Things to do on Family Day 2026 in Ontario

Outdoor adventures

Elliott Tree Farm Maple Syrup Experience

Try something sweet at Elliott Tree Farm. The Maple Syrup Experience opens Family Day weekend and runs every weekend until April 5, with select dates during March Break.

The ticket price includes entry to the Maple Syrup Museum of Ontario, all-you-can-eat pancakes and sugar shack tours.

Location: 9467 Erin East Garafraxa Townline, Erin

By Family Day, the maple syrup season in Ontario is just getting started. Find maple syrup farms and festivals taking place over the weekend and into the next few months.

Cheecopee Tube Park

Enjoy the thrill of the hill at Cheecopee Tube Park. This Waterloo Region adventure park features a 270-metre multi-lane run for tubers big and small.

There’s a large log chalet on-site with a cafe and a licensed lounge, complete with an outdoor viewing deck of the snow hill—the perfect place to warm up.

Note that tubers must be at least four years old and over 106 centimetres tall.

Location: 1600 River Road East, Kitchener

Cheecopee Tube Park is one of several fun snow tubing hills across Ontario.

Fat biking at Crimson Ridge

Discover the thrill of fat biking across pristine winter landscapes and through snow-capped forests at Crimson Ridge.

Every year, this popular golf course is transformed into a winter wonderland with over 15 kilometres of groomed scenic and technical trails for you to ride.

Note that fat biking is physically demanding and is best suited for families with teenage kids.

Location: 418 Fourth Line West, Sault Ste. Marie

Find more fat biking destinations near you.

Horseback riding at Von Doeler’s Ranch

Explore snowy trails by horseback on a guided winter trail ride at this popular ranch.

Von Doeler’s offers a variety of excursions and trails for riders aged five and over. Enjoy a guided ride through the woods, stop at beautiful lookouts and take in the winter scenery. Trail rides are available for new and experienced riders.

Location: 1286 Von Doeler Road, Calvin

There’s a wide variety of horseback trail riding opportunities throughout Ontario, several of which offer winter experiences.

Tim Hales Ice Fishing Huts

Just under a two-hour drive north of Toronto, experience ice fishing with your family on Lake Simcoe in a comfortable, warm hut.

You’ll be transported across the lake in a heated Bombardier Snow Bus and supplied with bait, minnow pails and nets. In Ontario, kids under 18 can fish for specific species without a licence, and during the Family Day weekend, adults are also permitted to fish without a licence.

Location: 1090 Concession 7, Beaverton

Lake Simcoe is popular ice fishing destination with several ice hut rentals suitable for families or explore ice fishing experiences in other Ontario locations.

Indoor fun for families

Adventure Bay Waterpark

Enjoy water park fun year-round, even with snow on the ground, at Adventure Bay Waterpark.

This indoor water park offers water slides, a relaxing lazy river, a splash zone and a wave pool. The Tot Loch area has been designed for younger visitors. Check height and weight requirements for each attraction at the waterpark.

Location: 401 Pitt Street West, Windsor

From Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls to the outdoor heated pool at Blue Mountain, Ontario’s indoor water parks offer a unique aquatic experience during the winter.

The Factory

The Factory is Canada's biggest indoor family entertainment centre and playground featuring North America's largest indoor high-ropes course.

If your kids aren’t quite old enough for trampolines, high ropes and ziplines, check out Lil Climbers, a playground designed for kids six and under. There’s also an arcade, a Slime Factory and offers virtual reality experiences.

The Factory caters to a wide age range, from toddlers to adults.

Location: 100 Kellogg Lane, London

Escape Manor Junior

Rise to the challenge of an escape room adventure together. This interactive group activity involves clues, puzzles and tasks to solve and escape within a set timeframe, with a younger audience in mind.

There are four different themed stories that range from finding the lost city of Atlantis to brewing a potion that lifts a spell on a cursed forest.

Location: 900 Greenbank Road, Nepean

If you love finding clues and solving puzzles together as a family, find more escape rooms challenges near you.

iFLY

Indoor skydiving makes for a fun and unique Family Day outing. iFLY welcomes flyers over the age of three to try this thrilling and safe experience.

iFLY is committed to helping people of all abilities to experience indoor skydiving with All-Abilities sessions for individuals living with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and other disabilities.

Locations:

• 2007 Winston Park Drive, Oakville
• 75 Consumers Drive Building I, Whitby

Activate

Climb walls, solve puzzles and dodge lasers at Activate, the world’s first active gaming facility, with locations in and around the Greater Toronto Area.

Perfect for families with kids over the age of six, participants jump, climb and solve challenges in interactive game rooms designed to engage both physically and mentally.

Location: Various locations

Encourage your kids to explore their creative side at these fun and immersive experiences.

Suso Skate Co.

SUSO Skate Co. transforms underused spaces into pop-up roller-skating rinks. The current rink is located in Oshawa and features vibrant vintage aesthetics, funky music and a fun, welcoming atmosphere.

“All ages” sessions are designed for kids five and over. Anyone over 16 is welcome during the “adult only” time slots. Skates and protective gear for kids and adults are available on-site.

Location: 419 King Street West, Oshawa

Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned skater, glide and groove your Family Day away at SUSO Skate Co. Check out even more retro-inspired activities, including bowling alleys, arcades and roller skating rinks.

Creative and educational activities

Niagara Parks Power Station

Curious minds of all ages will enjoy learning about what happens behind the scenes at Niagara Parks Power Station. Repurposed artifacts, interactive exhibits and fascinating installations make this a truly engaging experience.

Don’t miss The Tunnel, a 2,670-metre-long pathway that opens onto an incredible view of Niagara Falls.

Location: 7005 Niagara Parkway, Niagara Falls

London Children’s Museum

Playtime is the main attraction at this London museum designed for children under 10. Kids are encouraged to explore and experience activities that introduce them to science, history, technology and nature, through play in a fun environment.

Educational activities include architectural digs, an interactive farm and a spacecraft experience.

Location: 100 Kellogg Lane, London

Kid-friendly museums across Ontario will set your family’s imagination into full swing.

David Thompson Astronomical Observatory

Introduce your kids to wonder of space and the stars. Pick a clear day and go stargazing at The David Thompson Astronomical Observatory, part of the Fort William Historical Park.

This observatory is home to one of the largest publicly accessible telescopes in Central Canada and can bring galaxies, nebulae, star clusters and planets into sharp focus.

Location: 1350 King Road, Thunder Bay

Find more astronomy centres and observatories for amazing star-gazing and night sky viewing opportunities.

Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre

Kids interested in aviation will love this museum in Sault Ste. Marie. Explore vintage bushplanes, interactive exhibits and hands-on flight simulators.

Make sure to stop by the Children's Flight Centre, complete with arcade-style gaming consoles, interactive displays and the chance to experience a real airplane cockpit.

Location: 50 Pim Street, Sault Ste. Marie

The Hockey Hall of Fame

Learn about the history of Canada’s favourite game and discover fun hockey-related activities.

Show off your shooting and goalie abilities, explore 90 iconic goalie masks, try being a sports anchor and snap a photo with the original Stanley Cup.

Location: 30 Yonge Street, Toronto

Learn more about Canadian ice hockey and various ways to experience it in Ontario.

Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)

The AGO is a family-friendly place for kids to engage with art year-round. Enjoy crafts, kid-friendly tours and workshops.

The Hands-On Centre is a space designed for kids to engage in art-making activities with the whole family.

While you are wandering the gallery, look out for the Art Cart, a roving art station that encourages kids and adults to draw, sculpt and explore all facets of art.

Location: 317 Dundas Street West, Toronto

Gardiner Museum

Featuring over 5,000 objects, The Gardiner Museum is one of the few museums worldwide focused on ceramics.

If your child loves art, this museum hosts Family Days year-round. Bring the kids and connect over clay with activities inspired by the museum’s permanent collection and special exhibitions.

Location: 111 Queens Park, Toronto

Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)

The ROM is home to 18 million artworks, artifacts and specimens from around the world, but for dinosaur lovers, there’s no better time to visit Canada’s leading museum. The Age of Dinosaurs was recently expanded and now showcases even more dinosaurs than ever.

Family Day weekend at the ROM offers exciting programming, live performances and interactive activities. Explore the galleries and themed experiences that bring art, culture and nature to life.

Location: 100 Queens Park, Toronto

Nature and wildlife experiences

Toronto Zoo

Treat your future zoologists to a day at the zoo, with hundreds of animal species to see up close. On colder days, explore heated indoor pavilions, including the Australasia and the Americas exhibits, which remain open year-round.

Family Day programming is available all weekend and includes guardian talks, character meet and greets, a word hunt challenge and even a discount on memberships.

The fun doesn’t stop when you leave, thanks to the Zoo to You program—a virtual wildlife experience.

Location: 2000 Meadowvale Road, Toronto

Ripley’s Aquarium

Dive into this mysterious and magical underwater world in downtown Toronto.

Come face to face with all sorts of incredible aquatic creatures, including countless species of fish, jellyfish, sharks and stingrays.

Location: 288 Bremner Boulevard, Toronto

Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory

At least 2,000 free-flying tropical butterflies and moths are on exhibit at any given time in this lush, tropical conservatory.

Insect-loving kids of all ages will be enchanted at the sight of Blue Morphos, Asian Swallowtails, African Monarchs and other flying creatures. Also, don’t miss the new Axolotl exhibit.

Location: 2500 Kossuth Road, Cambridge

Wolf Centre at Haliburton Forest & Wild Life Reserve

The wolf centre at Haliburton Forest is a unique wheel-chair accessible educational facility featuring self-guided nature exhibits.

The big draw is the one-way glass observatory that overlooks a massive wolf pack’s enclosure. Ask questions and learn more about wolves in their habitat.

Head outside and explore the trails around the reserve on snowshoes. Rentals are available from the centre and can be added to your admission upon booking, with a discount.

Visit for the day or book an overnight stay.

Location: 1305 Redkenn Road, Haliburton Forest

Family getaways

Long weekends are great for mini family getaways. From snow-based outdoor adventure to kid-approved indoor programs and entertainment, Ontario’s winter resorts offer endless fun for everyone in the family.

Winter resorts, snow parks, trails and rinks across Ontario offer boundless outdoor fun from dawn to dusk. Embrace the season and expend all that youthful energy outdoors in the snow.

Visit Resorts of Ontario for resort packages, specials and more getaway ideas.

Tips for planning your Family Day

Here are some simple tips to ensure your Family Day weekend is a success.

• Book in advance: Buy tickets or make reservations ahead of time to avoid long lines. Some attractions and events require tickets to be purchased in advance of arrival. Read website instructions carefully to avoid disappointment.
• Arrive early: Some attractions get crowded. An earlier arrival might help avoid the busiest times.
• Plan rest and snack breaks: Keep little ones well-fuelled, visit websites in advance to know what amenities are available on-site, including food vendors, bathrooms, quiet spaces and rest stops, and if outside food and drink can be brought on-site.
• Check the weather: If you are driving or planning an outdoor activity, check the weather forecast and dress appropriately to ensure a safe outing and avoid discomfort in overly wet or cold conditions.

From retro roller skating and butterfly conservatories to ice fishing and wolf watching, there are so many fun things to do on Family Day in Ontario. Start planning your family-friendly adventure.