October 2015 see inside
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10 Fall Family Activites PG 3
October Events PG 4 -5
Halloween Events PG 6
Book Nook: Spooky Reads PG 7
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TRICK-OR-TREAT 5K WALK & STREET FESTIVAL
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Bloor West Village (between Jane and Runnymede) #TOWestHalloweenFest
Toronto Expo October 17 Roy Thomson Hall
Halton-Peel Expo October 18 Oakville Conference Centre
Join your family and neighbours for a fun-filled Trick-or-Treat 5k Walk in Bloor West Village to help St. Joe’s take care of kids in our west-end community. Start fundraising today to help build a new Paediatric Emergency Department at St. Joe’s. Don’t miss the Street Festival – open to everyone – with live performances by Splash’N Boots, a Taylor Swift Tribute Show, activities for kids and much more! REGISTER TO WALK TODAY
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TORONTO
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feature | frightful fall
Fall into fun 10 family activities to have an awesome autumn
toronto general manager JOHN WILLEMS director of advertising CHERYL PHILLIPS sales team lead GEORGE AGELOPOULOS regional director of operations BARRY BLACK director of circulation MIKE BANVILLE regional director of production and creative services KATHERINE PORCHERON features writers TASHA ZANIN SARAH LENNOX
1. Go apple picking A wonderful family day trip option for those looking to enjoy a fun outing in the country. Don’t forget to sample (and purchase) yummy apple products such as cider, jellies, jams, pies and more! 2. Scenic Caves Nature Adventures Hike through a 200 year old forest of 100-foot tall hardwood trees. Explore mysterious caves/caverns. View south Georgian Bay from spectacular lookout points and suspension footbridge. Experience a kaleidoscope of autumn leaves and adventures. 3. Go on a fall hike Fall is an ideal time for exploring. Since kids love to be outside, hit the trails! Discover some of the hiking trails in and around your community or at a local conservation park. Look into ‘geocaching’ opportunities.
cover design KIMBERLY FONG
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4. Visit a fall fair Check out a fall fair in your community or take a day trip. From treats and old-fashioned kids’ games, to midways, parades, petting zoos, entertainment, agricultural displays and horse and cattle shows, there will be something for everyone in the family to enjoy! Check out page 8 for ideas! 5. Plan your Halloween costume Halloween is just around the corner! If you’re not sure what to do, the Internet offers up hundreds of ideas. You’ll find lots of easy, creative ideas to make inexpensive homemade costumes for everyone in your family! 6. Visit a farm Farms are all about making fall memories and enjoying good clean country fun. Look for some special activities such as losing yourself in a Corn Maze,
picking out your favourite pumpkin in the Pumpkin Patch or going on a Hay Ride. 7. Collect leaves Fall is one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. Why not capture that beauty by collecting and preserving coloured leaves. Go to your nearest park and round up a collection of fall leaves. 8. Decorate a pumpkin Go to your nearest farm or pumpkin patch and gather the pumpkins of your choice. Pumpkins are no longer just for spooky Halloween jack-o-lanterns. Find decorating ideas for your home or bake up a pie! 9. Fall treats Make fall treats at home with the kids. Try a traditional favourite or a new experimental recipe. Fall is all about old-fashioned fudge, gingerbread, pumpkin bread or pie, candy apples, and hot apple cider. 10. Plan a harvest dinner Celebrate the fall harvest by shopping at your local farmers’ market for newly arrived fall vegetables and fruits, like apples, pears, pumpkins, corn, and squash. Try something you haven’t made before or cook up some seasonal favourites to chase those chilly fall days away! — www.Toronto4Kids.com
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TORONTO KIDS - October 2015 | 3
upcoming events Humpback Whales at Ontario Science Centre Narrated by two-time Golden Globe® nominee Ewan McGregor, Humpback Whales is an immersive ocean adventure that invites audiences to delve into the mysterious realm of one of the most enormous and vastly fascinating creatures on earth. Humpback Whales is a MacGillivray Freeman Film presented by Pacific Life. Ongoing Ontario Science Centre www.ontariosciencecentre.ca October Weekends at Scarborough Museum It’s harvest time at Scarborough Museum! Sample hot apple cider and scrumptious pumpkin scones as you tour the museum. Admission is paywhat-you-can. Weekends in October Scarborough Museum www.toronto.ca/museum-events
Pirate Life at Centre Island Join the crew of Pirate Life and search for sunken treasure! Sail aboard the 45 foot Island Rogue from Centre Island. Come dressed in a pirate costume or use ours. Receive face paint tattoos and new pirate nick names. Weekends in October Centre Island www.piratelife.ca ROMwalks Free walking tours of Toronto. Enjoy guided walking tours of the city’s architectural and historic neighbourhoods. Until Oct. 11 - Sundays and Wednesdays Royal Ontario Museum www.rom.on.ca/romwalks Tea and Tour Sundays at Gibson House There’s a seat for you at the harvest table in the historic kitchen on Sunday afternoons this season. Relax and have a chat over tea and homemade
Education
cookies. Enjoy a tour of this lovely, 1850s farmhouse. Included with regular admission. Sundays in October Gibson House www.toronto.ca/museum-events Pompeii: In the Shadow of the Volcano at the ROM The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) hosts the Canadian premiere of Pompeii: In the Shadow of the Volcano. On display in the Garfield Weston Exhibition Hall, the exhibition includes approximately 200 evocative objects that tell the dramatic story of Pompeii, an ancient Roman city captured in time by ash and debris that buried it during a volcanic eruption. Until Jan. 3 Royal Ontario Museum www.rom.on.ca Hana’s Suitcase at YPT At some point, it is best that children be told the truth. When a child’s suitcase arrives at the tiny Children’s Holocaust Centre in Tokyo, the curator embarks on an extraordinary journey to uncover the story of Hana and her fate at the hands of the Nazis. Oct. 5 to Oct. 30 Young People’s Theatre www.youngpeoplestheatre.ca Sleepy Hollow at Solar Stage A play for ages 5 and up. Get ready for a spooky silly time this October with a retelling of the classic Sleepy Hollow. We’ve taken this 19th-century yarn and made a completely kid-friendly ghost story! Hang out with Ichabod Crane as he shares the tale of his ghostly encounter with the Headless Horseman one fateful evening. But don’t worry, it’s only a story. Or is it . . . ? Oct. 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 & 25 - 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Solar Stage Children’s Theatre www.solarstage.on.ca
Non Profit Childcare Centre Serving Children from Birth to 5 Years
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• An inclusive and diverse multi-cultural setting that recognizes and encourages cultural heritage • A program that encourages children to actively explore, problem-solve, discover and master their environment Located in Kensington Community School 401 College Street
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kensingtonkids@on.aibn.com • www.kensingtonkids.ca
4 | TORONTO KIDS - October 2015
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Fall Colours Celebration at Kortright Weekends up to and including November 1 Discover the majestic beauty of fall at the Kortright Centre as our lush green forest transforms into a brilliant canvas of vibrant reds, fiery oranges and understated yellows. If you haven’t experienced fall at Kortright, you are in for a treat. Kortright Centre for Conservation 9550 Pine Valley Drive, Woodbridge, ON
www.kortright.org
Red Bull Stratos Exhibit at Ontario Science Centre Free fall into science with the Red Bull Stratos, landing at the Science Centre October 9. This travelling exhibit makes its Canadian debut on the three-year anniversary of Austrian BASE jumper Felix Baumgartner’s supersonic freefall of 39 kilometres from a stratospheric balloon. Oct. 9, 2015 to Jan. 11, 2016 Ontario Science Centre www.ontariosciencecentre.ca Toronto Zoo Celebrates Fall! Crisp fall air, vibrant colours and fun for all ages; the Toronto Zoo is the place to be this Thanksgiving Weekend! Kids, 12 and under are invited to join in the fall fun activities, photo ops, gourd bowling, crafts and more at the zoo’s front entrance courtyard from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 10 to Oct. 12 Toronto Zoo www.torontozoo.com
Build and Grow Clinics at Lowe’s Shop while your kids build a fun and educational project! Recommended for children from grades two to five. What Kids Will Take Home: The toy they made, a merit certificate, name tag, apron and goggles. October 10 - Build a Haunted Bird House. Oct. 10 Lowe’s - multiple locations www.lowes.ca Thanksgiving at the Museum of Inuit Art Take a trip to Nunavut this Thanksgiving! Visit the museum to learn about different arctic animals and the types of food they eat, and then visit the MIA Land Claim Grocery Store to learn about food prices and take our grocery store challenge. Be sure to bring a nonperishable food item for the Daily Bread Food Bank food drive and receive $1 off the cost of admission! Oct. 10 to Oct. 12 - 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Museum of Inuit Art www.miamuseum.ca
Develop your child’s love of music and movement! • Dance for children aged 2.5 and up • Ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, acrobatic dance, contemporary and more! • Highly trained and caring teachers • Registration Available Year-Round • Expanded facilities to serve you better
Fall Registration Now Open! Register online at tandemstudiostoronto.com www.tandemstudiostoronto.com 3300 Yonge St. (at Fairlawn) 647.348.4953 1st & 4th floor info@tandemstudiostoronto.com
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upcoming events PumpkinFest at Downsview Park Great family fun on Thanksgiving weekend! Pumpkinfest Toronto has something for all ages. Ride our Pumpkin Express train through the venue to witness everything PumpkinFest Toronto has to offer! From a traditional farmers market and baked goods sale to our princess meet and greet. Of course, there’s also a kiddy midway with rides and games! You won’t want to miss our large Pumpkin Patch and Food Truck Frenzy, featuring Toronto’s best food trucks! Admission is free. Rides are extra. Oct. 10 to Oct. 12 Downsview Park www.pumpkinfesttoronto.com Thanksgiving Feast at Casa Loma Celebrate Thanksgiving with a delicious feast at Casa Loma. Experience the splendor of the Edwardian era while enjoying a selection of signature dishes expertly prepared by our Culinary team. Price: $55 per person, $45 per person for children 13 and under. Reservations are required. Oct 11 Casa Loma www.casaloma.org Thanksgiving Dinners at Black Creek Pioneer Village Bring family and friends to a traditional three-course feast at the Village! Enjoy Thanksgiving-themed tours, sample some historic ale and take a horse-drawn wagon ride through the Village (extra charge for wagon rides). Reservations are required. Oct. 11 to Oct. 12 Black Creek Pioneer Village www.blackcreek.ca HarbourKIDS: Rites Autumn is a time for seeking comfort within our homes, making our
favourite family meals and celebrating our diverse cultural traditions. Join us on Thanksgiving Day for artmaking, performances and interactive experiences that mark the changing of the season through the creation and sharing of individual ceremony. Free. Oct. 12 - 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Harbourfront Centre w w w. h a r b o u r f ro n tc e n t re. c o m / harbourkids Thanksgiving with the Ultimutts Stunt Dog Show The Ultimutts Stunt Dog Show is a very popular, interactive pet performance! This unique circus-style show is jam packed with non-stop incredible tricks to wow the audience and keep them on the edge of their seats. Comprised of rescued animals, these dogs love to work and perform –and it shows! Free. Oct. 12 - 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Purina PawsWay 245 Queens Quay W. www.pawsway.ca Baobab at YPT Sometimes, children need to find their own path, allowing them the wisdom of their innocence. An epic West African story comes to life in this awardwinning production about a mystical young boy’s quest to return water to the land amidst a relentless drought. YPT brings back this audience favourite, which won the Dora Award for Outstanding TYA Production in 2012. Oct. 13 to Oct. 23 Young People’s Theatre www.youngpeoplestheatre.ca The Toronto Snow Show Whether you’re an avid double diamond skier, skilled backcountry boarder or a new participant to the sport, the Toronto Snow Show offers everything you need to make your slope side experience complete! It gives the public an annual opportunity to
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visit North America’s largest consumer showcase of ski & snowboard related travel destinations, equipment, clothing, lifestyle information and more. Oct. 15 to Oct. 18 International Centre Hall 6900 Airport Road, Mississauga, ON www.torontoskishow.ca Sesame Street Live - Make A New Friend No matter where you’re from or where you’ve been, everyone is special - so join in! Elmo, Grover, Abby Cadabby, and their Sesame Street friends welcome Chamki, Grover’s friend from India, to Sesame Street. Together, they explore the universal fun of friendship and celebrate cultural similarities, from singing and dancing, to sharing cookies! Join the fun and make a memory with your friends and family! Oct. 17 to Oct. 18 Sony Centre For The Performing Arts www.sonycentre.ca BIG at the ROM The fun’s on every month with special weekends jam-packed with programs and themed activities. Have you ever wondered what we could learn about history just from an ancient artifact? Or from an entire excavation site? It’s time to get down and dirty at the ROM this Big Weekend as we celebrate International Archaeology Day. Oct. 17 to Oct. 18 Royal Ontario Museum www.rom.on.ca Early Music Fair at Fort York The Early Music Fair provides fans of early music and the general public with a survey of the historical music performance scene in Toronto. There are scheduled mini-showcase concerts, as well as displays/exhibits, musical instruments and music retailers, plus numerous informal presentations by historical performance enthusiasts.
Oct. 17 Fort York National Historic Site www.torontoearlymusic.org Robots Rule Weekend at Ontario Science Centre Robots take over the Science Centre! Come see and try robots of all shapes, sizes and capabilities at Canada’s largest public gathering of robots for all ages! Explore the latest innovations in Robotics, Science and Technology, plus try some cool new robotic devices hands-on and see/chat with leading robotics experts. Oct. 24 to Oct. 25 - 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ontario Science Centre www.ontariosciencecentre.ca
Cineplex Community Day Cineplex Entertainment will host its fifth annual Community Day on Saturday, October 24. Families across Canada are invited to a morning of free movies at their local Cineplex theatre, with all donations and concession sales supporting Free The Children. Look out for cool movies like Despicable Me 2, Hop and The Lorax at participating theatres! Oct. 24 - 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Your local Cineplex theatre www.ontariosciencecentre.ca For an updated list of events, visit: www.toronto4kids.com/Calendar
OCtOBeR 24, 25 & 31st
reat! T & e d i R , k e i Shr
SCIeNSatIONal SSSNaKeS, MONSteR MaSH COStUMe CONteSt & MORe! 500 Rexdale Blvd at Hwy 27.
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416-674-5437
TORONTO KIDS - October 2015 | 5
feature | frightful fall
Have a be-witching Halloween Looking for events and ideas to make your Halloween a spine-chilling sensation? It’s that special time of year, when all thoughts turn to candy, costumes, parties, and the most entertaining venues for a good scream. Whether you want to visit a haunted house, take a Halloween train ride, pick some pumpkins, visit a zoo all dressed up for the holiday, or just find a good fall festival, there is an event for you. Howling Hootenanny at Black Creek Celebrate all things scary with the Creepy Creature Show, a haunted maze, scarecrow mini-maze for little ones, apple slingshot, free pumpkin decorating and trick-or-treating in the village. Oct. 17, 18, 24, 25 & 31 Black Creek Pioneer Village 1000 Murray Ross Pkwy. www.blackcreek.ca Halloween Hoot and Boo Barn at Riverdale Farm Wear your costume to the barn and find the Pumpkin Patch! Purchase your own, carve it on site (tools provided on site). Please bring a non-perishable food item for the local food bank. Oct 24 & Oct 25, 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Riverdale Farm 201 Winchester St.
www.toronto.ca Halloween Mask Making at Todmorden Mills Use your imagination to create your own spooky Hallowe’en mask in this family workshop. Treats provided! Suitable for children 6 years and up. Oct 24, 9:30 a.m. until 12 p.m. Todmorden Mills Heritage Museum and Arts Centre 67 Pottery Rd. www.toronto.ca/museum-events Boo at the Zoo Calling all ghosts, goblins, super heroes, witches, princesses and other creative costumed kids. It’s time to put on your Halloween costumes and head out to the Toronto Zoo! Best of all, up to two kids in costume (12 and under) get in free when accompanied by an adult. Oct 24 to Oct 31, 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Toronto Zoo Meadowvale Rd. www.torontozoo.com BOO! at the Barns A family-friendly evening with delicious food, themed drinks, and fun activities for people of all ages. Strut your stuff in your best Halloween costume and enter our haunted house – if you dare!
Oct. 24, 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. Artscape Wychwood Barns 601 Christie St. www.atthebarns.org/whats-on Halloween Howl at TBG Try out your Halloween costume during an afternoon of spooky outdoor games, Halloween crafts and a look at some of Halloween’s creepy critters Oct 25, 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. Toronto Botanical Garden 777 Lawrence Ave. E. www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca Monster Dash Toronto The family-friendly race supports the World Wildlife Fund. The event features three exciting challenges in one – a 5K and 10K run/walk for adults and a cool Spooky Mile for kids. Oct. 25 Leaside - See website for course www.monsterdash.ca Toronto West Halloween Fest Join your neighbours for the Trick-or-Treat 5k walk to support care for the kids at St. Joe’s. There will be surprises along the way. After the
walk, enjoy a street festival - open to everyone - with performances by Splash’N Boots and a Taylor Swift Tribute Show, fun activities and more! Oct. 25 St. Joseph’s Health Centre 30 The Queensway www.torontowesthalloweenfest.com Halloween on Queen A fun afternoon of entertainers, face painting, DJs, karaoke, pumpkin decorating and more. Pets are included in the fun too! Oct. 31, 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. 1971 Queen St. E. www. thebeachvillage.com Annual Halloween Party at Purina PawsWay Celebrate Halloween with games, prizes and family fun for both people and dogs! Bring your camera and take photos of you and your furry friend at the Halloweenthemed photo booth. Get creative with the kids at the arts and crafts table. Oct. 31, 1:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. Purina PawsWay 245 Queens Quay W. www.pawsway.ca — www.Toronto4Kids.com
New steps towards a smoke-free Ontario As of January 1, 2015, it is now illegal to: • smoke on bar and restaurant patios • sell tobacco on college and university campuses • smoke near children’s playgrounds and public sports fields and surfaces.
ontario.ca/smokefree
416.504.7910 | info@tsa-art.com 6 | TORONTO KIDS - October 2015
learning | book nook
book nook
Spooky Pookie Sandra Boynton It’s Halloween! What will little Pookie decide to be this year? Pookie tries on costumes one by one, but somehow can’t find just the right thing. The resolution to Pookie’s dilemma will Ages 0-2 delight toddlers and their caregivers alike.
It’s almost time for Halloween! prepare for the spookiest time of year with some tales that will make you jump! Throw on your costume, carve your pumpkin and sit back with your favourite scary stories - with the lights on!
Lift-the-Flap Tab: Spooky House Roger Priddy Are you brave enough to enter the Spooky House? From the witch’s kitchen to the haunted attic and vampire’s crypt, there are eight ghoulish scenes Ages to explore, each with 3-5 spooky, scary flaps to flip along the way.
Froggy’s Halloween Jonathan London Froggy needs a Halloween costume. But what should he be? The Frog Prince! Froggy’s new costume is perfect, until Princess Frogilina spots him. Uh-oh, looks like this Ages 3-5 could be the scariest Halloween ever!
The Spooky Sound (Disney/ Pixar Cars) Melissa Lagonegro After Mater and Lightning McQueen hear a mysterious sound, they decide to investigate. But when they can’t figure out where it’s coming Ages 6-8 from, Radiator Springs becomes very spooky!
Scenic Caves Nature Adventures -Superbly Natural!
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Alvin Schwartz Welcome to the macabre world of Scary Stories. Inside, you’ll find alarming tales of horror, dark revenge, and the supernatural, with spine-tingling illustrations by renowned Ages 12+ artist Brett Helquist.
sceniccaves.com
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Canada’s Longest Twin-Zip Line!
• 420 ft Suspension Bridge • Caves / Caverns to Explore • THUNDERBIRD 1/2-mile Twin-zip Ride • Mini–golf • Gemstone Mining • Big Rock Railroad • Snack Bar • Picnic Area • Fish Pond • Kids Adventure Playground • Fabulous Panoramic Fall Colours • Gift Shop
Top of Scenic Caves Road, Collingwood • 705-446-0256 TORONTO KIDS - October 2015 | 7
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