Weekend Guide Sponsored by Toronto Symphony Orchestra
The holiday season feels like it’s already arrived, thanks to a very early snowstorm here in the GTA. But it’s perfect (and *jolly*) timing because of all the festive events starting this weekend. So many, in fact, that it’s making our busy event calendar burst at the seams like Santa’s bag of toys! Not only that, but the Toronto Symphony Orchestra is back for another concert in their Young People’s Concert series with “The Composer is Dead”, for two shows only! Solve the mystery of how to have fun with our Guide to the Best Family-Friendly Events in Toronto and the GTA This Weekend, November 14-16…
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Family-Friendly Events in Toronto and the GTA This Weekend
🕵️ FEATURED: Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO): “The Composer Is Dead” | November 16
Calling all young detectives! Someone has silenced the Composer, and now it’s up to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (and your whole family of sneaky sleuths) to crack the case with the interactive whodunit “The Composer Is Dead”!
🧟 Young People’s Theatre (YPT): “Shrek – The Musical” | Starting November 13
Young People’s Theatre (YPT) invites families to enjoy “Shrek The Musical”, bursting with catchy tunes and laugh-out-loud moments! This ogre-sized production is full of zany humour, exciting bravery, heartwarming honesty, and plenty of crazy hijinks.
🎅 The Distillery Winter Village | Starting November 13
Embrace a traditional outdoor Christmas market at The Distillery Winter Village. Stroll the cobblestone streets of under the lights, take photos by the huge Christmas tree, visit Santa at Soulpepper Theatre, and much more.
🐶 stackt market: Holiday Hills | Starting November 14
stackt market is back with their free festival Holiday Hills! This event hosts vendor markets, holiday-themed performances, family-friendly shows, dog-friendly events, special guest appearances from Santa, and lots more.
🧑🎄 Canada’s Wonderland WinterFest | Starting November 15
The amusement park becomes a winter wonderland, with holiday-themed attractions and shows, festive food and an artisan market. Take photos with Santa and even decorate cookies with Mrs. Claus.
🧱 Bricks in the Six | All Weekend
Bricks in the Six 2025 is a brick-tastic LEGO Fan Exhibition where you can immerse yourself in a world of colourful bricks and endless creativity.
🛍️ Seasons Christmas Show and Fall Cottage Life Show | All Weekend
Both of these popular lifestyle shows run concurrently at the International Centre. So you can plan out your next cottage project and do some holiday shopping all at once!
✨ Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights | Starting November 15
Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights is Canada’s largest FREE outdoor light festival, so get your fill of sparkle and good cheer!
Family-Friendly Events in Toronto This Weekend — Event Guides
🎁 Christmas Event Guide for Toronto and the GTA
Hang up the mistletoe and tinsel, and start planning your family holiday schedule… it’s time to unwrap our Christmas Event Guide! Check out light displays, performances, markets, festivals, food events, and much more.
🛍️ Guide to the Best Christmas Markets and Craft Shows in Toronto and the GTA
Instead of going to the big and busy shopping mall, you can get your shopping done in style and support local artisans and entrepreneurs at the same time! Embrace the movement to shop local with our Guide to the Best Christmas Markets and Craft Shows in Toronto and the GTA.
🍂 Guide to the Best Fall Festivals in Toronto and the GTA
Toronto is renowned for its plethora of summer festivals, but the party doesn’t need to stop there! Get inspired by our Guide to the Best Fall Festivals in Toronto and the GTA.
🏊♀️ Guide to the Best Indoor Pools in Toronto
If you’re not so much into being out in the cold, you can hang out at an indoor pool instead. Pretend you’re at an all-inclusive resort — sorry, no cocktails allowed in the pool! What’s more, city-run pools are free for City of Toronto residents.
🔥 Guide to the Best Indoor Activities for Tweens and Teens in Toronto and the GTA
Keep older kids and teens occupied, even in winter, with our Guide to the Best Indoor Activities for Tweens and Teens in Toronto and the GTA.
At the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO), mystery is afoot with “The Composer Is Dead”, recommended for families with kids aged 8 and up, and for everyone who loves a good mystery! In this hilarious musical mystery, there are many suspects throughout the orchestra… was it the shifty string section or the flighty flutes, or maybe it was the bombastic bassoons, or even the treacherous trombones? Any instrument could be the culprit!
Join the TSO for some musical intrigue where you can enlist your budding sleuths to help find out who did the composer in! With music by Nathaniel Stookey, plus the signature darkly funny storytelling of Lemony Snicket (best known for his children’s book series A Series of Unfortunate Events), “The Composer Is Dead” turns the entire orchestra into a lineup of musical suspects! This detective tale is a hilarious whodunit with clever wordplay, making it a memorable family-friendly concert that can spark a lifelong love of music and storytelling.
Accompanying the Toronto Symphony Orchestra live on stage is guest narrator Arwen Humphreys, from the hit CBC series Murdoch Mysteries. Conducted by RBC Resident Conductor & TSYO Conductor Nicholas Sharma, and featuring Karen Kobayashi on flute, “The Composer Is Dead” is an engaging blend of theatre and symphonic music that is perfect for first-time concertgoers and curious minds alike.
Plus, families can enjoy free pre-concert lobby activities before the show! Beginning an hour before the show, families can start their musical adventure early with free activities in the Roy Thomson Hall lobby. First, families can hang out at the Music Playground and try out instruments at the Instrument Discovery Zone. Then, enjoy a lively performance by Brampton’s Youth Orchestra, the Rosebuds!
