Toronto Events for Kids and Families

ONGOING EVENTS

Toronto Museums Free WeekendsEach weekend this summer visitors can enjoy free programming at Colborne Lodge, Fort York National Historic Site, Gibson House Museum, Mackenzie House, Montgomery's Inn, Scarborough Museum, and Todmorden Mills Heritage Museum and Arts Centre. Programming at the sites features music, drama, crafts for kids, heritage recipes to taste and other fun for the entire family.

• Saturday, July 3 and running until Sunday, August 29, 2010
• website

Pinkalicious, The MusicalPinkalicious can't stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents. Her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor's office with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe - a dream come true for this pink loving enthusiast. But when her hue goes too far, only Pinkalicious can figure out a way to get out of this predicament.

• July 3rd - September 19th
• The Al Green Theatre, 750 Spadina at Bloor St, Toronto
• website

ROM Family WeekendsStart your weekend off right with ROM Family Weekends. Receive half-price admission on Fridays starting at 4:30 pm. All day Saturday and Sunday, enjoy tons of family fun with free programming, music and special events.

• Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
• Royal Ontario Museum
• website

Weekend Workshops and Screenings for the Whole Family

• July 3rd- Aug. 28th (occurring every Saturday)
• 10:30am until 2:30pm
• National Film Board, 150 John St., Toronto
• Only $5 per child, per workshop – an adult (at no extra charge) must accompany children.
• website

Sharks At Stingray Bay - A Touching ExperienceThe sharks return May 22! The Toronto Zoo offers up interaction and fun with the new and exclusive live exhibit, Sharks at Stingray Bay-A Touching Experience. This exhibit will engage visitors and provide them with the opportunity to humanely and safely interact with these incredible creatures including Horseshoe Crabs, new for 2010! See website for full details.

• May 22 to October 11, 2010
• Toronto Zoo
• website

JULY 2010

Toronto Jazz FestivalThe TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival will once again be taking over the city as more than 350 concerts will be presented over ten days and twelve nights.

• June 25, 2010 to July 4, 2010
• Various Venues in Toronto (see website for full details)
• website

Cirque De Soleil: AllegriaA baroque ode to the energy, grace and power of youth.

• June 30 to July 4, 2010
• Air Canada Centre, Toronto
• website
• Tickets (website)

Toronto Fringe FestivalAudiences of up to 40,000 people make the annual Toronto Fringe Festival a force to be reckoned with. A well-established part of the North American Fringe circuit, the city's largest theatre event embraces around 100 theatre companies from Ontario, across Canada and beyond.

• June 30, 2010 to July 11, 2010
• Various Venues in Toronto (see website for full details)
• website

Canada Day - Canadian Games From Around The WorldFamilies can play a familiar game of jump rope with new songs and new rhythms in a whole new way. Competitive rope-skipping teams demonstrate their skills and invite families to jump right in.

• June 30 to July 4, 2010
• 1pm to 6pm
• Harbourfront Centre - HarbourKIDS Zone
• Free!
• website

Canada Day - Mini-Kayak Obstacle CourseKids can participate in a mini-kayak obstacle course on the Natrel® Pond. The kayaks are tied together and each participant only gets a two-foot paddle! Every participant receives a free Canadian flag and the fastest team in each event wins a prize!

• June 30 to July 4, 2010
• Noon, 2 pm & 4 pm
• Harbourfront Centre - Natrel Pond
• Free!
• website

The Taste of Lawrence FestivalCome … savour the flavour of the multicultural tastes and talents of Scarborough at the 2010 Taste of Lawrence festival. Join your family, friends and neighbours for a celebration of diversity from throughout Scarborough, across the GTA and around the world. Three days of nonstop food and entertainment take over Lawrence Avenue East as 200,000 people come to together to show their Scarborough spirit and their incredible spirit for life and all of its delicious possibilities. Experience nonstop international talent on two stages. Win fantastic prizes. Shop for tasty specials at the diverse merchants of the Wexford Heights BIA. Taste of Lawrence 2010 - See it. Taste it. Live it.

• July 2, 2010 to July 4, 2010
• St. Lawrence Market, The Esplanade, Toronto
• website

Casa Loma’s 6th Annual Renaissance FestivalThursday, July 1 - Sunday, July 4. Come one. Come all. A Royal Invitation has been extended to all subjects of the Realm. This year, thanks to a Celebrate Ontario Grant, we are thrilled to provide a bigger and better Renaissance Festival. Warhorses in the Stables, a Viking encampment with dueling warriors (and children’s games!), impromptu skirmishes throughout the day and a variety of strolling minstrels will take you back to a more exciting and colourful age. Casa Loma's Renaissance Festival is included with castle admission.

• July 1, 2010 to July 4, 2010
• Casa Loma
• website

The Hot Spot Festival - Diabolo Juggling ft. Veronique ProvencherVéronique Provencher, one of the only Diabolo jugglers in North America performs the art of diabolo, a staple in juggling and circus communities. Provencher combines juggling with clown and dance and even performs a fire show at night with torches, diabolo on fire, and pois, the performance art in which balls suspended by flexible cord are held in the hand and swung in circular patterns.

• July 2-4, 2010
• Harbourfront Centre - Redpath Stage & Ann Tindall Lawn
• Free!
• website

The Hot Wheels® Colour Shifters™ Road TripThe Hot Wheels® Colour Shifters™ Road Trip takes a detour into Thornhill to unveil its life-size colour-shifting Mustang. The cool, state-of-the-art Ford Mustang and the Hot Wheels® Colour Shifters™ Trailer has been zooming across the country visiting festivals, camps and family events in various towns and cities. The Road Trip runs all summer long from July to September, giving Canadians of all ages a chance to experience help changing the colour of the car themselves. Kids who attend the event can help change the colour of the car, play with Hot Wheels® toys and will also receive a special Hot Wheels® collector booklet, T-shirt and more.

• July 16, 2010 – Ontario Place, East Entrance @ 10 am to 6 pm
• July 18, 2010 - Sears, Fairview Mall @ 11:00 am to 1:30 pm
• July 20, 2010 - Beaches Recreation Centre @ 9 am to 11 am
• July 21, 2010 - Bob Abate Community Rec Centre @ 9 am to 3 pm
• July 22, 2010 - Avenue Road Child Care @ 9 am to 12 pm
• website