Free, Family-Friendly Summer Activities in Mississauga

Top Image Photo Credit: Mosaic – The South Asian Festival of Mississauga

Though food and living expenses are increasing, you can enjoy the summer with your family and friends with these FREE activities in Mississauga! Whether it be ongoing free activities you can sign up for, weekly scheduled events like movie nights in the park or free concerts, or weekend festivals with free admission – we’ve compiled a list for you to explore the nature and diversity of Mississauga without spending much.

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.

Food Sorting at Food Banks Mississauga

Volunteer at Food Banks Mississauga

Sign up to volunteer at our warehouse and sort food for distribution to neighbours in need through our network of 60+ agency members across the city. Children who want to volunteer must be at least 9 years old and be accompanied by an adult. Any youth volunteers 14 years of age and older can volunteer independently if they choose. 

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.

Scheduled Weekly Activities

Wednesday Mornings: Settle in for Storytime

Check out Open Air Storytime presented by TD every Wednesday morning (10:30 am – 11:15 am) at Celebration Square for some family-friendly fun with stories, songs, rhymes, and other fun activities!

Wednesday Evenings: Fitness Fun at Celebration Square

Wednesday evenings are for fitness! Head over to Celebration Square from 7 pm to 8 pm for Fresh Air Fitness presented by TD to participate in weekly, accessible outdoor classes, such as yoga, zumba, and strength & stretch. These classes are for folks of all fitness levels and everyone is welcome to participate! The classes are free with no registration, experience, or equipment required. A towel and/or yoga mat are recommended for you to bring.

Amphitheatre Unplugged | Photo Credit: Mississauga Arts Council

Wednesday Evenings in August: Discover Local Mississauga Talent

Amphitheatre Unplugged is an outdoor, open-mic night that takes place on Wednesday evenings (from 8 pm to 9:30 pm) in Celebration Square. Enjoy performances by Mississauga musicians, spoken-word artists, dancers, and much more!

Thursday and Friday Evenings: “Reel” Fun for Everyone

Every Thursday evening, InSauga presents Movie Nights at Celebration Square! Grab a blanket with your family and friends and cozy up for a free, family-friendly movie. The pre-show starts at 7:30 pm, with the main event happening between 8 pm – 10 pm. Check out the movie line-up here.

On Friday evenings, the Rotary Club of Mississauga West and Port Credit Community Foundation present Movie Nights in the Park. Bring your chairs or blankets down to Port Credit Memorial Park to watch a free, family-friendly movie under the stars.

Friday Evenings: Summer Music Concert Series

Every Friday evening of the summer, you can head over to Streetsville Village Square from 7 pm to 8:30 pm for a free night of music – all ages welcome!

Community Rides | Photo Credit: City of Mississauga

Saturday Mornings: Cycle into Community

The City of Mississauga, in partnership with Toronto Pearson Airport, is hosting a series of free, in-person bike rides for all ages on Saturdays from May to October. The rides begin at 10 am and end at 1 pm with refreshments courtesy of Toronto Pearson! Check out the summer’s scheduled rides here.

Saturday Evenings: Get Your Groove on in Streetsville Village Square

On select Saturday evenings throughout the summer, you can participate in free salsa and bachata lessons from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm in the Streetsville Village Square.

Sunday Evenings: Summer Music Concert Series

Head to Port Credit Memorial Park for free outdoor concerts on Sunday evenings from 6:30 pm to 8 pm until September 1st.

Applewood Outdoor Pool

Free Swim Days

The City of Mississauga offers free public swims at outdoor pools across the city on specific days in July and August. Find the list here to see when you can swim in your neighbourhood pool for free!

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.

Weekend Festivals

July 12 – 14: Jackalope Mississauga

If you’re a fan of skateboarding, bouldering, MOTO X & BMX, BASE jumping, and more – check out Jackalope Mississauga at Celebration Square to witness world-class competitions and demonstrations! This event takes place from 5 pm on Friday, July 12th to July 14th, and is free for all ages.

July 13: Mississauga World Music Festival

Discover a ‘true celebration of everything Mississauga’ at the Mississauga World Music Festival! This event takes place on July 13th, from 4 pm to 10 pm, at Streetsville Village Square and offers free admission for all.

Muslim Fest | Photo Credit: IQRA

July 19 – 21: Muslim Fest

Celebrate Mississauga’s rich Muslim arts and culture at this 3-day Muslim Fest event at Celebration Square! Starting at noon on Friday, July 19th, and continuing until 7 pm on Sunday, July 21st, this event is free for all ages.

July 20 – 21: Mississauga First Nation Traditional Powwow

Mississauga First Nation is hosting its 43rd annual traditional powwow on Saturday, July 20th, and Sunday, July 21st on Maxs Road, within the Mississauga First Nation territory. Admission is free for all attendees, and everyone is welcome! Individuals from all communities are invited to join in the celebration. Visit Mississaugi.com for more information on the weekend’s schedule, etiquette, and directions.

Bollywood Monster Mashup | Photo Credit: MonstrARTity

July 26 – 27: #BollywoodMonster Mashup

The #BollywoodMonster Mashup is a free, multi-day South Asian arts festival at Celebration Square from Friday, July 26th to Saturday, July 27th. This free, family-friendly event features international Bollywood stars, music and dance performances, a laser show, and more! This event has free parking, arts and games, and a seniors’ area.

August 2 – 4: Mosaic Festival

Celebrate the richness of South Asian Canadian art, culture, heritage, and cuisine at Celebration Square from Friday, August 2nd (starting at 3 pm) to Sunday, August 4th (ending at 9 pm). The 19th annual Mosaic Festival is free for all ages and will feature artists from Pakistan, India, USA, and Canada.

Latin Festival Mississauga | Photo Credit: InSauga

August 9 – 11: Mississauga Latin Festival

From Friday, August 9th to Sunday, August 11th, celebrate 16 years of the Mississauga Latin Festival and the 50th anniversary of the City of Mississauga! Celebration Square is the place to go this weekend for all things Latin culture – music and dance, traditional dishes, beautiful crafts, and a children’s area. This event is free for all ages!

August 16 – 18: Busker Festival

The buskers are back from August 16 – 18th! Enjoy some of the best street performers from around the world in Port Credit, Ontario.

Streetsville Community Car Show | Photo Credit: InSauga

August 17: Streetsville Community Car Show

The Streetsville Community Car Show, in partnership with Streetsville Legion Branch 139, is taking place from 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday, August 17th at 101 Church St., Mississauga. There will be more cars than in previous years, and will also feature live music, food trucks, and vendors for all car enthusiasts. This event supports The Streetsville Legion and Eden Food for Change (which is one of 60+ agency members in Food Banks Mississauga’s network). The car show is free, but folks are encouraged to bring a donation to support Eden Food for Change.

August 17 – 18: Japan Festival Canada 2024

Experience the best of Japanese culture, food, and technology at Japan Festival Canada – the largest Japanese cultural event in North America! Located at Celebration Square, the festival takes place from noon to 10 pm on Saturday, August 17th, and from 11 am to 7 pm on Sunday, August 18th – free for all ages.

Mississauga Italfest | Photo Credit: Amacon

August 23 – 24: Mississauga Italfest Inc.

Mississauga Italfast is Mississauga’s first and premier Italian festival, and was named one of the Top Festivals & Events in Ontario from 2016 to 2024. This free event, located at Celebration Square, starts in the evening of Friday, August 23rd, and lasts until Saturday, August 24th. With a Kidzone, Heritage Centre, comedy, celebrity chefs and dancers, and international talent – this event is bound to be fun for the whole family!

August 31: Latin Arts & Crafts for Kids

The Hispanic Canadian Arts & Cultural Association is hosting a free Latin Arts & Crafts event for kids from 10 am to 11 am on August 31st at Spanish4YouCanada (3643 Cawthra Road Suite 205, Mississauga).

August 31: RED FM Summer Bhangra Jam

On Saturday, August 31st head down to Celebration Square from 12 pm to 11 pm for the RED FM Summer Bhangra Jam! This Punjabi Music Festival features a free concert with international Punjabi superstars, Bhangra performances, food trucks, dancing, shopping, a Kids Zone, fashion shows, a senior lounge, and more. The whole family can enjoy this event with free admission, parking, and arts.

Portugalo Fest | Photo Credit: Portugalo Fest

September 7: Portugalo Fest

On Saturday, September 7th at Celebration Square you can find Portugalo Fest – a free-for-all-ages celebration of Portugal’s rich and colourful traditions with musical performances and food and marketplace vendors. The event runs from 1 pm to 11 pm.

September 14 – 15: Philippine Festival Mississauga

Celebrate Filipino heritage and cultural diversity at the Philippine Festival Mississauga! This free 2-day festival (September 14th and 15th) takes place at Celebration Square and features Filipino food, music, arts, and culture. There will also be a Kids Village with bouncy castles, face painting, crafts and games, and Raptors 905 basketball!

This article is the first in a seasonal series, so check back this September for a list of free, family-friendly activities for the fall months!