The Little Paper

31- JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY

WinterCity Festival: Zoo Animal Fun and Games

Nathan Phillips Square
100 Queen St W, 416-338-7465
www.toronto.ca, www.torontozoo.com
2-6pm;
Come dressed as your favourite zoo animal, or try on an animal costume. Visit with a live animal, and talk to a zoo keeper from the Toronto Zoo. Kids can check out cool animal artifacts and play one of the many games!

Winter Fun Festival and Dog Sled Races

The Kortright Centre
9550 Pine Valley Dr, 905-832-2289
www.kortright.org
10am-4pm; $7/adults, $5/kids
Mush! A truly Canadian winter adventure for the whole family! Appropriate snow conditions are necessary.

31- JANUARY, 1, 7-8 FEBRUARY

Winter Science

Ontario Science Centre
770 Don Mills Rd, 416-696-1000
www.ontariosciencecentre.ca, www.toronto.ca/special_events/wintercity
10am-5pm; $11/children, $18/adults w/coupon (see web)
Enjoy the whimsical creations of Rowland Emett, interactive demonstrations about snow, ice and the science of surviving the cold and many fun activities in KidSpark, for the 8 and under crowd. Outside, discover more about animal tracks, learn a few winter camping survival tips and witness the art of ice sculpturing.

1 FEBRUARY

Snowshoeing Adventure!

Humber Arboretum
205 Humber College Blvd
416-675-5009
www.humberarboretum.on.ca
10am, 1pm; $6.83/person, $24.15/family, snowshoe Rental extra weather permitting, call to register
Join nature interpreters and learn a thing or two about the history of snowshoeing...then try it out for yourself.

Snowsnakes & Snowflakes

Crawford Lake, 905-854-0234
www.conservationhalton.on.ca
10am-4pm;
Celebrate the magic of Canada’s most unique season at Crawford Lake’s Snowsnakes and Snowflakes event. Event activities include: legends in the longhouse, Race a Snowsnake (a traditional Iroquoian winter game) Indoor Activities and Tracking Treks.

Puppets on Ice

Dufferin Grove Park
875 Dufferin St
www.dufferinpark.ca
1-4pm;
A mob of puppets will descend on the skating rink at Dufferin Grove Park. Take a puppet for a spin around the ice while a DJ plays some cool tunes.

6 FEBRUARY

Guided Moonlight Ski

Hilton Falls Conservation area
905-854-0262
www.conservationhalton.on.ca
6:30-9pm; Registration required
A guided cross-country ski under the stars. Enjoy hot chocolate and roast marshmallows over an open fire by the falls.

6-7 FEBRUARY

Fourth Annual Women of Winter Hockey Tournament

Dufferin Grove Park
875 Dufferin St
www.dufferinpark.ca
The tournament is already full... but it’s great fun to watch. Good snacks, including hot dogs. The pleasure-skating pad is open for public skating during the tournament so spectators can skate and cheer at the same time.

6-8 FEBRUARY

Richmond Hill Winter Carnival

Mill Pond Park, Richmond Hill
Hotline: 905-771-5478
www.wintercarnival.net
See website for schedule; Some activity fees apply
A weekend of affordable fun and entertainment celebrating winter. Highlights include: live music,entertainment, skating on the pond, children’s games and face painting.

7 FEBRUARY

Tales by a Winter Fire

Mountsberg Conservation Area
905-854-2276
www.conservationhalton.on.ca
6:30-8pm;
Pre-reservation required
Step back in time with a family winter tradition at Mountsberg. Enjoy stories around the campfire, horse-drawn sleigh rides and a star-lit walk through the woods.

Winterfest and Festival of Ice

Heritage Park and Memorial Square
Downtown Barrie
705-739-4285
adonnelly@barrie.ca
www.barrie.ca
10am-5pm;Celebrate winter at Barrie’s annual Winterfest & Festival of Ice! Winter adventure and entertainment for all ages including: ice sculptures, dog sled rides, lumberjack shows, polar bear swim (if you dare), horse-drawn wagon rides, snow slides, crafts and more.

Moonlight Snowshoe Hike

Crawford Lake, 905-854-0234
www.conservationhalton.on.ca
6:30-8:30pm; Registration required, Discover the magic of the night sky during a guided snowshoe adventure. Fireside gathering and a steaming cup of hot chocolate add to the charm.

8 FEBRUARY

Brampton Winter Festival

Chinguacousy Park
905-458-6555X124
roberta.canning@brampton.ca
www.brampton.ca
9am-5:30pm; Some activity fees
Enjoy the great outdoors. Live entertainment, Fire pits and marshmallows, Snow fun activites, Skiing, Snowboarding and Tubing.

Ajax Winterfest

McLean Community Centre.
905-428-3871
11am-4pm; Free, some activity fees apply
Bundle up and enjoy frosty festivities for the whole family! Activities include: professional ice carving demonstrations, ice skating, dog sled rides, horse drawn wagon rides, snow painting, childrens games, arts and crafts, and more!

8, 22 FEBRUARY

High Park Walking Tour

Meet at benches across from Grenadier Cafe
416-392-7485
www.highpark.org
10:30am-12pm; Free/Donations welcome; Moderately paced, naturalist led walking tours held on every second and fourth Sunday morning throughout the year. Each tour lasts 1.5 hours and may go on wooded trails, so please remember to wear appropriate clothing and footwear. 8 Feb: Discover the Park through Archival Photos, 22 Feb: Structures we Love.

19-22 FEBRUARY

IceFest

Yorkville Park
Bellair & Cumberland
416-928-3553x24
www.bloor-yorkville.com
12-5pm; Stroll through Yorkville Park and surrounding area to admire many awe inspiring ice sculptures and watch professional ice-carvers face off in the 9th annual Sassafraz Ice Carving Competition! on 21 Feb. Exciting schedule of activities for all ages. All proceeds will go towards the Heart & Stroke Foundation.

21 FEBRUARY

Paw Prints

Claireville Conservation Area
Brampton
416-661-6600x5660
www.trcastewardshipevents.ca
9-11am; Free, meet at the Etobicoke Field Centre, 8180 Highway 50, N of Steeles Ave, call hotline day of event to confirm; Have you ever spotted tracks in the snow and wondered what animal made them? Here’s your chance to find out. This event includes an indoor presentation and activities, as well as a guided hike through the local woodlot. Dress warmly and bring a travel mug for hot chocolate.

Annual Bike Couriers’ Bike Races on Ice

Dufferin Grove Park
875 Dufferin St
www.dufferinpark.ca
6-10pm;
This tournament has the initial elimination rounds on the hockey side only, followed by a two-rink final. This event is just as much fun inside the rink house, with a corner set up as a pit-stop bike repair station.

21-22 FEBRUARY

Cannington Dog Sled Races and Winter Festival

www.canningtondogsledraces.com
A fun-filled weekend of pancake breakfasts, ice sculptures & outdoor activities as over 70 dog sled teams from across North America take to the field for a fun filled weekend.

28 FEBRUARY

Hoot and Howl (5yrs+)

Heart Lake Conservation Area, Brampton
Meet at the Brampton Scout House,10747 Heart Lake Rd
416-661-6600x5660
www.trcastewardshipevents.ca
7-9pm; Free, registration required
Enjoy a night of fun and adventure at this annual event. A slide presentation on owls and coyotes is followed by a trip into the woods to call out to these wild creatures. Dress warmly and bring a mug for hot chocolate.

28 FEBRUARY – 29 MARCH

Maple Syrup Days

Mountsberg Maple Towne
905-854-2276
www.conservationhalton.on.ca
10am-4pm;
Explore the Mountsberg Sugar Bush to see historical and modern methods of tapping, collecting and boiling sap to make syrup.Take in a maple candy making session, or travel on a horse-drawn ride through the bush to learn about this special forest. Finish off your visit at the Pancake Pavilion for a plate of flap jacks covered in pure maple syrup!

Dufferin Grove Beginner Skater Games

Dufferin St, S of Bloor
416-392-0913
There will be no skating classes at Dufferin Grove this year. Instead Eroca will offer free, drop-in open beginner games on Saturdays from 12:30-2pm. As well, there are drop-in learn-to-skate times, Wed: 4:30-6:30pm, Fri: 4-7pm and Sat: 10am-1pm. Learners can borrow chairs for support and very little kids can have help from their parents, even is the parents are wearing shoes. There are rink helpers to offer help and pointers - just ask.