The Victoria Day long weekend is here, meaning one extra day to figure out what to do with the kids - that's both a gift and a challenge. 😅

The good news is it’s getting warm and sunny outside, so in this week’s scoop, we lined up lots of outdoor options, from sensory hours in the zoo to farm openings to fireworks to a glow-lit sensory pool.

Note: This is your HALTON Edition. Reply YORK to switch to York & Vaughan Edition. Or BOTH to get both editions.

PS: See all events on our event page.

Newly found or rare events

📍 Toronto Zoo · 🕐 Sat May 16 · 9–9:30 AM
💰 50% off disability, support worker free

Exclusive 30-minute early entry before general admission. Reduced crowds, calmer start. → Get tickets

📍 Bronte Creek Provincial Park, Oakville · Sat May 16 · 10 AM – 4 PM

Meet farm animals and explore the park. Self-paced, outdoor, easy to take breaks. → Details

📍 Dundas Museum & Archives
🗓️ Sat May 25 · 11 AM – 3 PM · 💰 Free

An outdoor festival with Rae's Reptiles, a hands-on animal experience where kids can hold bearded dragons and snakes. Go early to avoid the crowd. → Details

Exclusive offers just for our community. See full list on our perks page

📍 Oakville Galleries at Gairloch Gardens · Sat May 16, 10 AM – 2 PM

Drop-in art activity, make sun prints using cyanotype. → Details

📍 Art Gallery of Hamilton · Sun May 17 · 1 – 3 PM
💰 $5/family (members free)

Drop-in format, hands-on art activities at your own pace. → Details

📍 Benares Historic House, Mississauga · Sun May 17 · 1 – 4 PM · 💰 Free

Small-scale, no crowds, outdoor lawn games. Drop in. → Details

📍 Roadside Flower Market, St. Catharines · Sat–Sun
💰 Admission includes 10 stems (adults) / 5 (kids)

Private tulip fields with accessible pathways, walk-ins welcome. → Details

📍 Rock Garden (RBG), Burlington ·
🗓️ Weekends May 9–24 · 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM 💰 RBG entrance

Miniature model train display running through the Rock Garden landscape, a hit with train-loving kids. → Details

Fireworks are loud, bring ear protection for sound-sensitivity.

📍 Crawford Lake Conservation Area, Milton · Mon–Fri · 3 – 4 PM · 💰 Gate fee + $10 pp

Walk from the lake to the longhouse village. Guided interpretation available. → Details

📍 Huron Park RC & Malton CC, Mississauga · ☀️ Sundays · 3 and 3:30 PM · 💰 Only swimmer pays

A multisensory pool experience, dimmed lights, lowered blinds, and equipment like lights and sprays added to the water. → Register

📍 Hamilton Public Library · Thu May 21 · 10 – 10:30 AM · 💰 Free

Monthly sensory-adapted storytime. → Details

📍 Sixteen Mile & Central Branch, Oakville · Tue & Wed 11 AM – 12 PM

Weelly drop-in exploration and discovery for preschoolers at the library. → Details

📍 Gage Park, Hamilton · Sat May 23 · 10 AM – 12 PM · 💰 Free (RSVP)

Small-scale outdoor gardening. Calm, nature-based, sensory-rich (soil, plants, water). RSVP required → Details

📍 Online · Tuesdays May 12 – June 9 · 5 – 6:30 PM · 💰 Free

This is not an event but a five-session free course on self-regulation strategies for caregivers. → Details

🌱 Community Garden Planting Day 📍 Art Gallery of Burlington · Sun May 24 · 10 AM – 1 PM · 💰 Free · Hands-on gardening in the gallery's quiet outdoor garden. Small group, self-paced. → Details

🍓 Downey's Farm opens Fri May 22 and 🍎 Chudleigh's Farm opens Fri May 29

These run every week, see the full list on our sensory hours page.

🏊 Sensory Swim: Sat 4–5 PM @ Tansley Woods CC, Burlington | Thu 2-3 PM @ Oakville Trafalgar CC | Sat 3 -3:55 PM @ Milton Leisure Centre ($0–$3.40) Register →

🐶 Paws for Stories: Wednesday 6:30–7:30 PM @ Alton Branch, BPL (free) Learn more →

🏛️ Quiet Hour at the Dundas Museum: Thur 9-10 AM, dedicated sensory hour, no tours, no groups Check details →

Check out our event page to see more events. And we also put together a summer camp guide to line up early for the inclusive camps and funding. → Catch up here.

Wish you a relaxing weekend with the first beach weather of the year. 🏖

See you next week,

Stella

Sensory Scoop · sensoryscoop.ca