It’s turkey time! But there’s more to do with kids on Thanksgiving weekend than just getting stuffed on stuffing. Check out fall festivals, pumpkin patches, apple-picking, Thanksgiving dinner events and more in Toronto and the GTA, plus some of our favourite fall things to do that are perfect for the long weekend with your family.
Thanksgiving Weekend in Toronto
Check out fun fall activities, events, and other things to do in the city this weekend, or see what’s on in the GTA for the long weekend.
Thanksgiving at the Village
Celebrate Thanksgiving circa 1800 (or thereabouts) at Black Creek Pioneer Village during its annual Thanksgiving weekend event. Stroll through the village, take a wagon ride, play old-fashioned games and take part in harvest-themed activities, plus meet the (real, live) animals!
Black Creek Pioneer Village, 1000 Murray Ross Parkway, TorontoOctober 6–8, 11 am–4:30 pm
Toronto Pumpkinfest
This free event that takes place at Downsview Park and has tons of activities and attractions for kids, including a midway with kids’ rides, jumping castles, an inflatable corn maze, carnival games, a costume contest, pumpkin patch, pumpkin pie eating contest, food vendors and food trucks. Admission is free, but ride passes are sold separately ($25 for kids ages 2–12; save $2 online).
October 6–8, 11 am–10 pm
Shorts for Shorties
A short film program with animated movies all told from a child’s viewpoint. The program is presented as part of the annual aluCine Latin Film Festival, now in its 18th year, which features a collection of challenging and unique Latin American films. Tickets are $11 for adults, $9 for students.
October 6, 2–4 pmThanksgiving Meals
Feast without lifting a finger to cook! Call to find out which family-friendly restaurants in the city are serving Thanksgiving meals. Be sure to make a reservation! For an extra-special day, reserve an elegant Thanksgiving brunch at Casa Loma (October 7; $75 adults, $55 kids ages 4–13), which includes admission to tour the castle and grounds.
Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
The AGO’s Hands-On Centre, included with admission price, is open every weekend, and also on Monday this week. Drop in and get crafty with a different art project theme each weekend or let kids play dress-up with costumes or construct with building toys.
Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
Kids always love a trip to the ROM to dig in the sand and gape at the dinosaur skeletons. Visit the Spider Lab this weekend—part of the “Spiders: Fear & Fascination” exhibit. This weekend, admission is 20% off—and ROM memberships are discounted, too.
Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCCA)
Head to the just-reopened Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCCA) for colourful exhibits like “Laws of Motion in a Cartoon Landscape” which explores the laws of physics through cartoons. Admission is free for kids and $10 for adults.
High Park Zoo and Castle Playground
Head to High Park to see the changing colours, take the train, let the kids loose on the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground (aka the “castle playground”) and see the animals at the High Park Zoo. On weekends and holidays, you can feed the llamas and pet the bunnies or chickens.
Daily; llama pen October 6–8 (and every weekend), 11:30 am–2 pmHigh Park Nature Walks
You can do a drop-in family nature walk at High Park on Saturday to hunt for some autumn mushrooms and other fungi in the forest. Suggested donation for the walk is $2–$5.
October 6, 1:30–3 pmThanksgiving Weekend Outside the City
Thanksgiving weekend is a great time to get out of town for a day to get your apple cider fix or pick up your Halloween pumpkin at a nearby fun farm or harvest festival in the GTA and beyond. There are also several fairs and a huge, weekend-long kids’ festival at Markham Fairgrounds.
Find out what’s happening on Thanksgiving weekend in the GTA.
