Happy Victoria Day and unofficial start to the Canadian summer. You may notice a significant drop in traffic around you as lots of Torontonians head north to open up their cottages. Stay off Highway 400 later today as traffic coming back from cottage country is bound to be heavy.

The TTC is operating holiday service today, which is the same as Sunday service, except that the subway opens at 6:00 a.m.

There are bound to be a number of fireworks displays around the city. The two largest ones include Ashbridges Bay and Ontario Place. The Ashbridges Bay fireworks take place at 9:45 p.m., and people interested in heading out to this event should gather at Coxwell and Lakeshore. To avoid traffic hassels, give yourself extra time and take either the 22 Coxwell bus or the 92 Woodbine South bus to the area. The Queen streetcar is another possibility; it may be worthwhile watching these fireworks by the shore of the Beaches (especially the west end of the Beaches). For further information, you should call (416) 338-0338

Ontario Place runs its fireworks display at 9:45 p.m. tonight as well. You can pay to watch them inside the park, or you can gather along the lakeshore between Bathurst, Strachan and points west. Traffic is bound to be heavy going in and out of this area, so leave yourself extra time and take public transit. 511 Bathurst streetcars will take you up to the Bloor-Danforth subway, and 509 Harbourfront cars will take you to Union station. The latter operates separate from car traffic and is likely to be more reliable, but you should be prepared for crowding, both on the streetcar and at Union station.

Fort York is open today with kids drills, baking in the kitchen and fife and drum music. In North York, Gibson House at 5172 Yonge Street is celebrating the day as well.