The Town of Newmarket is thrilled to announce that the GTA’s premier winter event, Ice Lounge on Main presented by Mercedes-Benz Newmarket is back. For one weekend (February 21 to 23) Newmarket’s award-winning Historic Main Street will be transformed into an outdoor winter lounge featuring live music, an on-street bar, performances and activities for all ages offering residents and visitors an unforgettable food and beverage experience.
From Water Street to Park Avenue, Main Street will become a fully licensed pedestrian zone offering a vibrant atmosphere with plenty of free activities and entertainment for guests to enjoy.
Fire-side and igloo lounges
Warm up with free hot chocolate, soup and roasted marshmallows
Enjoy live music, performances, shopping and family-friendly activities
Dine, drink and explore the fully walkable and licensed event space
“Last year’s inaugural Ice Lounge on Main event drew ten thousand people out of their homes and to Newmarket’s Historic Main Street, attracting local, regional and even international visitors! It was a huge success for our community and businesses, and we’re excited to welcome people back to Newmarket this year for a full weekend of winter-themed festivities,” says Mayor John Taylor. “This year we’ve added new features, including a daytime DJ and activities for the kids, live local music all night, plus lounge areas, hot drinks, a shopping contest and more. Also new this year, people out-of-town can stay overnight at a boutique hotel right on Main Street for an action-packed getaway close to home. We hope to see you there!”
Newmarket is recognized for hosting the best events in the province with back-to-back Municipality of the Year awards from Festival and Events Ontario. With accommodations across the town and a new boutique hotel located on Main Street, Newmarket is a great destination for short jaunts out of the city. The Ice Lounge on Main event is the perfect time to get-to-know Newmarket with an action-packed weekend of activities. Main Street’s Postmark Hotel is part of the celebration and will be helping guests warm up with complimentary soup and hot chocolate during the day and extra evening excitement.
Shop local for a chance to WIN
By Choosing Local and exploring the many boutique shops and services on Main Street, you have a chance to win big and support local businesses during a typically slower season. Spend $50 at participating businesses and redeem your receipt for a chance to win one of five grand prizes valued at over $500! Plus, the first 125 people who enter the Choose Local contest each day will also receive a $25 Choose Local prepaid VISA gift card.
Food & beverage
Indulge in Main Street’s eclectic restaurant scene or grab a drink at the outdoor bar and take it with you as you explore all that the event has to offer. During the event, guests will be permitted to enjoy alcohol purchased along Main Street outdoors throughout the event area.
Mercedes-Benz Newmarket Village
Hang out in style at the Mercedes-Benz Newmarket Village where you can kick back, relax and take in the atmosphere inside a luxurious geodome or sit by a cozy fire table while roasting marshmallows – courtesy of Vince’s Market.
Live entertainment
Enjoy music, magic and family-friendly street performances during the day and mesmerising fire shows and live music at night.
Take a thrilling ride down the Snow Valley Mini Tube Slide on Botsford Street, capture your favourite memories along Main Street at various photo spots, or chill out at the Arctic Lounge featuring life-like arctic animal statues that you and your family can engage with.
The Town is working closely with the Main Street District Business Improvement Area (BIA), and with their support, Ice Lounge on Main is sure to be the highlight of the winter season, showcasing local talent and businesses.
The event runs:
Friday, February 21 from noon to 10 p.m.
Saturday, February 22 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, February 23 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visit newmarket.ca/iceloungeonmain for more information on schedules, features and a map of the activations along Main Street.
Background
Newmarket’s historic award-winning Main Street attracts over a quarter of a million visitors each year and sets the scene for Ice Lounge on Main. In a first-of-its-kind event for the Town of Newmarket, the inaugural Ice Lounge on Main event in February 2024 brought thousands of visitors to downtown Newmarket and boosted local business revenue, taking sales from a generally low period to near summertime highs for many establishments.
About Newmarket
Just north of Toronto, in central York Region, Newmarket is home to 90,000 extraordinary people. As one of the most densely populated communities in Ontario, Newmarket may be small in area, but BIG things are happening there, like the ongoing transformation of the landmark Mulock Park into Newmarket’s very own urban oasis, which will feature works from the Art Gallery of Ontario at the historic Mulock House. Newmarket’s award-winning Main Street (voted the best in the country) is vibrant, thriving and recently welcomed York Region’s first boutique hotel, the Postmark. Find out more about why Newmarket was recently recognized as one of the most liveable communities in Canada at newmarket.ca.