Find ideas and inspiration for kid-friendly fun and a most memorable Family Day in the city.
The Family Day holiday in Ontario is on February 17, 2025, and it’s prime time to spend the long weekend in the city.
With top city attractions, pop-up events, and winter festivals in full swing, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy. Make the most of your time in the city with this full weekend itinerary for the ultimate Family Day long weekend in Toronto.
And if you’re staying beyond Family Day, check out our list of the most iconic things to do with family and kids any time of year.
Day 1 – Aquarium, arcade & fireside s’mores!
Kick off your Family Day long weekend with a visit to Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. It can get busy, so get there when the doors open at 9 a.m. to avoid the afternoon crowds.
There’s much to see at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, from the Rainbow Reef to Planet Jellies and the ever-popular Dangerous Lagoon. This moving sidewalk guides you through an underwater tunnel while sharks and fish swim beside and overhead.
For lunch, walk across the street to The Rec Room. Equal parts arcade and restaurant, this family-friendly entertainment hub will satisfy all your cravings.
The menu features a wide selection of shareables, individual entrée options, and a fun kid’s menu that lets you pick a three-course meal for just $10. Once you’ve refuelled, let the kids (and your inner child) loose at the various game stations.
Next, make your way east to Toronto’s Distillery Historic District. Fireside in the Distillery: A Canadian Celebration of Hot Chocolate and S’mores is transforming Gristmill Lane into an outdoor winter lounge with Muskoka chairs and fire pits, free to enjoy on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Hot bevvies and food can be purchased from nearby retailers. Kids will especially love roasting marshmallows and making s’mores on the open fire pits, which are open from noon until 6 p.m.
The Distillery District has several great options for dinner, especially kid-friendly spots like El Catrin and Mill Street Brew Pub.
El Catrin serves up traditional Mexican classics in a colourful and vibrant setting while Mill Street Brew Pub features your classic pub dishes alongside almost a dozen in-house brewed beers on tap. Reservations are strongly recommended for both.
Day 2 – Family-friendly attractions
Take it easy this morning and make the most of the amenities at the Chelsea Hotel. It’s the ultimate family-friendly hotel to spend your Family Day long weekend in Toronto. It’s centrally located and is the only hotel in downtown Toronto with a 130’ corkscrew water slide!
In addition to the indoor heated family pool, there’s the Kid Centre with arts and crafts, games, play structures and even bunnies in residence. The Club 33 Teen Zone will also keep the tweens and teens happy with old-school arcade games, two LCD flat-screen TVs, and a foosball and pool table.
For food, choose from the Elm Street Bar & Lounge, Market Garden Restaurant for value-focused breakfast and dinner, or the Expresso Coffee & Wine Bar for a quick coffee and sandwich on the go.
The Chelsea Hotel is offering a 15% discount when booking seven to 30 days before your arrival. There’s also a special kids’ check-in desk, where they’ll be treated to a small toy.
Hot tip: Save with The Chelsea Hotel’s Show Your Key and Save program. This program discounts many of Toronto’s attractions, including Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), and Little Canada. Speak with the hotel concierge for all the latest information, offerings, and booking instructions.
After spending time making the most of the Chelsea Hotel’s amenities, head over to the AGO. They’re running free drop-in programs all weekend long between 10:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., including all-day DJ dance parties, hands-on artmaking, storytelling, workshops, and more. Those aged 25 and under are free to enter the AGO.
If you’d prefer to stay indoors for the afternoon, Little Canada is a great option as the next stop for the whole family. Spanning an incredible 45,000 square feet, Little Canada showcases miniature versions of notable landscapes, landmarks, and iconic skylines.
Visitors can explore the space, meet with the miniature makers, search for Maurice the Moose in each destination, and even step inside the Littlization Station and become part of the destinations themselves.
If the weather is favourable and you want to be outdoors, head to Riverdale Farm in the east end. This 7.5-acre property is a working farm and will give you a glimpse into farm life. The kids will love getting up close to the animals. The Meeting House on the east side of the property hosts year-round programming, plus there are washrooms on-site and free admission.
Walk south to Riverdale Park West and take to the toboggan hills for a little thrill. This side is less steep and crowded than the popular Riverdale Park East and much more suited for young kids.
Day 3 – Outdoor adventures & events
Start your final day of the Family Day long weekend with a visit to the beach. Yes, you can enjoy the beach in the winter months too! Woodbine Beach celebrates the season with its annual Winter Stations—reimagining the lifeguard towers that dot along the shore.
This year’s theme is ‘Dawn’ which will challenge designers to explore endless possibilities of change and transition, whether it be personal, natural, or spiritual, capturing the raw beauty of growth and renewal.
For lunch, you can’t go wrong with pizza, and Descendent Detroit Style Pizza in Leslieville serves up delicious, deep-dish pies the whole family will enjoy.
If you have a sweet tooth that needs satisfying, head to Sweet City Fest next. Located in Stackt Market, North America’s largest shipping container market, Sweet City Fest will host workshops, community events, specialty vendors, food trucks, and more.
The market itself is very family-friendly (no vehicular traffic and wide spaces to roam) and you’ll be supporting small, local businesses in the process.
Last up, burn off those sweet treats with a skate along The Bentway Skate Trail. This 220m skate trail is located right under the Gardiner Expressway, just steps from Stackt Market.
Family Day Monday will mark the final day the trail will be open and will have extended hours from noon until 9 p.m. Skate rentals are available ($12 for adults & $10 for youth), plus there’s a concession stand and washroom facilities onsite.
