Out & About #678 | POLAR Drive at Pearson Airport

​Tradition and flexibility can go hand-in-hand. There's no reason why they shouldn't.
As far as celebrations are concerned, does it really matter that the exact same route isn't being taken to reach the same objective? Thinking rationally, a specific occurrence is a result of a plethora of factors, beyond the handful that are visible to the naked eye. Matter is constantless, so embrace the change and all that accompanies it.

​Christmas festivities were cancelled this year due to the obvious reason that COVID-19 remains rampant in our community, as well as the entirety of the GTHA. For the first time in five years, I won't be making my annual trip to the Toronto Christmas Market, nor will my schedule be brimming with long overdue hangouts. My holiday itinerary is anticipated to be comparatively less hectic than other years, and, truthfully, for the sake of humanity, so should yours.

​Outsourcing festive entertainment with those in one's immediate household isn't a challenging task though. Building off innovation and a smidgen of unconfined creativity, POLAR was born. The multi-level parking building on Viscount Road was re-purposed into a drive-thru light exhibit, open for scheduled visits on a per-vehicle basis. The lockdown status of Toronto and Peel Region had not hindered the event's operation, though it was assumed that those riding in the same vehicle belonged to one household. Driver's licences were not verified, only proof of purchase.

Absolutely enthralled at the opportunity to temporarily escape work and my all-too-familiar indoor surroundings, I had taken to purchasing Early Bird Tickets two weeks prior. Multiple email reminders filled my inbox leading up to the day of, inclusive of protocol/conduct reminders and the absence of on-site bathrooms.

Our visit was scheduled for POLAR's first day of operation. Upon exiting the highway, illuminated tunnels were visible from underneath the Hwy 409 bridge on Viscount Road. Signage was present as soon as the Google Maps navigation terminated.
Cars would file into the area, tickets would be checked, and visitors would be directed to four different queues. There, one would reside for nearly twenty minutes before being directed to a winding, single-file line to enter the premises. Our timed ticket had been specified for the period of 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM, thus we joined the lineup at 5:45 PM, precisely making the fifteen-minute buffer suggested in the FAQ. It was later discovered that the time stamp barely mattered. "Everyone is just coming in and lining up." we were told by one of the staff members.

​By the 6:10 PM mark, enough suspense had been sustained. We gradually inched closer to the gate, where 90.9 POLAR FM was activated and warning signs for attendees to remain within their vehicle at all times emerged. Around 6:20 PM, we entered the parking garage, cheering from the comfort of our vehicle in quite possibly the most enthusiastic manner one could ever exhibit while entering a parking garage.

​Entry on the first level was controlled by two grim-looking members of staff sporting hi vis vests and traffic advisor light bars, one positioned at each end of the first tunnel. As the car in front of us disappeared from view, we were permitted to traverse through the fairly dim first segment lined with promotional banners.
Rounding the corner, we caught sight of the first attraction: a spectacular tunnel with illuminated with bold light strands along its inner perimeter. With each step of the way, the lights would flash - sometimes white, sometimes blue - yielding a different perspective.

​At the conclusion of this attraction was another member of staff, from whom we awaited direction prior to advancement. The next attraction featured a serene cobalt theme with winter wonderland-esque installations such as carousel horses and faux snow-decked trees.

White artificial trees acted as the segue into the third exhibit. A fourth member of staff was spotted on the floor, though he had taken more interest in peering outside than building than providing direction. We proceeded onwards to another light tunnel - this one thoroughly embellished with twinkling fairy lights and spotlights shining upwards from below. The tunnel exuded an intergalactic aura, as if floating through outer space in its most luminous state. Even more magical was the reflection of these lights on the body of the car which, when viewed from the sunroof, portrayed a scene of constellations - seemingly ceaseless, eternal.

View the full album HERE !

The subsequent attraction adopted a warmer colour scheme (and forgoed the presence of guiding staff). Along its edges were yellow-tinged bulbs reminiscent of cozy holiday markets and a forest of artificial pine trees. Larger-than-life-sized candy canes and toy soldiers made occasional appearances. Even Santa made an appearance! In the name of health and safety, the jolly old man was equipped with a face mask. Regretful was the nonexistent signage alerting drivers of Santa's upcoming appearance, for we drove by without sufficient time to prepare for a photo.

With the disappearance of staff, the remainder of our trip began to feel hurried. No longer were the trips regulated to travel speeds of under 5 km/h for maximum enjoyment, and no longer were the tailgaters being regulated for their inconsiderate behaviour. Less than ten minutes had passed since our long-awaited entry. It was unfair to say in the least.

​The fifth attraction was another light tunnel. Encased in an even greater quantity of yellow fairy lights, it appeared to mimic that of the Distillery District by adopting a grid layout.

​POLAR in bold, white letters could be seen transitioning between the tunnel to the sixth attraction. Again, there hadn't been signage alerting drivers of this photo opportunity, nor a member of staff to regulate overzealous drivers from exceeding the speed limit.

​Our sixth and final attraction utilized a similar pale yellow tone, offering the same degree of brilliance in the form of reindeer, snowflakes, orbs, harps, and more. At the end of the tunnel was a Thank You sign, which, frankly, ought to have been replaced with the POLAR sign for an improved photo-capturing experience.

​​The journey concluded around 6:34 PM. The lights had been beautiful and assembled with a tremendous deal of effort, yet the overall drive-thru experience lacked a sense of cohesiveness. Rather than being merely holiday-centric, it would have been nice to have a narration or description of each display via POLAR FM or an alternate source of sound.
Much to our dismay, there were no displays to be witnessed while descending the various parking levels. The conclusion of POLAR appeared abrupt, without much of an ending at all.

Selection of a covered setting was a reasonable decision for the event. The parking garage ought sufficiently weather-proof, assuming high winds and harsh winter storms remain at bay during this early period of the winter season. Our visit had been executed under relatively dry conditions, though ice, melting precipitation, and corrosive salt particles ought to be considered for future dates.

​For the best view, I would recommend the cleaning of all windows and the dashboard, removing obstructions and debris, and rolling down windows where possible. Needless to say, popping through the sunroof is the ideal option; do be wary of low ceilings, though.

​Bathroom facilities were our primary focus upon exiting the area, though it dawned upon us that the convenience of public restrooms had been surrendered with the region's lockdown status. We resorted to retreating home, then concluded with some trusty Summit Garden takeout.