Why is it that my kids woke up at 6AM all summer long… and now that school’s back, they’ve decided to sleep in? 😅 

This week is all about adjusting to routines again but I am NOT ready to dive headfirst into pumpkin spice season just yet. Summer isn’t over and there are still plenty of FREE, outdoor, family activities to enjoy.

My Top 5 Picks for the Week:

1. 🎡 171st Annual Orono Fair (kids 13 & under FREE!) — CLARINGTON

2. 🎪 Uxbridge Fall Fair — UXBRIDGE

3. 🥔 Bragg Farms Dig Your Own Potatoes weekend adventure — CLARINGTON

4. 🔬 STEM Club sessions starting at Uxbridge Library — UXBRIDGE

5. 🔥 Saturday S'mores: Magic at the Museum after-hours adventure — PICKERING

   
   

📚 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.

🎡 171st Annual Orono Fair (DAY 2) | CLARINGTON
Thursday, Sept 4 | 5:00 PM–10:00 PM
Location: 2 Princess St, Orono
Cost: Children 13 and under are free with a paid adult admission. Thursday night is Family Night with 2 adult admissions for the price of 1!
🔗 Event Details
Classic agricultural fair with midway, demolition derby, live music, contests, homecraft exhibits, and livestock shows.

🎡 171st Annual Orono Fair (DAY 2) | CLARINGTON
Friday, Sept 5 | 9:00 AM–10:00 PM
Location: 2 Princess St, Orono
Cost: Various ticket prices (see website) | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Classic agricultural fair with midway, demolition derby, live music, contests, homecraft exhibits, and livestock shows. Children 13 and under are free with a paid adult admission.

🎪 Uxbridge Fall Fair | UXBRIDGE
Friday, Sept 5 | 5:00 PM–11:00 PM
Location: Elgin Park, Uxbridge
Cost: Kids 5 and under FREE (see website for daily pricing) | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Classic agricultural fair with midway, demolition derby, tractor pull, contests, and live entertainment. SuperDogs show on Sunday! Free parking and FREE bus shuttle service by Town Trolley.

✂️ Ajax Library: (Chop Stick Knitting) | AJAX
Sunday, Sept 7 | 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Location: Ajax Public Library
Cost: FREE | Age: Ages 5+
🔗 Event Details
Learn something new every Sunday! This month's activity is Chopstick Knitting – a fun and unique crafting technique. Drop-in program, perfect for creative kids and curious parents.

🎨 Brock Libraries: Squish and Sculpt Saturday! | BROCK
Saturday, Sept 6 | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Location: All three Brock Library branches
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Squish, roll, and mold your way through a sensory play adventure! Playdough and tools provided – just bring your imagination. Adult supervision required. Event held simultaneously at all three library branches.

🎡 171st Annual Orono Fair | CLARINGTON
Saturday, Sept 6 | 8:00 AM–10:00 PM; Sunday, Sept 7 | 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
Location: 2 Princess St, Orono
Cost: Various ticket prices (see website) | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Classic agricultural fair with midway, demolition derby, live music, contests, homecraft exhibits, and livestock shows. Children 13 and under are free with a paid adult admission.

🎃 Bowmanville Library Pumpkin Patch Tales | CLARINGTON
Saturday, Sept 6 | 10:30 AM–11:15 AM
Location: Bowmanville Library
Cost: FREE | Age: 0-5 years
🔗 Event Details
Enjoy fall-themed stories, songs, rhymes, and fun! Perfect drop-in program to get little ones excited about autumn. No registration required.

🥔 Bragg Farms Dig Your Own Potatoes | CLARINGTON
Saturday, Sept 6 & Sunday, Sept 7 | Weekend hours
Location: Bragg Farms, Bowmanville
Cost: Free admission; potatoes charged by weight at market value | Age: All Ages
🔗 Event Details
Dig your own yellow flesh, red skin, and sweet potatoes with the family! Tractor rides and delicious baked goods available. Choose your apparel wisely and expect to get a little dusty – rubber boots and gardening gloves recommended.

🥋 Crossfit Bowmanville: Introducing Project Ninja | CLARINGTON
Saturday, Sept 6 | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Location: 325 Lake Rd, Bowmanville
Cost: Participant pass $40; Sibling/Indoor Play Pass $20 | Age: Ages 3-10
🔗 Event Details
Launch party for their popular ninja parkour program! Obstacle course competitions, indoor play sessions, lawn games, vendors, prizes & giveaways, plus a raffle to win a FREE month of ninja classes.

🧹 Oshawa Mayor's Cleanup | OSHAWA
Saturday, Sept 6 | 9:00 AM–11:00 AM
Location: Second Marsh, Oshawa
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Join Mayor Dan Carter for a community cleanup of parks, green spaces, trails, and downtown streets. Free bags and gloves provided – great way to teach kids about environmental stewardship!

🎠 Pickering Islamic Centre 17th Annual Carnival | PICKERING
Sunday, Sept 7 | 12:00 PM–6:00 PM
Location: Pickering Islamic Centre
Cost: Ticket packages ($25-$100) | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Community carnival filled with food for all, rides for kids, shopping stalls, and much more. Great opportunity to experience diverse community celebrations with the family.

🤸‍♂️ Planet Gymnastics Pickering Open House | PICKERING
Saturday, Sept 6 | 12:00 PM–2:00 PM
Location: Planet Gymnastics Pickering
Cost: FREE | Age: All Ages
🔗 Event Details
Tour the facility, meet the coaches, ask about programs, plus free hotdogs & juice boxes! Perfect chance to explore gymnastics options for the fall.

🎭 Saturday S'mores: Magic at the Museum | PICKERING
Saturday, Sept 6 | 6:00 PM–8:00 PM
Location: Pickering Museum Village
Cost: $31.50/ticket (includes 2 adults + up to 3 children, kids 3 & under FREE) | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
After-hours museum adventure with interactive activities, creative crafts, and delicious s'mores around the campfire! Parking available at Gate #3 or Greenwood Community Centre.

🎪 Uxbridge Fall Fair | UXBRIDGE
Saturday, Sept 6 | 8:00 AM–11:00 PM
Location: Elgin Park, Uxbridge
Cost: Kids 5 and under FREE (Saturday is premium pricing day) | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Classic agricultural fair with midway, demolition derby, tractor pull, contests, and live entertainment. SuperDogs show on Sunday! Free parking and FREE bus shuttle service.

🎪 Uxbridge Fall Fair | UXBRIDGE
Sunday, Sept 7 | 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Location: Elgin Park, Uxbridge
Cost: Kids 5 and under FREE (see website for pricing) | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Final day featuring the famous SuperDogs show! Plus midway, demolition derby, tractor pull, contests, and live entertainment. Free parking and FREE bus shuttle service.

🏃‍♀️ Parkinson Canada SuperWalk | WHITBY
Sunday, Sept 7 | 9:00 AM
Location: Kiwanis Heydenshore Park, Whitby
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Join Canada's largest annual fundraiser for Parkinson's research and support. Walk as a family to support an important cause – all money raised goes to research, support tools, and advocacy.

🎪 Sunderland Fall Fair | BROCK
Tuesday, Sept 9 | 5:00 PM–dusk
Location: 20 Park Street, Sunderland
Cost: Tuesday $10, Elementary students FREE! | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
The oldest fair in Durham Region! Celebrate agricultural heritage with horse and cattle shows, carriage driving, demolition derby, great food, vendors and exhibits. Two-day pass available for $20.

📚 Kids' Book Club | CLARINGTON
Tuesday, Sept 9 | 4:00 PM–5:00 PM
Location: Courtice Library, Clarington
Cost: FREE | Age: Grades 3-7
🔗 Event Details
September book: "Elvis, Me and the Lemonade Stand Summer" by Leslie Gentile. Meet other young readers to chat about the book and enjoy related activities. Registered program – copies available for pickup at Courtice Library.

🎪 Sunderland Fall Fair | BROCK
Wednesday, Sept 10 | 9:00 AM–dusk
Location: 20 Park Street, Sunderland
Cost: Wednesday $15, Elementary students FREE! | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Second day of Durham Region's oldest fair! Horse and cattle shows, carriage driving, demolition derby, special events, great food, vendors and exhibits celebrating our agricultural heritage.

🔬 STEM Club | UXBRIDGE
Wednesday, Sept 10 | 4:00 PM–5:00 PM
Location: Uxbridge Library
Cost: FREE | Age: Ages 9-12
🔗 Event Details
Five-week program with each session focusing on a new STEM theme. When you register, it's for all 5 sessions (continuing every second Wednesday through January), so check your calendars! Space is limited.

📖 Oshawa Library: Bedtime Bash | OSHAWA
Wednesday, Sept 10 | 6:15 PM–7:00 PM
Location: McLaughlin Branch, Oshawa Public Library
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Perfect evening program to wind down with stories, crafts, STEAM activities, and more before bedtime! Drop-in family program – great for establishing calm evening routines.

📚 Storytime at the Shops | PICKERING
Wednesday, Sept 10 | 12:00 PM–12:30 PM
Location: The Shops at Pickering City Centre
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Family-friendly stories, imagination and fun in the middle of your shopping trip! Perfect midday break for little ones and a great way to combine errands with family time.

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