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. 🎉 Milliken Children's Festival (100+ activities) – MARKHAM

2. 🐕 New'bark'et dog festival – NEWMARKET

3. 🎪 Saturday Night Fever (music & dancing on Yonge St) – AURORA

4. 🚴 Little Rippers Kids' bike event – VAUGHAN

5. 🎭 Vaughanstock with live bands, comedy acts – VAUGHAN

👶 Baby & Books | MARKHAM
Friday, Sept 5 | 10:30 AM–11:00 AM
Location: Markham Public Library, Thornhill Village Branch
Cost: FREE | Age: Infants (0-12 months)
🔗 Event Details
Early literacy fun with stories, rhymes, lap play, and songs. Bring a blanket or mat for your baby.

🤸 Zumbini | VAUGHAN
Friday, Sept 5 | 10:00 AM–11:30 AM
Location: Dufferin Clark Library
Cost: FREE | Age: Toddler + Preschool ages with caregivers
🔗 Event Details
Music and movement program encouraging parent-child bonding while developing early literacy and motor skills. Spots available first-come, first-served.

🏰 Fort Building Fun | AURORA
Saturday, Sept 6 | 2:30 PM–4:30 PM
Location: Aurora Public Library
Cost: FREE | Age: Suitable for kids 5 & under
🔗 Event Details
Drop-in fort building with special fort kits. Located in the Optimist Room.

🎪 Aurora's Saturday Night Fever on Yonge St | AURORA
Saturday, Sept 6 | 4:00 PM–11:00 PM
Location: Yonge Street (between Mosley St. & Wellington St.)
Cost: FREE | Age: All Ages
🔗 Event Details
Evening of Canadian music, dancing, shopping, art showcases, and live entertainment. Perfect family-friendly street festival!

🎬 Starlight Cinema Nights - Lilo & Stitch | GEORGINA
Saturday, Sept 6 | 8:00 PM–9:50 PM
Location: West Park, Keswick
Cost: FREE | Age: All Ages
🔗 Event Details
Movie under the stars! Bring your own comfy lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy Disney magic outdoors.

🎉 Markham-Milliken Children's Festival | MARKHAM
Saturday, Sept 6 | 10:00 AM–6:30 PM
Location: Aaniin Community Centre Park
Cost: FREE admission, Play-All-Day Pass $10-14 | Age: All Ages
🔗 Event Details
Award-winning festival with live entertainment, free activities, STEM exhibits. Free shuttle available but limited parking!

🛒 Markham Farmers Market | MARKHAM
Saturday, Sept 6 | 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
Location: Main St Markham (Robinson St. parking lot)
Cost: FREE | Age: All Ages
🔗 Event Details
Weekly community market with fresh produce and artisan crafts. Perfect for a Saturday morning stroll with the kids!

🎵 Big Shiny '90s Rock + Pop Revival | MARKHAM
Saturday, Sept 6 | 7:30 PM–10:00 PM
Location: Origin Square, Downtown Markham
Cost: FREE | Age: All Ages
🔗 Event Details
Relive the ultimate '90s mixtape! From Green Day to Britney Spears - nostalgia never sounded so fun. Rain or shine event.

🐕 New'bark'et | NEWMARKET
Saturday-Sunday, Sept 6-7 | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Location: Ray Twinney Recreation Complex Parking Lot
Cost: FREE | Age: All Ages
🔗 Event Details
Family-friendly dog festival with vendors, activities, and off-leash area. Dogs must remain leashed outside designated area.

🎨 The Shape of Broken Art Exhibition | RICHMOND HILL
Saturday-Sunday, Sept 6-7 | 11:00 AM–7:00 PM
Location: Mill Pond Gallery
Cost: FREE | Age: All Ages
🔗 Event Details
Contemporary visual art exhibition featuring shattered and reassembled ceramics. Free parking available!

🎵York Region Classical Music Festival | RICHMOND HILL
Saturday, Sept 6 | 2:00 PM–4:30 PM
Location: Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts
Cost: $27.96-$38.61 | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Immerse yourself in Mozart, Dohnányi and Schubert. Experience the magic of live classical music in the beautiful Lexus Hall.

🗺️ Museum of the Streets | RICHMOND HILL
Saturday, Sept 6 | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Location: Richmond Hill Heritage Centre
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Self-guided tour of historic Richmond Hill! Green signs direct you through eleven heritage sites. No registration required.

🍻 Oktoberfest | VAUGHAN
Sept 6, 12, 19, 21 | Times vary
Location: Canada's Wonderland
Cost: Park admission applies | Age: All Ages
🔗 Event Details
Family-friendly fall festival with German food, entertainment, live shows. Most activities and rides included with admission!

🎭 Vaughanstock | VAUGHAN
Saturday, Sept 6 | 7:00 PM–11:00 PM
Location: Assembly Park
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Night of music, culture & entertainment! Live bands, comedy acts, Euro car show, mechanical bull & Italian food trucks.

🚴 Little Rippers Kids' Event | VAUGHAN
Sunday, Sept 7 | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Location: Trek Bicycle Vaughan, Woodbridge
Cost: FREE (registration required) | Age: All Ages
🔗 Event Details
Family bike event with kids' ride course, colouring station, Match the Ducks, and snow cone station!

🍂 Fall Fun Festival (Featuring Elsa & Anna) | EAST GWILLIMBURY
Saturday & Sunday | 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
Location: Brooks Farms, Mount Albert
Cost: $19.99 +HST (Free for babies under 2) | Age: All Ages
🔗 Event Details
Opening weekend! Seasonal festival with corn maze, train rides, farm animals. Runs rain or shine - perfect fall family day!

🎼 York Region Classical Music Festival - Piano Trio | EAST GWILLIMBURY
Sunday, Sept 7 | 2:00 PM–4:30 PM
Location: Sharon Temple National Historic Site
Cost: $27.96-$38.61 | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Exquisite compositions of Mozart, Bruch and Schumann. Experience live classical music at this enchanting historic venue.

🔬 STEAM Stations | RICHMOND HILL
Monday, Sept 8 | 4:00 PM–5:30 PM
Location: RHPL Richmond Green Branch
Cost: FREE | Age: All Ages
🔗 Event Details
Hands-on program exploring STEAM concepts with robots and maker activities. No registration required!

📚 Born to Read | KING
Tuesday, Sept 9 | 10:30 AM–11:00 AM
Location: King City Branch - King City Public Library
Cost: FREE (registration required) | Age: 0-2 years + caregivers
🔗 Event Details
30-minute session of stories, fingerplays, and songs. Limited space - register at branch or call ahead.

📖 Farsi Language Class and Storytelling | NEWMARKET
Wednesday, Sept 10 | 5:00 PM–6:30 PM
Location: Newmarket Public Library
Cost: FREE (drop-in class) | Age: Ages 6-12
🔗 Event Details
Persian stories, poetry, and activities. Recurring class located in Story room (upper level).

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