Free, Family-Friendly Winter Activities in Mississauga

Top Image: Skating at Celebration Square | Photo Credit: Adam Pulicicchio

Food and living expenses continue to increase but you can still have fun both indoors and outdoors this winter season with these FREE 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 sledding hills or skating rinks to enjoy the winter season – we’ve compiled a list for you to explore the nature and diversity of Mississauga without spending anything.

Outdoor Winter Activities

Sled down one of Mississauga’s best hills

Layer up in your warm winter clothes, pull on your boots, grab your toboggan, and head to one of Mississauga’s parks for an afternoon of sledding! Head to Birchwood Park for a large hill that is great for kids – and adults too! Erindale Park, one of Mississauga’s largest parks, is a popular spot for sledding. There’s also lots of places to walk – and public washrooms nearby! Check out Brookmede Park for a small hill or Castlegreen Meadows for long but not steep slope – ideal spots for younger kids.

Skate on the Square

The skating rink at Celebration Square is open and ready for your spins, glides, and (maybe) the occasional slips! Bring your own skates and helmets or rent them on site.

Wander through a Winter Wonderland

Take a winter 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.

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!

APIK Fest | Photo Credit: Jay Gallant

Festivals & Expos

Saturday, January 24: Ramadan & Eid Expo

More than just a market, this free-entry expo is a celebration of joy, culture, and vibrant energy for the whole family! From 1 p.m. – 10 p.m. on Saturday, January 24 at the Small Arms Inspection Building, this expo will feature fashion, home decor, and gifts from top entrepreneurs and local brands, as well as foods from a diverse range of festive cuisines.

Saturday, January 24: Tamil Heritage Month & Thai Pongal Celebrations

This free vibrant cultural event at Glenforest Secondary School promises to bring together members of the Mississauga Tamil community to celebrate tradition, heritage, and unity! Presented byy the Mississauga Tamil Association, this event runs from 5 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 24.

Friday, January 30 – Sunday, February 1: APIK Fest Mississauga at Celebration Square

The mountain spirit is coming to the heart of our city – with a competition for ski and snowboard athletes! Come watch the competitions, participate in the snowskate demos and lessons, enjoy musical performances, and grab some bites from the food trucks. APIK Fest is a free, accessible event in Celebration Square, and it’s sure to be a great winter outing for the whole family!

Saturday, February 6 – Sunday, February 8: Ramadan Expo

Looking for a celebration of faith, culture, business. and flavour this Ramadan? Check out the Ramadan Expo at the International Centre – Hall 2 to hear from business speakers in the halal market, shop the latest Islamic products and fashion, and enjoy bites from the international halal food court. There will also be a kids’ activities, a panel discussion, and Islamic and cultural performances. Tickets are being sold at very inexpensive rates ($5 for general admission, with family rates available) for all three dates.

Mississauga-centred Activities

Thursday, January 22: Board Gaming

A big fan of board games? Bring your favourite board game to this fun night at the Port Credit Legion! There is no cost to attend the event but there will be a collection of loose changes from attendees as a donation to the Legion.

Saturday, February 14: Snow Day at Bradley Museum!

Enjoy an afternoon of fun in the snow! From 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the Bradley Museum, take part in outdoors games, snowshoeing and snow games (weather dependent), and enjoy some hot chocolate! Advance registration is welcome, but not required.

Mississauga Library Makerspace | Photo Credit: Mississauga.ca

Ongoing Free Activities

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

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 in a few months for a list of activities for the spring months! If you have a free, family-friendly activity to add to this list, email us at marketing@foodbanksmississauga.ca.