July 10-13
Our fourth annual Family Fest offers FREE performances and activities for all ages.
The 2025 Festival starts July 10 with audience favourite Nagata Shachu, bringing their heart-pounding performance and workshops of Taiko drumming and music. From July 11-13 we'll be hosting a special presentation of Fireside Munsch performed by M. John Kennedy and featuring the beloved stories of one of Canada's favourite authors. Over the weekend we'll be welcoming back returning Family Fest artists including The Grand Salto Theatre, Scarborough Uke Jam, Spirit of Africa, Tibert et Douzie, Poesy, and Hoop You and introducing new acts to the stage including Carousel Players, Maestro Duo, and Catch Me in the Kitchen.
* All events at Family Fest are free but advanced booking is recommended for Fireside Munsch, Giant Puppet Party, and The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin: The Game
THURSDAY, JULY 10
Nagata Shachu
Workshop: 6:30pm-7:00pm, Performance: 7:00PM-8:00PM
Our fourth annual Family Fest kicks off with audience favourite Nagata Shachu.
Join this taiko and music group as they lead you in a thirty-minute drum and movement workshop using authentic Japanese hand-drums. The workshop will be followed by a one-hour thunderous and heart-pounding performance.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the expected crowd size, seating will not be provided for this event - please bring your own chair or blanket!
FRIDAY, JULY 11
FIRESIDE MUNSCH: Classic Munsch Mayhem
PERFORMED BY M. JOHN KENNEDY
6:00pm-7:00pm
Join us on Friday evening for a special presentation of an award-winning play!
Fun for the entire family, M. John Kennedy’s hit solo show Fireside Munsch is a high-energy performance featuring four of Robert Munsch’s classic stories performed as one wacky storytelling play.
Friday’s performance will be Classic Munsch Mayhem: Mud Puddle, Mortimer, The Paperbag Princess and Jonathan Cleaned Up and Then He Heard A Sound! Come back on Saturday for Munsch Goes Wild!
Audience Recommendation: Ages 5-12
Tickets to Fireside Munsch are free but advanced booking is recommended.
PLUS: Come early and enjoy a performance from Jay9 Dance before the show!
SATURDAY, JULY 12
Giant puppet party
CAROUSEL THEATRE
12:30pm-2:00pm
Join Carousel Players and our resident Giant Puppet, Nadine the Ondine, for the Giant Puppet Party! Gather with a group for a guided workshop where you will design and create your very own giant puppet. Then join Nadine for a choreographed dance routine and free style dance party with your puppet. Giant Puppet Party is the perfect way for families to celebrate creating art through music, dancing and laughter!
Audience Recommendation: 4+ with help from grown-ups during the workshop!
Advance Booking is SOLD OUT - Join the waitlist!
HULA HOOP FUN ZONE + BUTTERFLIES
HOOP YOU
1:00pm-5:00pm
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.
Audience Recommendation: All Ages!
Spirit of Africa
2:30pm-3:30pm
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.
Audience Recommendation: All Ages!
The tibert et douzie show
4:00pm-5:00pm
TiBert et Douzie are a multi-talented duo of artists who take young and old listeners on a compelling journey of thoughts and emotions with every tune and story. Douzie uses his trusty fiddle and turntable to play old traditionals with a modern twist, while master storyteller and juggler TiBert gets everyone to join the jam with his jaw harp and a variety of traditional percussion instruments.
Audience Recommendation: All Ages!
FIRESIDE MUNSCH: MUNSCH GOES WILD
PERFORMED BY M. JOHN KENNEDY
6:00pm-7:00pm
Fun for the entire family, M. John Kennedy’s hit solo show Fireside Munsch is a high-energy performance featuring four of Robert Munsch’s classic stories performed as one wacky storytelling play.
Saturday’s performance will be Munsch Goes Wild: Andrew’s Loose Tooth, Alligator Baby, Smelly Socks and No Clean Clothes. Come back on Sunday for Classic Munsch Mayhem!
Audience Recommendation: Ages 5-12
Tickets to Fireside Munsch are free but advanced booking is recommended.
SUNDAY, JULY 13
Family Yoga: Joyful Movement with
Jen Houston
12:00pm-1:00pm
A feel-good flow designed to invite all ages to explore joyful movement through yoga. Strengthen balance in standing postures, engage the core with gentle exercise, find what feels good in mindful stretches, and enjoy the beauty of the natural surrounding in peaceful meditation
Suitable for Participants Aged 4+
tibert et douzie: Fiddle Workshop
1:00pm-2:00pm
Join Douzie as he introduces his instruments, plays various styles of fiddle tunes, and gets the audience dancing. TiBert will be there to help you with the steps and you can join the jam with percussion instruments like spoons and a washboard!
Audience Recommendation: All Ages
Live typewriter poetry
POESY
Drop in: 1PM-5PM
Have a poem created just for you! Poesy’s poets create personalized poetry crafted in real time on vintage typewriters
Audience Recommendation: Ages 6+
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin: The Game
THE GRAND SALTO THEATRE
2:00pm, 3:30pm & 5:30pm
At three seperate times throughout the afternoon, join the Grand Salto Theatre for an interactive experience based on the stories of Beatrix Potter!
Audience Recommendation: Ages 4+
Advance Booking is Recommended!
MAESTRO DUO
2:30pm-3:15pm
Amidst the grandeur and myriad of instruments of an orchestra, one solitary figure stands before them all with a baton at the ready: the conductor. But what happens if a second conductor were to show up? Two conductors seems like a recipe for trouble, especially when one is more traditional and the other wants to shake things up.
Audience Recommendation: All Ages
CATCH ME IN THE KITCHEN
4:15pm-5:00pm
Who will outsmart “the most handsome, most daring, most petrifyingly feared wolf in all the province of Ontario?” Join Stephen LaFrenie and Ginette Mohr for two reimagined classic tales with delightful characters and surprising twists - an exciting combination of storytelling and physical theatre, with a touch of French throughout! A joyous storytelling treat for families craving humorous and warm-hearted entertainment.
Audience Recommendation: Age 4-10
SCARBOROUGH UKE JAM
5:00pm-6:00pm
Founded in October 2013, Scarborough Uke Jam provides a fun, low-pressure environment where you can play and sing with a group of like-minded uke enthusiasts. Bring your uke or just come to sing-along and enjoy!
Age Recommendation: All Ages
FIRESIDE MUNSCH: CLASSIC MUNSCH MAYHEM
PERFORMED BY M. JOHN KENNEDY
6:00pm-7:00pm
Fun for the entire family, M. John Kennedy’s hit solo show Fireside Munsch is a high-energy performance featuring four of Robert Munsch’s classic stories performed as one wacky storytelling play.
Sunday’s performance will be Classic Munsch Mayhem: Mud Puddle, Mortimer, The Paperbag Princess and Jonathan Cleaned Up and Then He Heard A Sound!
Audience Recommendation: Ages 5-12
Tickets to Fireside Munsch are free but advanced booking is recommended.
Family fest sponsors
Guild Festival Theatre’s 2025 Season is presented by ARC Insurance & Financial Services Inc.
Owned and operated by Adele Read, CFP
