York Region & Durham Region Events

February | March | April | May 2012

NOTE: Markham events are listed separately.

2012 Kids Events Guide

FEBRUARY 2012

Bedtime StoriesDrop by the Mount Albert Branch and join Ms. Jodi or Ms. Mary Ann for Bedtime Stories! 1st & 3rd Wednesdays each month. No Registration Required. All Ages (with Adult)

• February 1, & 15, 2012
• 7:00 pm
• East Gwillimbury Public Library
  Mount Albert Branch, 19300 Centre Street, Mount Albert
• Free!
• website

P.A. Day Workshop at the Museum: How Things Were Done

Come and spend the day learning about How Things Were Done in Whitchurch-Stouffville over 100 years ago! You will try out an old-fashioned soup recipe, bake in the Victorian Kitchen, spend time in the Pioneer Classroom, and much more! Just perfect for children aged 8 – 12! Pre-registration is required and participants must bring their own nut-free lunch.

• Friday, February 3, 2012
• 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum 14732 Woodbine Ave., Gormley, ON
• Cost $40 ($32 for members) Pre-registration required.
• website

Richmond Hill Winter Carnival

Welcome to our 44th year! A weekend of affordable fun and entertainment featuring pancake breakfast, live music, dog show, hockey skills clinic, ringette, amateur band contest, face painting, colouring contest and more! Organized by volunteers to celebrate the community of Richmond Hill in a welcoming atmosphere.

• February 3 to February 5, 2012
• Mill Pond, Richmond Hill
• website

Cedarena PA Day Skate Join us for some old fashioned fun at 'The Rink' on the banks of the Little Rouge River. Weather and ice permitting, we will be open for family skating from 1:00-4:00 pm.

• Friday, February 3, 2012 (York Region PA Day)
• 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
• Cedarena, Reesor Road, Markham
• website

Newmarket Winterfest 2012

Free admission, nominal fee for some activities. A donation of non-perishable food for the Newmarket Food Pantry is appreciated. Many activities organized by community service groups and volunteers. Activities and attractions include: pancake breakfast, family bingo, children's activities, photography contest, wagon rides, pony rides, children's games, dog sled rides, skating and hot food, free public skate & swim. Visit website for full schedules and venue locations.

• Saturday & Sunday, February 4 & 5, 2012
• Various locations, Newmarket
• website

Kortright Dog Sled RacesA truly Canadian winter adventure for the entire family! Enjoy amazing outdoor activities for all ages including Guided Hikes, Snowshoeing, Crossleds, and our main feature, tha amazing Dog Sled Races. Watch as members of the Siberian Husky Club of Canada race the trails at Kortright. Weather permitting.

• February 4 & 5, 2012
• Kortright Centre for Conservation, Kortright Centre, 9550 Pine Valley Drive Woodbridge
• website

Vaughan Celebrates Winterfest

The City of Vaughan's 23nd annual Winterfest will take place on Sunday, February 5, 2012. This fun-filled family-themed event will feature free entertainment on the outdoor stage, rides and fun for everyone. This website will be updated with Winterfest 2012 highlights as they become available, so check back often. Winterfest is a wonderful, outdoor all-day event that brings families and visitors together to celebrate the spirit of community that makes Vaughan such a great city!

• Sunday February 5, 2012
• 10:00 am to 3:30 pm
• Vellore Village Community Centre, 1 Villa Royale Avenue, Woodbridge
• website

Crafty KidsCraft it up at the Library! Join us for messy mornings filled with fun. Ages 3 to 8 years (with adult). Pre-Registration Required.

• February 11, 2012
• 10:30
• East Gwillimbury Public Library
  Mount Albert Branch, 19300 Centre Street, Mount Albert
• Free!
• website

Cedarena PA Day Skate Join us for some old fashioned fun at 'The Rink' on the banks of the Little Rouge River. Weather and ice permitting, we will be open for family skating from 1:00-4:00 pm.

• Friday, February 17, 2012 (Durham Region PA Day)
• 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
• Cedarena, Reesor Road, Markham
• website

Circle of Readers Drop-InDrop in with your child to play literacy games and practice reading aloud in a supportive group setting. Ages: 6 to 9 years with an adult. No registration required.

• Saturday, February 18, 2012
• 10:30 am to 11:30 am
• East Gwillimbury Public Library
  Mount Albert Branch, 19300 Centre Street, Mount Albert
• Free!
• website

Family Day at Pickering Recreation Complex

Family friendly activities for the whole family. Purchase your family passport to access activities including art, crafts, skating, swimming, yoga, squash, tennis and family fit games. Available for purchase on January 16th. All activities require adult/child supervision.

• February 20, 2012
• 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Pickering Recreation Complex, 1867 Valley Farm Road, Pickering
• $10.00 for family passport
• website

Family Day at the MuseumDrop by and create some fun heritage crafts, tour the historical buildings and visit the gift shop. A great experience for the whole family! Admission: $2 per youth.

• February 20, 2012
• 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum, 14732 Woodbine Avenue, Gormley, ON
• website

Cedarena Family Day Skate Join us for some old fashioned fun at 'The Rink' on the banks of the Little Rouge River. Weather and ice permitting, we will be open for family skating from 1:00-4:00 pm.

• Friday, February 20, 2012
• 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
• Cedarena, Reesor Road, Markham
• website

Family Day Fun, Toyland, at the Elman W. Campbell MuseumEnjoy our old-fashioned wooden toys and activities involving our antique toys. See our model train, Nursery Rhyme and Fairy Tale displays. Have fun in our dress up area, discover the toys in our play area, have your picture taken with our pioneer board and go on a Museum scavenger hunt! Suitable for ages 4-10. $2.50 per participant with donation of non-perishable food item for the Newmarket Food Pantry.

• February 20, 2012
• 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
• Elman W. Campbell Museum, 134 Main St., South, Newmarket
• $2.50 per participant
• website

Groove and PlayDiscover the joys of music with your child. Join Ms. Jodi for singing, dancing, and musical games. Ages 3 to 8 years (with adult). Pre-Registration Required.

• February 25, 2012
• 10:30
• East Gwillimbury Public Library
  Mount Albert Branch, 19300 Centre Street, Mount Albert
• Free!
• website

The Sound of Music

The Sound of Music is a favourite of audiences of all ages. Ryleepuss Productions is proud to be able to use the historic Uxbridge Music Hall as their theatrical venue. We have delighted audiences with our shows, such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Guys and Dolls, Wizard of Oz, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and 42nd Street. We are happy to announce that we will be presenting the fabulous musical Fiddler on the Roof at the Music Hall in July 2012. For ticket information and show dates and times please check our website. $1.00 from every ticket sold goes to the Music Hall Improvement Fund.

• Sunday February 26, 2012
• Uxbridge Music Hall, 16 Main St S, Uxbridge
• Special matinee all tickets $10 All other performances are $19 for adults $12 for youth 12yrs and under.
• website

Welcome Wagon Baby Shower - Pickering

Expecting A Baby? Plan to attend the FREE Pickering Baby Show for Expectant Parents. FREE Admission - Door Prizes - Gift Bags for the first 130 moms-to-be. Helpful information in planning for your baby on the way! Register to attend and receive your FREE ticket at www.havingababy.ca or call 1-866-873-9945. **Exhibitor Space Available - call the number above and ask for Tammy

• Sunday February 26, 2012
• 1pm to 4pm
• Pickering Recreation Complex 1867 Valley Farm Road Pickering
• Free!
• website

MARCH 2012

Don't miss our Annual March Break Fun Guide - packed with great outings and activities for York Region, Durham and Toronto kids!

Bedtime StoriesDrop by the Mount Albert Branch and join Ms. Jodi or Ms. Mary Ann for Bedtime Stories! 1st & 3rd Wednesdays each month. No Registration Required. All Ages (with Adult)

• March 1 & 7, 2012
• 7:00 pm
• East Gwillimbury Public Library
  Mount Albert Branch, 19300 Centre Street, Mount Albert
• Free!
• website

Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival

With the approach of spring a person may be sure of several things: birds will be singing and pancakes will be flipping at the 37th Annual Maple Syrup Festival at Purple Woods Conservation Area in Oshawa. Central Lake Ontario Conservation (CLOCA) will be hosting the Festival, open daily from 10:00am to 2:30pm during the March Break (March 10th to 18th), as well as March 24th/25th and March 31st/April 1st weekends. A visit to the Festival makes a great family outing during the March Break! *Sorry, no pets allowed at the Festival.* Purple Woods Conservation Area is located on the southeast corner of Coates Road and Simcoe Street at the Oshawa/Scugog boundary.

• Open daily during March Break March 10-18, 2012 and March 24th/25th and March 31st/April 1st weekends.
• 10:00 am to 2:30 pm
• Purple Woods Conservation Area, Oshawa
• website

March Break'n It at Elman Campbell MuseumDrop in 10a.m. to 3p.m. Suitable for ages 4-10 years. Tuesday, March 13 Creative Crafts, $5.50 per person Drop in for some creative time making a variety of crafts. Wednesday March 14, Bumble Bee Fun, $5.50 per person Join in the fun with some wacky activities. March 15, 16, 17 Museum Mayhem, Free Learn how to walk on stilts or attempt hula hoops. Try our old fashioned wooden toys & games and go on a Museum Scavenger Hunt. Children under 12 must be accompanied by a caregiver 18 years of age or over. Parents please note: this is not a day camp and there are no lunchroom facilities.

• March 13-16, 2012
• 10am-3pm each day
• Elman Campbell Museum, 134 Main St., South, Newmarket
• March 13-14 $5.50 / March 15-17 Free
• website

Markham Spring Mom to Mom SaleBiggest Sale in the GTA - vendor spaces are already sold out! A Mom-to-Mom Sale is essentially a huge rummage sale where you can buy gently used baby and kids' items directly from sellers. Get great deals on second hand baby clothing, kids' clothing, toys, games, furniture and gear.

• Saturday March 31, 2012
• 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
• Markham Fairgrounds, Buildings 1 & 2
• $3/ Adult Admission, pay at the door. Strollers welcome, indoor venue, lots of free parking!
• website

Sunderland Maple Syrup Festival

People travel great distances each year to see what riches the little town of Sunderland has to offer. They come to join in the festival fun and to be part of a small town community filled with love, drive and spirit. Everyone enjoys the exciting variety of events taking place during the festival weekend. Available for your pleasure: all day pancakes, horse and wagon rides, lots of delicious food, Arts and Crafts at the School, Fine Art Show in The Town Hall, bus tours to the Sugar Bush and Salem Alpacas, Maple Syrup for sale, variety of vendors, Dances and Storytelling by the Chippewa Native Indians, Military displays and activiites by Blades of Glory, wood carving and blacksmith demonstrations and much much more!

• March 31 & April 1, 2012
• 10:00 am to 2:30 pm
• Main Street and throughtout the Town, Sunderland, ON
• website

APRIL 2012

Pickering Easter ParadeThe Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 606 & the Ladies Auxiliary proudly present the Annual Easter Parade starting at 10am. Put on your best Easter bonnet, decorate your bike, wagon or doll carriage to win great prizes! Free lunch and activities at the Legion following the parade. To submit a parade float, please call 905.839.2990.

• April 7, 2012
• Starts at 10:00 am
• Parade Route: East on Annland St. at Liverpool Rd. to Krosno Blvd. and along Krosno to Bayly St.
• website

Harlem Globetrotters 2012 TourOn the heels of signing one of the most extraordinary rookie classes in team history, the Harlem Globetrotters will bring their 2012 World Tour to the General Motors Centre. The outstanding rookies include Paul “Tiny” Sturgess, the world’s tallest pro basketball player at 7-8, Jonte “Too Tall” Hall, the shortest Globetrotter ever at 5-2, and Fatima “TNT” Maddox of Temple University, the team’s first female player since 1993 and ninth female in team history.

• April 11, 2012
• Starts at 10:00 am
• General Motors Centre, Oshawa
• Tickets: $19 to $85
• website

Imagination MoversWant to add some rockn'roll excitement and entertainment to your family's life? Then don't miss the IMAGINATION MOVERS 2012 Rock-O-Matic Tour. The Movers were the highest-rated and most popular live family act of 2011. The key to the Movers' appeal is they combine danceable power pop songs with extremely catchy choruses and a knack for inspiring audience participation. Throw in a heaping helping of onstage silliness and you've got a recipe for a live musical event that will truly engage the littlest of kids along with their older siblings, parents and grandparents.

• Saturday, April 14, 2012
• 2 Shows - 1:00pm & 4:00pm
• General Motors Centre, Oshawa
• Tickets: $19 to $85 (on sale January 13, 2012) Buy tickets
• website

Woodbridge Mom 2 Mom SaleNow in it's 4th fabulous year, join us on Sat. April 21, 2012 for our Annual Spring Mom 2 Mom Sale. Spring is the best time to clear out your closets and garages and make some extra cash. Last year's event saw almost 1000 shoppers and over 125 sellers.

• Saturday, April 21, 2012
• 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
• Vellore Village Community Centre
• $2.00
• website

MAY 2012

Cosmic Campout Music Festival3 day music and art festival featuring over 20 bands from Durham region and the GTA. Line up so far includes....The Stables, I Dunno, The Standstills, The Bone Devil, The Bulletproof Tiger, Worst Pop Band Ever, Janetville Dug, Melanie Hebert, Patrick Dorie and the honest Thieves, Death and the 9th day, Whoa Nellie, Bradley Boy, Soul Heart, GT Harris, the Dirt Suirrel All-Stars plus DJs and artist like Geordie Lishman. Plus many many more musical and visual artists TBA. Portions of sales goes to the non-profit Org4peace International Helpers www.org4peace.org. Children's Planned Activities, Childrens Playground/Pool, Food, Gift Shop, Historic Site, Picnic Area.

• May 18-20, 2012
• 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
• 3388 Concession Rd 3, Newcastle, ON
• $30 early bird price $250 for a block of ten.
• website

Victoria Day SpeedFestMosport International Raceway kicks off it's 2012 season schedule with the annual Victoria Day SpeedFest Weekend. The weekend will feature the season opener for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. Also in action is the SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada, Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship and F1000.

• May 18-20, 2012
• 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
• Mosport International Raceway, Bowmanville, ON
• website

Artfest on the EsplanadeAnnual outdoor art show and sale. Over 80 artists show and sell their work. Performing artists at the Gazebo, free children and teen art activity tents, Hands on Art by PRAC. Deadline to apply for performers is Monday, April 2, 2012. Deadline for artists is Friday, April 6, 2012. Event is presented by the City in partnership with the PineRidge Arts Council. Cost for artists is $20 for artists to apply. Free to the public to attend.

• May 26, 2012
• Esplanade Park, behind Pickering Civic Complex, Pickering
• website

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