Every summer, Toronto is host to the Honda Indy, which is held at the Exhibition Place in mid-July. If you have young kids, you may not consider attending the Honda Indy, but with few tips, it may be a worthwhile adventure for your family.
Plan your Visit for Fan Friday
On Friday, admission to the Honda Indy is free for everyone. Indy races are quite loud and to be honest, your kids may not like Indy car racing. Thankfully, if you attend on Friday, you will not have invested much in your visit. If you attend the Honda Indy on Saturday or Sunday, Children age 12 and under have free general admission when accompanied by an adult (with a ticket).
Prepare for the Weather
Exhibition Place does not have much shelter from the elements for an event like the Honda Indy. Check the weather forecast and take appropriate precautions. If there will be hot, sunny weather, make sure to apply sunscreen, bring hats and have plenty of water on hand. Conversely, if rain is in the forecast, dress appropriately and bring an umbrella and/or a poncho.
Take Public Transit
Exhibition Place is a terrific venue for the Honda Indy, but it creates traffic chaos in the city for a few days since they close Lakeshore Boulevard. In addition, there is very limited parking available, which usually sells out in advance.
Your best choice for getting to the Honda Indy is public transit. GO Transit has a stop at the Exhibition on the Lakeshore West line. The Toronto Transit Commission also has two routes into the Exhibition grounds with their 509 streetcar from Union Station and their 29 Dufferin bus.
Tip: If travelling by GO Transit, kids 12 and under can ride the train for free with an adult. Simply show your GO and Honda Indy tickets!
Bring Noise Cancelling Earmuffs
As mentioned earlier, the Honda Indy racing cars are very loud. Young kids need to have ear protection if they plan to sit in the stands to watch the races or time trials. We brought with us noise cancelling earmuffs for the kids, which work quite well. If you simply forgot ear protection, there are attendants at the entrances to the stands that will provide your kids with ear plugs. If they don’t offer them, ask them if they have any earplugs available.
Use an Umbrella Stroller
If you plan to use a stroller for your visit to the Honda Indy, consider bringing a lighter umbrella stroller. Due to the layout of the Indy, you will need to cross the racetrack using a bridge with two sets of stairs on each end of them.
Visit the Honda Speed Zone
After catching some of the Indy cars on the track, consider taking your kids over to the Honda Speed Zone. This area is filled with kid activities and vendors which will help keep your kids entertained. What’s more, there are free cotton candy, popcorn and snow cones available! Our kids like climbing aboard the Toronto Fire firetrucks wearing an authentic kid-sized fire jacket!
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