The 14 most awesome, relatively painless, munchkin-friendly activities happening in the city this month.
Events selected by bunchfamily.ca
1. Kuumba Festival celebrates Black History Month with a program that includes hip-hop workshops and an exotic drum exhibit.
Feb. 3–5. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4000. Free.
2. Make the most of the cold at Winterfest. There’s ice sculpting, dog sledding and fire buskers.
Feb. 4. Downsview Park, 35 Carl Hall Rd., 416-952-2222. Free.
3. Based on a First Nations legend, The Great Mountain family musical follows a young girl on an adventure in environmental learning.
Feb. 6–20. Young People’s Theatre, 165 Front St. E., 416-862-2222. $10–$20.
4. Introduce a new generation to silent film and Buster Keaton at this screening of three short films. Robert Bruce provides a live piano score.
Feb. 13. Trinity St. Paul’s United Church, 427 Bloor St. W. $15.
5. Celebrating Valentine’s with kids? Check out the library’s puppet-show rendition of The Princess and the Pea.
Feb. 14. TPL Long Branch branch, 3500 Lakeshore Blvd. W., 416-394-5320. Free.
6. Dub poet Michael St. George will introduce young’uns to spoken word and its roots in African oral tradition.
Feb. 15. TPL Davenport branch, 1246 Shaw St., 416-393-7732. Free.
7. Technology is changing how we live our lives, but what effect does it have on family life? Join Bunch and a panel of experts to discuss the social family as part of Social Media Week.
Feb. 15. CSI Annex, 520 Bathurst St., 647-430-5599. Free.
8. Make unconventional music at a family drumming workshop, where instruments include teacups and pottery.
Feb. 20. Gardiner Museum, 111 Queen’s Park, 416-586-8080. Free with admission.
9. Trek to Mississauga and bring some of your tired Lego men to swap, or try one of Lego’s new board games, at this monthly get together.
Feb. 24. Lasting Toys Inc., 2410 Dunwin Dr., Unit 3, 905-569-6047. Free.
10. This Power Kids workshop, led by artist Anna Bouzina, teaches tots and their parents the secrets of a great portrait.
Feb. 26. The Power Plant, 231 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4949. $4–$6.
Four Can’t-Miss Events for Family Day
11. Old Navy invites families to the “Funnovation Imaginarium” party, where kids can invent wacky machines and monsters, design accessories, munch at a cookie bar, strut their stuff on the “Crazy Catwalk” and get down on the “Funky Floor.”
Feb. 20. 177 North Queen St., Etobicoke, 416-622-6021. Free.
12. Kids take over the AGO and stage their own art exhibition. Rumour has it that famous artists from the past will make an appearance to hob-nob with your little Pollocks and Carrs, who can celebrate their artistic triumphs at an opening party in Walker Court.
Feb. 20. AGO, 317 Dundas St. W., 416-979-6648. Free with gallery admission.
13. Do your best Baryshnikov and take part in a family movement class at the National Ballet of Canada.
Feb. 20. Walter Carsen Centre for The National Ballet of Canada, 470 Queens Quay W., 416-345-9686. Free.
14. We don’t have enough room to list all the rad stuff happening at HarbourKids’ SK8 Family Day event. But here’s a snapshot: ice skating, comedy, DIY hockey masks, a Princess Bride screening, an audio-visual performance by Christine Fellows and Shary Boyle, skateboard-making demos and more.
Feb. 19 and 20. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4000. Free.
