Even though kids school is out for the summer, parents all across the country have been actively researching entertaining activities to do in their neighbourhood to keep their little ones occupied. Fortunately for you, planning a summer vacation for your kids that they’ll be talking about in September won’t be an issue when you live in a Riverside home. Read on for our selection of the best family-friendly activities and summertime programmes in your neighbourhood that you and your kids will adore. What’s best? The events are all totally free!

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS AT DOWNSVIEW PARK

Friday Night Lights, an experience where the entire community is encouraged to gather and watch an evening screening of a fantastic family-friendly movie, will take place in Downsview Park throughout the months of July and August. Your kids will enjoy seeing some of today’s biggest box office successes, like Black Panther and Coco, while lounging in the stars on the park’s huge football field and snacking on some delectable movie snacks! For a good spot on the lawn, free ice cream, and the chance to win a surprise prize package, get there early. Movies start at around 9:00 p.m.

GRUP THE CLOWN IN “AT WORK (AND PLAY)”

On July 28 and 29, as well as August 18 and 19, bring your kids to Rustic Park for an interactive storytelling experience with Grup, the humorous clown who has been tasked with gathering data about the park’s ecosystem for his position at the Clown High Commission. Your kids are invited to participate in this spontaneous event by assisting Grup on his journey or by simply sitting back and enjoying the amusing action as it happens. Children can come and go as they choose, and Grup’s free-flowing and improvised comedy allows them to establish a bond with Grup that they can strengthen with each subsequent summer visit!

SUMMER FUN AT BLACK CREEK PIONEER VILLAGE

Children 14 years of age and under are welcome to visit Black Creek Pioneer Village for free with an accompanying adult from Monday through Friday in July and August to create memorable summer experiences. Your kids will adore exploring the more than 40 heritage buildings, taking part in entertaining outdoor activities, and going to the discovery stations as they get a good understand of the behaviors, surroundings, and early 19th century Southern Ontario folks! Don’t forget to bring a picnic for your kids to enjoy while they listen to live music or relax in one of The Village’s many lovely gardens.

TD SUMMER READING CLUB

Visit either the Weston Library or Amesbury Park Library, two Toronto Public Library locations, this weekend to enrol your kids in the TD Summer Reading Club for a summer of reading fun. If you’ve never heard of it, this is a free programme that the Toronto Public Library created to inspire kids to read and cultivate a lifelong love of literature. By joining the club, your kids will have access to wonderful e-books and online resources designed to support their summer reading adventure, be invited to plenty of exciting library programmes, and be able to win stickers for every book they read.

JR. FOREST EXPLORERS AT DOWNSVIEW PARK

Even your youngest children should be able to participate in the summertime fun! Children ages three and under can participate in nature programmes at Downview Park throughout the summer with a caregiver. Through entertaining games, engaging seminars, and hands-on activities, the programmes are designed to assist in teaching your children about the natural world.