FAMILY FEST 2026 - July 10-12
FREE!
GFT's annual celebration of arts for young audiences returns for its fifth summer in the park! With a focus on international and multicultural stories, this year's Family Fest features performances in a variety of art forms along with hands-on activities in music, literacy, and more. Family Fest invites children from toddlers to teens to explore their creativity and offers families a fun-filled festival where kids can learn, play, and discover the joy of performing arts.
The 2026 Festival starts Friday July 10 with our anchor production of The Three Musketeers by The Lakeside Players, with a pre-show performance by Jay9 Dance Centre. Over the weekend, The Three Musketeers will perform nightly at 6pm, with multicultural daytime activities, performances, and activations including returning acts such as Spirit of Africa, Poesy, and Scarborough Uke Jam! New faces at Family Fest include storytelling, music and dance by Hi Blue Butterfly, Rubena Sinha, Selena Russo, and many more!
Food Vendors and Community booths throughout the weekend include Juicy Empanadas, Liv’s Ice Cream, Andrea Hazell, Jay 9 Dance Centre, Theatricks, and more!
Family Fest Activities and Performances are free, but advance registration is recommended for The Three Musketeers.
FRIDAY, JULY 10
JAY9 DANCE CENTRE
5:30-5:50 - PERFORMANCE at the Greek Theatre
Join us at the Greek Theatre for a special pre-show performance by Jay9 Dance Centre. Students of this Scarborough dance school will do a presentation in a variety of dance styles, lighting up the stage with their creativity, self-expression, and skill!
THE THREE MUSKETEERS
Created and performed by The Lakeside Players
6:00-7:00 - PERFORMANCE at the Greek Theatre
SATURDAY, JULY 11
SPIRIT OF AFRICA
1:00-2:00 - - PERFORMANCE at the Greek Theatre
2:15-2:45 - WORKSHOP with Lesley Waldron in Family Fest Village
Family Fest Headlining Production!
Young d’Artagnan arrives in Paris dreaming of adventure and soon joins forces with the legendary Musketeers Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Together, they must outwit the scheming Cardinal Richelieu and dangerous Milady de Winter in a thrilling tale of friendship, honor, and daring heroics.
This cast was initially populated by a who’s who of Canadian theatre legends, but due to scheduling conflicts and creative differences, this 18th century epic with over twenty characters will be performed by two of Canada’s most enthusiastic and available performers. Will they be able to pull it off?!
Don’t miss Alexandre Dumas’ classic, ‘The Three Musketeers’!
Tickets to The Three Musketeers are free but advance registration is recommended
This vibrant performance encompasses music, drum and dance which are the heart of the African people. Embrace the Spirit of Africa and let the rhythm and sound move you. This presentation weaves together traditional African dance, music, and storytelling to create an experience of peace and understanding.
HULA HOOP FUN ZONE + BUTTERFLIES
1:00-5:00 - in Family Fest Village
Field of Butterflies
Can you spot them? A colourful roaming act fluttering through the festival, adding a dynamic splash of movement to large spaces. Alternating between beautiful chaos and choreographed movement, each butterfly is unique and beautiful with a personality of their own. Together they create a unique and portable backdrop for selfies and photos and love to spend time posing for pictures and playing “cocoon” with kids!
Hoop Fun Zone
We bring the props, you bring the play! Come learn to hula hoops with us, or show us your moves, how many hoops can you spin? We have 40+ hoops for all sizes and ages to join in our hoop dance party, adults are highly encouraged! With music, hoops and a professional hoop dancer on site, we will encourage, teach, play and maybe show off just a little bit.
RUBENA SINHA STORYTELLING
2:30-3:30 - PERFORMANCE at the Greek Theatre
3:45-4:15 - WORKSHOP in Family Fest Village
DIANA TSO
4:00-5:00 - PERFORMANCE at the Greek Theatre
5:15-5:45 - WORKSHOP in Family Fest Village
JAY9 DANCE CENTRE
5:30-5:50 - DANCE CLASS at the Greek Theatre
THE THREE MUSKETEERS
Created and performed by The Lakeside Players
6:00-7:00 - PERFORMANCE at the Greek Theatre
SUNDAY JULY 12
SCARBOROUGH UKE JAM
12:30-1:30 - WORKSHOP at the Greek Theatre
HI BLUE BUTTERFLY
Storytelling and Live Music by Camila Garcia
2:30-3:30 - PERFORMANCE at the Greek Theatre
3:45-4:15 - WORKSHOP in Family Fest Village
POESY
3:00-6:00 in Family Fest Village
UN SUPERVISED
1:45-2:15 PERFORMANCE at the Greek Theatre
2:30-3:00 WORKSHOP in Family Fest Village
Rubena will perform a series of short stories from India with movement. The stories will mix fable and real life experiences, with a wide variety of characters making appearances through Rubena's stories - from talking animals to Rubena's grandmother. Audiences will have a chance to be part of the story and learn hand gestures and movements coming from Indian dance traditions.
Storyteller, Diana Tso, will take you on a voyage of stories from the East to the West, from ancient stories to a modern-day picture book re-imagined. Jump onto her ship and sail with this vivacious storyteller as she takes you to places of fascinating possibilities!
Storytelling workshop following the performance: discover how everyday objects can unlock extraordinary stories. Join storyteller, Diana Tso, for a playful and fun workshop using found and personal items as catalysts for your imagination to create and tell your stories!
Join us at the Greek Theatre for a special pre-show welcome to our anchor production by Jay9 Dance Centre!
A Scarborough-based dance school, the Jay9 Dance Centre team will welcome audiences of all ages and abilities to the theatre with a fun, interactive dance experience from the stage.
Scarborough Uke Jam provides a fun, low-pressure environment where you can play and sing with a group of like-minded uke enthusiasts.
Join Scarobough Ukes at Family Fest for our annual playalong/singalong!
Visit https://www.scarboroughukes.com/ to download our Family Fest songbook, and bring your uke to the park to join the fun!
Join Hi Blue Butterfly for an enchanting storytelling and live music experience! Through stories, songs, and playful interactions, children are invited into a magical world where imagination comes alive. Created by artist and educator Camila Garcia, each performance weaves narrative and melody into a joyful celebration of childhood, creativity, and the wonders of the natural world. Perfect for little ones and their families, this show is designed to delight, inspire, and spark a lifelong love of stories. Come flutter along!
Drop in and have a poem created just for you! Poesy’s poets create personalized poetry crafted in real time on vintage typewriters.
Poesy, featured in The New York Times, CBC, and Toronto’s top outlets, creates immersive writing experiences that spark connection through creativity. They are Canada's first experiential writing company, creating rare opportunities to explore the timeless art of writing.
Audience Recommendation: Ages 6+
MÂMAWIN’TOWIN: A MÉTIS KITCHEN PARTY
4:00-5:00 - PERFORMANCE at the Greek Theatre
Mâmawin’towin: A Métis Kitchen Party is an acoustic concert experience inspired by the Métis kitchen party tradition—where music, stories, and community come together. The title Mâmawin’towin, meaning “together” in Michif, reflects the heart of the performance: gathering through music and shared story.
Co-led by celebrated Métis fiddler Alyssa Katrine and acclaimed Métis singer-songwriter Amanda Rheaume, the performance blends lively fiddle tunes with powerful songwriting and storytelling that bring Métis history to life. Joined by Danton Delbaere-Sawchuk (cello, guitar, vocals) and Kyler Tapscott (guitar, vocals), the ensemble creates a rich acoustic sound that moves seamlessly between spirited dance tunes and heartfelt songs.
At the centre of the show is the fiddle—an instrument that has long carried Métis stories across generations. Between songs, the artists share moments from Métis history and community life, inviting audiences into a warm and welcoming gathering.
The result is a joyful, powerful performance celebrating Métis music, resilience, and connection.
“un supervised” follows a curious character who enters the stage carrying a bag of colourful foam blocks. At first glance, they appear to be simple toys, but through movement and humour, the blocks transform into unexpected objects: a hat, a phone, and even a friend. As imagination unfolds, our character experiences the joy of connection and the quiet grief of loss, uncovering the parts of ourselves we leave behind and find again through play.
Blending contemporary dance, physical theatre, and comedy, “un supervised” invites the audience into a world inspired by childhood imagination and object play. The work explores the inner worlds we create when left to wander freely, and reminds us of the beauty in curiosity, vulnerability, and letting ourselves be seen.
THE THREE MUSKETEERS
Created and performed by The Lakeside Players
6:00-7:00 - PERFORMANCE at the Greek Theatre
Tickets to The Three Musketeers are free but advance registration is recommended
Tickets to The Three Musketeers are free but advance registration is recommended
Family Fest Headlining Production!
Young d’Artagnan arrives in Paris dreaming of adventure and soon joins forces with the legendary Musketeers Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Together, they must outwit the scheming Cardinal Richelieu and dangerous Milady de Winter in a thrilling tale of friendship, honor, and daring heroics.
This cast was initially populated by a who’s who of Canadian theatre legends, but due to scheduling conflicts and creative differences, this 18th century epic with over twenty characters will be performed by two of Canada’s most enthusiastic and available performers. Will they be able to pull it off?!
Don’t miss Alexandre Dumas’ classic, ‘The Three Musketeers’!
Family Fest Headlining Production!
Young d’Artagnan arrives in Paris dreaming of adventure and soon joins forces with the legendary Musketeers Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Together, they must outwit the scheming Cardinal Richelieu and dangerous Milady de Winter in a thrilling tale of friendship, honor, and daring heroics.
This cast was initially populated by a who’s who of Canadian theatre legends, but due to scheduling conflicts and creative differences, this 18th century epic with over twenty characters will be performed by two of Canada’s most enthusiastic and available performers. Will they be able to pull it off?!
Don’t miss Alexandre Dumas’ classic, ‘The Three Musketeers’!
JAY9 DANCE CENTRE
5:30-5:50 - DANCE CLASS at the Greek Theatre
Join us at the Greek Theatre for a special pre-show welcome to our anchor production by Jay9 Dance Centre!
A Scarborough-based dance school, the Jay9 Dance Centre team will welcome audiences of all ages and abilities to the theatre with a fun, interactive dance experience from the stage.