carlu visit

Fall Harvest at College Park

October 13, 2022 / / 0 Comments

The Downtown Yonge BIA is presenting Festive Fall, a seasonal transformation of the little park at College Park – the frogs and their lily pads had to make way for the harvest.

Later this month – October 31 to be exact – College Park is hosting their Halloween Spooktacular. According to their website, the event is “a family-friendly evening of activities that include pumpkin painting, a spooky dance performance and a free screening of the Addams Family 2!”

CLICK HERE TO BROWSE ALL THE SHOTS FROM THIS WALK

A Rainy Day Walk

August 21, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Today I swing through College Park, walk down Yonge Street to catch the tail end of OpenStreetsTO, visit the Panamerican Food & Music Festival at Yonge-Dundas Square, and finish up on Dundas Street East where I checked out some urban scrawl.

Frogs and Lily Pads at College Park

Four years after the Aura condo tower at College Park wrapped up construction, the long-awaited revitalization of the College Park public space was completed. The old park was completed removed because the parking garage underneath required a new waterproof membrane on its roof. And… we have now have frogs!

Walking Down Yonge Street…

Yonge Street south of Gerrard Street
Packing up after OpenStreetsTO at Yonge and Dundas Streets

Panamerican Food & Music Festival at Yonge-Dundas Square

The Panamerican Food & Music Festival is Canada’s largest annual festival of its kind. It celebrates the rich diversity of cuisine, music and art from North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. The theme this year is Celebrating 10 Years of Flavour & Fun – Panamerican Style.

Then on to some street art…

Mural at the corner of Victoria Street and Dundas Street East
91 Dundas Street East
Near Dundas Street East and Church Street
CLICK HERE TO BROWSE ALL THE SHOTS FROM THIS WALK

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