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Hope ya’ll had a relaxing long weekend despite the weather going hot and cold on us. Also, congrats on getting through half the summer, parent!

This week's scoop leads with a free meteor-watching party at the observatory, a treehouse playground strung between the trees in Stouffville, and a free outdoor movie in a Richmond Hill park. Plus a night at the big telescope, and a getaway idea at the bottom.

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

PS: See all events on our event page.

Fresh finds for the next two weeks

📍 Richmond Hill David Dunlap Observatory, 123 Hillsview Dr · WED Aug 12 · 9 – 11 PM · 💰 Free

The Perseids peak on a new moon this year, so it is the darkest sky in a decade. Free guided stargazing on the observatory grounds with star charts and observing tips. Bring a folding chair. Clear skies needed, so check before you drive out. → Details

📍 Stouffville 3291 Stouffville Rd · Open daily · 💰 From $10

An outdoor treehouse playground strung between the trees, built for ages 3 to 7. About two hours, no minimum height, self-paced once you are up there. Reserve ahead. → Book

📍 Richmond Hill Mount Pleasant Park, 5 Hopkins St · MON Aug 17 · Pre-show 6:30 PM, film at dusk · 💰 Free

Free outdoor movie in the park with pre-show activities and snacks. Bring blankets and chairs, sit as far back as you like. School of Rock plays Ozark Park on Aug 24. → Details

Sat Aug 8 and Sun Aug 9

📍 Stouffville Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum, 14732 Woodbine Ave · SUN Aug 9 · 11 AM – 4 PM · 💰 Free

Four hundred antique cars parked across the museum grounds, plus free face painting, a scavenger hunt and all the museum buildings open. Engines are off, so it is quieter than it sounds. Note: about 2,000 people over five hours, so arriving early is calmer. → Details

📍 Mount Albert 122 Ashworth Rd · Daily 9 AM – 5 PM, last entry 4 PM · 💰 $16.49 weekdays, $18.49 weekends

Ten acres of farm play: wagon rides, a pirate ship, jumping pillows, a splash pad, farm animals and pick your own. One ticket lets you stay all day. → Get tickets

📍 Kettleby 16225 Jane St · FRI Aug 7, SAT Aug 8 · 10 AM – 3:30 PM · 💰 $9 plus tax, under 23 months free

Cows, pigs, alpaca, goats and rabbits to feed, plus a straw maze and a tube chute. Closed Sunday and Monday. Book ahead. → Book

📍 Richmond Hill David Dunlap Observatory, 123 Hillsview Dr · THU Aug 13 and THU Aug 20 · 9:30 – 10:30 PM · 💰 $12 plus HST

An hour at the historic telescope with observatory staff. Ages 7 and up. Tickets are sold at the front desk on the night, first come first served. → Details

📍 Markham Markham Museum · THU Aug 13 · Gates 8:15 PM, film 9 PM · 💰 Free

Family film on the museum lawn with free popcorn. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. Registration required, with a few walk-in spots on the night. Zootopia 2 closes the series on Aug 27. → Register

Close to home or worth the drive.

📍 Hawkestone 2574 10 Line North, near Orillia · Booking open through 2026 · 💰 Explorer's Tent from $300, Galaxygazer Dome from $600

Eco-domes and safari tents on a working farm. The Galaxygazer sleeps four in two king beds and is the family unit. Private firepit, kitchenette and ensuite at each site, open fields all around. About 90 minutes up. → Book

📍 Midland 16160 Highway 12 East · Daily 9 AM – 5 PM · 💰 $12 adults, $9 children and students, under 3 free

Trumpeter swans at the waterfowl station, a birds of prey field with owls, hawks and a bald eagle, snakes and turtles in the interpretive centre, and 25 km of boardwalk trails. Guided canoe tours run separately. Parking is free. → Plan a visit

📍 Caledon 1739 Olde Base Line Rd · Dawn to dusk, booking required · 💰 $10-$20 + HST per vehicle for 90 minutes

Rolling red shale hills that look nothing like the rest of Ontario, seen from an accessible boardwalk above them. The trail is a short 0.32 km loop and there are washrooms. Parking is timed and online only, with nothing sold at the gate. → Book

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

🦁 Toronto Zoo Sensory-Friendly Early Admission: SAT + SUN early entry 9 AM (before the 9:30 open). 50% off admission for guests with disabilities, free support-worker entry, sensory bags at the Accessibility Hub.

🌈 Sensory Social: drop-in low-stimulation social hour, all ages, free. Next session SUN Aug 23, 11 AM at Pierre Berton Resource Library.

Thank you for opening this every week. It genuinely makes my Thursday.

If you go to any of these, hit reply and tell me how it went. I read every single one, and the good finds end up in a future issue.

And if this landed in your Promotions tab, drag it over to Primary so you never miss a scoop. ☀️

Stella

Sensory Scoop · sensoryscoop.ca