Skip downtown hotel prices
A family of five or six needs two downtown hotel rooms plus parking. A house in Whitby gives everyone a bed, a kitchen and free parking, with the GO train to Union Station and a short connection to Exhibition.
Spend one day at the Fair and the next at the Toronto Zoo or the Whitby waterfront.
Plan your days
The Fair is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays, and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. Weekday daytime visits are usually calmer with young kids.
In past years
The Royal has run since 1922, pausing only during the Second World War and for two pandemic years. The 2025 edition, its 103rd, ran November 7 to 17 at the Enercare Centre, with a miniature donkey named Rosie as the Royal Ambassador.
Highlights each year include the Royal Horse Show, livestock and dairy competitions, the Royal Petting Farm and butter sculptures, with more than 300,000 visits over the run.
See photos from past years: Openly licensed photos on Wikimedia Commons · Official Royal website
Questions
When is the 2026 Royal Winter Fair?
November 6 to 15, 2026, at Exhibition Place in Toronto.
How do we get there from Whitby?
Take the GO train from Whitby GO Station to Union Station and connect to Exhibition, or drive west on the Gardiner and park at Exhibition Place.
Dates and times can change. Confirm with the organizer before booking.
