The award-winning WinterCity Festival returns for its 5th year from January 25 - February 7, 2008.

A celebration of culture, creativity and cuisine, WinterCity is three festivals in one: the WOW! Series at Nathan Phillips Square; the Warm Up Series at Toronto's cultural and tourist attractions; and the ever-popular restaurant promotion, Winterlicious presented by American Express.

WOW! Series at Nathan Phillips Square:
Featuring six days of free outdoor spectacle shows, live music concerts and performing arts throughout Nathan Phillips Square and in City Hall, the 2008 WOW! Series will feature the North American Premieres of two of Europes most innovative and compelling theatrical and artistic troupes. Theater Gajes from the Netherlands will bring their award-winning open-air theatre to Toronto to tell the fantastical story of Alice in Wonderland. Frances Cie Carabosse will transform Nathan Phillips Square with the enchanting Nights of Fire installation, which will fill the Square with warmth and light as fire sculptures made from 1,500 clay pots are individually lit until they all burn in unison.

Weekends in the square are full of free entertainment for everyone. The free concert series on Saturday nights will feature Canadian crowd favourites Tokyo Police Club and The Weakerthans. New for 2008, the RBC WinterCity Lodge will offer festival goers a chance to warm up by the fire with a warm drink while enjoying cool entertainment, including Friday night comedy shows, Saturday night DJ dance parties, and Saturday and Sunday afternoon family entertainment. Skating parties on the Nathan Phillips Square ice rink, movies by BravoFACT!, a barbecue tailgate party and sky-high acrobatics by the RBCFlying Canucks round out two full weekends of free programming.

Warmup Series at Toronto attractions:
Offering dazzling performances and discounts to some of Torontos leading cultural and tourist attractions, this years exciting new programming includes; a Bunch Family Dance Party at nightclub CIRCA, a Mix, Match & Scratch Seminar at Scratch Lab DJ Institute, poetry readings, exclusive dance performances and unique dining experiences at some of Torontos favourite attractions, plus special promotions and discounts at 18 other exciting attractions.

Winterlicious at Toronto restaurants:
The hugely popular prix-fixe restaurant promotion presented by American Express and a highlight of the WinterCity experience, Winterlicious returns with 130 participating restaurants offering three-course prix-fixe menus at $15 or $20 for lunch and $25 or $35 for dinner. American Express Cardmembers can go to the Front Of The Line to book early reservations on January 8 and 9, 2008. Winterlicious reservations will be available to the general public starting January 10, 2008. New restaurants to the city-wide lineup include: Senses, C5 at the ROM, Seven on the Danforth, and Edward Levesque's on Queen St. E.

New for 2008 is the Winterlicious Chef Series - a one-of-a-kind culinary experience for Toronto foodies. The Chef Series will feature some of Toronto's best chefs, including Claudio Aprile of Colborne Lane, Didier Leroy of Didier, Guy Rubino of rain and David Lee of Splendido, who will combine their talents with national and international counterparts to share their visions for the ultimate dining experience.

In addition, residents and visitors can enjoy seven unique Winterlicious culinary events featuring an array of one-of-a-kind ticketed experiences hosted by some of Torontos finest restaurants and venues.

For more information about WinterCity and other events produced by Toronto Special Events, call Access Toronto at 416-338-0338 or visit www.toronto.ca/special_events . Background information and photos of featured artists, performers and chefs, including a list of participating restaurants and attractions are available at www.toronto.ca/special_events/media08.htm .

Toronto is Canadas largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. In the past three years, Toronto has won more than 70 awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. Torontos government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents.