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Summer Activities You Won’t Want to Miss

July 02, 2019
Kids running on forest pathway in the summertime

We hope everyone had an amazing Canada Day long weekend! With the heat and sweetness of summer officially upon us, it’s the perfect time to get out and enjoy all kinds of local, fun summer activities! Here’s a roundup of some of the best things to do this summer near Brookfield Residential (Ontario)’s new home communities.

Clockwise from top left: Lake Wilcox Park’s splash pad (photo via Richmond Hill’s website), Concerts in the Park, the scene at Aurora Ribfest and a girl with face-painting at Aurora Ribfest (last 3 photos via the Town of Aurora’s website).
Clockwise from top left: Lake Wilcox Park’s splash pad (photo via Richmond Hill’s website), Concerts in the Park, the scene at Aurora Ribfest and a girl with face-painting at Aurora Ribfest (last 3 photos via the Town of Aurora’s website

Aurora

If you live in the Town of Aurora (at Woodhaven, Timberlane or our new residents in The Arbors Condos), there’s lots to do close to home and it’s also a breeze to take day trips with easy access to the GO Station and highways 400 and 404. Explore the environmental protected area just next door to Woodhaven — kids of all ages will love to go hiking and to discover local flora and fauna. You can also check out Briar Nine Park and Reserve, Sheppard’s Bush Conservation Area or the Oak Ridges Trail for hiking, picnicking and exploring.

Lake Wilcox Park, which is just a 4-minute drive from Woodhaven and is located on the shores of Wilcox Lake, is another great summer destination for the whole family. It features a waterfront promenade, an amazing splash pad and a unique youth area complete with a skate park, beach volleyball courts, basketball courts, fitness equipment and more. Kick back and relax in this beautiful setting while your kids enjoy the elaborate play areas for kids of all ages.

Rainy day? Head to the Air Riderz Trampoline Park, Labyrinth Escape Games or Crock A Doodle for some indoor fun in Aurora.

And don’t forget to check out the Town of Aurora’s many community events this summer, including Movies in the Park, Concerts in the Park, the Aurora Farmers’ Market and Aurora’s Ribfest.

Clockwise from top left: the Pickering Food Truck Festival (photo via Canadian Food Truck Festivals), a giraffe at the Toronto Zoo, beach volleyball on the shores of Lake Ontario (photo via the City of Pickering) and a trail in one of Pickering’s many forested areas.
Clockwise from top left: the Pickering Food Truck Festival (photo via Canadian Food Truck Festivals), a giraffe at the Toronto Zoo, beach volleyball on the shores of Lake Ontario (photo via the City of Pickering) and a trail in one of Pickering’s many forested areas.

Pickering

Pickering — home of our New Seaton community — is a great spot to be in the summertime. There are plenty of recreational activities to pursue, from beach volleyball to golfing to biking, as well as natural parks and conservation areas to explore. Check out the Bob Hunter Memorial Park, Grand Valley Park or Greenwood Conservation Area to enjoy hiking, fishing, bird-watching and mountain biking.

You can also head down to the waterfront to enjoy a beachside picnic, a stroll along the scenic trails and playgrounds for the kids. The fresh air blowing in from the lake is always a welcome, refreshing feeling on the hot summer days.

The Toronto Zoo is just a short drive away and is a fun favourite for the whole family. Visit the thousands of animals, explore the expansive grounds and check out the fun special events, like Paint Nite at the Zoo, Brew at the Zoo and Penguin Awareness Weekend.

There are also plenty of fun, family-friendly events hosted by the City of Pickering, including a Summer Concerts series at various locations, the Pickering Farmers’ Market and the Pickering Food Truck Festival.

Clockwise from top left: biking along the Caledon Trailway, picking strawberries at Downey’s Farm (photo via Downey’s Farm), the Cheltenham Badlands (photo via Ontario Trails) and an apple pie from Spirit Tree Estate Cidery’s bakery (photo via Spirit Tree Estate Cidery).
Clockwise from top left: biking along the Caledon Trailway, picking strawberries at Downey’s Farm (photo via Downey’s Farm), the Cheltenham Badlands (photo via Ontario Trails) and an apple pie from Spirit Tree Estate Cidery’s bakery (photo via Spirit Tree Estate Cidery). 

Caledon East

Caledon East is beautiful all year long, but it really shines in the summertime. Its parks, trails and conservation areas come to life with plenty of blooms and lively birds and butterflies. Residents of our Pathways community can explore the nearby Caledon Trailway, Caledon East Community Park, Glen Haffy Conservation Park and Albion Hills Conservation Park to enjoy all kinds of outdoor fun, from hiking and biking to camping, fishing, mountain biking, swimming, bird-watching, geocaching and more.

The nearby Cheltenham Badlands make for a great afternoon trip. Located just a 15-minute drive from Pathways, the Badlands are made up of soft, red rock molded into a rolling landscape. They’re a beautiful and unique sight. Other great day trips include jaunts to Downey’s Farm to pick fresh strawberries or raspberries, or to Spirit Tree Estate Cidery to pick your own apples and try their delicious local bistro menu.

The Town of Caledon also has lots of fun programming scheduled all summer for kids and families, including at the Caledon Public Library and the Caledon East Community Complex, just across the street from Pathways.

Clockwise from top left: camping at the Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area (photo via the Grand River Conservation Area), canoeing on Pinehurst Lake, the Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area’s main sign and the Paris Fair (photo via Campbell Amusements, the Paris Fair’s entertainment provider).
Clockwise from top left: camping at the Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area (photo via the Grand River Conservation Area), canoeing on Pinehurst Lake, the Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area’s main sign and the Paris Fair (photo via Campbell Amusements, the Paris Fair’s entertainment provider).

Paris

Paris is a vibrant place to be in the summer as the town’s calendar is bursting with events and festivals for the whole family to enjoy. Residents of our Pinehurst community can check out the Paris Drinks Fest, the Blueberry Festival and the Paris Pro Rodeo, but the most popular event of all is the Paris Fair. Taking place on the last weekend of August at the Paris Fairgrounds, the Paris Fair is a 5-day extravaganza featuring a midway with rides, games, carnival food, crafts and homemade goods exhibitors, agricultural displays, livestock and pet shows, musical entertainment, demolition derbies, bike stunts and more.

If you’re looking to get outside for some nature and recreation, you can take a visit to the Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area for camping, bonfires, beaches, hiking, biking, picnicking, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boating, fishing and more. Make sure to try the Pinehurst Variety’s famous ice cream cones!

Clockwise from top left: kids enjoying face-painting and fun at a Dockside in Whitby event last year, Yoga by the Water classes at Dockside, the big screen and VIP seating at Dockside and a staff member giving out popcorn at a Dockside Lakeside Cinema evening.
Clockwise from top left: kids enjoying face-painting and fun at a Dockside in Whitby event last year, Yoga by the Water classes at Dockside, the big screen and VIP seating at Dockside and a staff member giving out popcorn at a Dockside Lakeside Cinema evening.

Whitby

Whitby is another fun place to be in the summertime. If you’re a homeowner at our Whitby Central community — or interested in our upcoming Whitby community Station No. 3, which you can sign up for here — then get your calendar out, because we’ve got you covered!

Whitby’s vibrant community is home to an incredible assortment of summertime events, including Culture in the Square, Music in the Park, the Whitby Farmers’ Market, Fresh Air in the Square, Movies in the Park and the Whitby Ribfest. Nature lovers can take advantage of Whitby’s impressive variety of parks, trails and outdoor facilities, including the Lynde Shores Conservation Area, Kiwanis Heydenshore Park and the Iroquois Park Sports Centre.

There are also several fun, family-friendly events happening at Dockside in Whitby, our popular event space on the shores of Whitby Harbour. We have an ongoing Yoga by the Water series at Dockside, where you can enjoy a one-hour Vinyasa flow yoga class in a relaxing outdoor setting, surrounded by the breeze from Lake Ontario, gorgeous scenery and the sounds of the birds. Sunrise Yoga takes place every Monday and Friday of the summer from 7-8am, and Sunset Yoga sessions are every Tuesday and Wednesday from 7:30-8:30pm, and all classes are an affordable $10. There’s also a special yoga event taking place at Dockside on Thursday July 18th, in partnership with Bohemian Bliss Yoga and Lululemon, called the Wanderful Series. This is a complimentary evening yoga class taking place at Dockside from 7-8pm, free for dozens of guests.

Dockside in Whitby is also hosting two special events this year as part of its Summer Event Series: Superhero Night & Dockside Cinema on Saturday, July 20th and an Adults’ Date Night evening on Saturday, August 17th. These are fun, free, family-friendly events on the shores of Whitby Harbour that you won’t want to miss!

The Superhero Night & Dockside Cinema on July 20th will be an amazing event for kids and families with free entry and tons of fun activities, including kids’ face painting, inflatables/bouncy castles, games, arts and crafts, superhero training, food trucks, a beer garden and cocktail bar, giveaways and more. The day will end with a large screen movie viewing on the lakeshore at dusk of the popular new superhero blockbuster Captain Marvel and special superhero movie night snacks.

The Adults’ Date Night on August 17th will focus on adult entertainment and activities, with live music, food trucks, a beer garden and cocktail bar including a Raspberry Spiked Lemonade Station, boozesicles, a fun games area, a bazaar-style marketplace with local artisan vendors, an Aroma Bar for attendees to create their own scent with a professional perfumist, a couples’ chair massage and more. We’ve planned a perfect date night with something for everyone!

Make sure you’ve signed up for event notifications on Dockside in Whitby’s website to get all the latest news and updates about Dockside events, and follow the Dockside Instagram page for even more photos and details about upcoming events.

We hope that everyone has a wonderful summer! What are your favourite summer activities? Join us on social media to let us know! And make sure to LIKE us on Facebook and FOLLOW us on Instagram for insider info, new releases, special events and more.

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