Doors Open Toronto is looking for the owners of unique and not often seen buildings who are willing to show them off to the public for free in the spring.
In 2025, the event will explore Toronto’s "playful development" under the motto, "The City is Your Playground; Get Ready to Play".
"From sports to music to theatre, Doors Open sites and programming will engage with the joyful, irreverent and sometimes serious times of play," the city said.
"Visitors will explore the many sides of our playful city — for kids of all ages."
The annual celebration of heritage and architecture allows the public to explore the city’s most-loved buildings and sites.
It also provides rare access to buildings that are not usually open to the public and free access to sites that would usually charge an admission fee.
Since its inception in 2000, the Toronto version of the event has attracted more than two million visits to nearly 700 locations and remains the largest event of its kind in Canada, according to the city.
The city said preference is given to sites or areas that are not usually open to the public, but have significant architectural features or historical or cultural significance.
Also of interest are sites typically open to the public that not everyone gets a chance to see, such as churches, banquet halls and theatres.
Sites celebrating significant anniversaries that have been recognized with heritage or architectural awards — or that have significant original interior or adaptive reuse features — are also being sought.
And it's not just heritage. Sites that feature contemporary design excellence or innovative green, sustainable or LEED elements are also of interest, the city said.
Last year's event downtown offered a free look inside the Bata Shoe Museum, Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres, First People's Gallery at the Royal Ontario Museum, the University Club of Toronto and many other locations of interest.
The inspiration for Doors Open Toronto came from Europe. France was the first country to launch its Doors Open program in 1984.
Developed as a millennium project in 2000, Toronto was the first North American city to offer the program.
Doors Open Toronto 2025 takes place May 24 and 25 with around 150 locations across the city expected to take part.
