It's time to sharpen your skates, start bubbling up the hot chocolate, and get out your kneepads (and asspads and helmet, if you're like us), because today kicks off the skating season at Nathan Phillips Square.

If skating isn't your bag, then you can still come down tonight to check out the Cavalcade of Lights kickoff. The events include performances by Jully Black, Sarah Slean, and Kim Stockwood, as well as a performance by Irving Berlin's White Christmas Singers. If that isn't enough for you, 13-year-old jazz singer Nikki Yanofsky will be singing with the Imani Gospel Singers. The event will close with a bangin' fireworks display.

You can skate from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily starting today. Don't worry if you don't have skates, there are rentals available. The Cavalcade of Lights opening celebrations start at 6:45.

Photo by Ride My Pony from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.