Magic School Bus–inspired Woodbine Mall tour launches November 14 in Etobicoke
Two local event organizers are guiding visitors through the '80s retail relic's surreal indoor fantasy fair, complete with a non-operational Ferris wheel and animatronic creatures.
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A whimsical field trip through Etobicoke's most surreal retail space is coming November 14, when Liminal Assembly and the Instagram account Millennial.ca join forces for a Magic School Bus–inspired tour of Woodbine Mall.
Aryeh Bookbinder, who runs Liminal Assembly's tours of dead malls and urban anomalies since 2023, is teaming up with Liz Kostic, who runs Millennial.ca, for the second tour collaboration between the two. The four-hour experience will depart downtown via school bus and explore the mall's frozen-in-time atmosphere.
Woodbine Mall is a gloriously strange '80s relic of retail culture housed in Etobicoke. Its centrepiece is a non-operational Ferris wheel surrounded by animatronic animals. The children's play area features an ancient Egypt–themed rock climbing wall, a genuine antique Looff carousel from 1911, and multiple dinosaur statues. The entire setup feels suspended in time and carries a faintly melancholic vibe.
Bookbinder has explored spaces like the pre-renovation concourse beneath Bay station, drawn to desolate urban environments since the pandemic, when he found himself captivated by online photos of empty public spaces. "It also feels ruinous, because a dead space feels abandoned and empty of its purpose," he said. But this tour aims for warmth. "This is extremely wholesome and fun," Bookbinder said, adding that previous dead-mall tours have even sparked romantic connections between attendees.
On the day of the tour, Bookbinder will dress in character as a local eccentric dispensing mall lore. "Imagine a field trip to a crazy man's lair where he shares useless information," he said. Kostic will dress as Mrs. Frizzle from the animated children's series The Magic School Bus and lead participants through the space. The pair will co-host a scavenger hunt with prizes from Retrokid.
"Time really stands still at Woodbine Mall," Kostic said. "This is a place to be weird and fun and silly. People are yearning for these unique experiences."
At a glance
When does the Woodbine Mall tour launch?
The tour launches on November 14, 2026.
Who are the organizers behind this tour?
Aryeh Bookbinder, who runs Liminal Assembly, and Liz Kostic, who runs the Instagram account Millennial.ca, are organizing the tour together.
What will visitors see at Woodbine Mall?
Woodbine Mall features a non-operational Ferris wheel surrounded by animatronic animals, an ancient Egypt–themed rock climbing wall, a genuine antique Looff carousel from 1911, and multiple dinosaur statues in its children's play area.
