Toronto
• Celebrate Kwanzaa with a day of family fun and enjoy Pan-African food, music and art.
• Since the NHL season is looking like a lost cause, why not take young sports fans on an outing to the Hockey Hall of Fame? Visit the interactive Broadcast Zone and be a sportscaster, learn about the history of the Stanley Cup and be awed by the achievements of the Legends of the Hall of Fame.
• There will be some new and old favourites at the Ontario Science Centre. Visit the expanded KidSpark area specifically designed for kids eight and under. And from Saturday, December 18, 2004 to Monday, January 3, 2005 experience the world's largest collection of Dream Machines -- whimsical mechanical inventions by artist Rowland Emett. These creations, made famous in the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, include contraptions such as The Humbug Major Sweet Machine, a hot-air rocking chair and a lullaby machine. Visitors will be able to build their own Dream Machine constructed out of recycled household items.
• A visit to Casa Loma is always enchanting, and holiday activities make it even more appealing!
• There is something for all ages: a 'Clifford The Big Red Dog' show, a life-size LEGO display inspired by Harry Potter, gingerbread ornament workshops,concerts and much more. The Cullen Gardens' Festival of Lights, features over 100,000 lights and charming holiday displays in its 1/12 scale village. Kids can enjoy historical displays, entertainment, visit with Santa and even see the Grinch!
• Everyone loves receiving gifts – even the animals at the Zoo! Join zookeepers on December 26th for the Christmas Treats Walk, and watch the birds and beasts enjoy their holiday surprises.
• Children of all ages will be swept up in the magic of the National Ballet of Canada's production of The Nutcracker.
Montreal
• Take the kids to a Chanukah Carnival and enjoy puppet shows, music, circus acts and crafts.
• Old Montréal's Christmas Fairies celebration has something for everyone – fireworks, ice-skating in the old port, sleigh rides and sales of the work of local artisans.
• Will the REAL Santa Claus please step forward? Visit the Montréal Museum of Archeology and History and explore the myths and legends from around the world surrounding the Man in Red.
• Learn about how Victorian Montréalers celebrated the holidays in the 1860's at the Sir George-Étienne Cartier National Historic Site. Check out the special holiday exhibits and activities.
• The Planetarium has a variety of shows that combine the fun of the holiday season with learning. In ‘A Christmas Adventure', an elf learns about the solar system, and 'A Season Of Light' tells how ancient peoples celebrated the return of light after the dark days of winter.
Halifax
• The kids will get a chuckle out of 'Cinderelly', a Shakespeare By The Sea adaptation of the children's classic with a decidedly Western twist. Cinderelly must get home before high noon to avoid being discovered by her wicked stepsisters!
• Step into the magical world of dancing bears, the mouse king and sugar plum fairies with Symphony Nova Scotia's production of The Nutcracker.
• Learn about aboriginal culture, art, food and music, and learn to make a dream catcher at the Nations In A Circle arts festival.
• Join the Dalhousie Chorale for Christmas in Song, a special sing-along event for the entire family.
• There's lots going on at the Discovery Center, and day camps run the week of December 23rd.
• Take a trip to the Clay Café – the kids will love choosing and painting clay pieces, and you can strike a few folks off your gift list.
So sit back, relax, and enjoy! The kids will be so pooped from all the holiday activities that you may get to enjoy the greatest gift of the season – a little peace and quiet.
