We survived the first week back to school! I wanted to share a few things that made our mornings go a tiny bit smoother this week:

1. Morning automations - Schedule a wake-up dance party song to get everyone moving, then set up voice reminders throughout your routine like "don't forget to brush your teeth and grab your water bottles" (works with Google Assistant, Alexa, or Siri)

2. A brilliant mom shared this tip with me - if you soak your apple slices in apple juice for a minute, they won't brown. Is this extra? Absolutely. But it beats the sad brown apple slices that come home untouched every single day.

3. For those hot lunches you're packing, preheat a thermos by filling it with boiling water, securing the lid, and letting it sit for 5-10 minutes to warm the inner walls

Fall festival season has officially begun! We hope you enjoy our event picks for this week happening in your neighbourhood.

My Top 5 Picks for the Week:

1. 🚛 Jibbitz Hunt adventure at wildlife rescue – CLARINGTON

2. 🎬️ Family Movie Night: Monsters Inc. under the stars – OSHAWA

3. 🎭 Durham Filfest End of Summer Festival – OSHAWA

4. 🎮 Whitby Comicon with comic books & games – WHITBY

5. 🌽 Buzzing Bees Corn Maze Opens (just $9!) – BROCK

✨ Scroll to the bottom for ongoing FREE kids programs running across Durham this month!

🥁 Rhythmic Fun Drum Circle | WHITBY
Thursday, Sept 11 | 7:00–8:30 PM
Location: Lynde House Museum, Whitby
Cost: $10 individual or $25 family | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
A facilitated drum circle where all ages are welcome to join in the rhythm. Pre-registration required. Rhythm instruments are provided.

👶 Forsythe Family Farms Little Farmers | UXBRIDGE
Thursday, Sept 11 | 9:30–11:00 AM
Location: Forsythe Family Farms, Uxbridge
Cost: $135.60 for 4-week session | Age: Toddlers aged 2-4 and caregivers
🔗 Event Details
Engaging morning with hands-on activities, farm animals, wagon rides, and seasonal fall activities. Extra children ages 2-4 add $67.80.

📚 Little Light Book Club | AJAX
Friday, Sept 12 | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Location: Audley Branch, Ajax Public Library
Cost: FREE | Age: Ages 8-15
🔗 Event Details
Six-session book club exploring "The Magician's Nephew" by C.S. Lewis with games, discussions, and book-inspired projects. Advanced registration required for all six sessions.

🎯 Stay and Play | CLARINGTON
Friday, Sept 12 | 10:30–11:30 AM
Location: 127 Church St, Orono
Cost: FREE | Age: Birth to age 5
🔗 Event Details
Children and caregivers can play, explore and socialize. Drop-in program - come late or leave early!

🎬 Family Movie Night: Monsters Inc. | OSHAWA
Friday, Sept 12 | Dusk (approximately 8:00 PM)
Location: Columbus Park, Oshawa
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Outdoor movie screening in the park. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and some popcorn for an evening of family fun.

🎨 EarlyON Ready, Set, Grow Family Fun Day | OSHAWA
Friday, Sept 12 | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Location: Lakeview Park, Oshawa
Cost: FREE | Age: Birth to 6 and their caregivers
🔗 Event Details
Walk and Rhyme, Circle Time, Musical Babies, Family Fit Break, and activity stations. This event will be held rain or shine.

🥄 Oshawa Centre Farmers' Market | OSHAWA
Friday, Sept 12 | 8:00 AM–2:00 PM
Location: Oshawa Centre
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Weekly market celebrating fresh food, local talent, and community spirit. Located in the Northwest Corner of the Parking Lot, near Stevenson Rd. & Hwy 2.

💻 Family Scratch Coding | AJAX
Saturday, Sept 13 | 10:30–11:30 AM
Location: Ajax Public Library
Cost: FREE | Age: Ages 10-14
🔗 Event Details
Discover coding as a family with fun challenges using Scratch. We focus on beginners, but all skill levels are welcome! Advanced registration required.

🧱 Brick by Brick | BROCK
Saturday, Sept 13 | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Location: Brock Township Public Libraries (all three branches)
Cost: FREE | Age: All Ages
🔗 Event Details
Monthly drop-in session for all ages to build with a large collection of LEGO. Adult supervision required.

🌽 Buzzing Bees Corn Maze Opens | BROCK
Saturday, Sept 13 | 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Location: Buzzing Bees Adventure Farm, Sunderland
Cost: $9 per person | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Explore the 10-acre corn maze and enjoy other farm activities while you're there!

🎃 Pumpkin Patch Tales | CLARINGTON
Saturday, Sept 13 | 10:30–11:15 AM
Location: Courtice Library
Cost: FREE | Age: Birth to age 5
🔗 Event Details
Enjoy fall-themed stories, songs, rhymes, and fun! Drop in.

👟 Soper Creek Jibbitz Hunt | CLARINGTON
Sunday, Sept 14 | Time slots vary by age
Location: Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue, Bowmanville
Cost: $15 +HST per child | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Hunt for thousands of Jibbitz shoe charms hidden around the wildlife centre. Includes animal meet & greet and cotton candy. Max 2 adults per family.

🎭 Durham Filfest End of Summer Festival | OSHAWA
Saturday, Sept 13 | 9:00 AM–7:00 PM
Location: Memorial Park, Oshawa
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Durham Filfest promotes Filipino heritage and culture with sponsors, food vendors, exhibitors, partners and influencers.

🌍 Cultural Fusion | PICKERING
Saturday, Sept 13 | 11:00 AM–5:00 PM
Location: Esplanade Park, Pickering
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Celebrate Pickering's vibrant cultures with live performances, artisan market, fashion show, and delicious global eats. Non-perishable donations accepted.

📚 Saturday Storytime Spectacular | PICKERING
Saturday, Sept 13 | 10:00–10:30 AM
Location: Pickering Public Library
Cost: FREE | Age: Ages 2-5
🔗 Event Details
Interactive and fun storytime featuring books, action songs and rhymes for the whole family!

🎨 All Ages Saturday Family Fun! | SCUGOG
Saturday, Sept 13 | 10:30 AM–12:00 PM
Location: Scugog Memorial Public Library, Port Perry
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Family fun and creativity with crafts and activities for children and their caregivers, plus stories and songs. Drop in.

🚗 Semi Annual Creators and Classics Car + Art Show | WHITBY
Saturday, Sept 13 | 11:00 AM–5:00 PM
Location: 1451 Henry St, Whitby
Cost: FREE admission | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Classic cars, face painting, airbrush tattoos, inflatable axe throwing, food trucks, Jeep show 'n' shine, local vendors, and live tunes!

🛍️ The Mom Market x Whitby Marina | WHITBY
Sunday, Sept 14 | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Location: Whitby Marina
Cost: FREE admission | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Fall market with unique local vendors, handmade goods, sweet treats, live music, and beautiful waterfront views.

🎮 Whitby Comicon | WHITBY
Sunday, Sept 14 | 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Location: Heydenshore Pavilion, Whitby
Cost: $5 admission, kids 12 and under are free | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Vendors selling comic books, toys, video games, sports cards, and jewelry. Bring non-perishable food items for raffle prizes.

🥕 Pickering City Centre Farmers' Market | PICKERING
Tuesday, Sept 16 | 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
Location: Chestnut Hill Developments Rec Complex, Pickering
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
A farmers' market with fresh, locally grown produce and artisan goods. Weekly event.

🎮 Drop-in Youth Space | AJAX
Sept 11-18 | Mon-Fri: 4:00-8:00 PM; Sat & Sun: 1:00-4:00 PM
Location: Ajax Community Centre
Cost: FREE | Age: 11-18
🔗 Event Details
A safe, supervised space for youth with games like pool, ping pong, and video games. Hours subject to change.

📚 Little Light Book Club | AJAX
Friday, Sept 12 | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Location: Audley Branch, Ajax Public Library
Cost: FREE | Age: Ages 8-15
🔗 Event Details
Six-session book club exploring "The Magician's Nephew" by C.S. Lewis with games, discussions, and book-inspired projects. Advanced registration required for all six sessions.

📚 On Your Mark, Get Set, Read! (Ages 0-11) | WHITBY
September 8 – December 14 | All Whitby Library locations
Cost: FREE | Age: Ages 0-11
🔗 Event Details
Track your reading on Beanstack to earn mini-bookmarks, digital badges, and fun prizes! A fantastic way to keep kids motivated about reading through the fall and winter months.

🎓 Durham Region Grade 5 Action Pass | ALL DURHAM
September – June | Various locations across Durham
Cost: FREE | Age: Grade 5 students
🔗 Event Details
All Grade 5 students get free access to public swimming, skating and some drop-in programs! Visit the website to find pickup locations – bring an adult, proof of address, proof of date of birth, and a printed/digital copy of the pass.

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