WRESTLEFEST TORONTO - WINTER RUMBLE 12/05/2025

The Wrestler Happy Hour and Sunday Brunch are free to attend. A small fee will apply to the open mat to help us cover facility rental costs. We anticipate expanded capacity over our July event and enough space for everyone.

= WINTER RUMBLE: TURN UP THE HEAT THIS DECEMBER! =
You’ve wrestled with us in July — now it’s time to beat the cold and bring the heat back to the mats this December!

Join us for WrestleFest Toronto’s first-ever Winter Rumble, a weekend of wrestling, community, and connection featuring social events, open mats, and local partnerships that keep the spirit of WrestleFest alive all year long.

== WHAT IS WINTER RUMBLE? ==
Winter Rumble is a more relaxed, community-driven edition of our summer WrestleFest. This time, we’re teaming up with local organizations to grow Toronto’s queer-friendly wrestling scene and try out new event formats that bring wrestlers together year-round.

Think of it as a weekend to reconnect, test new ideas, and build year-round opportunities to wrestle, learn new moves, and socialize.

Pack your singlet, shake off those winter blues, and get ready for three days of mats, muscles, and memorable moments.

== 🗓️ TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (Subject to change) ==

=== FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5 ===

Opening Social – The Mat Gala
🕕 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 Flash on Church – 463 Church St, Toronto, ON
Free and open to everyone

Get ready to turn up the heat! Inspired by our friends at District Wrestling (in Washington, DC), the Mat Gala is your chance to show off your favourite singlet, lucha mask, or any gear you’ve always wanted to wear. Just do us a favour and save your wrestling shoes for the mats!

After-party suggestions:
🦅 The Black Eagle (gear-friendly gay bar)
💦 Steamworks Toronto (gay bathhouse)

=== SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6 ===

Queer-Friendly Freestyle Wrestling Class & Open Mat (SPORT-FOCUSED ONLY)
📍 The Academy – 33 Davisville Ave, Toronto, ON
🕒 Class: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
🕓 Open Mat: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Learn new skills or brush up your technique with professional coaches from The Academy in this beginner-friendly freestyle wrestling class.

This is a sport-only event at an official wrestling/jiu-jitsu school — no erotic or inappropriate behaviour will be tolerated.

• Please wear training attire (t-shirt and gym shorts). Save your singlet for the Mat Gala!
• Open to all — no pre-registration required.

Other Saturday Partner Events:

Queer Boxing Club 🥊
📍 Rumble Boxing Studio – 1235 Bay St #101, Toronto, ON
🕑 2:00 PM
Advanced registration required — follow @queer.boxing.club for details.

Queer Boxing club is a weekly fitness session that is FREE to attend on for your first time.. Box along to your favourite songs with fun weekly themes. No actual sparring takes place, although Rumble Boxing Studio offers additional boxing training if you are interested in upping your boxing game.

Classes fill up fast!! Ensure you register in advance.

Jockstrap Night
📍 The Black Eagle – 457 Church St, Toronto, ON
🕙 10:00 PM
Arrive early — this is a VERY popular event that fills up fast!

=== SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7 ===

Sunday Drag Brunch
📍 O’Grady’s on Church – 518 Church St, Toronto, ON
🕛 12:00 PM
Join us for brunch, laughs, and a toast to an incredible weekend.
Please RSVP in advance so we can reserve your spot!

Follow @WrestleFestToronto for updates, announcements, and partner spotlights as we get closer to the big weekend.
Let’s make this winter one to rumble about! 💪❄️