Free, Family-Friendly Fall Activities in Mississauga

Top Image Photo Credit: City of Mississauga

Food and living expenses continue to increase but you can enjoy the return of cooler weather this fall with these FREE activities in Mississauga! Whether it’s ongoing free activities you can sign up for, cultural festivals or events to celebrate the spooky season – we’ve compiled a list for you to explore the nature and diversity of Mississauga without spending much.

Photo Credit: Ontario by Bike

Scheduled Weekly Activities

Community Rides

Saturdays this fall, you can hop on your bike for different community rides across the city! Join the Salmon Run Community Ride on Saturday, September 28 to bike along the Credit River to watch the Salmon Run and see 20+ pound salmon make their way from Lake Ontario and up the Credit River to spawn. Bring your bikes for a family-friendly Downtown Community Ride to explore downtown Mississauga, starting at Celebration Square on Saturday, October 19. There’s also a nighttime Halloween Community Ride happening on Saturday, October 26 for all the witches, ghouls and goblins to explore Port Credit!

Explore Black History in Mississauga

Visit the Bradley Museum and take in the exhibition, Generation X Marks the Spot, exploring Black history in Mississauga. Curated by Dayo Kefentse, this project tells the story of young Caribbean Canadians who shaped Canadian culture here in our city in the 1980s and the importance of making societal change. Check it out Thursdays – Sundays from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm.

Play in the Park

The City of Mississauga hosts a free, supervised, outdoor program for children aged 6-12 years old at various parks across the city. These programs feature organized games, sports, crafts, and theme days. This drop-in program runs on a first-come-first-serve basis and each program location has a limited number of participant spots available each day. Check out this list to find participating parks.

One Million Trees Mississauga | Photo Credit: Tjene

Weekend Events & Festivals

September 28 – 29: Tastes of South East Asia – Love Festival

If you’re a fan of art, culture and cuisine from South, East, and Southeast Asia, the Tastes of South East Asia – Love Festival at Celebration Square is for you! This event takes place on Saturday, September 28 from 11:00 am – 11:00 pm and Sunday, September 29 from 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm. Join the festival as it showcases the diverse cultural tapestry of these regions!

September 28: One Million Trees Planting Event at Osprey Marsh

Celebrate National Forest Week! Help add more trees towards the City of Mississauga’s goal of planting one million trees. Join the planting action at Osprey Marsh on Saturday, September 28 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. This is a free event and all ages are welcome! Pre-registration is required so make sure to register here. (Psst! If you need volunteer hours, staff onsite can sign off on volunteer hours for youth under 18 years old.)

September 28 – 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Bradley Museum

Visit the Bradley Museum to learn more about Truth and Reconciliation in Mississauga. Guided tours of the historic house and museum grounds will share the history of Indigenous peoples on the treaty lands now known as Mississauga. Visitors will also learn about the 94 Calls to Action and ways the City of Mississauga is moving toward reconciliation. Tours run every half-hour between 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Admission is free, and walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are recommended to guarantee a spot. Register here.

October 5: EarlyON Dad’s Day Out

BridgeWay Family Centre is excited to invite you to Dad’s Day Out at Jack Darling Memorial Park on Saturday, October 5 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm! This fun day in the park is for dads with children up to 6 years of age (older siblings welcome) – including expectant fathers too! You and your child will get to play together, enjoy entertainment, eat delicious food, and more. Meet other dads in your community and learn more about BridgeWay’s programs and services. This is a free event but make sure to register!

September 28 – October 13: Harvest Festival

Mississauga’s 4th annual Harvest Festival is back with 16 days of fall fun! Stroll through the pumpkin patch, peruse their harvest marketplace, hop on the carousel and train rides and check out the food trucks. The festival will be taking place in the P6 parking lot at Square One. Visit their website for hours and to register.

October 5: The Arts of the Middle East Festival

Save the date for the first The Arts of the Middle East Festival happening at Celebration Square! Take in Middle Eastern and Arabic arts on Saturday, October 5 from 1:00 pm – 11:00 pm.

October 23: Streetsville Historic Walking Tours

Come out for an engaging walking tour that will acquaint you with the village and learn more about Streetsville’s fascinating history. The Historical Walking Tours run for 1.5 hours, but you are welcome to come and go as you please. The tour is free and no pre-registration is required. The tours begin on Wednesday, October 23 at 7:00 pm at the clock in the Village Square (Queen St. S and Main St.).

October 26: Repair Hub

Don’t throw it away, repair it! Learn how to repair items such as electronics, small appliances, bicycles, toys and clothing. Register for the next Repair Hub, taking place at Meadowvale Community Centre (Program Room 1) on Saturday, October 26 from 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm. Drop-in appointments are also available and subject to availability.

Diwali Razzmatazz | Photo Credit: City of Mississauga

Diwali Events

October 12 – 13: Diwali RazzMatazz

Get ready to light it up at Diwali RazzMatazz happening at Celebration Square! This event is all about the Razzle and Dazzle around the festive celebrations of Diwali, also known as the festival of lights. The Indo-Canada Arts Council has hosted this annual festival since 2014 and will feature over 500 artists and performers.

October 26 – 27: Diwali Dhamaka 2024

Get ready for the ultimate Diwali celebration with vibrant cultural performances, delicious food stalls, fun activities for kids and stunning Diwali decorations! Plus, every child will receive a free gift! Bring your family and friends to Diwali Dhamaka 2024 to celebrate the festival of lights at Capitol Banquet Hall on Saturday, October 26 and Sunday, October 27 from 11:00 am – 9:00 pm.

Halloween Events

October 26: Halloween in the Village

It’s the return of spooky season so bring your family and put on your most boo-rific costumes for Halloween in the Village! There will be trick-or-treating, activities and more happening at Clarkson Village on Saturday, October 26 from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.

October 27: Streetsville Spooktacular

If you’re looking for an event to kick off Halloween, visit the Streetsville Spooktacular! It will be taking place on Sunday, October 27 from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm at Hazel McCallion Hall in Vic Johnston Community Centre.

Food Sorting at Food Banks Mississauga

Ongoing Free Activities

To participate in the following ongoing free activities, you must sign up online or borrow a pass.

Visit the Peel Art Gallery

With a Mississauga Public Library card, you can get a “PAMA Family General Admission Pass” that allows free admission to the Peel Art Gallery for you and your family (up to 2 adults and 5 children).

Explore Mississauga’s Natural Beauty

With a Mississauga Public Library card, you can borrow a pass to visit the Credit Valley Conservation area or any Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) parks for free. TRCA Parks include the Black Creek Pioneer Village, Bruce’s Mills Conservation Park, Heart Lake Conservation Park, and more! You can also get an Ontario Parks Pass to access and visit over 100 provincial parks for free.

Volunteer at Food Banks Mississauga

Sign up to volunteer and support neighbours experiencing food insecurity! Many roles are available, from delivering food through our Food Bank 2 Home program, and sorting food with our Corporate Volunteering Program, to being our mascot, Bowlina!

Discover Egyptian History in Mississauga

Learn all about Egyptian history at the Egyptian Museum in Riverview, Mississauga. Families with children under six can visit the Egyptian Museum for free, while also taking advantage of the 50% discount for all other ages to enter with tickets at only $10.

Sauga At Play

Sauga At Play is a free, drop-in, after-school program offered during the school year for 10 to 18-year-olds. Find drop-in programs like badminton, basketball, volleyball, and soccer at various community centres across the city. Youth Memberships may be required, visit your local community centre to pick up your membership and view the drop-in program schedule!

This article is a part of a seasonal series, so check back this winter for a list of free, family-friendly activities for the winter months!