East End Family Explorer 🧭 November 17-23
We have a full slate for you this week: drop-ins, craft shows, yoga, and lots of chances to get creative with colouring, LEGO, robotics, and coding. Holiday vibes are popping up too, with tree lightings and markets if you’re feeling ready for the festive season.
There’s no shortage of everyday goodness: family literacy, parenting workshops, French storytimes, and even special outings to places like the ROM and Ripley’s Aquarium.
Peek at the full calendar for times, details, and everything happening this week.
EAST END MOM FRIENDS: HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDES
Let’s normalize secondhand gifts
Kids Secondhand & Consignment Shops in Toronto’s East End
This holiday season, why not give gifts that are kind on both your wallet and the planet? For East End Toronto parents, there’s a truly wonderful ecosystem of secondhand, thrift, and consignment shops
CITY OF TORONTO RECREATION
Winter 2026 registration
You can now browse and favourite Winter 2026 Recreation programs in the online registration and booking portal.
For more information, check out our parents’ guide: How to Register for Free and Low-Cost Recreation Programs in Toronto
Registration dates:
Toronto East York: Tues Dec 2 | 7am
North York & Scarborough: Wed Dec 3 | 7am
Virtual preparation sessions:
Mon Nov 17 | 7-8:30pm
Mon Nov 24 | 7-8:30pm
Mon Dec 1 | 7-8:30pm
City of Toronto staff will show how to use the online system to create a wish list, register, pay with or without a credit card and manage the Welcome Policy. Staff will also answer questions you have about using the system.
COMMUNITY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
🎄 Distillery Winter Village | Distillery District
Until Jan 4 | Tickets req’d Fri-Sun after 4pm
❄️ Riverside Window Wonderland
Nov 17-Dec 10 | Queen St E btwn Davies and DeGrassi
✝️ Busy Bees Drop-In | St Aidan’s in the Beach
Thursdays | 10-11:30am
🎁 Winter Market | St. Lawrence Market
Wed-Sun Nov 20-Dec 22
🧶 Craft Show and Sale | Crescent Town Club
Sat Nov 22 | 10am-4pm
🎁 Holiday Artisan Market | Riverdale Hub
Sat Nov 22 | 12-5pm
🎄 Gerrard Bazaar Tree Lighting | Gerrard St E & Rhodes Ave
Sat Nov 22 | 6pm
🎁 Riverside Holiday Market | Ralph Thornton
Sun Nov 23 | 11am-4pm
Farmers markets 🥕
Evergreen’s Saturday Farmers Market | Sat 8am-1pm
Allen Gardens Farmers’ Market | Sat 10am-2pm
Leslieville Farmers’ Market | Sun 9am-2pm (now indoors)
EARLYON CHILD & FAMILY CENTRES (0-6y)
Beyond circle time highlights
💡 Resource Educator | EYET Sackville
Mon Nov 17 | 9-10:15am
🤗 Positive Parenting Workshop | Access Alliance
Mon Nov 17 | 9:15-11:15am
👨🏽🍼 Dad's Drop-In | Family Resources
Mon Nov 17 | 1:30-3pm
🤘 Baby Signs w/ Linda | EYET Sackville
Tues Nov 18 | 9:15-10:30am
📺 Strategies to Reduce Screen Time | Parent Resources
Tues Nov 18 | 9:45-10m
📚 Family Literacy Drop-in | EYET Cosburn
Tuesdays | 1-4pm | Free book!
🧘🏽 Yoga for Moms | Access Alliance
Tues Nov 18 | 1:30-2:30
🧘 Toddler Yoga | Applegrove
Weds Nov 19 | 10:30-11:30am
🦖 Outing to The ROM | SRCPC
Weds Nov 19 | 11am-3pm
📚 Reading Club | Parent Resources
Wednesdays | 3:30-4:30pm | 3y+
🏳️🌈 Rainbow Family Time | Birchmount
Thursdays | 9am-12pm
🌊 Swimming | West Scarborough
Thursdays | 10-11am
🩺 Public Health Nurse Visit | Applegrove
Thurs Nov 20 | 10-10:45am
🪼 Trip to Ripley’s Aquarium | Birchmount
Fri Nov 21 | 10am-1pm
🚏 Circle Time with TTC Operator Nick | Abiona
Sat Nov 22 | 11:30am-12pm
🧸 Drop-in | Eastview
Sun Nov 23 | 9:30am-1pm
You can find many more EarlyON activities on our full calendar.
TORONTO PUBLIC LIBRARY
Family-friendly activities
🇫🇷 French Storytime | S. Walter Stewart
Tues Nov 18 | 10:30-11am
🧱 Lego Club | Beaches
Tuesdays | 4-5pm
💻 Coding with Scratch Jr | Cliffcrest
Tues Nov 18 | 4-5pm
🖍️ Family Colouring Hour | St. Lawrence
Tuesdays | 4-6pm
🧱 LEGO Club | Jones
Wednesdays | 3:30-5pm
🇫🇷 La Maison Des Bébés | Danforth/Coxwell
Thursdays | 10-11:30am
🧶 Knitting & Crochet for a Cause | Beaches
Thurs Nov 20 | 1-2:30pm
💡 GraviTrax & Snap Circuits | Jones
Thurs Nov 20 | 3:30-4:30pm
🤖 Robotics Club | Parliament
Fri Nov 21 | 4-5pm | 6-12y
🎨 Crafturday | Jones
Saturdays | 9:30am-4:30pm
🤖 Learn Coding with Dash and Dot | Beaches
Sat Nov 22 | 10-11am | 8-12y
🍿 Family Movies | Cliffcrest
Saturdays | 11am-1pm
♾️ Sensory Storytime Social for Neurodiverse Children | S. Walter Stewart
Sat Nov 22 | 1-2:15pm | Register
💻 Wacom Digital Design | Cliffcrest
Sat Nov 22 | 2-3pm | 8y+ | In Branch Registration Required
👷🏽 Build with Magnetic Tiles and Straws | Parliament
Sat Nov 22 | 2-3pm | 6-12y
🤖 Ozobots | Danforth/Coxwell
Sat Nov 22 | 2-3pm | 6-12y
You can find many more Toronto Public Library activities on our full calendar.
Now open: Groove Physiotherapy
Congrats to OG mom friend Michaela Mersch who recently opened her own clinic, Groove Physiotherapy, on Kingston Road in the Upper Beaches!
Offering physiotherapy, pelvic physio, and postpartum rehab, Michaela and her team have a special focus on women’s health and postpartum care, helping new and expecting mothers feel strong, supported, and confident in their bodies.
