August 28-September 3 (Toronto)

Labour Day always feels bittersweet. It marks the end of summer’s slow, carefree days and the beginning of school lunches, early mornings, and packed calendars. Usually, I’m ready for the routine, but this year, it all came a little too fast. Still, there’s a quiet excitement in the air. A new school year, a fresh start.

This week, our family is squeezing in one last adventure with a road trip to Ottawa for the annual hot air balloon festival in Gatineau Park. Follow along on our Instagram for updates from our final summer hoorah!

My top picks for the week:

• 🎪 BuskerFest (4 days of street magic & Family Fun Zone!)

• 🐲 Toronto Dragon Festival (lion dances & Luminati Night Light Show!)

• 🍦 Free Ice Cream Day (ice cream truck chase around North York!)

• 🎺 T.U. Jazz Fest (Canada's largest jazz festival for emerging artists!)

• 🍔 North York Food Fest (Labour Day celebration with live performances!)
  
  

Here’s to one last long weekend and the season ahead. Happy Labour Day!

- The Mayhem Mamas

📆 Quick reminder: Registration for fall recreational programming across Toronto opens soon! Check out programming and registration timing in your neighbourhood.

🐾 Pawsitively Pets for Kids Hands on Event | NORTH YORK
Thursday, August 28 | 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Location: Pawsitively Pets for Kids
Cost: $8.50 + HST per attendee | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Drop-in for hands-on animal time with fuzzy, furry, slimy and scaly friends! Learn about diurnal, nocturnal animals. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

🎵 Play the Parks (Zaynab Wilson) | TORONTO-EAST YORK
Thursday, August 28 | 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Location: College Park Courtyard
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Free weekly concerts showcasing vibrant Canadian artists. Easily accessible by TTC at College subway station.

✈️ Paper Airplane Making and Competition | ETOBICOKE
Thursday, August 28 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Location: Toronto Public Library Woodview Park Branch
Cost: FREE | Age: Ages 6 to 14 years
🔗 Event Details
Test your paper airplane skills! Judging includes accuracy, distance and precision flying. All materials supplied. Drop-in program.

🎭 The Magic Mel Show! | SCARBOROUGH
Thursday, August 28 | 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM
Location: Toronto Public Library Kennedy/Eglinton Branch
Cost: FREE | Age: Children 4+ and their parents/caregivers
🔗 Event Details
Find your "inner magic" with The Amazing Magic Mel! Upbeat, hilarious interactive magical experience. Please register in branch or call.

🎬 Evergreen Brick Works Movie Night: Madagascar | TORONTO-EAST YORK
Thursday, August 28 | 7:30 PM
Location: Evergreen Brick Works
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Enjoy Madagascar under the covered Pavilions! Don't miss the neighbourhood block party starting at 5:30pm. Bring blankets and chairs.

🎒 Back to School Bag Tag | NORTH YORK
Friday, August 29 | 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Location: Toronto Public Library Flemingdon Park Branch
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Come make your very own decorated bag tag for school! Make a name tag or just a fun decoration for your backpack.

🎪 Toronto International BuskerFest (Day 1/4) | TORONTO-EAST YORK
Friday, August 29 | 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Location: Woodbine Park
Cost: By donation (FREE) | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Four days of outrageous family-friendly street performances! Features acrobats, magicians, comedians from around the world, plus Family Fun Zone.

🐕 Bark in the Park Woodbine (Day 1/4) | TORONTO-EAST YORK
Friday, August 29 | 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Woodbine Park
Cost: Admission by donation | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Four-day tail-wagging extravaganza! Suggested donation $10 single or $20 family pass gets you both BuskerFest and Bark in the Park.

🐲 Toronto Dragon Festival (Day 1/3) | TORONTO-EAST YORK
Friday, August 29 | 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Location: Nathan Phillips Square
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Sixth annual festival with captivating lion and dragon dances, acrobatic performances, beer garden, and Luminati Night Light Show.

❤️ I Love Scarborough Festival (Day 1/3) | SCARBOROUGH
Friday, August 29 | 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Location: Bridlewood Mall
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Joyful celebration of everything that makes Scarborough vibrant, welcoming, and uniquely diverse! Partnership with Bridlewood Mall's 50th Anniversary.

🎺 T.U. Jazz Fest (Day 1/4) | NORTH YORK
Friday, August 29 | Performances start at 6:00 PM
Location: Mel Lastman Square
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Canada's largest jazz festival for emerging artists featuring 150+ equity-deserving musicians. Directly accessible by TTC at North York Centre station.

🧗 Grand Opening: Kong Climbing | NORTH YORK
Saturday, August 30 | 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Location: Kong Climbing
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Grand opening with free food, climbing competition, vendor market, live DJ and music performances! Free parking plus easy 401 & 404 highway access.

🎬 Toronto Public Library Family Movies: Zootopia | SCARBOROUGH
Saturday, August 30 | 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: Toronto Public Library Cliffcrest Branch
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Family friendly movie every other Saturday. Drop in, all ages welcome. Coming up: Inside Out 2 (Sept 13), Piece by Piece (Sept 27).

🎪 BuskerFest | TORONTO-EAST YORK
Saturday, August 30 | 12:00 PM - 11:00 PM; Sunday, August 31 | 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location: Woodbine Park
Cost: By donation (FREE) | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Full weekend of spontaneous, outrageous street performances with Family Fun Zone, featuring magicians, acrobats, and comedians from around the world.

🐕 Bark in the Park Woodbine | TORONTO-EAST YORK
Saturday, August 30 | 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM; Sunday, August 31 | 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Woodbine Park
Cost: Admission by donation | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Full weekend of tail-wagging fun! Bring your furry friends for vendor shopping and endless dog-friendly entertainment.

🐲 Toronto Dragon Festival | TORONTO-EAST YORK
Saturday, August 30 | 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM; Sunday, August 31 | 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Location: Nathan Phillips Square
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Weekend celebrating myth, motion, and multicultural magic with captivating lion and dragon dances, acrobatic performances, beer garden, and Luminati Night Light Show finale Sunday!

❤️ I Love Scarborough Festival | SCARBOROUGH
Saturday, August 30 | 12:00 PM - 11:00 PM; Sunday, August 31 | 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location: Bridlewood Mall
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Celebrating everything vibrant and diverse about Scarborough! Partnership with Bridlewood Mall's 50th Anniversary and community collaborators.

🎺 T.U. Jazz Fest | NORTH YORK
Saturday, August 30 ; Sunday, August 31 | Performances start at 1:00 PM
Location: Mel Lastman Square
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Weekend celebration of Canada's largest jazz festival for emerging artists featuring 150+ equity-deserving musicians. Direct TTC access at North York Centre station.

🎭 Shenanigans with the Party Magician | TORONTO-EAST YORK
Saturday, August 30 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Location: Toronto Public Library Deer Park Branch
Cost: FREE | Age: Ages 6-12
🔗 Event Details
Get ready to be blown away by Ron the Party Magician's shenanigans! Registration required by calling Deer Park Library at (416) 393-7657.

🐕 Dog-Only Swim | NORTH YORK
Sunday, August 31 | 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Location: Mitchell Field Community Centre
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Fun and refreshing time with your furry friends at Mitchell Field Outdoor Pool! Another session Sept 21 at Goulding Pool.

🎪 BuskerFest (Day 4/4) | TORONTO-EAST YORK
Monday, September 1 | 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: Woodbine Park
Cost: By donation (FREE) | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Grand finale of four days of spontaneous street magic! Perfect Labour Day family entertainment to close out summer.

🐕 Bark in the Park Woodbine (Day 4/4) | TORONTO-EAST YORK
Monday, September 1 | 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: Woodbine Park
Cost: Admission by donation | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Final day of the ultimate canine celebration! Perfect way to end Labour Day weekend with your four-legged family members.

🍔 North York Food Fest | NORTH YORK
Monday, September 1 | 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Location: Centerpoint Mall Parking Lot
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Eat, shop, and celebrate this Labour Day! From sizzling street eats to sweet treats, live performances, and family fun - perfect way to wrap up summer.

🍦 Free Ice Cream Day Faywood BLVD | NORTH YORK
Monday, September 1 | 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: 95 Faywood Boulevard
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Sweet way to wrap up summer and gear up for school! Starting outside Faywood Elementary, then continuing through Clanton Park, Bathurst Manor, and Armour Heights. Follow @jordanglaser on Instagram for live location!

🎺 T.U. Jazz Fest (Day 4/4) | NORTH YORK
Monday, September 1 | Performances start at 1:00 PM
Location: Mel Lastman Square
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Grand finale of Canada's largest jazz festival for emerging artists! Final day featuring award-winning musicians and 150+ equity-deserving artists.

🎨 2025 Public Art in Summerlea Park | ETOBICOKE
Wednesday, September 3 | 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Location: Summerlea Park
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Community workshops with Artist Alexandra Iorgu and Natural Knowledge Keeper Alan Colley bringing together art, story, and spirit. No prior art experience needed, no registration required.

🍿 Movies for Mommies: Pre-show Back 2 School Photo Minis | ETOBICOKE
Wednesday, September 3 | Doors open approximately 12:00 PM
Location: Cineplex Cinemas Queensway VIP
Cost: Regular ticket rates apply | Age: Parents with babies
🔗 Event Details
Baby-friendly theatre with lower volume, dimmed lights, stroller parking, and bottle warming. First-time guests get $75+ swag bag! Arrive early for FREE Back To School Photo Minis. No charge for children under 3.

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