KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, Feb 13: P.A. Day - Lunar New Year craft with Kids & Parents at Toronto Public Library - Steeles
Mon, Feb 16: Band Together: Brass Olympics at Hannaford Street Silver
Band
Sat, Feb 21: Get the Jump on Spring 2026 at Toronto Botanical Garden
Sun, Feb 22: Black History Month, Vendor Market at Yonge Eglinton Centre
Sat, Feb 28: Year of the Horse: A Lunar New Year Celebration at Roy Thomson Hall
Sat, Mar 14: Puppet Festival Mississauga at Crane Creations Theatre Company
Mon, Mar 16: March Break Adventure Camp at The JunXion
Mon, Mar 16: Art/Wear March Break at the BSM at Bata Shoe Museum
Thu, Mar 19: A Bed Time Puppet Show | Good Night! at Crane Creations Theatre Company
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
For much of the country, it's been the hardest winter in recent memory: cold, monochrome, relentless. The kind of season that reminds us how little control we really have. We do our best to manage routines and moods and expectations, but parents feel it most. February stretches long and flat after the excitement of the holidays, before the lift of spring. You're
still packing lunches, wrangling homework, managing emotions (your kids’ and your own)... all while the cold keeps the family cooped up. This is the season of endurance. Of course, endurance isn’t about being stoic or silent or superhuman; it’s about continuing, even when things are hard. It’s about showing up for your people, your plans, and yourself, day after chilly day. And it’s about knowing that if you’re feeling the drag right now, you’re not alone. Many of us are
moving through it together. Even for those who don't live in Nature's Refrigerator, February can still bring its own version of stuckness: that long stretch between holidays, where kids are restless and routines feel stale. Sometimes, by February, our gray matter feels just as gray as the weather. When that happens, help is allowed! Check out our article and outsource the brainstorming to KidsOutAndAbout: Stuck Inside This Winter? 20 Creative Indoor Activities for Kids is packed with creative, practical, low-effort ways to keep your family engaged (and sane) when outside play isn’t an option. And it shows you how to tap your favorite AI to be your thought partner to personalize it for your
family. February Gray doesn’t need to be conquered; it just needs to be lightened a bit. So whether you're "out and about" or "in and not at all about," we're here to brighten the rest of your winter!
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build
Strong Communities
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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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Celebrate Family Day during the 2026 Winter Olympics with the Hannaford Brass Olympics! The Hannaford Youth Band joins the Hannaford Street Silver Band for thrilling musical events, rising stars, dazzling soloists, teamwork, and joyful family fun for all
ages.
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Create moments worth framing this Valentine's Day. Whether you are celebrating a love story, or simply the art of being together, spend Valentine's Day with us and enjoy an afternoon tea together. What can be more romantic than a day at an art museum?
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Visit the Museum for Family Day fun! Explore historic buildings and exhibits, create fun crafts, try snowshoeing, enjoy FREE hot chocolate and horse-drawn wagon rides. Please note, select activations may be weather permitting.
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Join us for a day packed with free outdoor games, crafts and steaming hot chocolate to keep you warm.
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Serving up three days of Family Day fun, the AGO welcomes families to participate in guided tours and free drop-in art making. Events run daily between 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. All programs are included in General Admission and admission is always free for
Indigenous Peoples, AGO Members, Annual Pass holders and visitors aged 25 and under.
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We are excited to embrace the spirit of the Lunar New Year by spreading joy throughout the community. Join us on Saturday, February 14 for a cultural Lion Dance performance celebrating the Year of the Horse.
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From February 13 to March 8, 2026, the city will glow with creativity and colour at 777 Bay Plaza, College Park, Granby Parkette, Sankofa Square, and Trinity Square Park. Each site will feature a playful, interactive experience designed to spark joy,
movement, and connection in the heart of winter. Whether you’re a curious explorer or just passing through, ILLUMINITE 2026 invites everyone to pause, play, and light up the city together.
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Celebrate Family Day weekend with a tiny adventure full of big memories. From February 13 – 16, enjoy 15% off admission and immerse yourself in a world full of wonder-filled miniature scenes, hidden surprises, and magical moments.
Bring your loved ones and make memories that last long after the weekend is over.
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Arcadia Earth is a multi-sensory journey that combines creative art installations and exciting technology to inspire visitors to take action towards a more sustainable future. This immersive experience showcases the beauty of our planet and the impact of
human actions on the environment. Our goal is to inspire visitors to be part of the solution for creating a better world.
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Find out how plants survive and help other wildlife during the cold Canadian winter in this family-friendly nature walk in High Park.
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Get ready for another Kids Fest TO, taking over the International Centre this Family Day Weekend!
Three days of non-stop fun with over thirty themed inflatables, jumping castles, interactive games, slides, obstacle courses, and so much more! Get ready to laugh, play, and create unforgettable memories with live stage shows, pony rides, carnival games, prizes, delicious food, and surprises around every corner!
Our festival is a playground for kids of all ages – from toddler playcentres to family-friendly mini putt and extreme excitement games for the thrill seekers!
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Families and intergenerational groups explore collage-making in a free drop-in crafting space. Use your own family photos, along with cutouts from magazines, fabric scraps and other basic art materials supplied by the museum.
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Get ready for a pawsome Family Day Long Weekend adventure filled with whiskers, wonder, and wild cats! Gabby from the hit series Gabby’s Dollhouse, known for her magical cat ears and love of all things feline, is visiting your Toronto Zoo for a special
meet-and-greet.
Families are invited to join Gabby for a fun-filled day of smiles, photos, and purr-fectly magical moments that little fans won’t want to miss. This special appearance is ideal for kids who love Gabby’s Dollhouse and cats of all kinds, and it’s a great way to make your Family Day weekend extra memorable, with special giveaways including special Valentine's giveaways on February 14.
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Join Ontario Science Centre, Power Kids, the National Film Board and School Visits at Harbourfront Centre and celebrate creativity and community with a series of hands-on activities that change each week. Families can explore a wide range of science
activities, arts and crafts, youth-friendly short films and dance workshops, all inspired by the spirit of KUUMBA. Every activity is designed to spark imagination and fun for all ages. Space is limited — be sure to come early!
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- Sharks at ROM - Royal Ontario Museum, Queens Park,
Toronto, Fri Feb 13 - Sun Feb 15, 10 am - 4 pm
- Skate by the Lake - Harbourfront Centre - Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, Fri Feb 13 - Sun Feb 15, Times vary, see website.
- 2026 ILLUMINITE - Downtown Yonge, Old Toronto, Toronto, Fri Feb 13 - Sun Feb 15, 10am-10pm
- 2026 Skates & Sounds - Barbara Ann Scott Ice Trail, Yonge Street, Toronto, Fri Feb 13, 4PM - 8PM
- P.A. Day - Lunar New Year craft with Kids & Parents - Toronto
Public Library - Steeles - Toronto Public Library - McGregor Park Branch, 2219 Lawrence Avenue East, Scarborough, Toronto, Fri Feb 13, 10:30 - 11:30
- Family Day at the Museum - Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum & Community Centre, Woodbine Avenue, Whitchurch-Stouffville,
Sat Feb 14, 10:00 AM - 2:00PM
- Black History Exhibition Tour at the BSM - Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Sat Feb 14, 1 - 2 pm
- Snow Day at Bradley Museum - 300 City Centre Drive, Mississauga, Sat Feb 14, 12 - 4 pm
- Free Public Skating at Evergreen - Evergreen Brick Works, Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Sat Feb 14 - Sun Feb 15, Saturdays 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm Sundays 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Queen's Park Family Day Winter Festival 2026 - Ontario Legislative Building, Queen's Park, Sat Feb 14, 10:00 AM
- Lunar New Year and Valentine's Day FUN! - Yorkgate Mall, 1 York Gate Boulevard, North York, Toronto, Sat Feb 14, 1 - 4pm
- Family Day Weekend at Spadina Museum - Spadina Museum,
285 Spadina Road, Toronto, Sat Feb 14 - Sun Feb 15, 11 - 4 pm Free
- CBC Kids at CBC’s Olympic House
Event - 250 Front St W, Toronto, Sat Feb 14, 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM
- Free Family Sundays at the McMichael - McMichael
Canadian Art Collection, 10365 Islington Avenue, Kleinburg, Sun Feb 15, 10am
- Sunday Tech Time at Toronto Public Library - Alderwood - Toronto Public Library - Alderwood Branch, 2 Orianna Drive, Etobicoke, Toronto, Sun Feb 15, 2 - 3 pm
- Sunday Snap Circuits at Toronto Public Library - Agincourt - Toronto Public Library - Agincourt Branch, 155 Bonis Avenue, Scarborough, Toronto, Sun Feb 15, 2 - 3 pm
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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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Winter is here and fun options for families just keep getting better! Whether you stick with what you love or decide to try something new, KidsOutAndAbout has plenty of ideas. From Ice skating, kid-friendly museums, indoor play centers, and outdoor
activities to thinking ahead to next year's school options - we've got you covered.
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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the Toronto area? Escape rooms are interactive, puzzle-packed experiences where you and your team work together to solve clues and complete your mission-all before time runs out! Whether you're escaping a
spooky cabin, cracking a high-stakes heist, or breaking a magical curse, escape rooms offer exciting, screen-free fun for kids, teens, and adults.
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Toronto area. From Arcades to Ziplines our Big List will help you think outside the box and plan the party of your kids' dreams! KidsOutAndAbout has dozens of ideas!
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2025's best places to take kids in Toronto, based on KidsOutAndAbout's annual reader survey. Our Top 20 results page is an annotated list of the winners, both of the top 20 slots and of the category winners. But there is LOTS more to do in and around
Toronto!
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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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