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 - a sensory morning at the zoo, three farms with baby animals, and a bird festival with live reptiles.

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

PS: See full 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

📍 Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto · 🕐 Sun May 24 · 11 AM–12 PM · 💰$25 Relaxed house rules, Designed for neurodiverse audiences. Ages 4–10. → TSO Relaxed

📍 The Village at Black Creek, Toronto
🕐 Sat–Sun May 16–17 · 11 AM–4 PM · 💰$0- $27.45

Heritage village spread across 30 acres, farm animals, costumed historians, gardens. → Black Creek

Exclusive offers just for our community.

An award-winning camp with dedicated support. → View details

📍 McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Vaughan
🕐 Sun May 17 · 10 AM–5 PM · 💰 Free (every 3rd Sunday of the Month)

Quiet gallery + 100 acres of forest trails. Drop-in art workshops, storytelling circles. → McMichael

📍 Aga Khan Museum, North York
🕐 Sat–Mon May 16–18 · 10:30 AM–5 PM · Free

atrium activities Drop-in creative activities in the atrium, self-paced. Gardens outside are whisper-quiet with reflecting pools. → Details

📍 Assembly Park, Vaughan · 🕐 Fri–Mon May 15–18 · 12–10 PM
💰 $5 (kids 10 & under free)

Fireworks Sunday night are loud, bring ear protection. Go during daytime hours for a calmer experience. → Vaughan Ribfest

📍 Dr. William Laceby Community Centre, Nobleton
🕐 Mon May 18 · Parade 11 AM, Fair noon–dusk · Free entry (pay for rides)

50+ year tradition of parade, midway rides, live music, food trucks, and fireworks at dusk. Can be crowded, bring ear protection. → Nobleton Victoria Day

Brooks Farms, Forsythe Family Farms & Lionel's Farm: · Sat–Mon · ~$10–$15 Three farms all opening for the long weekend. Feed goats, meet baby animals, wander trails. → Brooks Farms · Forsythe · Lionel's

📍 Murphy's Farm Market & Bakery
🕐 Tue May 19 · 4–7 PM · Free (extra tulips $1/stem)

Private tulip field for kids and youth (0–19) with disabilities. Free 10-tulip bouquet per family. Registration required. No public crowds. → Details

📍 Aurora Public Library · 🕐 Wed May 20 · 6–7 PM · Free

Children grades 1–4 read one-on-one to a therapy dog. Registration required. → Register

📍 Downey's Farm, Caledon · 🕐 Fri May 22 · 10 AM · $18

Season opening with animals, fresh air, open space. → Details

📍 Stouffville Library · 🕐 Sat May 23 · 12–4 PM · Free

Drop-in Meet local makers, hands-on activities, Adventure Zone launch (borrow bikes + outdoor gear). → Details

📍 Colonel Samuel Smith Park, Etobicoke · 🕐 Sat May 23 · 10 AM–2 PM ·

Free Guided bird tours, live birds, reptiles and amphibians, children's activities, plus a free tree/shrub giveaway. Outdoor lakeside setting — easy to leave anytime. → Spring Bird Festival

📍 Various venues across Toronto
🕐 Sat–Sun May 23–24 · 10 AM–5 PM · Free

160+ buildings open free including Billy Bishop Airport, Casa Loma, Allan Gardens, fire stations. → Doors Open Toronto

🐾 Sensory Social at Vaughan libraries · Drop-in sensory-friendly environment

Wish you a recharging weekend with lots of sun and fun!

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.

Know a calm place or event we should include or have any feedback? Hit reply!

See you next week,

Stella

Sensory Scoop · sensoryscoop.ca