It’s National Bike Safety week! At the moment the forecast is calling for sun and warm weather this weekend (yay!). I’m planning on getting out the trike and bike (and helmets of course!), sitting back, and letting my kids do the rest (haha) 
On this weekend: The National Film Board of Canada Toronto Mediatheque downtown is holding a film-making animation workshop with a bike safety theme for ages 3- 13 years. There’s a tree planting event in Newmarket with variety of family activities, a BBQ, displays and entertainment. Over 200 pieces of artwork on display at the 50th Annual Juried Art Show and Sale in Aurora. Arts and crafts at the Bata Shoe Museum and clay making at the Gardiner Museum, both in downtown Toronto. And if your child is in love with Sesame Street or figure skating, check out the shows at the Rogers Centre and Air Canada Centre. Enjoy ! 
Sales on this weekend: Newmarket Mom 2 Mom and East York Mom 2 Mom Sales are being held on Saturday. Click here for details. And a Spring Bazaar and Rummage Sale is on at Yonge and Eglinton (unique Mother’s Day gifts can be found here!).
1. National Bike Safety Week at the National Film Board
Saturday May 5- Sunday May 6 | Downtown Toronto
National Film Board of Canada Toronto Mediatheque is hosting a family workshop for national bike safety week.
Practice safety with your children through this fun filmmaking workshop using paper cut-out animation techniques. Kids will get to use their imaginations to think through some of the rules of bike safety while illustrating their stories.
Can’t Sit Still | May 5 at 10:30 AM for children aged 3 to 5
Animate This! | May 5 & 6 at 12:30 PM for children aged 6 to 13
Screening Program | May 5 & 6 at 12 PM for all ages
Register today by calling 416-973-3012. $5/child; free for accompanying adults.
2. Earth Day Community Tree Planting Event
Sunday May 6: 11am- 2pm | Newmarket
Earth Day Community Tree Planting Event in Newmarket. Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority and the Town of Newmarket, supported by the Suncor Energy Foundation and Earth Day Canada, are hosting a community tree planting event.
Festivities will be at the newly upgraded pond at George Richardson Park on Bayview Parkway in Newmarket. The event will include tree planting, a variety of family activities, a BBQ, displays and entertainment. You can put down some roots, have plenty of fun, and help enhance the environment. We are also encourgaing local community groups and businesses to put together planting teams for the event.
For more information contact Melissa Layton at m.layton@lsrca.on.ca or at 905.895.1281 ext. 258.
3. 50th Annual Juried Art Show and Sale
May 5: 10am- 5pm & May 6: 10am- 4pm | Aurora
The Town of Aurora in association with the Society of York Region Artists invites you to the 50th Annual Juried Art Show and Sale.
For all art enthusiasts, this is a must-see event featuring over 200 pieces of artwork. Amateur and professional artists from Ontario will be displaying their original two- and three-dimensional artwork created in any medium except computer-generated art.
Local Youth (ages 17 and under) have been invited again this year to participate within their own Youth Category. Admission is FREE! For more information, please call 905-726-4762.
Location: Aurora Town Hall, 100 John West Way, Aurora
4. Sesame Street Live!
Friday May 4 to Sunday May 6: Various showtimes | Downtown Toronto
See Sesame Street Live at the Rogers Centre (Front St & Spadina Ave)! Watch your favorite Sesame Street characters come alive while singing and dancing. In this musical, Ernie becomes a ship captain and finds his way through a rainforest. Bert on the other hand sings with an octopus.
5. Stars on Ice 2012
Friday May 4: 7:30 pm | Downtown Toronto
See Stars on Ice at the Air Canada Centre (Bay & Lake Shore). Stars on Ice feature a tour yearly with the best cast of ice skating champions from the Olympics, World, and National tournaments.
6. Shoe-Themed Arts & Crafts at the Bata Shoe Museum
May 5 & 6 | Downtown Toronto
At the Bata Shoe Museum your child can try on shoes and go on shoe hunts in the galleries. As well there are different family activities on a three week rotation. This weekend it’s shoe-themed arts and crafts. Your child aged 3- 9 years can get inspired by some of our favourite shoe pictures and create and decorate your own!
7. Clay Table at the Gardiner Museum
Sunday May 6: 10am- 12pm | Downtown Toronto
The Gardiner Museum has family programming every Sunday that is free with admission (children under 12 years are always admitted free when accompanied by an adult). Summer is just around the corner. Join one of our potters and make your own clay creations! Use different hand building techniques to add texture. Take your new friend home with you to enjoy!
*Before heading out, please check official websites or call to confirm as details may have changed since we posted them!
Don’t see anything that you like or that fits your schedule?
Check out my post on What to do with Kids in Toronto, there’s a whole load of ideas there if none of the events in this post suit your schedule or liking! And if you’re ahead of the game and planning for the next weekend or further out, check out the Fun for the Month post!
Want to help other parents out?
Please share your thoughts below if you went to any of these events (or others not in this post). Would you recommend to others or best to give it a pass? Got any suggestions for management for next year- what went well and what could improve? I will strive to ensure your comments are seen!
