Mississauga has a four-season climate with mild lake-moderated edges. Late spring to early autumn is the best time to be here: the Waterfront Trail is at its best, Port Credit's patios are open, and Celebration Square fills with outdoor events most evenings. The flagship festivals — Carassauga (May), Bread and Honey (June), Southside Shuffle (September) — all cluster in these months.
Winter is cold (averages around -5°C in January, sometimes much lower) and there is reliable snow from December through February. The free outdoor skating rink at Celebration Square is the main winter draw; otherwise, this is the season to head indoors at Square One or the Living Arts Centre.
Avoid the rush-hour commute on Highway 401 and the QEW at all costs — they grind for two hours either side of peak.