How is your family’s summer going; have you had the opportunity to create any special memories yet? Don’t fret if you haven’t! We still have the whole month of August ahead of us and it’s filled with family-friendly activities. We round up ideas and activities for family fun in Toronto this month. Just make sure to pack the sunscreen and drink lots of water; it’s going to be a busy month and a hot one.
Events & Activities for Family Fun in Toronto in August
Ontario Parks
Open Daily Across Ontario
Did you know that Ontario is home to a whopping 340 provincial parks, with over a dozen located roughly two hours or less outside of Toronto? These parks are perfect for a day trip (or grab some camping gear for an overnight experience). Just a few activities your family can do include fishing in the Forks of the Credit, spotting over a dozen local bird species at Darlington, and walking through a canyon and alongside soaring cliffs at Mono Cliffs.
Admission fees vary by destination and note that 33 parks offer the option to reserve a day-use spot for your vehicle, guaranteeing you access to the park of your choosing.
ParksPlayTO
Weekdays now until August 19, exact dates vary by location
Various City of Toronto parks
Need to keep the kids busy during the week? Then check out the City of Toronto’s ParksPlayTO program. Designed for kids 12 and under, this drop-in program sees camp counselors entertain kids with games and crafts at 40 parks found around the city. You do have to stay on site, but your participation is fairly minimal. There’s also Adapted ParksPlayTO, for kids with special needs. This version of the program does require advanced registration. All ParksPlayTO programming is completely free to attend.
WonderPhil
Monday, August 1st
Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie St., Toronto
WonderPhil is known as one of the city’s best children’s entertainers for good reason: Not only is he a skilled magician, he’s also a pretty funny guy. Accompanied by his parrot Ha-Ha, WonderPhil is sure to leave your kids with a smile on their faces. While this show is designed for kids ages three to seven, we know a few adults who have also enjoyed WonderPhil’s magical talents. Three performance times are available (10am, noon and 3:30pm), and each show runs 50 minutes in length. Tickets are $25 per person.
Bollywood Monster Mashup
Friday August 5th & Saturday August 6th
Mississauga Celebration Square, 300 City Centre Dr., Mississauga
Canada’s largest south Asian festival takes over Mississauga’s Celebration Square with music, dance, and lots and lots of yummy food. Over two dozen performers will take to the festival’s multiple stages and wow your family with their talents. There will also be a kid’s zone, a marketplace, and lots more fun. Access to the festival is free.
Habari Africa Festival
Friday August 5th – Sunday August 7th
Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W, Toronto
Described as, “a multidisciplinary art and music festival that displays Africa’s rich and diverse cultures,” this three-day long festival by the lake features both local and international artists celebrating Africa via music, dance, film, and other artistic forms of expression. There will also be activities just for kids and plenty of food options. Access to this festival is also free.
The Big Bounce Canada
Friday August 5th – Sunday August 7th & Friday August 12th – Sunday August 14th
Markham Fairgrounds, 10801 McCowan Rd., Markham
If your kids love inflatables, then this bounce-tastic event is for them! It features the world’s largest bouncy castle (certified by the Guinness Book of World Records), Canada’s biggest inflatable obstacle course (with over 50 unique obstacles) and more. Each ticket gives you and your kids access to three hours of world’s biggest bouncy castle fun as well as unlimited access to the events’ other attractions, with pricing starting at $25. Note that if your child is four or older, they don’t need an adult to accompany them into any of the inflatables, meaning you don’t need a ticket. However, you do need to be on-site.
JerkFest
Friday August 5th – Sunday August 7th
Centennial Park, 256 Centennial Park Rd., Toronto
This celebration of delicious jerk dishes is always a tasty time. While the food is arguably the star of this festival, there will also be live performances including some by some pretty big names such as Maxi Priest, as well as live cooking demonstrations, vendors and kids’ activities. A ticket is needed to access the fun, and an advance family pass, which covers two adults and youths, costs $12.50. A variety of other, fancier ticket packages, as well as solo tickets, are also available.
Alohafest Toronto
Saturday August 6th
Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., Toronto
Dreaming of a trip to Hawaii? Then be sure to check out Alohafest, a local festival built around Hawaiian culture. Watch traditional hula dancers, dine on “unique Hawaiian treats,” and have the kids participate in building fun crafts. Vendors selling wares related to Polynesian culture will also be on-site. The festival runs from 11am until 7pm and is free to attend.
Mississauga Midway Fun Fair
Sunday August 7th
Erin Mills Auto Centre, 2560 Motorway Blvd., Mississauga
Peel and area families may want to check out the return of this annual fair. Running from 11:30am until 9:30pm, it features a kids’ zone, a craft zone, and a variety of carnival rides. The fun caps off with a performance by Elvis (okay, an Elvis impersonator) and fireworks. Access to the fair, including the rides, is free but bring money if you want to play the games or grab some food.
Immersive King Tut
Opens Wednesday, August 10th
Lighthouse ArtSpace Toronto, 1 Yonge St., Toronto
Budding Egyptologists will be thrilled by this truly immersive experience that will surround your family with soaring projections that promise to take visitors, “…on a mythical journey through the Egyptian afterlife.” Focused on the boy king King Tutankhamen, this experience is sure to be one that’s both memorable and educational. Tickets, which are timed entry, currently start as low as $25 but hurry, prices will increase on Monday, August 8.
Canadian National Exhibition
Friday, August 19th – Monday, September 5th
210 Princes’ Blvd., Toronto
It’s back! The city’s biggest celebration of, well, everything. All of your favourite attractions are returning including the midway, the air show, the Farm building, the Superdogs and so many food vendors. The Kids’ World area is also back, and this year features a circus workshop, a dinosaur dig and tons of live performers and character meet and greets. Kids ages four and under are free while kids ages five to 13 can claim a free ticket for a limited time at the CNE’s website. Adults can also purchase advance general admission for $20 or buy your tickets, including a family pass, at the gate.
What Happened to You?
Saturday August 20th & Sunday August 21st
Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman Ave., Toronto
The question that doubles as this show’s title is explored in this touching piece of puppet theatre designed to capture the hearts and minds of kids. The show’s puppet designer, “challenges the fundamental laws of traditional puppetry by making puppets that reflect her own disability, and moves as she moves.” The show starts at 2pm but come early, for 12:30pm,
and attend the puppet-making workshop. The performance is pay-what-you-can and advanced tickets are highly encouraged.
Fan Expo Canada
Thursday August 25th – Sunday August 28th
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 255 Front St. W, Toronto
This annual celebration of all things pop culture will fill the Metro Toronto Convention Centre with celebrities, cosplay and so many shopping opportunities. The Expo’s Family Zone promises, “…wizardly games, medieval battles, hands-on experiences, costumed characters, photo ops, games, crafts and more.” Tickets start at $12, and a discounted family pack is available. Just try to grab your passes before Thursday August 11th when prices go up.
Toronto Diversity Festival
Saturday August 27th
Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen St. W, Toronto
Toronto is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world! Come celebrate this fact from 11am until 10pm down at City Hall at the fifth annual Diversity Festival. Expect to see live performances from a wide range of cultures, a vibrant artisans’ market, dozens of food vendors, and fun children’s activities. And best of all, access to the festival is free.
Disney on Ice Presents Let’s Celebrate
Tuesday August 30th – Friday September 2nd
ScotiaBank Arena, 40 Bay St., Toronto
Here’s a fantastic way to cool off this August: Attend Disney on Ice! Packed with music, colourful costumes and of course impressive skating moves, Disney on Ice’s newest show, Let’s Celebrate, is sure to thrill both adults and kids. Over a dozen beloved characters will take to the ice, including Elsa, Tiana, Woody, and more. Five different performances are available, with morning, late afternoon, and early evening show times. Tickets start at $31 and if you previously purchased tickets to Disney on Ice’s January 2022 shows, those tickets are valid for these shows.
Blue Jays at Rogers Centre
1 Blue Jays Way, Toronto, ON
Games are happening now through the fall
For many Torontonians, it’s not summer without a trip to see the Blue Jays. Catching a Jays game is classic August family fun in Toronto. The Jays are having a decent season and nothing beats a summer afternoon or evening at the ballgame.
The Bentway Block Party
Sunday August 14
250 Fort York Blvd, Toronto, ON
The Bentway Block Party is back! This day-long, free, celebratory street party across The Bentway site includes musical performances, family-friendly games and workshops, food and drink, and much more. Daytime entertainment includes an afternoon of sunny and bright DJ sets, as well as a family-friendly Street Fashion Workshop. Join your neighbours from across the city and celebrate summer in Toronto!
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Category: events,attractions
