👋 Hey Durham !

I’m halfway through the summer with my 3 littles and here is what I’ve learned so far:

1. There's nothing relaxing about the summer. Fun? Yes. Tranquil? I think not.

2. Routine still matters. But make it flexible and don't forget down time.

With that in mind, we've scouted out free events this week to help you fill these glorious long July summer days. Oh and if you're new here, we are 4 moms from the GTA who curate weekly lists of free and low-cost family activities, plus all those helpful tips like where to park and what to bring that can make or break an outing with little ones.

Here's what's happening this week around Durham Region:

🪖 Aquino Tank Weekend with Battle Bus rides – Oshawa
🌻 The Sunflower Farm season opening – Brock
🎪 Festive Flairs Summer Street Feast – Oshawa
🏠 Whitby Home Sweet Home Festival – Whitby
🎮 Summer Saturday's Family Games Day – Pickering
🎬 Movies in the Park: Despicable Me 4 – Whitby
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Uxbridge Scottish Festival – Uxbridge

THURSDAY, JULY 24

🦋 Park Meetup with Hibiscus Doula | OSHAWA
Date: Thursday, July 24 | Time: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Location: Lakeview Park
Cost: FREE (donations welcome to support moms in need) | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Perfect opportunity to connect with other families in a relaxed park setting. Registration required through the form link.

FRIDAY, JULY 25

🎬 Friday Craft and Movie: Pokemon: The Movie | AJAX
Date: Friday, July 25 | Time: 9:30 AM–11:30 AM
Location: Ajax Public Library
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Perfect Friday morning activity combining creativity and entertainment. Great way to beat the heat indoors!

🚗 Aquino Tank Weekend (Day 1/3) | OSHAWA
Date: Friday, July 25 | Time: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Location: Canadian Tank Museum
Cost: $72 weekend pass, $27 children under 12, $65 adult day pass | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Get up close with military vehicles, enjoy the Kids Zone, and experience the M548 "Battle Bus" Ride! Perfect for little ones fascinated by big machines.

🏃‍♀️ Nest & Bloom: Herfit Stroller Fit | WHITBY
Date: Friday, July 25 | Time: 10:30 AM–12:00 PM
Location: Whitby Waterfront Pavilion
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Fitness class designed for parents with strollers - get your workout in while the kids enjoy the waterfront views! Registration required.

🎬 Movies in the Park: Despicable Me 4 | WHITBY
Date: Friday, July 25 | Time: 8:00 PM (starts at dusk)
Location: Whitby Civic Park
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Bring blankets, lawn chairs and popcorn for this outdoor movie night! Also runs August 8 & 22.

SATURDAY, JULY 26

🤖 Free Robotics Workshop | AJAX
Date: Saturday, July 26 | Time: 11:00 AM–5:30 PM
Location: Hilton Garden Inn Ajax
Cost: FREE | Age: 7-14
🔗 Event Details
Bring a laptop for this hands-on STEM experience! Different time slots available for different age groups - check website for details. Registration required.

🎮 Summer Saturday's For Kids: Family Games Day | PICKERING
Date: Saturday, July 26 | Time: 11:00 AM–3:00 PM
Location: The Shops at Pickering City Centre
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Four hours of family fun with games and activities in the comfort of air conditioning. Plus shopping and food court nearby!

🚗 Aquino Tank Weekend (Day 2/3) | OSHAWA
Date: Saturday, July 26 | Time: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Location: Canadian Tank Museum
Cost: $72 weekend pass, $27 children under 12, $65 adult day pass | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Get up close with military vehicles, enjoy the Kids Zone, and experience the M548 "Battle Bus" Ride! Perfect for little ones fascinated by big machines.

🎪 Festive Flairs Summer Street Feast | OSHAWA
Date: Saturday, July 26 | Time: 12:00 PM–8:30 PM
Location: Eastdale CVI High School Grounds
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Handmade crafts, summer slushies, food trucks, kids art workshops by age group, goodie bags, magic shows and fun for all ages! A full day of street food, entertainment and family fun.

📚 Rainforest Story Time | OSHAWA
Date: Saturday, July 26 | Time: 2:00 PM–3:00 PM
Location: Oshawa Library - Delpark Homes Centre Branch
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Interactive story time with a rainforest theme - perfect for nature-loving kids!

🛒 Durham Region Summer Shoppers Market & Family Fun Day | PICKERING
Date: Saturday, July 26 | Time: 12:00 PM–8:00 PM
Location: Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Browse local vendors while the kids enjoy family-friendly activities. Great way to support local businesses!

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Uxbridge Scottish Festival | UXBRIDGE
Date: Saturday, July 26 | Time: 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
Location: Elgin Park
Cost: Entry by donation | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Experience Scottish culture with Highland games, music, and dancing! Plenty of free parking via Elgin Park Drive and dogs are welcome too.

🏠 Whitby Home Sweet Home Festival | WHITBY
Date: Saturday, July 26 | Time: 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Location: Downtown Whitby
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Celebrate community spirit in downtown Whitby with local vendors, activities and entertainment. Perfect for exploring downtown shops and restaurants too!

🎨 Jump Up! Carnival Storytime and Craft | WHITBY
Date: Saturday, July 26 | Time: 10:30 AM–11:30 AM
Location: Whitby Public Library
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Carnival-themed story time with hands-on craft activity. Great way to start your Saturday adventure!

SUNDAY, JULY 27

🚗 Aquino Tank Weekend (Day 3/3) | OSHAWA
Date: Sunday, July 27 | Time: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Location: Canadian Tank Museum
Cost: $72 weekend pass, $27 children under 12, $65 adult day pass | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Final day to get up close with military vehicles, enjoy the Kids Zone, and experience the M548 "Battle Bus" Ride! Perfect for little ones fascinated by big machines.

MONDAY, JULY 28

🎮 Families in the Park Orono: Backyard Fun | CLARINGTON
Date: Monday, July 28 | Time: 1:00 PM–4:00 PM
Location: Orono Park
Cost: FREE | Age: 4-12 (younger with parent assistance)
🔗 Event Details
Weekly summer program featuring backyard games and activities. Runs July 28–August 1.

TUESDAY, JULY 29

🎬 Family Craft & Movie: Moana 2 | AJAX
Date: Tuesday, July 29 | Time: 1:00 PM–3:30 PM
Location: Ajax Public Library
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Craft activity followed by the newest Moana movie! Registration required through Eventbrite.

🎨 CD Mosaic Art for Teens | CLARINGTON
Date: Tuesday, July 29 | Time: 5:30 PM–6:30 PM
Location: Courtice Library
Cost: $5 plus tax | Age: Grades 7-12
🔗 Event Details
Creative upcycling project turning old CDs into beautiful art. Perfect for tweens and teens!

📚 Ukrainian Story Time | OSHAWA
Date: Tuesday, July 29 | Time: 6:00 PM–6:45 PM
Location: Oshawa Library - McLaughlin Branch
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Bilingual story time celebrating Ukrainian culture and language. Great way to expose kids to different cultures!

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30

🌻 The Sunflower Farm: Open for the season | BROCK
Date: Wednesday, July 30 | Time: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Location: The Sunflower Farm
Cost: See website for details | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Beautiful sunflower fields perfect for photos and family fun! Buy tickets online for cheaper prices. Mondays and Tuesdays are 50% off (except long weekends).

📖 Storytime at the Shops | PICKERING
Date: Wednesday, July 30 | Time: 12:00 PM–12:30 PM
Location: The Shops at Pickering City Centre
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Perfect midday story break during your shopping trip! Also runs August 13, 27 and September 10, 24.

🤝 Friendship Day Leis | WHITBY
Date: Wednesday, July 30 | Time: 2:30 PM–3:30 PM
Location: Whitby Public Library
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Celebrate friendship by making colorful leis! Perfect craft activity to end the week.

COMING UP NEXT WEEK

• 🎬 Port Perry Movie in the Park: The Minecraft Movie – Scugog (Wednesday, August 6)

• 🍦 Scugog Park & Play Ice Cream Day – Scugog (Friday, August 1)

• 🏊‍♀️ Free Public Swims at Ajax Memorial Pool – Ajax (Monday, August 4)

• 🎮 Pickering Public Library Outdoor Games Day – Pickering (Wednesday, August 6)

• 🧸 Fidget Toy Fun – Whitby (Thursday, July 31)

Have a wonderful week exploring Durham with your little adventurers!

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