One-time Booking of Parks & Recreation Facilities
If your gathering or event includes:
- the sale or service of alcohol
- serving food to the public
- amplified sound over 85 decibels
- structures or other more complicated elements
your booking is not simple and requires a Special Event Booking.
Take photos to capture the beauty of the space and the memories of your visit!
If you are planning more formal photography such as a photo shoot, wedding photography or other commercial photography, booking in advance is encouraged.
Photographers who do not book in advance may be asked to leave by City staff, particularly if their photography and equipment is inhibiting the use of the facility by other visitors.
How to book a park or facility for photography
- Contact our customer service team at 416-392-8188 to determine if your preferred location, date and time can be accommodated.
- Complete the application: Parks Commercial Photography Application.
- Provide a map of the location/site where you plan to set-up.
- Provide proof of 3rd party liability insurance naming the City of Toronto as an additional insured.
- Pay the appropriate fee for the location (fees range from $60 to $240 per hour) to finalize the booking.
On November 1 of each year, Toronto’s pumpkins shine brightly for one last night in parks across the city. Booking your local park for a Pumpkin Parade is free for not-for-profit and community groups, Business Improvement Areas and City Councillors.
Pumpkin Parades require insurance. If your organization or community group does not have insurance, it can be purchased through the City when you make your booking for a fee:
- 0-100 people/pumpkins: $27
- 101-500 people/pumpkins but under 1000 pumpkins: $54
Bookings for 2018 Pumpkin Parades will be accepted beginning in September. For more information, please call:
- Carol Lord at 416-397-9982
- Paula Simms at 416-338-3940
Arts, music and movie nights in Toronto’s parks can be booked for free, and these bookings can be completed in less than a week if you are booking one of our pre-approved locations.
To book an art, music or movie night in a park
- Complete the Arts and Music at Parks Application
- Email the application to PFRArtsandMusic@toronto.ca.
Important things to know
- If your event includes the sale or service of alcohol, serving food to the public, amplified music over 85dB or other more complicated elements, your booking does not qualify for the free booking and requires a Special Event Booking.
- You are required to have insurance, however, a one-time insurance policy is available through City of Toronto for music events and movie nights (ranging from $25 to $100, based on the number of participants).
- A $28.00 cancellation fee will apply to all events cancelled with less than 1 week written notice.
- Please wait until you have confirmed your booking before advertising your event.
- You may sell your music, art or related promotional items or collect donations passively during booked events
- You may only use a generator to amplify music, provided the noise of the music and/or the generator does not exceed 85 decibels.
- Signage and sponsorship are allowed for events booked in parks, however, some additional rules apply. Customer service staff can help you clarify these considerations.
To book a gymnasium, kitchen or multi-purpose room in your local community recreation centre:
- Find a suitable location on our recreation centre listing or recreation centre map.
- Contact the recreation centre directly to confirm availability and to book the space.
- Pay your fees to complete the booking. Depending on the type and rating of the facility, the age and residency of participants, and if your booking is in prime time or not, booking fees range from free to nearly $400 per hour.
The listing for each centre includes contact information, as well as a facilities tab that outlines the rooms, kitchens, gymnasiums and other facilities available for booking.
Setting up your booking account
If you haven’t previously done so, you will also need to fill out PFR Booking Account return it to the recreation centre.
To book ice time, pools, courts, fields or other recreation facilities for birthday party, social event or just to play a game with friends or family:
- Find a suitable location on our facility listings or map.
- Call 311 to speak with a customer service team member to determine if the facility is available for your preferred date and time.
- Complete the PFR one-time space use form and submit it to the customer service team.
- Pay your fees to complete the booking. Depending on the type and rating of the facility, the age and residency of participants, and if your booking is in prime time or not, booking fees range from free to nearly $400 per hour.
Setting up your booking account
If you haven’t previously done so, you will also need to fill out PFR Booking Account return it to the recreation centre.
Ice Availability
You can search for available ice time online during the season. You can also use Additional Ice time for Sale listings for both seasonal and spot booking.