Media Release: Sankofa Square is Ready to Glow Again this Holiday Season with the Return of Winter Glow
Epilepsy Toronto joins Winter Glow as Presenting Partner
MEDIA RELEASE: TORONTO, ON — November 19, 2025 — Downtown Toronto is about to shine brighter than ever! The third edition of Winter Glow returns to Sankofa Square on Thursday, December 11, transforming the vibrant public square with a holiday spirit that lights up the heart of the city with a dazzling winter wonderland filled with lights, music, and festive cheer.
Winter Glow will run from Thursday, December 11 to Sunday, December 21, from 4 pm to 10 pm on weekdays and 12 pm to 10 pm on weekends.
Presented in partnership with Astro Amusements, Epilepsy Toronto, and The Thornton-Smith Corporation, this year’s edition invites visitors of all ages to gather, celebrate, and experience the magic of the season right in the heart of the city. Guided by the principle of Sankofa—to look to the past for wisdom to build a strong future—Winter Glow blends cherished holiday traditions with the vibrancy of the modern urban core.
“Winter Glow is fundamentally about community connections and creating a joyful destination where everyone feels welcome,” says Julian Sleath, General Manager of Sankofa Square. “We are thrilled to welcome Epilepsy Toronto as our new presenting partner this year and to continue our valuable relationships with Astro Amusements and The Thornton-Smith Corporation. Sankofa Square truly comes alive during the holidays, and we invite all Toronto residents and visitors to join us to celebrate the season and make positive, shared memories right here in the heart of the city.”
A New Partnership: Epilepsy Toronto brings Holiday Market Vibes to Winter Glow
“We are thrilled to partner on Winter Glow with Sankofa Square this year to co-create a truly one-of-a-kind Toronto festive experience,” says Geoff Bobb, Executive Director of Epilepsy Toronto. “Together we are creating a unique and vibrant event that celebrates the true spirit of the season with the gift of kindness in support of those with epilepsy and their families in times of greatest need.”
WINTER GLOW HIGHLIGHTS:
Holiday Market: Step into a cozy holiday market experience featuring twinkling lights, artisan stalls, and photo-worthy backdrops. The Holiday Market features the licensed Polar Point Bar with holiday favourites like mulled wine and spiked hot apple cider, real wood fire pits to stay cozy. Plus photos with Santa Claus! It’s a holiday opportunity for attendees to shop, sip, and support Epilepsy Toronto's vital community work.
Classic Rides, Games, and Treats: Ride the 45ft tall Ferris Wheel, offering a bird’s-eye view of the Square and surrounding area, plus the Great Canadian Carousel that provides nostalgic fun for all ages. Indulge the sweet tooth and enjoy mini donuts, hot chocolate, and more before testing midway game skills.
More magic to come: Live performances, unique engagement activities, and dazzling lighting displays will run throughout the 11-day event.
OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATION
Everyone is invited to join us for the opening celebration starting at 5:00 PM on Thursday, December 11 at Sankofa Square. Festivities kick off with a performance by My Pop Choir, an adult community choir that blends the joy of music with the power of community. Visitors can then enjoy their first rides on the Ferris Wheel and Great Canadian Carousel, check out the Holiday Market artisan vendors, sip on a beverage from the Polar Point Bar, soak in the glow of the season surrounded by community and connection, and more!
Brand Experiences, Pop-Ups, & Giveaways
Throughout Winter Glow, a rotating showcase of brand experiences and product sampling pop-ups will add to the festive fun.
SHEIN Box Santa
The larger-than-life SHEIN Box Santa returns to Winter Glow from December 11 to 14 with 6,000+ free gifts! All that festive holiday-goers need to do is snap a photo with SHEIN’s Box Santa, post it with #SHEINboxsanta, and show your post to Santa’s helpers to claim your surprise gift. From fashion to beauty and lifestyle must-haves, discover festive joy with SHEIN. Bring your friends and family for the perfect holiday photo and celebrate the spirit of giving!
Visit sankofasquare.ca/winterglow for the latest information on participating brands and experiences. A few premium brand experience spaces are still available. Reach out to the Sankofa Square team at info@sankofasquare.ca to discuss available dates and rates.
Winter Glow Event Details
Dates: Thursday, December 11 to Sunday, December 21, 2025
Hours: Monday to Friday: 4pm to 10pm | Saturday & Sunday: noon to 10pm
Location: Sankofa Square (1 Dundas St E, Toronto, ON)
Admission: Free | All ages welcome
Ride Tickets: $6 for a single ticket | $20 for 4 tickets | $37 for 8 tickets. Tickets can be purchased in advance at sankofasquare.ca/winterglow.
Food & Beverages: Available for purchase on site
There will be other surprises throughout Winter Glow! Visit sankofasquare.ca/winterglow frequently for updates, subscribe to the Sankofa Square newsletter, and follow #SankofaSquare and #WinterGlowTO hashtags on social media.
Winter Glow is produced by Sankofa Square in partnership with Astro Amusements, Epilepsy Toronto, and The Thornton-Smith Corporation.
Promotional support is generously provided by our proud media sponsors, CHUM 104.5 and 99.9 Virgin Radio.
Community Support provided by Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area.
Website: sankofasquare.ca/winterglow
Social Media:
Sankofa Square: Instagram & TikTok: @sankofasquare | Facebook: SankofaSquareOfficial
Epilepsy Toronto: Instagram, TikTok, & Facebook: @epilepsytoronto
Hashtags: #SankofaSquare #WinterGlowTO
Media Kit: Images and other Winter Glow information can be found in this Google Drive folder.
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Winter Glow Presenting Partners
SANKOFA SQUARE
Sankofa Square is a vibrant community hub and central gathering place in the heart of downtown Toronto, originally established in 2004 as Yonge-Dundas Square. As an open space that welcomes everyone, the Square hosts hundreds of diverse events, from community-based festivals and concerts to public art and commercial experiences. Managed by the Sankofa Square Board of Management, a City of Toronto agency, the Square is guided by the Akan principle of Sankofa, which means "to go back and get it"—a concept encouraging us to look to the past for wisdom to build a strong collective future. sankofasquare.ca.
ASTRO AMUSEMENTS
Astro Amusements is a family-owned and operated midway provider operating in and around the Greater Toronto Area since 1979. We specialize in providing midway rides, games, and concessions to local events and festivals both large and small and are specifically the most widely used provider for local BIA street Festivals. astroamusements.ca
EPILEPSY TORONTO
Epilepsy Toronto is a charitable agency dedicated to promoting the independence and optimal quality of life for all people with epilepsy and their families across the Greater Toronto Area. For over 60 years, the organization has provided essential counselling, employment support, education, and advocacy to help individuals live well with epilepsy. Epilepsy Toronto has a strong track record of successful community engagement and fundraising, hosting annual signature events that raise crucial awareness, including the Holiday Fair in the Square, Toronto International BuskerFest, Bark in the Park TO, and the annual Purple Walk for Epilepsy. epilepsytoronto.org
THE THORNTON-SMITH CORPORATION
The Thornton-Smith Building, owned by community advocate Ken Rutherford, is a vibrant heritage property located in the heart of Toronto at 340 Yonge Street. The building was designed in 1922 by prominent architect John M. Lyle for The Thornton-Smith Corporation, an exclusive furniture and design firm. Today the world class building is home to OHYO Spree, offering fun for the whole family, Salad King, one of Toronto’s favourite Thai restaurants and the Aperture Room, an exclusive event venue in the heart of the city. thorntonsmith.ca
Media Contacts
Wayne Tsaur
Public Relations & Media Outreach Specialist
SPECTRE Creative Media & Public Relations
wayne@thespectreagency.com
(647) 216-8658
Marnie Grona
Manager of Marketing, Communications & Corporate Partnerships
Sankofa Square
marnie@sankofasquare.ca
(416) 979-9960 ext. 125
Mackenzie Muldoon
Director of Communications
Epilepsy Toronto
mackenzie@epilepsytoronto.org
(416) 964-9095 ext. 217
