hay day
Filed Under Places | September 14, 2010
Smack dab in the middle of the city is 7.5 acres of year round, fresh-air family fun. Riverdale Farm, owned by the City of Toronto, has cows, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits, and ducks to visit, as well as wooded pathways, ponds, and butterfly and herb gardens to explore. And the best part? Admission is free every day of the year.
Opened officially in 1978, Riverdale Farm had been Toronto’s first Zoo for 80 years before that. When the Zoo closed in 1974 all the animals were rehoused at the Scarborough location and the site was leveled. Mostly rebuilt except for a few original buildings, Riverdale Farm is now a working farm where kids can get a snapshot into early 20th century Ontario farm life.
Unlike a petting farm, the Riverdale Farm animals enjoy the peace and quiet of being observed by their little friends, but not touched or fed. Kids can walk up to the old fashioned wood fencing to get a closer look or have a picture taken, and the paddocks have viewing windows built low for the shorter crowd. The farmers are happy to chat with visitors and answer questions and the whole family will enjoy the daily cow milking demonstration.
One of the most charming aspects of Riverdale Farm is the lack of commerce usually found at family attractions. Refreshments are served at The Farm Kitchen with fresh out of the oven bread available on Tuesday mornings, gifts and homemade treats can be enjoyed at The Shop at The Farm and you can buy fresh farm eggs which are collected daily. Families can drop-in for some fun at the Meeting House preschooler’s playroom, which also plays host to birthday parties (for children from one to eight).
Riverdale Farm, run by volunteers, is open daily from 9 am – 5 pm. Be sure to bring your camera, snacks for the little ones, and mud and hay friendly footwear!
Riverdale Farm: www.friendsofriverdalefarm.com
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