toronto: what to do, what to do?
Filed Under Events | July 8, 2010
Summer is in full swing with soaring temperatures and kids out of school. We’re here to help you beat the heat with some fun indoor (air conditioned!) options, like a visit to the ROM to watch the final games of the World Cup. Or stay cool, and keep the kids happy, at one of the many splash pads across the City. No matter where this weekend takes you, don’t forget to pack sunscreen!
Rise ‘n Shine with the Sharks and Stingrays!
Saturday, July 10th, 8 am – 9:30 am, Toronto Zoo, 361A Old Finch Avenue, Scarborough
Enjoy a complimentary snack and presentation about sharks and stingrays before your private interactive feeding and touching session – all before the exhibit opens to the general public! Pre-registration is required: www.torontozoo.com
Festival of Fire – Grand Finale
Saturday, July 10th, 10:30 pm, Ontario Place, 955 Lakeshore Boulevard West, Toronto
Enjoy all day entertainment at the park before the grand finale of the spectacular Festival of Fire fireworks! Be sure to get your tickets in advance: ontarioplace.com
Wave Your Flag! World Cup at the ROM
Saturday, July 10th – Sunday, July 11th, 11 am – 4 pm, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto
Celebrate the music and dance of South Africa, the host nation, and see the final games of the world cup live on the big screen: rom.on.ca
4th Annual McGregor Socks Scavenger Hunt at Toronto Zoo
Saturday, July 10th, all day event, Toronto Zoo, supporting Make-A-Wish Canada, 361A Old Finch Avenue, Scarborough
Take an exciting adventure through the Zoo and discover six magical “big to small” animals. Fun and free. The first 100 families will also receive a special gift bag: torontozoo.ca
Summerlicious
Friday, July 9th – Sunday, July 25th, at top restaurants around Toronto
Sample sumptuous cuisine through prix-fixe menus from a variety of Toronto restaurants. *Reservations recommended toronto.ca
Toronto FringeKids Festival
Wednesday, June 30th – Sunday, July 11th, please check website for show times, Palmerston Library Theatre, 560 Palmerston Avenue, Toronto
The final weekend to see one of these family-friendly shows: The Blackheart Princess, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, The Cat of Kensington, Fairy Tale Ending, Jack Frost, The New Adventures of Jack and the Beanstalk, and One Eyes, Two Eyes, Three Eyes. Note: Some shows recommended for kids four-years of age and older: fringetoronto.com
Mister Maker Craft Area
Monday, July 5th – Sunday, July 11th, check website for hours of operation, Ontario Place, 955 Lakeshore Boulevard, Toronto
Kids will love participating in the Mister Maker Craft Area where they can cut, glue, paint and draw: ontarioplace.com
The Warrior Emperor and China’s Terracotta Army
Saturday, June 26th – Friday, December 31, 2011, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto
Don’t miss your chance to see one of the greatest archaeological finds in history! This is the first time the Terracotta Army has appeared in Canada: rom.on.ca
Barney at Ontario Place
Monday, July 5th – Sunday, July 18th, Ontario Place, 955 Lake Shore Blvd. West, Toronto * Special Meet & Greet opportunity July 10th and July 11th.
Bring the kids to visit Barney, the famous purple dinosaur, at Ontario Place. Sing and dance with Barney and get a chance to meet him after the show: ontarioplace.com
Punjabi Heritage Day
Sunday, July 11th, all day event, Ontario Place
Enjoy a vibrant display of culture and explore exciting Punjabi food, music and dance shows. A fantastic celebration of Punjabi culture! Advance ticket purchase: www.ontarioplace.ca
Family Fishing Weekend
July 3rd – July 11th, throughout Ontario
For nine days this summer you can try your hand at fishing throughout Ontario, without a fishing licence! A fun-filled outdoor activity the whole family can enjoy: www.familyfishingweekend.com
Family Day at the Dream
Sunday, July 11th, 5 pm – 6:30 pm, High Park Amphitheatre, High Park, Toronto
Interactive Family Day Sundays invites parents and kids to discover the magic of theatre together. Go on a backstage tour and take part in games and activities that explore aspects of acting, rhythm, dance, and music.
Admission is free, but advanced registration is advised by calling 416.367.8243 x266: www.canadianstage.com
Community Concert Series – Festival Wind Orchestra
Sunday, July 11th, 12:30 pm, Black Creek Pioneer Village, 1000 Murray Ross Parkway, Toronto
With a mix of classical music and modern pop and jazz favourites, this talented wind orchestra will knock your socks off: www.blackcreek.ca
Fantasy Fair
Friday, July 9th 11 am – 7 pm, Woodbine Shopping Centre, Etobicoke
Kidsummer hosts a day of fun at Woodbine’s one-acre indoor amusement park. Enjoy rides, midway games, and see the Shriner’s Circus July 9th – July 11th: www.fantasyfair.ca
Free Weekends July & August!
Saturday, July 3rd – Sunday, August 29th, various Historic Sites throughout Toronto
Enjoy free activities at historic sites such as Fort York, Mackenzie House, Montgomery’s Inn, and Scarborough Museum this summer, featuring music, drama, crafts, and other fun for the entire family: toronto.ca
Riverdale Farm
Open daily, 9 am – 5 pm, free admission, 201 Winchester Street, Toronto
Located right in the heart of the city, families can tour the Farm’s scenic 7.5 acres and see cows, horses, donkey, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, geese, rabbits, and farm cats along the way – oh my: toronto.ca
Harry Potter: The Exhibition
Through to Sunday, August, 22nd, Ontario Science Centre, 770 Don Mills Road, Toronto
Step into a world of magic and wizardry and immerse yourself in all things Harry Potter with this interactive exhibition. Try on the Sorting Hat™, play a game of Quidditch™, and try to pull a Mandrake from its pot: www.ontariosciencecentre.ca
Farther Afield:
Peter Pan
Playing until Sunday, October 31st, Avon Theatre, 99 Downie Street, Stratford
Bring the family to see Peter Pan, where fairies and mermaids mingle with warrior maidens, and the boy who refuses to grow up must face his arch enemy, the fearsome Captain Hook: www.stratfordfestival.ca
African Lion Safari
Saturday, June 26th – Monday, September 6th, African Lion Safari & Game Farm Ltd., RR #1 Cambridge
Drive your car through the Safari Trail to see prides of lions, troops of baboons and herds of zebra, as well as baboons, white rhino, giraffe, and many other exotic animals. Kids can also cool off in the Misumu Bay Wet Play area, weather permitting: www.lionsafari.com
Family Picnic Day
Friday, July 9th, 12 pm – 2 pm, Whitehern Historic House and Garden, 41 Jackson St. West, Hamilton
Take the family for some old-fashioned fun, including egg and spoon races, three-legged races, croquet and other outdoor activities at a Family Picnic Day. Bring your own picnic and blanket. All you can drink lemonade for only $1: www.hamilton.ca
Wings of Paradise
Open 10 am – 5 pm, 7 days a week, year round! Wings of Paradise Butterfly Conservatory, 2500 Kossuth Road, Cambridge
Watch thousands of butterflies from around the world fly freely throughout the huge indoor tropical garden. Kids will also enjoy the tropical finches, Chinese painted quail, and red-eared slider turtles: www.wingsofparadise.com
Kidsummer! Footsteps Adventure
Sunday, July 11th, 11 am – 4 pm, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 10365 Islington Avenue, Kleinburg
Following in the footsteps of the Group of Seven, families can climb a wall with Black Rock Climbers, get creative with some hands-on art activities or become an art detective with the McMichael scavenger hunt: www.mcmichael.com
Want to help us make this weekend guide even more bursting with fun? Just email us your family-friendly happenings, festivals, fairs and workshops in the Greater Toronto area.
And we wanted to remind you to always call or visit the website for event info before you head out just in case any changes have been made since we posted it. And of course, have fun!
2 Responses to “toronto: what to do, what to do?”
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Let us know what you think or share your great finds with us so we can share them with other Vancouver mothers!
Since when does the weekend guide incorporate locations that are over 100km away in “farther afield”? I thought it was stuff near t.o.? Far to inconvenient to get to
Not all our readers are into Toronto proper and some may be hitting the road for the weekend, so if we find something fun that’s not too close we’ll still include it. We do this in our Vancouver list sometimes – we go a little farther afield.