Rink closed for thaw till further notice

A red sunset illuminates the rough patchy surface of the natural ice rink gripped by warm weather.

The thaw that arrived December 28 has done its damage… the Sorauren natural ice rink is closed till further notice. As always, the volunteer Sorauren Hosers Rink Crew thank you for staying off the soft surface to protect it for a quick rebound when weather permits. Footprints in the soft mud/slush of the ball diamond make a royal mess.

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The Hosers will start flooding again once there is a consistent below-zero forecast for about a full week.

Rink open for two days before thaw

The Sorauren Park natural ice rink is open, in fair condition with a few bare patches, for Monday December 26 and Tuesday December 27 before an expected thaw starting Wednesday.

Thanks to the efforts of the all-volunteer Sorauren Hosers Rink Crew, the community rink has been built and flooded several times to create enough of a base.

Once the thaw starts, please stay off the rink to protect the surface. The biggest challenge is footprints (and pawprints) in soft or muddy ground. These create devilish craters that delay rink re-opening.

Thanks to Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation for new hoses, water supply and scrapers, and to our returning Rink Sponsors whose generous support pays for coveted Hoser toques, rink board replacements and other expenses. Sorauren Hosers is a program of Friends of Sorauren Park.

2023 Rink Sponsors

Logos for Scooter Girl Toys, Chander Chaddah and Evolve Chiropractic.

Sorauren Rink Build Day Dec. 17

Drill lessons: how to attach the buttresses

It’s Build Day this Saturday December 17, starting at 10 am, and you’re invited. Help the all-volunteer Sorauren Hosers Rink Crew lay out and erect the boards for this year’s natural ice rink, located on the baseball diamond.

After the build, volunteers are invited to a fresh-made pizza lunch from the park’s pizza oven.

Volunteer duties on Build Day include moving the boards and materials, installing the boards (bring a cordless drill driver and hammer if you got ’em), and cleaning up.

The Sorauren Hosers begin flooding the rink when Mother Nature sends the signal, which is one full week of below zero temperatures. Volunteer positions are available on some of the evening flooding crews. The commitment is one evening per week with your experienced captain and other crew mates. There is also a Sunrise Soak crew on many Saturday and Sunday early mornings. Contact us!

Thanks to Parks, Forestry and Recreation for rink scrapers, hose storage, water access and permits. Special thanks to the 2023 returning Sorauren Rink Sponsors, who support material purchases and volunteer activities (like pizza lunches!).

Logos for Scooter Girl Toys, Chander Chaddah and Evolve Chiropractic.

The rink in February 2022

Sorauren Farmers’ Market winter schedule

photo of the two-storey brick Sorauren Fieldhouse at night, with lights shining from inside, and bicycles and strollers parked in front
The Market moves indoors at the Sorauren Fieldhouse

The Sorauren Farmers’ Market moves indoors to the Sorauren Park Fieldhouse for its winter schedule.

For the rest of 2022, enjoy the Market every Monday 3 – 7 pm until and including December 19.

In 2023, the Market will run every third Monday of the month, 3 – 7 pm, in the Fieldhouse on these dates:

  • January 16
  • February 20
  • March 20
  • April 17

The Market is produced by the non-profit Sorauren Farmers’ Market Association. Visit the Market website for up-to-date information.

Sorauren Pumpkin Parade returns Nov. 1

Photo of a long line of jack-o-lanterns lighting up Sorauren Avenue Park

The world-famous Sorauren Pumpkin Parade returns to Sorauren Park November 1, the day after Halloween.

With more than 1,500 pumpkins on display in some years, the Parade is a neighbourhood and even regional highlight of the season. From witches and cats, to politicians and world events, the artful jack-o-lanterns represent the spirit of Halloween and also the spirit of the times.

Add your pumpkin to the parade. It starts at 6 pm, with the busiest times after dinner. There is no competition… but will your pumpkin get noticed? And what will be the dominant theme this year?

Place your pumpkins along the inside edge of the path around the park. Please light your pumpkins with wax candles and not battery-powered lights or tin-bottomed tea lights that contaminate the eventual compost. Your candle-lit pumpkins make the parade come alive.

Walk or take transit to the park. The streets are narrow and busy and there is no parking at the park. The 505 Dundas and 506 College streetcars stop at the top of Sorauren, a three-minute walk from the park. The 47 Lansdowne bus stops at Rideau St., also a short walk away. Be safe.