Welcome to yoyomama’s weekend guide! Your go-to list of family friendly fun things to do with kids in Toronto and the GTA.

Toronto’s weekend weather looks promising (fingers crossed), which means it’s perfect timing for some outdoor fun, like the Pollinators Festival at Evergreen Brick Works (don’t forget the Saturday Farmer’s Market), the Toronto Jazz Festival, the Toronto Dragon Boat Festival, Bollywood Day at the Zoo, or the Family Bicycle Parade.  A great weekend to get out with the family and explore the city!

Wine Bluff
Thursday, June 23rd, 7 pm – 11 pm, The Fermenting Cellar, 55 Mill Street, Toronto
This event isn’t for the kiddos, but a perfect night out for the grown ups! Award-winning comedian Sean Cullen will host this year’s Wine Bluff, the annual Environmental Defence’s spring event. Join this fun night filled with local wine and food, silent and live auctions, and more! You can test your wine knowledge or your ability to spot a bluffer – pretending to know a lot more about wine than you actually do is highly encouraged. Tickets $150 each (or $1,200 for table of eight), and include all food and drinks: www.winebluff.ca

Toronto Jazz Festival
Friday, June 24th – Sunday, July 3rd, see website for venues and other information, Toronto
The TD Toronto Jazz Festival has become known as one of North America’s premier jazz festivals produced annually by Toronto Downtown Jazz, a Canadian registered charity. Bring the family out for some great music and entertainment: torontojazz.com

Pollinators Festival, Evergreen Brick Works
Saturday, June 25th, 8 am – 3 pm, Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Avenue, Toronto
Celebrate the Birds and the Bees during International Pollinator Week! Join in for a day filled with free educational and celebratory events about pollinators. Featuring garden tours, honey tasting, hands-on workshops, arts and crafts, speakers, panel discussions and more! Pollinator Week is an international celebration of the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles: www.evergreen.ca

Make Your Own Pillow At The Textile Museum Of Canada
Saturday, June 25th – Sunday, June 26th, drop-in workshops from Noon – 4 pm, Textile Museum of Canada, 55 Centre Avenue, Toronto
Led by DodoLab and collaborating artists, create your own designs inspired by the souvenir pillows on display in the Museum’s latest exhibition, Cold Comfort: New and Improved Souvenirs of Canada. Best of all, your pillow design will be incorporated into the exhibition: www.textilemuseum.ca

1920s Garden Party, Spadina House
Sunday, June 26th, Noon – 4 pm, Spadina House, 285 Spadina Road, Toronto
Inspired by the parties during the Jazz Age, Spadina Museum’s first annual garden party welcomes the coming of summer with musical performances, games, and period appropriate refreshments. Explore the historic house as it was decorated in the 1920s. Do the Charleston with the Sugar Shakers. Tap your toes to the jazz rhythms of the Bezant Rosenman Duo. Create artwork, solve a murder mystery and have your fortune told: www.toronto.ca

Family Bicycle Parade
Sunday, June 26th, 2 pm – 4 pm, Connaught Circle (North end of Wychwood Ave. @ intersection of Bike Routes 20&31), Toronto
Come shine and decorate bicycles, and play bike games with the family and your neighbours! At 3 pm, young kids will parade together to the Glencedar car-free bridge (two blocks) for more games, while older kids take a community ride through Cedarvale. For more information call 416.653.9019

Peek-A-Boo Science, Ontario Science Centre
Saturday, June 25th, 11:30 am, Kidspark, Ontario Science Centre, 4770 Don Mills Road, Toronto
Come sing, create, and play in this workshop designed with the youngest KidSpark visitors in mind. Ages 0-3: www.ontariosciencecentre.ca

Pinwheel Hats, Ontario Science Centre
Sunday, June 26th, 2 pm, Kidspark, Ontario Science Centre, 4770 Don Mills Road, Toronto
Back by popular demand! Come join in for this visitor favourite. This will keep the kids entertained and looking sharp, with their very own KidSpark pinwheel hat to take home: www.ontariosciencecentre.ca

Toronto International Dragon Boat Festival
Saturday, June 25th – Sunday, June 26th, see website for event times, Toronto Centre Island, Toronto
Come to Toronto Island for the 23rd Annual Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival sponsored by President’s Choice®, which promises two days of fun, with sports, and team and community spirit: www.dragonboats.com

Bollywood Day At The Zoo!
Sunday, June 26th, 11 am – 5 pm, Zellers Discovery Zone Waterside Theatre / Courtyard Stage (Zoo front entrance), Toronto Zoo, 361A Old Finch Avenue, Toronto
In celebration of the International Indian Film Academy Awards being held in Toronto this June, Bollywood is coming to the Zoo! Engage in children’s song and dances led by inspired young singers and musicians, including authentic Bhangra dancing, a modern style dance used in Bollywood, and Kathak, a more classical dance from India. Enjoy special percussion shows, children’s storytelling, sample free natural tattoos at the Art of Henna Booth, stroll through the South Asian Art Gallery, get a snap shot at the Bollywood Photo board, learn time honoured Health and Wellness methods: www.torontozoo.com

Parkdale Bazaar
Saturday, June 25th, 11 am – 5 pm, Parkdale Town Square, 1303 Queen Street West, Corner of Queen Street West and Cowan Avenue, Toronto
The Parkdale Bazaar will showcase local artists and great retailers in the Parkdale neighborhood, which is an amazing destination for shopping and exploration. The Bazaar will also show off Parkdale’s prominent fringe and artist culture, and local interest in recycled, repurposed and home grown living: www.parkdaleliberty.com

Meet The French Breeds, PawsWay
Sunday, June 26th, 11 am – 4 pm, PawsWay, 245 Queens Quay West, Toronto
Dogs with a certain je ne sais quoi – see them all! In association with the celebration of Franco-Fete at Harbourfront, PawsWay is presenting a cavalcade of the French breeds of dog. Ask questions, meet the breeds, and watch demos. All free: pawsway.ca

Leaside 2011 Garden Tour
Saturday, June 25th, 11 am – 4 pm, Saturday, June 18th & Sunday, June 19th, see website for timing, Port Credit Memorial Park, 20 Lakeshore Road East, Mississauga
The June garden is bursting with blossoms – and inspiration! Hosted by the Leaside Garden Society, this year’s self-guided tour includes eight private gardens, and provides the opportunity to meet the homeowner gardeners, ask questions, and learn how these beautiful spaces were created. A mix of mature and newer gardens in a variety of styles from English country to woodland shade will be featured. Of special interest are a knot garden, water feature, unusual flowering shrubs and vines and several examples of successful shade gardens: www.gardenontario.org

The Playground Cool Birthday Party, Melonhead Children’s Hair Care
Sunday, June 26th, 1 pm – 3 pm, Melonhead, 3215 Yonge Street, Toronto
Melonhead is turning 10 and wants to flip its lid with you, your kiddos, grandkids, and their friends! Join in for an afternoon of treats, kid-friendly creative stations, and a whole lotta fun. Daredevils, divas and darlings accepted: www.melonhead.ca

Yoga Birth Method
Sunday, June 26th, 2 pm – 4 pm, Zen Beginnings, 697 Mt. Pleasant Road, Toronto
Yoga Birth Method is an 8-step birthing pathway that empowers women through a natural and mindful childbirth experience. A very specific sequence of breathing and postures adapted to the physical and emotional changes in the stages of labor enable women to manage contractions from a calm, meditative and controlled perspective: www.zenbeginnings.com

Farther Afield:

Under The Sea Sing & Play Date
Sunday, June 25th, 10:30 am – 11:15 am, Sing Music Studio, 56 Lake Street, Mississauga
Bring your little clam to jam, move and groove in the ocean, along with the sea creatures in this fun filled music class! All children ages 0-7 are welcome, and parent participation is encouraged! Fee of $25 includes fish shaker and music download card: www.singmusicstudio.com

Awareness Creates Change
Saturday, June 25th, 9:30 am – noon, 1220 Stellar Drive, Unit 202, Newmarket
Awareness Creates Change is a free interactive workshop for ages 7+ who want to nurture their confidence, manage stress, enhance creativity, and create life changes. Featuring Artistic Director Christopher Healy, Stress-buster Theresa Dugwell, and Entrepreneur Hailey Coleman: www.scntv.tv

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!