KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
For 25 years, one of my core missions with KidsOutAndAbout has been to make invisible things visible, to celebrate what local communities offer families. Everyone is busy, and local treasures are easy to miss. Our job is to point, spotlight, nudge, and say Look here. Try this. Bring the kids. But there’s another kind of invisibility worth fixing:
The people who create these experiences rarely get to see their full impact. They track tickets sold and kids enrolled, but may never hear that your child talked about their field trip for six months, found courage on their stage, or simply felt welcome exactly when they needed it. That’s why our annual Top 20 Places to Take Kids survey matters. Each summer, we ask readers to vote for their favorite local places to take kids.
The results help families see what other families love. The ranking and comments help local organizations see that their work matters. So your three minutes becomes both a recommendation and a thank-you. The survey is simple: Click on your three favorite local destinations. Then also, optionally, nominate favorites in special categories—like arts, sports, and STEM education—and leave comments that we’ll pass along to the people who make these experiences
happen. So please click here to vote in the 2026 edition of the survey. Help families find the places they’ll love, and help the people behind those places know they’re making a difference. The survey will be open until June 20.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
P.S. If you're interested, check out the 2025 list here to see who
won last year. |
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KidsOutAndAbout.com: Discover more. Do more. Connect more. If you like my publisher's column, you can easily scroll through past columns in the "Notes from Deb" section of our site. |
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Create your own TV shows and Podcasts in professional multi set studios! Learn the basics of anchoring, hosting and reporting. Plus experience the key behind the scenes roles of producer, director and camera operator along the way. Gain confidence in a fun, hands on way and build new skills with a super supportive team. Friday’s Showcase allows families to watch it all happen in person. The program runs Mon-Fri., 9am–3pm, throughout July and August. For ages 12 plus. Send a message to reserve a spot or visit our website to register: https://yourtickettotheshow.com/ Space is limited to 20 spots per week
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Toronto Halal Bites is a vibrant three-day food, culture, and art festival celebrating diverse halal cuisine, community, and artistic expression at Nathan Phillips Square on May 15, 16, and 17, 2026. As Toronto’s premier halal-focused festival, it offers brands a unique opportunity to connect with a highly engaged, multicultural, and family-oriented audience. The event will feature live art installations, an Art Gallery, cultural performances, a Live Cooking Show, and interactive exhibits that showcase the rich artistic traditions of various communities. With a central downtown location and an anticipated footfall of 20,000+ attendees, Toronto Halal Bites is the ultimate platform for brands looking to showcase their products and values to a culturally diverse market.
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The Canada Literature Festival is conceived as a global gathering celebrating the power of literature, storytelling, and cultural dialogue. It brings together distinguished authors, poets, artists, policymakers, scholars, and members of the Iliterary community from across the world to explore how stories shape societies, preserve cultural memory, and build bridges between cultures. In the Canadian context, home to one of the most vibrant and multicultural diasporas from around the world, the Festival seeks to create meaningful conversations from literary traditions while strengthening people-to-people connections through culture and ideas.
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Our Victoria Day Fireworks is the kickoff of the Town’s summer events. Come join us to celebrate Victoria Day in Memorial Park. Rain or shine, enjoy food trucks, live music, and a spectacular fireworks show.
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A Tribute to Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Get ready for an unforgettable night of music and memories with The Jersey Nights Show — a high-energy tribute that celebrates the timeless hits of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Experience the magic of this iconic era as the show brings to life the harmonies, charm, and spirit that defined a generation. From chart-topping classics to fan-favourite anthems, every song will have you singing along and reminiscing about the golden days of rock and roll.
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Journey into the world of bees in a stunning new immersive experience that brings together the beauty of art with the power of science.
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Astronomy in Action is bringing a planetarium dome to Toronto, on Saturday, May 16th, 2026! Land on the moon, visit a black hole, and explore the universe in this immersive and interactive experience. With shows for all ages - from children and families, to space lovers, or anyone just looking for something unique to do - it’s an experience you’ll never forget.
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You and your little one will connect with nature in this interactive parent and tot program. Join us for a guided walk where you will engage in simple hands-on explorations and sensory-based activities designed to spark curiosity. Participants can expect a mild to moderate workout, as our journey will take us all over the museum property!
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Make unforgettable memories with your little ones at Elmo's Got the Moves — the all-new Sesame Street Live show coming to your neighbourhood! This exciting show will have kids and parents alike out of their seats and moving and dancing along with Elmo and his Sesame Street friends as they dance, stretch, and play along to fan-favourite songs, including “Sunny Days,” “Elmo's Got the Moves,” and “Letter of the Day.”
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The ultimate farmers market, with the widest offering of local and seasonal food you’ll find in the city. Evergreen started its Saturday Farmers Market in 2007 with 25 local farmers and producers, a great location, and a great community response. At the time, many predicted that it wouldn’t last. But, last, it did. Since then, it has grown into the largest farmers market in Toronto. Find the Saturday Farmers Market outdoors from May to October and indoors from November to April. Every Saturday, 9am – 1pm. The Saturday Farmers Market at Evergreen Brick Works operates during COVID-19 as an essential service. Evergreen has adopted a range of measures to ensure that we can make access to local food a safe and enjoyable experience. In doing so, we hope to demonstrate how resilient local food systems can continue to play an integral role in the food models of cities.
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Join us for a vibrant celebration of Spring at the largest tulip festival in the Greater Toronto Area, featuring 1,000,000 stunning blooms, pick-your-own flower bouquets, photo prop stops, live music, farm-to-fork food & drink, wagon rides, & more!
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To truly appreciate Japanese art, one must feel it.
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Come join us at the farm for our opening weekend, as we celebrate blossoms, bees, and babies!
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- Canada Literature Festival 2026 at Celebration Square - Mississauga Celebration Square, City Centre Drive, Mississauga, ON, Canada, 05/15/2026 to 05/17/2026, Friday 5-11pm, Sat/Sun 12-11/9pm
- Victoria Day Fireworks at Memorial Park - 111 Sandiford Drive, Stouffville, Town Of Whitchurch-Stouffville, ON L4A 0Z8, Canada, 05/15/2026, 8 pm
- Downsview parkrun - Downsview Park, 70 Canuck Ave, North York, ON M3K 2C5, Canada, 05/16/2026, 9 am
- Camp Weona Open House - Camp Clue Quest - YMCA Camp Weona, Poplar Tree Road, Gainesville, NY, USA, 05/17/2026, 1-4 pm
- Free Sunday at Bata Shoe Museum - Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1W7, Canada, 05/17/2026, 12-5 pm
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Toronto area is back! You can search by date, age, or categories like day/overnight, sports, drama, music, theatre, arts & crafts, technology, robotics, horseback riding, preschool, & more. Our
guide puts summer fun right at your fingertips!
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Toronto area! Use our Big List to help find the best one for your kiddos and check our events calendar to find Open Houses where you can meet teachers and tour the
schools.
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Wishing you and your family health and happiness,
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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