Family-Friendly Things to Do in Burlington This Weekend — Aug 15, 2026
Archived weekend.
Weekend Forecast
☁Sat23° / 16°
🌦Sun24° / 18°
This week's pick
Access Storage Free Swims at Tansley Woods Pool
Cloudy Saturday at 23°C is actually good news for outdoor events — no sun beating down on strollers. Get the Spencer Smith and Elgin Promenade stops done Saturday morning and early afternoon. Sunday brings a real chance of rain by evening, so front-load anything outdoor and keep the Art Gallery of Burlington in your back pocket for the afternoon.
Free swim at Tansley Woods Community Centre runs 1:30–3:30 p.m. Saturday, sponsored by Access Storage. Both the lap pool and leisure pool are open, plus the water slide and diving board. Walk-ins are first-come, first-served — arrive by 1:15 to avoid a wait at the door.
Sat · 1:30 p.m. · Tansley Woods Community Centre · Free
A Burlington dad says: The diving board at Tansley Woods is free Saturday afternoon. We'll be there at 1:15 before the walk-in line builds.
The Art Gallery of Burlington runs a free drop-in studio Sunday 1–4 p.m., built around artist Roda Medhat's sculptural installation. Artist-instructors are on hand if kids want direction, but independent creating is equally welcome. Good call for Sunday afternoon if the rain arrives early.
Sun · 1:00 p.m. · Art Gallery of Burlington · Free
Burlington Lions Club Farmers Market is at Burlington Centre Saturday 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Ontario produce, baked goods, honey, and handcrafted items from local vendors. Go before noon — the best vendors sell out and the cloudy sky keeps it comfortable.
Burlington Model Railway Club opens to the public Saturday 11 a.m.–3 p.m. at Hidden Valley Park in Aldershot. N-scale and HO-scale layouts run indoors; the G-scale garden railway runs outside weather permitting — cloudy Saturday should be fine. Free admission, donations accepted.
Sat · 11:00 a.m. · Burlington Model Railway Club · Free
Jesse Adams plays the Elgin Promenade Saturday 1–4 p.m. as part of the Downtown Summer Music Series. Free facepainting and typewriter poetry are also on-site this week. It's a low-commitment stop — pull up for 30 minutes while the kids get their faces painted.
The Natural Women Show performs at the Central Park Bandshell Sunday 7–8:30 p.m. This is an outdoor evening show, so check the rain forecast before you pack the blanket. The series runs through August 30 if Sunday's weather turns.
Burlington VegFest takes over Spencer Smith Park Saturday 11:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. Local vendors, food, and organizations focused on plant-based living. No admission cost; the lakefront location makes it an easy add-on to a Saturday morning at the waterfront.
Triple C Farm hosts the Bat Guy Saturday 2–4 p.m. — a 60-minute interactive bat presentation followed by petting farm time. This one is specific enough that kids who go will talk about it for weeks. Check Triple C Farm directly for booking details before you drive out.
Drag Queen Gila Münster leads storytime at MPL Sherwood Branch Saturday 11 a.m.–noon, open to kids 6 months to 10 years. Picture books, music, and dancing focused on self-love and acceptance. Adults must be accompanied by a child; dress-up is encouraged.
