Recent Updates

Canada's largest showcase of outdoor gear and adventure travel experiences in coming to TORONTO! I'm planning on heading there February 21st or 22nd, and I CAN'T WAIT!

Why? Because there are over 320 exhibitors offering the latest camping gear, paddle sports, outdoor clothing, scuba diving and adventure travel destinations.

Did you Know? There are over 100 adventure presentations being offered over the course of the weekend as well!

When: February 21-23, 2025
Where: International Centre, Toronto

How much? About $17 per person, or get a weekend pass for $21

Join in on the fun February 17th, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the W.J. Henderson Recreation Centre for an action-packed afternoon filled with FREE activities! A day of fun and spending quality time together on Family Day!

A variety of activities including:

Arena
- Lorna Willis & Lynn Wyminga Sponsored Public Skate from 12:00-2:00pm
- Canteen will be open for food purchases

Parking lot
- Loyalist Emergency Services Truck Tours & Giveaways

Library
- Temporary Tattoo Station
- Colouring Station
- Lego Station
- Bouncy Castle from Lucky Inflatables
- Just Dance
- Photobooth from Photobooth Kingston.

Winter Wonders Royal Botanical Gardens

Date: December 15, 2024 - January 7, 2025 (Open Thursday to Sunday)

Time: 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Location: Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington, Ontario, Canada

Event Description:

Experience the magic of the season at the Royal Botanical Gardens’ Winter Wonders! Hendrie Park transforms into a captivating winter wonderland, where dazzling lights, festive installations, and enchanting displays create an unforgettable holiday atmosphere. Stroll along scenic pathways adorned with millions of twinkling lights, while the sounds of festive music fill the air. Enjoy the warmth of holiday treats as you wander through the illuminated gardens, guided by the glow of stars and twinkling lights.
Indoors, the magic continues as the Mediterranean Garden and Breezeway come alive with seasonal décor and vibrant plant displays that offer a burst of colour and warmth against the winter chill. The highlight of the event is the whimsical Botanical Train Display, where model trains wind their way through beautifully crafted scenes of iconic Canadian landmarks, from coast to coast.
Be sure to stop by the RBG Gift Shop, where you’ll find unique seasonal treasures, perfect for gifts or personal keepsakes. Whether you're enjoying holiday treats, exploring festive displays, or finding the perfect gift, Winter Wonders offers something for everyone in a truly enchanting setting.

Ticket Information:

Adult $20 (+HST & $1 Service Fee)
Child (age 3 to 12) $16 (+HST & $1 Service Fee)
Infant / Toddler (age 0-2) FREE

Timed-tickets required. This is a time-ticketed experience. Upon registration you will be required to select an entry time.

Join us for an evening of seasonal cheer and festive magic at Winter Wonders – an experience you won’t want to miss!

The CPKC Holiday Train 2024 is on the move!

The CPKC Holiday Train will be making a stop at the train tracks near the intersection of Richmond Street & Piccadily Street in London, Ontario, on November 24th, from 8:30 PM - 9 PM! Join in the festivities, bring a food donation, and help support a worthwhile cause!

The 2024 CPKC Holiday Train will tour Canada and the US from Nov 21, 2024 to Dec 20, 2024, raising money, food, and awareness to support food banks across the continent. Professional musicians, including American Authors, Alana Springsteen, Tyler Shaw and more are playing free concerts from the train in this year, adding to the festivities at each stop.

CPKC donates to the local food bank at each stop and encourages all attendees to make a monetary or heart-healthy food donation. This is the 26th anniversary of the festive Holiday Train spreading holiday cheer and making a difference to a worthwhile cause. Be a part of this important holiday tradition!

To learn when this special holiday train might be visiting a community near you, please check out the CPKC Holiday Train website.

Looking for some family-friendly fun this holiday season? Christmas at the Village is a great way to kick off the holiday season with some family-friendly fun at Fanshawe Pioneer Village. Explore the decorated heritage village, participate in outdoor winter games, try your hand at festive holiday crafts, and learn about the cherished traditions of the past. Who knows? You may even bump into jolly old St. Nick!

Admission: Adults: $12
Seniors/students: $10
Children: $7 (ages 4-16)
No pre-registration

This is an outdoor event, so please dress warmly!

Free One-Day Provincial Park Access is on Friday, July 19th at 75 Parks in Ontario Canada.

The Ontario government is offering free day-use access on Friday, July 19, to mark Healthy Parks Healthy People Day.
This annual celebration is part of a global movement to promote the incredible health benefits of getting outside in nature.
As the largest provider of outdoor recreational opportunities in the province, Ontario Parks offers programs and facilities to enjoy
nature year-round – in most parks, you can go hiking, cycling, paddling, swimming and more.
The Ontario government is enhancing those recreational opportunities by building 300 new campsites and bringing electrical services to
800 existing campsites at several parks throughout the province, the largest addition of new and electrified campsites in Ontario Parks’ history. Since 2018, the province has invested $55.4 million to help maintain and build more facilities including roofed accommodations in provincial parks to help meet the demand of the province’s growing population, while ensuring an enjoyable experience for all visitors.
Throughout the summer, Ontario Parks offers numerous ways to engage with nature including:
In-park Discovery Programs allow kids and adults to gain confidence in nature and wildlife through guided
hikes to explore a new trail and other educational programs.
The 30x30 Nature Challenge encourages people to spend 30 minutes in nature for 30 days during August.
Take a Hike Day on August 10, providing guided hikes at provincial parks around the province. Visitors can join in on one of the many
events happening across the province.
To guarantee access to Healthy Parks Healthy People Day, visitors are strongly encouraged to obtain a daily vehicle permit up to five days
before the celebration, at no charge, for the 75 parks that offer this service.

Take part in a special one-day celebration, Healthy Parks Healthy People, on July 19th, when Ontario Parks will welcome visitors with free entry. Enjoy a complimentary day pass to explore your local Ontario Provincial Park, use the facilities, and participate in fun events until 10 pm.

Please note that while general park access is free, fees for camping, equipment rentals, and swimming pool use at Bronte Creek and Earl Rowe provincial parks will still apply.

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with nature and enjoy the beauty of Ontario's parks!

There's a new film festival on the Edmonton scene this year. YIKES! Film Festival is two days of horror, sci-fi, fantasy, thriller, and mystery short and feature films. The vibe is less of the stuffy red-carpet type and more of a casual night hanging out with friends. In fact, YIKES! promises to be a terrifying fun time and a hit on the Alberta horror, sci-fi, thriller and mystery movie scene.

In addition to the carefully curated film schedule that focuses on creating the ultimate moviegoer experience, YIKES! has exclusive spooky vendors, merchandise, and giveaways. There are opportunities built into the schedule to grab something to eat and a drink. Each evening caps off with live music preformed by a local band.

Independent Filmmakers from Canada and abroad submitted their works for consideration by the festival. Their hope, to win their category grand prize of $100.00 CAD and to take home the coveted Hands of Horror trophy!

Tickets are $12 a day and include:
- Access to the Festival
- Film Screenings
- Live Music
- Exclusive Event Vendors
- Exclusive Event Merchandise

Thursday Nov 16 6pm - 10:30pm with music by the comedy band, Success 5000
Friday Nov 17 6pm - 10:30pm followed by live music the Spanish Flies

The detailed film schedule is broken into two blocks each about 2 hours long. The blocks are made up of films that very from as shorts as just under a minute to almost 2-hours. The length and genre of each show is listed so festival goers can choose which films they want to see.

Celebrate Christmas & Filipino culture at the 2023 Simbang Gabi Night Market in Toronto, Ontario. Support small businesses & enjoy festive fun!

We are delighted to invite you to the 2023 Simbang Gabi, Filipino Christmas Night Market hosted by Pinay Tayo. As a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Filipino women small business entrepreneurs, we are thrilled to bring this cherished Filipino Christmas tradition to the historic Artscape Wychwood Barns in Toronto, Canada.

Artscape Wychwood Barns, with its rich history and cultural significance, is the perfect venue for the 2023 Simbang Gabi, Filipino Christmas Night Market. The barns have been transformed into a vibrant community cultural hub, preserving the architectural integrity of the original buildings while incorporating sustainable design features.

During the event, you can expect live music, cultural performances, traditional Simbang Gabi Filipino food, local artisans, activities for all ages, and a meet and greet with Santa. It will be a celebration of Christmas and an opportunity to support Filipino small business entrepreneurs and showcase their talents and products.

Banksyland is an immersive experience that celebrates the world's most elusive artist, Banksy. This 22-city international touring exhibit includes salvaged street works, original and studio works as well as never-before-seen immersive installations. Banksyland is produced by Lumino Studio and One Thousand Ways that aims to inspire social change by bringing Banksy's art to the people that it is intended to reach.

Who is Banksy? Well, no one really knows for sure. Banksy’s identity is a mystery. However, Banksy is one of the most sought-after artists of our time.

What we do know - Banksy is a street artist, a political activist, and a film director. Banksy's works inspire social change by addressing war, violence, and oppression.

Accessible and Inclusive - Banksyland is ADA compliant. Audio guides are available for those with visual impairments and text-based guides are available for those with hearing impairments. This experience is open even to those who cannot afford to pay the price of admission. Banksyland has a 'means based ticket' that is available at low or no cost.

There is a high sell out risk for this event so purchasing tickets in advance is recommended. There are a limited number of tickets available for each time slot ensuring an enjoyable experience for all.

Ticket Prices
General Admission - $36
VIP Experience - $69
Student (With valid ID) - $26

Guests are invited to stay as long as they like during operational hours.
Photography is encouraged throughout the exhibit so long as no flashes are used. When sharing photos online please use #banksyland
Yes, there is a gift shop too!

The Abandoned Village 2023, Fanshawe Pioneer Village, London Ontario Canada

Are you willing to brave the ghosts and ghouls by entering a haunted house this Halloween? How about visiting five haunted houses in a single night?

Fanshawe Pioneer Village and ByronScaryHouse are hosting another performance of The Abandoned Village in 2023. Between October 13 and October 31, 2023 Fanshawe Pioneer Village will be transformed into a haunted attraction that features five spine-chilling haunted houses. Legend has it that when the abandoned village was first discovered back in 1899 a diary was found among the ruins ... do you dare to read it? Will your Halloween nightmares come alive as you walk among the Heritage Village buildings after dark?

Dates and Times for Entry into the Village:
Thursdays: 7-10pm
Fridays -Sundays and Halloween Night: 7 - 11 pm

Cost: $30 including tax.
Purchase your tickets in advance to make sure you don't miss out, or check the website daily to see if any walk-up spots are still available. Advance ticket sales end at 5:30 pm each night.

Age Guidelines:
Event is suitable for youth 14 years of age and older. Historical re-enactments contain scenes of gore, violence, and graphic content. Youth under 18 should be accompanied by an adult.

Unscripted Twillingate Digital Arts Festival Newfoundland Canada 2023 is an event that really excites me and is hosted at The Anchor Inn Hotel and Suites Twillingate. My love of film and digital arts runs deep and this festival features talented artists from NL in a place where we can create, share, celebrate and learn. Featured workshops at the digital arts festival include presenters including local television producer and director Dan Warren, Digital Creator James March, Musician/Photographer/Graphic Designer Richie Perez and world-renowned outdoor adventurer Dr. TA Loeffler.

Dan Warren will be offering a 3 part workshop where you’ll learn the art of unscripted storytelling using elements of both digital arts and TV production. Part 1 serves as an introduction to the topic while Part 2 is all about having fun and capturing content which takes place during “Treat on the Trail”. Part 3 concludes with editing and final production. “Treat on the Trail” transforms the workshop into a delicious culinary experience and features local Top Chefs including Roary McPherson, Shaun Hussey, Michelle Leblanc, Christopher Mercer, Stephen Quinton and Baker/Cake artist Catherine Sansome.

Furthermore, Content Creator James March talks about the latest developments in AI and explores new creative possibilities. Well known Photographer Richie Perez features a session on improving photography skills as either a beginner or expert. The workshop focuses particularly on the skillful art of slow-exposure flash photography. When the work is done relax, have some fun and enjoy a traditional Newfoundland kitchen party featuring island bands “The Split Peas” and headliners “Those Beautiful Ugly Sticks”. Additionally, don’t miss out by performances by musicians Adam Baxter, Jared Waterman and Shelby Maye.

On Saturday night don’t miss the soirée at Captains Pub in Twillingate where you can be guaranteed a good evening with a performance by talented NL artist Sherman Downey. And finally, don’t miss the opening night reception at St. Peter’s Church were festival goers can snack on finger foods, mingle and enjoy the beautiful music and fiddle playing of ECMA nominated artist Rosemary Lawton. On Sunday up tie up your hiking boots and finish off the arts festival with a guided hike on the coastal RockCut Twillingate Trail. Don’t forget to spend some time appreciating the work of local Newfoundland and Labrador artists at the Digital Art Exhibit showcasing artists Anne Troake, Bruce Pashak, Joseph Kisusi and Rhonda Pelley. On Sunday up tie up your hiking boots and finish off the arts festival with a guided hike on the coastal RockCut Twillingate Trail.

Unscripted Twillingate Digital Arts Festival 2023 - check out the website for more information and ticket purchase information and accommodations.