Free, Family-Friendly Spring Activities in Mississauga

Top Image Photo Credit: Mark Ashford

The days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer – and we’re back with another list of free and/or inexpensive activities in Mississauga! Whether it’s ongoing free activities you can drop in or sign up for, festivals to celebrate the upcoming holidays, or our city’s best trails and parks to enjoy the returning birds and budding flowers – we’ve compiled a list for you to explore the nature and diversity of Mississauga without spending anything (or very little).

 

Outdoor Spring Activities

Discover the newness of Spring!

Take a spring walk through the woodlands, meadows, and ravines of Riverwood Conservation area. Spanning 150 acres along the Credit River, you might spot some deer, beavers, songbirds or woodpeckers. The Conservancy also offers affordable events ($5 – $15) such as birding workshops, forest bathing, nighttime nature and tracking. Park admission and parking are both free.

Explore the ‘last remaining lakefront marsh of its kind’ between Toronto and Burlington by strolling along the boardwalk at Rattray Marsh Conservation Area. A great place for nature lovers and birdwatchers, be on the lookout for beavers, deer, foxes, and songbirds! Entry to the conservation area is free!

Stop and Smell the Flowers!

These three Mississauga parks are fantastic spots to enjoy the blooms this spring!

1. Kariya Park is the perfect place to see the cherry blossoms in late April or early May.
2. Check out the rhododendrons in May and June at the Brueckner Rhododendron Gardens.
3. Enjoy the small Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Garden at Celebration Square.

Festivals, Workshops & Free-Entry Markets

Saturday, May 2: Spring Community FunFest

From 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 2nd at the Unitarian Congregation, this FunFest (hosted by Khatambakhsh Real Estate team) will feature face painting, crafts and games, a magic show, balloon animals, snacks, music and dancing, prizes and giveaways, and more! Registration is required as space is limited. The entrance is free, but this is a fundraiser event for Riverside Public School, so donations are appreciated!

Saturday, May 9: Spring Latin Festival

Check out the Spring Latin Festival on May 9th from 12 p.m. – 9 p.m. at the Small Arms Inspection Building. There will be music, crafts, food, dancing, a kid zone, and a parade (at 3 p.m.) – and all of this with free admission! Food Banks Mississauga plans to be there, so if you drop by – make sure to come to our booth!

Saturday, May 9: One Million Trees Planting Event at Mississauga Valley

Join volunteers with the One Million Trees program and help plant trees and shrubs! This activity is free, but pre-registration is required.

Friday, May 15 – Sunday, May 17: Canada Literature Festival

Check out this three-day celebration that promises to bring together distinguished authors, poets, artists, policymakers, scholars, and members of the literary community from across the world to explore how stories shape societies, preserve cultural memory, and build bridges between cultures. This festival is taking place at Celebration Square, and is free for all ages!

Saturday, May 23: Book Fair & Craft Market

Check out this free-entry, family-friendly book fair at the Vic Johnston Community Centre from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 23rd! Meet local authors, shop handmade goods, and enjoy inspiring talks!

Saturday, May 23 – Sunday, May 24: Carassauga Festival of Cultures

With over 50 cultural food vendors, dance lessons and arts and crafts, and non-stop entertainment from over 2,500 performers – this festival takes place all over Mississauga and is sure to be a great celebration of our multicultural city. The festival’s admission is a called a Carassauga passport and it’s free for children 12 and under, with a cost per adult of only $15 ($10 if purchased in advance!). With this passport, you have unlimited access to all the Cultural Pavilions, live performances, various foods and kids’ activities and also free transportation to all the different locations on all MiWay buses and Carassauga shuttles.

Saturday, May 30: Cricket to Conquer Cancer

The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation will be hosting their second street cricket fundraiser! Players of all ages and skill levels will come together to raise funds for life-saving cancer research. You can register your team now, or head down to Celebration Square on May 30th to cheer on the playing teams! This event is free for spectators of all ages.

Friday, June 5 – Sunday, June 7: Bread and Honey Festival

Check out The Streetville Founders’ Bread & Honey Festival for great music, a SuperDogs show, a trail race, kids’ activities, a car show, train rides, face painting, inflatables, midway rides, a fishing derby, and of course – free bread and honey! This festival only costs $5/day, and kids under 12 are free. Rumour has it, some of the folks from Food Banks Mississauga will also be there, so please drop by and say “hi!”

Saturday, June 6: 1st Annual Mississauga (Port Credit) Book Expo

From 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Port Credit Legion, this 1st annual book expo will bring together authors, readers, creatives, and literary brands for a day of art, creativity, and storytelling.

Friday, June 12 – Saturday, June 13: 13th Annual Handi Mississauga Halal Food Festival

This family-friendly festival, held at Celebration Square, offers a great mix of family entertainment, cultural programming, live performances, a kids’ zone, and delicious halal food! This event starts on Friday at 4 p.m. until 11 p.m. and then continues on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and is free for all ages.

 

Mississauga-centred Activities

Monday, April 27 – Friday, May 8: Mississauga Youth Weeks

If you’re a youth or young adults (12-24), check out these free drop-in and registered activities at community centres across Mississauga! Sports, game nights, arts & crafts, karaoke, career day… there are lots of different activities to enjoy from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. each day from Monday, April 27th to Friday, May 8th!

Saturday, May 9: BikeFest

The City of Mississauga is hosting it’s 3rd Annual BikeFest to kick of the cycling season! This free community event will include skills and drills sessions, bike servicing, photo booths, and more. Drop by Celebration Square from 10 a.m. –  4 p.m. to check it out!

Saturday, May 9: Science Rendezvous

Led by scientists from the University of Toronto-Mississauga, and collaborators from Indus Space and the Mississauga Library, this free event at the Hazel McCallion Central Library features science booths full of fun, hands-on science activities.

Saturday, June 6: Strawberry Stroll

Join local historian Richard Collins as he leads an engaging and informative stroll along Lakeshore Road West, celebrating Clarkson’s rich history as the Strawberry Capital of Ontario! This event is free, and although not required – RSVPs are encouraged.

 

Ongoing Free (or Inexpensive) Activities

Get Creative in the Mississauga Public Library’s Makerspaces!

With a Mississauga Public Library card, you can access their Makerspaces for free! These are collaborative spaces where you can access free services, technology, and equipment. At various library locations across the city, you will find photography and filmmaking studios (with cameras, lights, and green screens), sound studios and recording booths (with audio equipment and electronic instruments), computers equipped with Adobe Creative Cloud, digital media labs with Cricut machines, button makers, and sewing machines, and maker studios with 3D printers, laser and vinyl cutters.

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 parks 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.

Discover Egyptian History in Mississauga

Learn all about Egyptian history at the Egyptian Museum in Riverview, Mississauga. Families can take advantage of the 50% discount and get tickets for only $10. Children under six can visit for free!

Sauga At Play

Sauga At Play is a free, drop-in, after-school program 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 soon for a list of activities for the summer months! If you have a free, family-friendly activity to add to this list, email us at marketing@foodbanksmississauga.ca.