toronto: what to do, what to do?
Filed Under Events | October 27, 2011
Welcome to yoyomama’s weekend guide! Your go-to list of family friendly fun things to do with kids in Toronto and the GTA.
This is a big weekend for the kiddos, as they get ready to don costumes and get their treat or treat on! There are plenty of opportunities for holiday fun this weekend, like the Halloween Sleepover and Star Party at the Science Centre, Monster Madness at the AGO, the ROM’s Go Batty For Halloween event, and the outdoor Haunted Halloween at the Arboretum. If you’re interested in even more ghost and goblin fun, check in with our Halloween HQ ongoing event list. Enjoy the weekend, and please have a safe and fun Halloween!
Celebrating Día de los Muertos
Saturday, October 29th, 10 am – 4 pm, Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Avenue, Toronto
Head to Brick Works for a special celebration of Mexican culture and the last day of the summer season Farmers’ Market! Help judge a Churro Competition, have your face painted, learn Mexican crafts, enjoy live Mexican music, and more: ebw.evergreen.ca
Open Door Designs’ Open House
Saturday, October 29th, 10 am – 6 pm, Open Door Designs, 1597 Dupont Street, Toronto
Drop by Open Door Designs for a fun, free day of puppetry for all! See demonstrations by puppet builders, make a puppet yourself, see a show by Mike Harding of Applefun Puppetry, get tattooed by a pirate, and more: www.opendoordesigns.ca
The Pumpkin Festival In The Kingsway
Saturday, October 29th, 11 am – 3 pm, The Kingsway, Jackson & Bloor Street West, Toronto
The 9th Annual Pumpkin Festival takes place this weekend! The street will be decorated with bales of hay, corn stalks, pumpkins and Halloween decorations – bring the family for some fun: www.kingswaybia.ca
Trick Or Treat? Trick Please! Halloween Party
Saturday, October 29th, 11 am – 2 pm, Light Up The Floor, 80 Advance Road, Etobicoke
Time to take the modern concept of ‘treat’ out of Halloween and have a party with no candy! There will be plenty of tricks instead, including Zumba, GROOVE and Drum classes, crafts and games, and a magic performance by a Magician. Best for ages 4+ (kids under 4 must be accompanied by adult): www.partywithzumba.com
Halloween Sleepover
Saturday, October 29th, Starts at 4:45 pm, Ontario Science Centre, 770 Don Mills Road, Toronto
Dress up in your favourite costume and get ready for an exciting night of family-friendly fun and spooky science! Join in spellbinding activities and presentations that combine the wonder of science with the thrills and chills of Halloween. Don’t miss Dr. Frank & Mr. Stein’s Odd-itorium Show, visit the Putrid Pumpkin Science Patch, and check out slime time and other concoctions brewing at the Cackling Chemistry Cauldron. Not scared yet? Gather around our virtual campfire at the end of the night for ghostly tales of haunted halls and more eerie surprises! Then sleep among the exhibits for the night… if you dare! Frightfully good fun for kids of all ages: www.ontariosciencecentre.ca
Halloween Star Party
Saturday, October 29th, 7:30 pm – 10 pm, Ontario Science Centre, 770 Don Mills Road, Toronto
View the planets, star clusters and distant galaxies through telescopes! Experience chilling stories of the night sky, strut your stuff in our costume parade, have a close encounter with creepy critters, design a school for an alien world, enjoy spooky science demonstrations, and more! This is an outdoor event; telescope observing is weather permitting: www.ontariosciencecentre.ca
Haunted Halloween Event
Saturday, October 29th, 6 pm – 8 pm, Humber Arboretum, 205 Humber College Boulevard, Toronto
Visit the Arboretum for fun Halloween games, terrifying storytelling, creepy crafts, and an outdoor escapade! Prizes will be awarded for the best original costumes. For ages 5-10: www.humberarboretum.on.ca
Get Animated! Making Peace Through Animation
Sunday, October 30th, 10 am – Noon, NFB Mediatheque, 150 John Street, Toronto
Bring the kids for a once-in-a-life time opportunity to learn animation from an Oscar®-winner! In this intimate, free workshop, Co Hoedeman (The Sand Castle, Four Seasons in the Life of Ludovic) teaches the basics of animating with paper cutouts on a lightbox. Working together under Co’s guidance, participants will create a short film on the theme of peaceful resolution. Advance registration required at 416.973.3012: www.onf-nfb.gc.ca
Get Animated! For Families And Kids
Sunday, October 30th, 12:30 pm, NFB Mediatheque, 150 John Street, Toronto
A fun-filled selection of NFB films, featuring some of the NFB’s newest animation for kids of all ages. Program is 45 minutes long: www.onf-nfb.gc.ca
Go Batty For Halloween
Sunday, October 30th, 11 am – 4 pm, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto
This Halloween celebrate the launch of the ROM’s new children’s book, Burton & Isabelle Pipistrelle with everything about bats. The author and illustrator of the book will be on hand for readings and drawing workshops, and the ROM’s own Batman Burton Lim makes a special appearance to talk about bats. Bill BatBoy Scully will also be bringing in live bats! Create spooktacular bat crafts, and more with special guest Tara Winterhalt illustrator of Burton & Isabelle Pipistrelle: Out of the Bat Cave: www.rom.on.ca
Monster Madness
Sunday, October 30th, Noon – 4 pm, AGO, 307 Dundas Street West, Toronto
It’s a lovable monster mash, with games and fun! Join in for the first family Sunday of the season, and explore creepy, kooky, spooky Halloween fun and art making. It’s a fantastical, magical world of dreams and illusions. Come dressed in your finest Halloween costume: www.ago.net
Walk Roll Run And Fun Fall Fair
Sunday, October 30th, Walk Roll Run check in: 8 am / Fall fair starts: Noon, Variety Village, 3701 Danforth Avenue, Toronto
Variety Village empowers individuals of all ages and abilities by providing accessible, safe and inclusive fitness, sports and life skills programs. Money raised from the 5th Annual Walk Roll Run event will help fund vital programs offered at Variety Village. All routes start at Variety Village and wind through the area neighbourhood. Pay your minimum registration fee and then fundraise for a great cause and great prizes: www.walkrollrun.ca
Farther Afield:
Inclusive Trick Or Treat
Friday, October 28th, 4 pm – 7 pm, Children’s Treatment Network Multi-services Hub, 13175 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill
Please join in for a fun, safe, and inclusive trick or treat for children, youth and young adults with disabilities living in York Region. Children’s Treatment Network of Simcoe York is hosting this event filled with fun activities, games, and of course, trick or treating! Don’t forget to wear your costume. Please RSVP online: www.ctn-simcoeyork.ca
Halloween Sing & Play Date
Saturday, October 29th, 12:30 pm – 1:15 pm, Sing Music Studio, 56 Lake Street, Port Credit
Ghosts, witches, goblins … BOO! There are so many fun songs, dances and rhymes to celebrate Halloween. But don’t worry – it won’t be too spooky for your little one. Don’t forget to wear a costume! Cost is $25 and includes instrument, candy, and 45 minute class: www.singmusicstudio.com
Halloween On Ice Skate
Saturday, October 29th, 6:45 pm – 8:15 pm, Elgin Barrow Arena, 43 Church Street South, Richmond Hill
Halloween is just around the corner, so it’s the perfect opportunity for little ghouls and goblins to skate in costume! And if the little ones Trick or Treat with skates on, they’ll get some yummy treats: www.richmondhill.ca
Bellies & Babies Day
Sunday, October 30th, 10 am – 3 pm, Gambrel Barn, Country Heritage Park, 8560 Tremaine Road, Milton
This is a great event for all new and expanding families. Admission is $5 per person, which is donated to Halton Women’s Place. Pre-registration is available – save $2.50 by registering early! With vendors and exhibitors showcasing all their fantastic products and services, this is an event that you will not want to miss: www.belliesandbabies.ca
Paint And Be Painted
Sunday, October 30th, 2 pm – 4 pm OR 4 pm – 6 pm, Paintlounge, 3603 Highway 7 East, Unit 106, Markham
Paintlounge brings you a fun-filled Halloween Bash, so dress up, paint, and be (face) painted! Paintlounge’s staff will guide your child as they paint their very own Halloween-themed canvas with spooky stencils and cool freaky tools. You’ll also enjoy yummy drinks and treats: www.paintlounge.ca
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!
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