Welcome to yoyomama’s weekend guide! Your go-to list of family friendly fun things to do with kids in Toronto and the GTA.
It’s an eclectic weekend for events in T.O., with everything from Bugs Bunny at the Symphony, to chocolate making workshops, to a rattlesnake workshop at the Zoo, puppet shows and a special sleepover for older kiddos at the ROM. A fun-filled weekend for the whole family – good luck getting the kids to share their chocolate creations!
ROM Sleepovers
Friday, April 8th, 5 pm – Saturday, April 9th, 10 am, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto
Bunk down and experience the ultimate backstage museum pass at the Royal Ontario Museum! Before bedtime, guests can get up close to Museum artifacts, speak with ROM experts, enjoy a special movie screening, and make a souvenir to take home. Sleepovers are for children five and up. Adult supervision required: www.rom.on.ca
Warner Bros. Presents: Bugs Bunny At The Symphony
Saturday, April 9th, 2 pm & 7 pm, Sony Centre For Performing Arts, 1 Front Street East, Toronto
This brand new edition features beloved classics like What’s Opera, Doc? and The Rabbit of Seville, new additions such as Tweety’s Circus and A Scent of The Matterhorn, plus special guests Tom and Jerry in The Hollywood Bowl, The Flintstones, and Scooby-Doo! Don’t miss these, plus many more favourites on the big screen with live orchestra: www.sonycentre.ca
Swansea Easter Chocolate Making Festival
Saturday, April 9th & Saturday, April 16th, 12 pm – 5 pm, Swansea Town Hall, 95 Lavinia Avenue, Toronto
Looking for a deliciously unique activity for the kids? Bring them to Swansea Town Hall for a chocolate workshop! The Chocolate Festival’s hand-on workshops are for kids from four to 12, and participants will make chocolate shavings, chocolate lava cakes and chocolate truffles out of the finest Belgian chocolate: www.chocolatetales.ca
Easter Traditions At Colborne Lodge
Saturday, April 9th – Sunday, April 10th, 12 pm – 4 pm, Colborne Lodge, 11 Colborne Lodge Drive (south end of High Park), Toronto
Come for a visit and learn all about 19th-century Easter traditions! Families can tour the museum and spot eggs hidden in the restored rooms, and kids can dye their own eggs using natural dyes: www.toronto.ca/culture/museums/locations.htm
As You Puppet
Sunday, April 10th – Thursday, April 21st, see site for showtimes, Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People, 165 Front Street East, Toronto
Stuffed animals spring to life in this uproarious version of Shakespeare’s As You Like It by master puppeteers, Jane McClelland and Mike Petersen. When a clever bear named Rosalind is banished by her evil uncle, Frederick the crocodile, she and her best plush kitten friend Celia run away to the forest of Arden. There, they meet a wrestling orangutan, a haughty hippo, a bragging bunny and the heartsick teddy bear, Orlando, who has fallen head-over-paws for Rosalind. This 2009 Fringe Festival hit is a wonderful way to introduce young people to Shakespeare. Recommended for grades one to six: www.lktyp.ca
Peek-A-Boo Science
Saturday, April 9th & Sunday, April 10th, 11:30 am, Ontario Science Centre, 770 Don Mills Road, Toronto
Come sing, create and play in this workshop designed with the youngest KidSpark visitors in mind! Ages three and under: www.ontariosciencecentre.ca
Spring Rattlesnake Workshop
Saturday, April 9th, 10 am – 2:30 pm, Toronto Zoo, 770 Don Mills Road, Toronto
Learn how to identify the Massassauga rattlesnake and meet a live rattlesnake! Q&A will follow discussions about the natural history of rattlesnakes. Space is limited. Please note that the program length may be too long for children under eight years old: www.torontozoo.com
Farther Afield:
One Urban Mama
Friday, April 8th, 9 am – 5 pm, Angus Glen Golf and Country Club, 10080 Kennedy Road, Markham
One Urban Mama is an event like no other, with speakers and exhibitors for everything from prenatal, to toddler, and beyond. Meet some wonderful people, take a stroller fit demo class, listen in on educational seminars, and shop, shop, shop: www.oneurbanmama.com
Do you have an event you would like to see in our weekend guide? Then send us your details and we’ll help you get the word out. Looking for a feature listing? Contact Erin, our Director of Sales and Marketing, for more information.
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!