Celebrate Canada Day at these kid-friendly attractions north of Toronto

Small cities, towns and communities are not the only ones who know how to throw a good family fun Canada Day Party. Many attractions also offer festivities on top of their already super fun activities. It’s a great chance to really get some value for your family entertainment dollar. So if you had a few attractions on your must-visit list, then this weekend is a good weekend to hit them up!

Here is a quick list of our attraction members that have some extra fun happening this weekend to help celebrate Canada Day. The list also includes attractions that will be open for regular business this long weekend and are a great accompanyment to any other festivities you might be taking part in.

These attractions are mostly located in cottage-country areas north of Toronto. They are a reasonable distance for day tripping or you can also consider finding family friendly accommodations and spending the weekend!

Barrie

MacLaren Art Centre: The MacLaren Art Centre is Simcoe County’s regional public art gallery with a year-round programme of contemporary local, regional, national and international exhibitions. Located in downtown Barrie, close to the waterfront, the MacLaren is housed in a beautiful, award-winning building. A cool spot to hang out and teach your children to appreciate art.

Serendipity Princess: Experience the beautiful city of Barrie and its local landmarks from the 260-passenger Serendipity Princess as you journey Lake Simcoe’s Kempenfelt Bay. The Serendipity Princess is a unique paddle wheeler complimented by triple decks featuring a patio on the upper level.

Horseshoe Resort Adventure Park: It’s Canada Day and we’re showing our Canadian pride in a BIG way! We have a day packed with fun for all ages. There will be kids activities, BBQ Goodness and live music to keep you moving. A Canada Day celebration wouldn’t be complete without a firework show to cap it off!

Hardwood Ski and Bike: Enjoy the beauty of Canada on her birthday in her beautiful green forest! Hop on a bike, get some fresh air, excercise and enjoy this beautiful country and its abundance of recreation! Families can also have fun playing disc golf.

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Blue Mountains | Collingwood

Blue Mountain Resort/Blue Mountain Village: Celebrate Canada Day weekend with tons of free family activities – face painting, a Grove dance party, interactive drumming, fireworks and live music all weekend including legendary band Lighthouse. Have fun and excitement at Blue Mountain Resort’s Fun Park!

Scenic Caves Natures Adventures: Scenic Caves Nature Adventures is a fabulous destination for the long weekend. They are open all weekend long with extended summer hours. It’s a perfect day trip for families to explore caves and caverns, the mysterious sacred places of the Petun tribe, Southern Ontario’s longest 420’ suspension bridge, a children’s adventure playground, gemstone mining, mini golf, a trout pond and picnic areas. For adrenaline-pumping excitement, take a ride on the half-mile Thunderbird Twin Zip Line or reserve a spot on the guided Eco Adventure Tour.

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Bracebridge

Santa’s Village Family Entertainment Park: If you’re Canadiana, and an Ontarioan, you know this place! It’s a family tradition and one of the most fun kids attractions in Ontario! What child (or adult!) does not love Christmas? Santa’s Village also has a ton of fun rides, games and campground if one day is just not enough!

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Elmvale

Rounds Ranch: Rounds Ranch is the place for families to have a country and western experience with over 18 attractions. Enjoy the large corn and straw mazes, petting zoo, pony rides, water maze, barrel train, shooting gallery, duck races, pedal cart race track, western playground, zip lines, giant jumping pillows, tractor rides, swinging tire horses and bouncy ponies. Great family fun for all ages. Rounds Ranch is located between Elmvale and Wasaga Beach.

Forester Falls

River Rafting: There’s high family adventure here with river rafting and zip lining!

Haliburton

Sir Sam’s Ski & Bike: Take out the bikes and have some outdoor adventure in Canada’s rich forest or take the covered surface lift ride.

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Iroquois

Doran Bay Model Ship Museum: Doran Bay Model Ship Museum provides a marvel world-class collection of museum quality model ships, including a special exhibit of ships from the War of 1812.

Midland | Penetanguishene

Downtown Midland: Canada Day sales and shops and docks are fun to explore with kids. Also, do the self-guided mural walking tour. Kids will love the murals of big boats and trains!

Miss Midland: Experience the sparkling water, the windswept pines and rocky grandeur of Muskoka/Georgian Bay’s 30,000 Islands on a cruise aboard the 300-passenger Miss Midland – Northern Ontario’s most popular tourist attraction.

Discovery Harbour: Explore all the Discovery Harbour has to offer this summer with family and friends. Built during the War of 1812, this British navel outpost is full of adventures and activities. Board the tall ships and experience life as a soldier in the eighteen hundreds. Celebrate Canada’s birthday with fun children’s activities, giveaways and complimentary Canada Day cake.

Sainte Marie Among the Hurons: Bring family and friends to Sainte Marie Among the Hurons for a day filled with adventures – mixed in with a little learning! Experience life in one of Canada’s oldest reconstructed European communities that was shared with First Nations people all the way back to the sixteen hundreds! Celebrate Canada’s birthday with fun children’s activities, giveaways and complimentary Canada Day cake.

Big Bands Legends Show: The show is great for older children who enjoy live theatre and music (not for toddlers, use discretion). This event is at the beautiful King’s Wharf Theatre on Penetanguishene waterfront. Leave time for a stroll on the boardwalk!

Midland Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market: Why not celebrate Canada by buying something grown or made in Canada! Our country has some pretty fine farmers and artisans and a market is a great place to have some family fun. This is a five senses experience that will build some great memories and turn the kids into little foodies! The Midland market runs Sunday mornings from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. across from the town dock.

Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre: See a Canadian marsh and its inhabitants! See it by kayak, canoe or by foot! The Wye Marsh is a great place to connect your kids with nature.

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Parry Sound

Georgian Bay Airways: Treat your family to trip of a lifetime! Take a float plane ride over some of Canada’s finest areas or fly to Henry’s Fish restaurant on an island in Sans Souci. Canada has an abundance of delicious fresh water fish and it’s great when celebrating Canada. Their shop also sells ice cream. If you don’t get a flight this weekend, then at least stop in for a cool treat and say hello!

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Canada Day events in communities, town and cities
Canada Day long weekend getaways

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