Moms know: June is no joke. While the countdown to the last day of school is officially on, this month is bursting with year-end projects, school assemblies, recitals, fun fairs and report cards. Summer sports cross over with school extracurriculars, meaning weeknights are now twice as busy (and we thought it wasn’t possible to be any busier).
But we think there’s always a chance to squeak in some quality family time, especially if it involves one of the awesome events we’ve rounded up.
The Funhouse
Toronto’s latest immersive, pop-up experience is a maze-like Funhouse where “The adventure begins in a 1920s inter-dimensional hotel. As you descend down the rabbit hole, discover an alternative universe of art, interactive tech and music.” The Funhouse is designed to be family-friendly however note that strollers will need to be parked at the front. While tickets will be available at the door, you’re encouraged to buy them in advance. Prices start at $15, but kids under age 3 are free! funhousetoronto.com
When: Opens in June
Where: 101 Lisgar St
ROM Kids Day
Need to entertain your kids on the final PD day of this school year? Then consider enrolling them in the Royal Ontario Museum’s day camp. This hands-on program is designed for kids age five to 14 and features a full day of art, science experiments, educational activities and more. Pre-registration is required and extended care until 6 pm is available for an additional fee. rom.on.ca
When: June 7
Where: Royal Ontario Museum
Riverside Eats & Beats Streetfest
Kick off summer street festival season with this East End party. Spanning 10 blocks, this event features a sidewalk sale, lots of yummy food (including a special culinary tent where you can get deep-fried turkey and East Coast oysters) and a family-friendly beer garden. The Queen/Saulter Library will also be hosting a number of interactive kids’ activities including a pop-up learning lab and drag queen story time. riverside-to.com
When: June 1
Where: Queen St E between the Don Valley and De Grassi St
Dundas West Fest
One of the city’s best street festivals is back for another year and returning once again is a giant kids’ zone that will include bouncy castles, face painting, lots of games and all kinds of kid-friendly entertainment. The zone will be anchored by Roseneath Theatre, which will let kids act out their imagination with dress-up opportunities and various arts and crafts. Admission to the street festival is free but you’ll want to have plenty of cash on hand for the yummy snacks that will be available. dundaswestfest.ca
When: June 7 & 8
Where: Dundas St between Ossington Ave and Lansdowne Ave
2019 Toronto Mac & Cheese Festival
Every kid’s favourite food now has its very own festival. It features creative and classic takes whipped up by everyone from celebrity chefs to home cooks to corporate teams. Each order of mac and cheese will cost you but admission to the event is free for the whole family. The festival will also be raising funds for Epilepsy Toronto. themacandcheesefestival.com
When: June 7-9
Where: Roundhouse Park, 255 Bremner Blvd
Jr. Jays Sundays
Jr. Jays Sundays’ outdoor programming is back for another season of fun. Kids 14 and under can participate in all kinds of outside, pre-game activities including inflatables, face painting and opportunities to test their own baseball skills. A few lucky children will also get picked to help out with such tasks as announcing the game. Once the first pitch is thrown, kids can check out just-for-them activities throughout the 100, 200 and 500 levels. Then once the game is over, they can get on the field and run the bases themselves. mlb.com/bluejays
When: June 9 & most Sunday home games
Where: Rogers Centre, 1 Blue Jays Way
Leslieville Tree Festival
Celebrate Toronto’s urban forests at this free outdoor party. There will be a wide range of exhibitors, live performances and of course a ceremonial tree planting. Kids’ activities will include free face-painting and the chance to climb a 24-foot high climbing wall. You’ll also have the opportunity to pick up a free native shrub for your household. yourleaf.org/leslieville-tree-festival
When: June 15
Where: Leslie Grove Park, 1158 Queen St E
Highland Creek Heritage Festival
Now in its 34th year, this community celebration is packed with ways to entertain your family on a Saturday. Start things off with a pancake breakfast, then check out the rides, live performances and the Toronto Zoo experience. There will also be food trucks and over 50 vendors. hchf.ca
When: June 15
Where: Highland Creek Community Park, 3500 Ellesmere Rd
Foodalicious Toronto
Even the pickiest kid will find something delicious to eat at Foodalicious, a tasty event that brings over 30 food trucks, vendors and artisans together for this outdoor event. Just a few of the dishes available for your snacking pleasure include tacos, deep fried onions and pizza. Also on site will be bouncy castles, midway rides and all kinds of games and live entertainment. Entry tickets are around $10, with rides, games and of course food costing extra, but parking is free. foodalicious.ca
When: June 15-16
Where: Downsview Park, 35 Carl Hall Rd
2019 Yorkville Exotic Car Show
Got a car fanatic in your family? Then a visit to the 2019 Yorkville Exotic Car Show is a must-do this Father’s Day. Get up close and personal with over 110 high-end vehicles including Porches, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens, and more. Access to the car show is free but it will be accepting donations for Prostate Cancer Canada, which is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canadian men. yorkvilleexotics.com
Where: June 16
Where: Bloor St between Avenue Rd and Bay St
Monster Jam
Some of the biggest, toughest and uh, baddest trucks around are ready and waiting to wow your family with their awesome power. Also performing are fast-flying motorcycles that will dazzle you with their acrobatics. Ticket prices start at $15 and please note that this year, there are no pit parties. Also note that this event can get a little loud, so ear protection is recommended for the kids. monsterjam.com
Where: June 21- 23
Where: Scotiabank Arena, 40 Bay St
Pride Toronto
Pride might be Toronto’s biggest party but that doesn’t mean that it’s not family-friendly. Every year it features some just-for-kids events that aim to show just how welcoming, inclusive and fun the city can be. This year’s events include a family brunch at Pogue Mahone Pub & Kitchen on June 23 and the official Family Pride, set for June 22-23 at Church Street Public School. pridetoronto.com
When: June 22-23
Where: Downtown Toronto
Na-Me-Res Traditional Pow Wow
Celebrate National Indigenous History Month at this pow wow that is expected to feature over 100 dancers in traditional garb. Also featured will be a kids’ area, arts and crafts vendors, plenty of food and more. Entry to this event is free and while the Grand Entry starts at noon, the celebrations actually start a few hours earlier, with a sunrise ceremony. facebook.com/events
When: June 22
Where: Fort York National Historic Site, 250 Fort York Blvd
Queensway Butter Tart Festival
One of Toronto’s sweetest festivals takes place late in June. Here you’ll be able to try butter tarts from over a dozen bakeries from across Ontario. There will also be plenty of non-butter tart food options, including a family-friendly beer garden. Also on site will be live music, a kids’ zone and performances by the PC SuperDogs. It’s free to check out this festival but the food will cost you. shopthequeensway.com/tartfestival
When: June 22
Where: Queensway Park, 8 Avon Park Dr.
Toronto Diversity Festival
Toronto is the most multicultural city in the world. Celebrate that fact with thousands of other GTA residents at this downtown festival. Kids can burn off energy in the kids’ zone or show off their rhythm skills in the children’s drum village. There will also be live music and dance performances, a multicultural fashion show and of course food from around the world. eventbrite.ca
When: June 29 & 30
Where: David Pecaut Square, 215 King St. W.
Redpath Waterfront Festival
Nothing quite says summer like being on a boat and at this festival, your family can check out nearly a dozen tall ships that will be docked in the Toronto harbour. To visit the ships, you will need a ticket, which starts at around $15 for children. The festival will also feature a free-to-access Maritime Market that will be featuring ocean and East Coast-themed goods and food. towaterfrontfest.com
When: June 29-July 1
Where: HTO Park & Harbour Square Park, Queens Quay West
Tagged under: Toronto,June,guide to june,Savvy Guide to June,Toronto Guide to June
Category: events
