The Best Events This Weekend for Kids | September 25-27, 2026
Looking for fun things to do with the kids this weekend? Explore our updated guide to family-friendly events, activities, festivals, and outings happening across Toronto, the GTA and South Central Ontario!
Looking for more family outing ideas? Visit our Family Fun Guides for more events, best places to go and fun activities, across the GTA and Southern Ontario.
FEATURED EVENT
Halloween Nights of Lights & Pumpkinville
- September 25 – November 1, 2026
- CF Sherway Gardens, 25 The West Mall Etobicoke, ON
The ultimate fall experience is back! Explore more than 1.5 million dazzling lights, new scenes and photo moments, then discover Pumpkinville with 15,000+ real pumpkins, midway rides, carnival games, interactive attractions, seasonal food and live entertainment. Bigger and more interactive for 2026, it’s a fall adventure for all ages.
FEATURED EVENT
DroneArt Show: Harry Potter
- September 25 and 26, 2026 at 8 pm
- YZD, 590 Wilson Avenue, North York ON
Watch the magic of Harry Potter™ light up the night sky as 1,200 synchronized drones recreate beloved moments from the films. Featuring iconic music and dialogue, a live violinist and glowing LED wristbands, this spectacular open-air experience is truly spellbinding.
FEATURED EVENT
The Markham Fair
- October 1-4, 2026
- 10801 McCowan Rd, Markham, ON
Celebrate fall at the 182nd Markham Fair! Enjoy four days packed with family fun, including SuperDogs, monster trucks, BMX, MX Big Air, tractor pulls, demolition derby, livestock shows, midway rides and more. It’s a Thanksgiving weekend tradition with something for the whole family!
UPCOMING EVENT
Harry Potter™: Visions of Magic
- Opens October 16
- YZD, 590 Wilson Avenue, North York ON
Step into the wizarding world at Harry Potter™: Visions of Magic, an immersive journey through eight magical environments. Use a wand to reveal hidden magic as you explore Knockturn Alley, the Room of Requirement and more. Tickets start at $28.
Top Picks: Family Events this Weekend
Toronto Garlic Festival presented by Dupont By the Castle BIA
September 27, 2026
Allan Gardens
Stock up on your winter supply of Ontario garlic. Taste sweet and savoury garlic dishes, snack on garlic pickles, relishes and sauces. Sip garlic beer and cocktails, plus wine. Down free raw garlic shots, brave the Garlic Breath Contest, dress up for the Vampire Costume Contest, and so ...
A Day of Monarch Magic
September 27, 2026
Orchard Pavillion
Our beloved Monarch butterflies are facing challenges, and they need your support! Every year, these incredible travelers journey thousands of kilometres during migration, and together we can help make their life a little safer. We’re transforming the south mound in Downsview Park into a vibrant Monarch Mound, bursting ...
Fall Celtic Festival
September 26–27, 2026
Toronto Rock Athletic Centre
Celebrate Celtic music, dance and culture at the Oakville Fall Celtic Festival, a free two-day festival for all ages! Taking place September 26 & 27, the festival brings Celtic traditions to life with live music, pipe bands, Irish and Highland dancing, cultural performances, food and plenty of family ...
The Word on the Street 2026
September 26–27, 2026
David Pecaut Square
The Word On The Street’s 37th Annual Festival returns to its iconic fall weekend, September 26th and 27th, at David Pecaut Square. The festival will feature over 100 exhibitors and six stages of programming for book-lovers of all ages. Spend the weekend meandering through the vibrant marketplace, where ...
Toronto Vintage Show
September 26–27, 2026
Queen Elizabeth Building at Exhibition Place
Canada’s biggest vintage fashion event is back for an epic weekend celebrating timeless style, sustainable shopping and creative expression. With 125 hand-picked vendors, the Toronto Vintage Show brings together an extraordinary selection of pieces plucked from decades of fashion and design history. The Fall edition features a suit ...
Tricks and Treats at Canada's Wonderland
Sep 26–Nov 1, 2026
Canada’s Wonderland
Celebrate Halloween with the whole family at Tricks and Treats, Canada’s Wonderland’s family-friendly daytime Halloween event! Enjoy plenty of spooky fun without the scares, with trick-or-treating, colourful characters, live entertainment, seasonal treats and favourite family rides. Kids can dress up and join the PEANUTS Costume Party, follow the ...
Fall Weekends at Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory
September 26–27, 2026
Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory
Add a little extra family fun to your visit to Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory this fall! Every Saturday and Sunday beginning September 19, families can enjoy special storytimes and fascinating live insect encounters, all included with regular admission. At 11:00 am, gather in the classroom for Storytime & Creature ...
Pumpkins After Dark - Milton
Sep 25–Oct 31, 2026
Country Heritage Park
Pumpkins After Dark is back for another unforgettable Halloween season in Ontario! This award-winning, family-friendly Halloween event brings the magic of fall to life with thousands of hand-carved pumpkins, incredible pumpkin sculptures, immersive displays, live entertainment, roaming Halloween characters, and plenty of picture-perfect moments along the way. Follow ...
Milton Fall Fair
September 25–27, 2026
Milton Fairgrounds
A favourite fall tradition since 1853, the Milton Fall Fair brings three days of family fun, agricultural heritage and classic fair excitement to the Milton Fairgrounds! Explore livestock shows and agricultural displays, browse homecraft exhibits and competitions, enjoy live entertainment and tasty fair food, and take a spin ...
The Great Northern Exhibition
September 25–27, 2026
GNE Fairgrounds
Get ready for a weekend of classic fall fair fun at the Great Northern Exhibition (GNE)! This long-running agricultural fair returns to Clearview Township September 25–27 with the 2026 theme “Country Roots and Cowboy Boots.” Bring the whole family to enjoy midway rides and games, farm animals and ...
Halloween Nights of Lights & Pumpkinville
Sep 25–Nov 1, 2026
CF Sherway Gardens
Halloween Nights of Lights & Pumpkinville returns for its 7th year at CF Sherway Gardens from September 25 to November 1, 2026, on select dates for 26 exciting event days! 🎟️ 🎉 Use promo code CHILDSLIFE (all caps) for 15% off all adult and child tickets! Step into ...
Arts of the Middle East Festival
September 25–26, 2026
Mississauga Celebration Square
The Arts of the Middle East Festival brings people together to celebrate the rich culture, vibrant traditions, and incredible flavours of the Middle East. This year, join us for unforgettable performances, cultural experiences, and delicious cuisine that highlight the beauty and diversity of the region. Step into a ...
DroneArt Show: Harry Potter
September 25–26, 2026
YZD
DroneArt Show: Harry Potter™ is coming to Toronto for two nights only on September 25 and 26, 2026 at 8 p.m. at YZD (former Downsview Airport), 590 Wilson Avenue, North York. The first-of-its-kind open-air spectacle will bring beloved moments from the Harry Potter™ film series to life in ...
The Great Benjamins Circus – Mississauga
September 24–27, 2026
Erin Mills Town Centre
Step right up! The Great Benjamins Circus is bringing its all-new show to Ontario for a family-friendly adventure under the Big Top. Featuring an international cast of circus performers, the 90-minute show combines gravity-defying acrobatics, aerial artistry, comedy, breathtaking feats and plenty of fun for the whole family. ...
The Rainbow Fish Musical
Sep 19–Oct 18, 2026
Wychwood Theatre
LIVE! at the Wychwood Theatre: The Rainbow Fish Musical 76 Wychwood Ave., Studio 176, Toronto ON When Rainbow Fish refuses to share their vibrant, shimmering scales, the whole ocean seems to turn against the vain creature. Unhappy that no one adores them anymore, the Rainbow Fish seeks out ...
Coopers CSA Giant Corn Maze
Sep 19–Nov 1, 2026
Coopers Farm & Maze
A giant ten-acre corn maze with a different theme each year. The maze is divided into 3 parts, providing something for everyone. Two Full Phases, each of which can take 20 minutes to over an hour to complete. The third phase is a shorter, simpler maze ideal for ...
Pumpkinmania
Sep 19–Oct 25, 2026
Rounds Ranch
Soak up a full day of Ranchland 25+ activities — complete with a Pick-Your-Own (PYO) FREE pumpkin, any size, any colour! Breathe in the fresh country air and enjoy safe, outdoor adventures with over 25 exciting activities that will keep the whole family smiling for hours! From our ...
Sandhill Nursery Fall Festival
Sep 12–Oct 25, 2026
Sandhill Nursery
Mark your calendars—Fall Festival 2026 at Sandhill Nursery is just around the corner! Celebrate the season with us in the heart of Muskoka as we bring the grounds to life with live music, captivating street performers, delicious eats from the new Rusty Rake, and our always-popular pumpkin slingshot ...
Barrie Hill Farms Fall Festival
Sep 5–Oct 31, 2026
Barrie Hill Farms
Celebrate the season at the Barrie Hill Farms Fall Festival! Bring the family for a day of classic fall fun, including pick-your-own apples, pumpkins and fall strawberries, seasonal treats, live music and local vendors. Each weekend, The Sunday Market brings a rotating selection of local artisan vendors to ...
Pingle's Harvest Festival
Sep 5–Nov 1, 2026
Pingle’s Farm Market
It’s the best time of the year; fall on the farm! Join us in celebrating the season at Pingle’s Harvest Festival. Featuring: Giant Corn Maze Pick Your Own Flower Fields Visits with the Animals Trikes & Race Track Sandbox Wagon Rides Slide Hill Games Straw Pyramid Basketball Grain ...
AGORA Path of Light
Sep 4–Oct 31, 2026
Blue Mountain Village
AGORA is an unusual and magical space inspired by storytellers and cycles of life in nature. As participants walk this 3km circular path, they will encounter a series of interactive lighting installations based on the five elements of air, space, earth, water and fire. Visit AGORA this season ...
Treewalk Village uplå Daytime & uplå Aglow
Sep 4–Nov 28, 2026
TreeWalk Village Stouffville
Let’s Bounce! Experience weightlessness in the vibrant, suspended world that is uplå — the largest outdoor net parks in North America. This exhilarating, unique ecological adventure soars up to 20 feet high and includes spiral slides, lookout points, and secret passages. Bring the family and jump while it’s ...
Treewalk Village Enchanted
Sep 4–Nov 28, 2026
TreeWalk Village Stouffville
Introducing Treewalk Village Enchanted – The Forest of Glowing Wonders As night falls, the forest awakens. Step into a dreamscape where every path is transformed by light and magic. Wander among glowing treehouses, where gentle lights sparkle and colours dance on every bridge. Traverse radiant paths, climb vibrant ...
Glow in the Wild at the Toronto Zoo
Sep 2, 2026–Jan 3, 2027
Toronto Zoo
Something wild is glowing at the Toronto Zoo! Glow in the Wild is an all-new after-dark experience that transforms the Zoo into a spectacular illuminated adventure featuring more than 2,000 handcrafted lantern displays. Follow a 1.5-km outdoor route through the Zoo and discover larger-than-life animals, colourful illuminated displays ...
KidSpark at Harbourfront Centre
Sep 1–Dec 18, 2026
Harbourfront Centre
Discover the incredible world of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) at KidSpark. Explore, play and learn at one of the Science Centre’s most popular experiences, featuring three themed areas with hands-on exhibits for children and their families. Featuring: The Pond: Hop into a boat on a pretend ...
Visit Ripley's Aquarium
Aug 1–Oct 31, 2026
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
Immerse yourself in a world of 20,000 aquatic animals and discover your own underwater adventure. With more than 5.7 million litres of water, North America’s longest underwater viewing tunnel! Families can get up close and personal with touch exhibits featuring scarlet cleaner shrimp and stingrays. This awe-inspiring attraction ...
Lost & Found: An Immersive Open-World Puzzle Adventure
Jun 6–Nov 29, 2026
The Village at Black Creek
Step inside a real 1800s village transformed into Canada’s largest immersive open-world puzzle adventure. Lost & Found invites you to explore 30 acres and 43 historic buildings at The Village at Black Creek. Choose your own quests, interact with live characters, solve immersive puzzles, and uncover a hidden treasure ...
BEES: A Story of Survival at ROM
May 16–Oct 18, 2026
Royal Ontario Museum
See the world through a bee’s eyes in this immersive exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum. Blending art, science, music, and architecture, BEES: A Story of Survival explores 120 million years of bee adaptation, their vital role in the natural world, and the growing threats they face. Visitors ...
More Family Fun Ideas in the GTA
If you’re looking for more things to do with the kids this season, explore our popular guides for family outings, seasonal events, camps, birthday parties, and activities across Toronto, the GTA and Southern Ontario.
More GREAT Events & Programs
Please note: Child’s Life makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of information presented in our guides. However, we highly recommend visiting event websites or calling event venues/organizers to confirm details such as location, dates, times, fees or other information that may affect your outing.
2 thoughts on “What’s ON This Weekend for Families in Toronto & the GTA”
Thanks for putting this together! Extremely well structured.
Great article! Thanks for sharing these details.