If your child(ren) is / are home from school, and you’re unsure what to do with them or maybe you’ve run out of ideas and you reside in Toronto / the Greater Toronto Area, keep reading! In this blog, I’ll be sharing some fun family activities and events that everyone can enjoy.
Kindly note that while most of the events listed below are free or low cost, there may be costs associated with other events that I’ve shared. Also, for the events that involve costs, group rates may be available. Please visit the websites provided to confirm. For starters, there are several fun activities that you can do in and around the home. For instance, making homemade bubble solution and bubble wands using household items (which can be found here on Youtube), getting creative with sidewalk chalk, hula hooping, using a pogo stick, jumping rope (double dutch anyone?), etc.
If you want to head out, but stay close to home, bring your kid(s) for a walk / scooter / rollerblade / bike around your neighborhood or to a nearby park. You can also get creative and make a light meal (sandwiches of your choice, fun summer salads, some veggies with hummus), bring some fruit infused water, blankets with a frisbee, ball (or any other activity you and your family desire) and enjoy a lovely outing at the park.
On those days you’re willing to venture out a little further, here are some ideas:
Visit your local library and recreation centre to see what kind of programs they have available.
Water Play Areas
Looking to stay cool this summer? Head to a splash pad, click here to see the Guide to the Best City-Run Splash Pads in Toronto or click here to check out the Best Water Parks and Water Play Areas in the GTA.
Strawberry Picking
Bring your family out to Pick Your Own Strawberries. Some local strawberry farms that I follow have indicated that they have run out for the season, so be sure to check ahead before you make your plans.
Outdoor Movies
If you’re interested in an evening event, there are various locations around the GTA that are screening movies outdoors. Click here to visit Summer Movies Under the Stars to learn more. Alternatively, you can visit an actual drive-in movie theatre. Click here to see the various locations and their showtimes.
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Summer Events
Some family friendly events that will be taking place this summer are as follows:
Third Tuesday Nights Free at The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). Each month, on every 3rd Tuesday night from 4:30 pm - 8:30 pm, the museum will be free for everybody. Visit their website here for the details.
Riverdale Farm located in Cabbagetown (downtown Toronto) offers free admission and they are open 7 days a week, year round from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. Go to their website here for more.
Go to the Weekend Nature Play in the Children’s Garden at Evergreen Brick Works every Saturday and select Sundays for their free drop-in outdoor programming from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. Check out their website here to learn more.
AFROFEST is happening at Woodbine Beach Park in Toronto on: Friday July 7, 2023 from 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm, Saturday July 8, 2023 from 12:00 pm - 11:00 pm, and on Sunday July 9, 2023 from 12:00 pm - 9:00 pm. For more information, visit their website at https://www.afrofest.ca/.
The Toronto Caribbean Festival is taking place over three weeks starting Monday July 10, 2023 to Friday August 5, 2023. Visit their website here to learn more about their upcoming events.
Healthy Parks Healthy People is an initiative from Ontario Parks to encourage people to get active, visit parks, and participate in the events and activities that will be held on Friday July 21, 2023. Visit their website here to learn more.
The Habari Africa Festival will be happening on Friday August 11, 2023 - Sunday August 13, 2023. As of the date this blog was written, the specifics aren’t yet available, but stay tuned for updates here.
The Milton African Multicultural Festival is on Saturday August 12, 2023 from 9:30 am - 9:00 pm. As of the date that this blog was written, their event details were not published, but keep an eye out for more updates on their website here.
The Afro Carib Fest will be held on Saturday August 19, 2023 and Sunday August 20, 2023 from 12:00 pm - 9:00 pm at Thomson Memorial Park in Scarborough. There will be a kids and youth zone where attendees can learn about the heritage of Afro-Caribbean communities. Visit their website here for more information.
The AFROJAZZFEST is taking place on Saturday August 26, 2023 from 12:00 pm - 9:00 pm at Milton Community Park in Milton. There will be various workshops, vendor exhibitions, a Kids Zone that will have traditional African and Caribbean games, (face) painting, a bouncy castle and more. For more details visit: https://centrecanadiendelafamille.ca/afro-jazz-fest-2023/.
As a gentle reminder, Environment Canada has already issued air quality alerts due to the wildfires. Continue to check in for weather and air quality updates. Please be mindful of the weather and only head outside if it is safe for you and your family to do so.
Have fun, be safe, stay hydrated, and take deep care mamas.