If the winter blues are hitting you hard, you might be looking forward to spending a long weekend with your partners, kids, parents, friends and whomever else you count as family. Whether you’re looking for something to do with your toddler or with your teens, there are plenty of family-friendly events and activities to do around Toronto this weekend.
Here are just a few ways to spend Family Day in Toronto.
Enjoy a family classic at Hot Docs
Nothing brings a family together like laughter, which is why Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema will be featuring Space Jam on the big screen Monday afternoon. Get transported back to the ’90s with a cult classic that follows Michael Jordan as he plays basketball in space alongside the Looney Tunes. Tickets are $15 for adults and $7.50 for those under 18.
Celebrate families of all species at the Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo is sure to be filled with animal lovers this weekend as family fun activities are scheduled from Saturday to Monday. Scavenger hunts, animal enrichment demonstrations and immersive luminescent walks promise a weekend of fun for kids of all ages.
Get a sugar rush at Sweet City Fest
All February long, Stackt Market is running a festival that’s made to satisfy your sweet tooth. Treat the kids (and yourself) to special s’mores, candy and hot chocolate at the Sweet City Fest and explore a stacked lineup of exhibits, specials, performances and bake sales. Yum!
Get in free at the Hockey Hall of Fame
If you live in a Leafs household, take the chance to spend Monday at the Hockey Hall of Fame. Kids under the age of 13 have free admission all day long, giving them plenty of time to marvel at specialty artifacts, hone their slapshot and take some selfies with the Stanley Cup.
Make your way through a giant maze
The Giant Maze is open all Family Day weekend long for you and the kids to navigate before lacing up your skates to enjoy the last of the winter season at Evergreen Brick Works. Public skating is free all weekend long, including Monday, with free skate rentals as well.
Take a chill pill at the Bloor-Yorkville IceFest
A dazzling IceFest is coming to Bloor-Yorkville, featuring 60,000 lbs of ice sculpted into more than 40 one-of-a-kind ice creations. You won’t want to miss out on live carving demonstrations, ice wall projections, the ice lounge and — brand new this year — the light enhancement sculptures for nighttime viewing.
Pick up a new hobby for free
Spend your weekend getting hooked on a new outdoor activity. Family Day is one of only three weekends each year that Ontarians can fish for free without a license. Take the family on a drive outside the city to the Kawarthas, rent a hut, get bundled in layers and get on the ice.
Try a family challenge with treetop trekking
Don’t let the cold snow scare you off from spending an afternoon outside and between the trees. Explore the forest in a fun and interactive way with Treetop Trekking, which is open all winter long in Hamilton and Stouffville. Ideal for ages 3-8, the Treewalk Village offers bouncing nets, suspension bridges and obstacle courses, all offered in a covered natural setting, and there are plenty of challenges for older kids to try (as long as no one is afraid of heights!).