Toronto Maple Leafs bringing back huge free tailgate parties for playoffs

It's a tale as old as time: the Toronto Maple Leafs have once again clinched a spot in the NHL playoffs, and the team is bringing back its legendary tailgate viewing parties to give fans the chance to celebrate for free in Maple Leaf Square.

NHL Playoff season has become something of an annual (if not bittersweet) tradition in Toronto, and for good reason. 

2025 marks the ninth consecutive season that Toronto's equally beloved and beleaguered Maple Leafs find themselves on the road to the Stanley Cup, blanketing the city with ample excitement and anticipation.

Hopes are high this year, as the team has clinched a top-two finish in the Atlantic Division and secured a home ice advantage for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Let's just hope that another tradition — you know, the one where the Leafs don't end up winning the Stanley Cup — doesn't end up panning out as usual.

While a ticket to see the team take the ice in person could already set you back upwards of $2000, there is no shortage of ways to get inside the excitement that won't leave you scrambling for rent.

Perhaps the best way of all, though, is to take in the game at the massive public tailgate parties that take over Maple Leaf Square, just outside Scotiabank Arena.

Each night that the Leafs play during the playoffs (their exact schedule has yet to be announced), the square will be abuzz with game-time excitement, with the games streaming live on an enormous screen outside the arena to a sea of blue.

You can also expect to find a selection of activations and entertainment around the fan zone to keep the vibes all the way up.

The fan-favourite "Make-it-Merch" station will be back this year, which allows fans to transform any piece of clothing into Leafs Merch, alongside a full suite of live entertainment from local legends, DJs, giveaways, food and drink.

Though it may seem too good to be true, the events are totally free to attend. On both home and away playoff game days, simply register for a free mobile pass through the Toronto Maple Leafs app, which will grant you up to two non-transferable passes to the tailgate.

Passes become available at 1 p.m. the day before each confirmed game, so be sure to keep a finger on the pulse if you want to get in on the action.

As for the day of the event, gates open two hours before the game's scheduled start time, which gives you plenty of time to grab a bite and check out all the activations before securing a spot in one of the viewing zones.

If you'd rather cheer on the team from indoors, you can also head to the nearby Real Sports, which will be serving up a selection of Leafs-inspired dishes, from Peameal bacon sandwiches to deep-fried Oreos, while screening the game on their massive collection of televisions.

The 2025 NHL Playoffs are slated to begin on Saturday, April 19, with the full schedule releasing incrementally as the playoffs progress, so keep an eye out to find out when you'll have the chance to attend the ultimate Toronto tailgate experience.