Fun Family Things to Do in Toronto in May
Toronto in May is awesome for so many reasons. Of course, there’s the (slowly) warming weather. But there’s also the blossoming plants, the opening of patios, and the return of splash pads! In Toronto, splash pads should open during the Victoria Day long weekend, providing a simple and free source of fun for kids (note that wading pools, which require lifeguards, don’t open until the start of July). Find your closest splash pads here.
May is also the start of school fun fair season. Fun fairs are a great way to fill an afternoon (or sometimes evening) while directing funds to your local community. You can usually learn about upcoming fun fairs from neighbourhood Facebook groups and posters up on power poles. If your family needs a little more than fun fairs and splash pads to stay entertained, keep reading as below we round up lots of ways to keep you busy this May. If you’re looking for Mother’s Day events, check back at the start of May when we share our Mother’s Day in Toronto roundup.
Stars on Ice
Scotiabank Arena, 40 Bay St., Toronto
Friday May 3
Canadian and world champions and Olympic medallists take to the ice in this always captivating show. Just a few of the talented skaters who will grace Scotiabank Arena include Elvis Stojko, Patrick Chan, and Ilia Malinin. New this year is the $25 Preshow Stargazer session, which gives holders access to a pre-show warm-up skate and an interactive question and answer session with Elvis Stojko and Satoko Miyahara. And returning are the always popular post-show meet and greet packages. The main show starts at 7:30 pm and tickets start at $30, with all seats in the 100 level.
The Formula 1 Exhibition
Lighthouse ArtSpace Toronto, 1 Yonge St., Toronto,
Friday May 3 to Sunday July 14
One of sports’ (and technology’s) greatest series is the star of this new experience that uses “audio-visual spectaculars” and “elegantly curated displays,” including the famed MoneyGram Haas F1 Team VF-20 race car, to take you on a memorable journey through F1’s famed history. It’s spread across six rooms that each focus on a specific aspect of F1’s story and the experience takes around 90 minutes to fully appreciate. Tickets start at $42, and kids under three are free.
Canada’s Wonderland Opens
1 Canada’s Wonderland Dr., Vaughan
Opens to everyone Friday May 3
The GTA’s premier amusement park is ready to welcome your family back for another thrilled-packed season! And if thrills aren’t your thing, don’t worry, there are two little-kid areas that easily fill up a day. As always, the park has a busy schedule of special events, including a firework show on Sunday, May 19. For the month of May, the park is open Thursdays through Sundays before the Victoria Day long weekend and then is open daily until September. Assuming the weather cooperates, Splash Works opens the weekend of May 25 and 26, though it doesn’t open during the week until June. Pre-purchased tickets start at $44.99, but if your family plans to visit Canada’s Wonderland at least twice over the next year, an annual pass, which starts at $89, is the way to go.
MOCA’s May Family Weekend: Poems with Friends
Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto, 158 Sterling Rd., Toronto
Saturday May 4 & Sunday May 5
Stop by Toronto’s modern art museum during the first weekend for its monthly family-friendly activities. On May 4, artist and poet Ali Pinkney will guide participants through “… ways of finding connection and sharing with your community through poetry and visual art-making.” Registration is required and there is a $5 per child fee. Or drop in on Sunday, May 5, for a free family-oriented workshop where you can all “…try your hand at making a collage through gathering words and phrases from newspapers and magazines to create imaginative visual poems.” Both experiences include a tour of the museum’s exhibits that’s designed for families.
Monster Trucks All Out
Markham Fairgrounds, 10801 McCowan Rd., Markham
Saturday May 4
Kid-friendly entertainment doesn’t get higher octane than this! Watch massive trucks crush all kinds of objects while dirt bikes and motorcycles zip around and defy gravity. It’s loud, it’s flashy and best of all, it’s outdoors (if you’ve attended an indoor monster truck show, you’ll appreciate this). Two nearly two-hour long shows are scheduled, one at 10:00 am and another at 3:15 pm, and each event features a pre-show pit party, where your family can get up close with the trucks and drivers. Tickets start at $20 and VIP packages, as well as the option to ride in a truck, are available for an additional fee. Kids under three are free, so long as they sit on a lap.
The Big Bounce Canada
Woodbridge Fair, 100 Porter Ave., Woodbridge
Saturday May 4 – Sunday May 19
After skipping Toronto last year, the world’s biggest bouncy castle returns to the region and brings it with three other colourful and fun inflatables: The 900-foot-long The Giant, the action-packed Sport Slam, and the out-of-this-world Air Space. To make things a little more manageable, the three-hour-long bounce sessions are broken into different age categories, including one just for kids under four. Tickets start at $30 and if you’re just watching your kids, which you can elect to do for children ages four and up, you don’t need a ticket.
Thumbelina
Wychwood Theatre, 76 Wychwood Ave., Toronto
Saturday May 4 – Sunday June 23; weekends only
Hans Christian Andersen’s tale about a tiny girl gets the musical treatment in this new production that follows the three-inch tail main character as she explores the world beyond her garden home for the first time. This sweet, 60-minute-long show is suitable for all ages. Two show times are offered, at 10:00 am and 12:30 pm, and tickets start at around $33 if you buy them in a discounted four-pack.
Lite-Brite: Worlds of Wonder
Illuminarium, 28 Gristmill Ln., Toronto
Wednesday May 8 – Sunday June 30
Ever wanted to play with a giant Lite-Brite? Well, here’s your chance! The 360-degree immersive light experience known as Illuminarium has a brand-new show lined up and the whole thing is inspired by Lite-Brite. Over 60 minutes, your family will experience three different worlds built out of thousands of colourful lights, — some of which are interactive — play 12 different games, view Lite Brite art and more. Tickets start at $33.50.
Echo – Cirque de Soleil
955 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Toronto
Wednesday May 8 – Sunday July 21
Cirque de Soleil has returned to the lakefront with a new-to-Toronto show that promises to dazzle and amaze every member of your family. Described as a “spectacular performance combining poetry, stagecraft, daring acrobatics, and technology explores the delicate balance between people, animals, and the world we all share,” the show runs for just over two hours, with an intermission. A variety of performance times are available, including late morning, afternoon, and evening options. A number of pricing and ticket packages are also on offer, with tickets starting at just over $100, before any promotions are applied.
Dog Man: The Musical
CAA Theatre, 651 Yonge St., Toronto
Thursday May 9 – Sunday June 2
The bestselling Dog Man book series has been turned into an “… epic musical adventure featuring the hilarity and heart of Dav Pilkey’s beloved characters.” Follow the adventures of best friends and grade five students George and Harold as they create their own musical based on their hero Dog Man, the part-man, part-dog crime fighter. The Mirvish-produce show, which is best for kids ages five and up, has a run time of around 70 minutes with no intermission. It also offers several performance times including late morning, the afternoon, and the evening. Tickets start at $39.
Wee Festival
Various locations across Toronto
Friday May 10 – Sunday June 9
Happy tenth anniversary Wee Festival! To celebrate this milestone, the festival is staging 10 productions just for kids. The line-up includes Up!, “a captivating vocal and physical performance” suitable for ages six months to five years; Quest for the Moon, a shadow puppet show best for kids two-and-a-half and older, and Good Night!/Bonne Nuit!, a comedic puppet show for children three and older. Venues vary and include the Alliance Française de Toronto (24 Spadina Rd.), the Daniels Spectrum – Dance Arts Institute (#130-585 Dundas St. E., Toronto) and the Tarragon Theatre (30 Bridgman Ave., Toronto). Ticket pricing also varies but starts at $10, with a small number of pay-what-you-can seats available. A full festival pass, as well as a five-show pass, is also available.
Science Rendezvous 2024
Toronto Metropolitan University, 17 Gould St., Toronto
University of Toronto, 100 George St., Toronto
Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital, 1 Bridgepoint Dr., Toronto
Saturday May 11
This national celebration of all things STEM returns to multiple Toronto institutions this May. Each location will be offering something a little different, but all have hands-on experiences lined up that will get your kids (and you) engaged with physics, chemistry, and biology. At the University Health Network’s Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital, learn about artificial intelligence and stem cells while at TMU (formerly Ryerson University) you can watch a drone demonstration. Science Rendezvous is free to explore but some elements do require advance registration.
Junior
Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W., Toronto
Saturday May 18 – Monday May 20
As one of Canada’s largest children’s festivals, Junior features a little bit of everything, all designed to entertain and engage kids ages five to 12. Nearly two dozen events are scheduled and include dance, theatre, music, interactive worshops, acrobats, and more, including some outdoor experiences. This year’s lineup includes an African circus, Bollywood dancers, and storytime with Fay and Fluffy. Some events, such as the Afrique end Cirque, are free but others, such as Make Me Dance, start at $15.
The Stinky Cheese Man
Wychwood Theatre, 76 Wychwood Ave., Toronto
Weekends only from Saturday May 18 – Sunday June 23
The hilarious kid’s book The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales serves as the basis for this laugh-packed show. Expect parodies of The Ugly Duckling, Rumpelstiltskin, The Princess and the Frog, and more. Best for kids who are five and older, the show runs 50 to 55 minutes in length. Performances take place at 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm, and tickets start at around $30 if you buy them in a discounted four-pack.
Spring Celebration
Riverdale Farm, 201 Winchester St., Toronto
Saturday May 25
Give spring a big woolly welcome at downtown Toronto’s real-life farm. Riverdale Farm’s annual spring-themed event includes sheep shearing demonstrations, crafts, refreshments, and the opportunity to meet the farm’s animal residents. The farm also features some lovely—and very kid-friendly—walking paths. Access to the farm and its Spring Celebration is free.
Doors Open Toronto
Various Locations Around Toronto
Saturday May 25 & Sunday May 26
Over 150 buildings and other sites will literally open their doors and welcome the public inside for a little look-around during the annual Open Doors Toronto event. This year’s theme is “Hidden Histories” and will offer opportunities for visitors to “…engage with the forgotten or often-overlooked sites and stories of Toronto.” While some sites will offer guided tours and
special talks, most of the sites are a self-guided experience, which is perfect for families with kids who can be a bit unpredictable. More details, including a list of sites, will be shared by the City of Toronto here. Access to the venues is free.
