Arts & CultureFeb – Mar
Winter Stations
The Beaches' lifeguard towers become an international design gallery for six weeks of frozen shoreline art.
When
2026: February 16 – March 30, 2026
2027: TBD
2025: February 15 – March 30, 2025
Where
Woodbine Beach / Kew Beach boardwalk
Area
The Beaches
Cost
Free
Format
outdoor
Attendance
8K+ visitors
Running Since
2014 (12 years)
Family Friendly
Yes
VT Insider Tip
Go at golden hour — sunrise or late afternoon — when the low winter light and lake ice make the installations (and the photos) genuinely striking rather than just cold.
About
Winter Stations turns Woodbine and Kew Beach's ordinary lifeguard stands into large-scale public art installations, chosen through a juried international design competition that's drawn entries from more than 90 countries since launching in 2014. It's free, always outdoors, and one of the few Toronto festivals that makes the frozen lakeshore worth the trip in February.
What to Expect
A self-guided walk along the boardwalk between a handful of dramatically reimagined lifeguard towers, each built around the year's competition theme. No crowds control or ticketing — just bundle up and wander the beach.
Pro Tips
Dress for lake-effect wind, which is colder than the temperature suggests. There's little shelter or food along the route, so this pairs well with a stop at a Queen Street East café afterward.
Getting There
Take the 501 Queen streetcar east to Woodbine Avenue, then walk south to the boardwalk. The Woodbine subway station on Line 2 also connects to streetcar routes heading south.