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 Three Musketeers by Lakeside Players, with a pre-show performance by Jay9 Dance. Over the weekend, 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, Theatricks, and more!
All events at Family Fest are free of charge.
FRIDAY, JULY 10
THREE MUSKATEERS - 6:00-7:00 - The Greek Theatre
Created and Performed by Lakeside Players
Join us on Friday evening for a special presentation of ETC ETC ETC
SATURDAY, JULY 12
SPIRIT OF AFRICA Performance - 1:00-2:00 - The Greek Theatre
SPIRIT OF AFRICA Drum Workshop - 2:30-3:30 - Lawn
Show Info
Plus, come early for a special pre-show performance by Jay9 Dance!
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!
HULA HOOP FUN ZONE + BUTTERFLIES - 1:00-5:00 - Lawn
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!
RUBENA SINHA
2:30-3:30 - The Greek Theatre
4:00-500 - Lawn
DIANA TSO
4:00-5:00- The Greek Theatre
5:30-5:50 - Lawn
JAY9 DANCE - 5:30-5:50 - The Greek Theatre
THREE MUSKATEERS - 6:00-7:00 - The Greek Theatre
SUNDAY JULY 12
SCARBOROUGH UKE JAM- 1:00-2:00 - The Greek Theatre
HI BLUE BUTTERFLY
Storytelling and Live Music Performance by Camila Garcia
2:30-3:30 - The Greek Theatre / 4:00-5:00 - Crafts on the Lawn
POESY - 2:30-3:30 - Lawn
MOKO JUMBIE - 2:30-3:30 - Lawn
COMMUNITY PROLOGUE - 5:30-5:50 - The Greek Theatre
UN SUPERVISED
Performance by Selena Russo - 5:30-5:50 - Lawn
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.
DESCRIPTION AND PHOTO OF DIANA
DESCRIPTION AND PHOTO
DESCRIPTION AND PHOTO
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.
Audience Recommendation: Ages 6+
KUNE ORCHESTRA - 4:00-5:00 - The Greek Theatre
DESCRIPTION AND PHOTO
DESCRIPTION AND PHOTO
“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.
THREE MUSKATEERS - 6:00-7:00 - The Greek Theatre
DESCRIPTION AND PHOTO
