Hey {{first_name | Friend}}! 👋

I don’t know how to express this, but the first week of school is such a bitter sweet feeling. “Oh boy, they are finally back to school!” & “oh my, I can’t believe summer is over”. 🍂

This week's scoop has a concert built for neurodivergent families, cider and apples at the Markham Museum, and free bird walks two Saturdays running. Plus the pumpkin patches open 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.

Newly found or rare events

📍 Toronto Meridian Arts Centre, 5040 Yonge St · SAT Sep 19 · 10:30 to 11:30 AM · 💰 Free

Built for neurodivergent families by Xenia Concerts. Earmuffs, weighted pillows and fidgets are there if you want them, seating is flexible, and there are break areas and a visual schedule. Make noise, get up, or stim. Your ticket is refunded when you attend. → Register

📍 Markham Markham Museum, 9350 Markham Rd · SAT Sep 19 · 10 AM to 5 PM · 💰 $11-$14, under 3 free

Fresh pressed cider, apple activities, vendors and musicians across the museum grounds. Indoors and outdoors, rain or shine. → Details

📍 Markham Reesor's Farm, 10825 Ninth Line · opens FRI Sep 18 · 💰 $3.50-$10, under 5 free

First weekend of the season. Weekdays are drop in and quieter. Saturdays need a booked time slot, which caps how many people are in the maze at once. Closed Sundays. → Details

Sat Sep 12 and Sun Sep 13

📍 Markham Aaniin Community Centre, 5665 14th Ave · SAT Sep 12 · 10 AM to 6:30 PM · 💰 Free entry, ride pass $10 advance or $15 at the gate

Note: the rides and inflatables draw a crowd. The morning is the quieter half. → Details

📍 Markham Rouge National Urban Park, Bob Hunter Memorial Trail · SAT Sep 12 · from 10 AM · 💰 Free · ages 6 and up

A guided walk at walking pace, outdoors and uncrowded. The younger of the two bird walks. → Details

📍 Richmond Hill David Dunlap Observatory, 123 Hillsview Dr · SAT Sep 12 and SUN Sep 13 · 1 to 5 PM · 💰 Free

Back by request after a strong week. Self-guided, so you set the pace, and the dome is indoors and out of the weather. Runs to Oct 25. → Details

📍 Markham German Mills Settlers Park, 7039 Leslie St · SAT Sep 19 · from 10 AM · 💰 Free · ages 8 and up

The second of two free guided walks, this one along the German Mills creek and pitched a bit older. → Details

📍 Toronto The Bentway Skate Trail, 250 Fort York Blvd · SAT Sep 19 · from 10 AM · 💰 $25 per child and adult pair

Every kid gets a medal. → Register

And on the horizon:

The patches are open. Getaway ideas for the first pumpkin weekends.

📍 Mount Albert 122 Ashworth Rd · weekends from SAT Sep 12 · 9 AM to 4 PM, last admission 3 PM · 💰 $$

Opening weekend of the fall festival. Barnyard playland, wagon rides and pig races, running weekends into October. → Details

📍 Zephyr Cooper's CSA Farm, 266 Ashworth Rd · opens SAT Sep 19, weekends 10 AM to 5 PM · 💰 $20 at the gate, under 4 free

A ten acre corn maze, pick your own pumpkins, wagon rides and barnyard play. Same road as Brooks Farms, so the two make an easy pair. → Details

📍 Hampton 1805 Taunton Rd E · daily 9 AM to 6 PM · 💰 $8-$23

Apple picking is open now and pumpkin picking opens Oct 1. Wednesdays in September are the cheapest day and the quietest. Twilight tickets from $10 after 4 PM. → Details

These come round regularly across York Region and Toronto, see the full list on our sensory hours page.

🌊 Sensory Sunday at Ripley's Aquarium: select Sundays, 9 AM to 12 PM, before the general opening. Raised lighting, no music, a quiet room and sensory kits. Next one is SUN Sep 13. Included with admission.

🏙️ CN Tower Low Sensory Morning: the first 90 minutes after opening on select Sundays. Next ones are SUN Sep 20 and SUN Oct 4. Included with regular admission.

Thank you for being here and read this far! This list only exists because you keep telling me what your family actually needs.

Hit reply and tell me one thing you are hoping goes smoothly this week. I read every single one.

See you next week!

Stella

Sensory Scoop · sensoryscoop.ca