Free, Family-Friendly Winter Activities in Mississauga

Top Image Photo Credit: Flickr

Food and living expenses continue to increase but you can still have fun both indoors and outdoors this winter season with these FREE activities in Mississauga! Whether it’s ongoing free activities you can drop in or sign up for, festivals to celebrate the upcoming holidays, or our city’s best sledding hills or skating rinks to enjoy the winter season – we’ve compiled a list for you to explore the nature and diversity of Mississauga without spending anything.

Skating at Celebration Square | Photo Credit: Adam Pulicicchio

Outdoor Winter Activities

Sled down one of Mississauga’s best hills

Layer up in your warm winter clothes, pull on your boots, grab your toboggan, and head to one of Mississauga’s parks for an afternoon of sledding! Head to Birchwood Park for a large hill that is great for kids – and adults too! Erindale Park, one of Mississauga’s largest parks, is a popular spot for sledding. There’s also lots of places to walk – and public washrooms nearby! Check out Brookmede Park for a small hill or Castlegreen Meadows for long but not steep slope – ideal spots for younger kids.

Skate on the Square

The skating rink at Celebration Square is open and ready for your spins, glides, and (maybe) the occasional slips! Bring your own skates and helmets or rent them on site.

Wander through a Winter Wonderland

Take a winter walk through the woodlands, meadows, and ravines of Riverwood Conservation area. Spanning 150 acres along the Credit River, you might spot some deer, beavers, songbirds or woodpeckers. The Conservancy also offers affordable events ($5 – $15) such as birding workshops, forest bathing, nighttime nature and tracking, and a tea garden workshop on January 21st at Chappell House. Park admission and parking are both free.

Explore the ‘last remaining lakefront marsh of its kind’ between Toronto and Burlington by strolling along the boardwalk at Rattray Marsh Conservation Area. A great place for nature lovers and birdwatchers, be on the lookout for beavers, deer, foxes, and songbirds! Entry to the conservation area is free!

APIK Fest | Photo Credit: Jay Gallant

Festivals & Expos

Friday, February 7 – Sunday, February 9: APIK Fest Mississauga at Celebration Square

The mountain spirit is coming to the heart of our city – with a competition for ski and snowboard athletes! Come watch the competitions, participate in the snowskate demos and lessons, enjoy musical performances, and grab some bites from the food trucks. APIK Fest is a free, accessible event in Celebration Square, and it’s sure to be a great winter outing for the whole family!

Saturday, February 15 – Sunday, February 17: Ramadan Expo

Looking for a celebration of faith, culture, business. and flavour this Ramadan? Check out the Ramadan Expo at the International Centre Hall 2 to hear from business speakers in the halal market, shop the latest Islamic products and fashion, and enjoy bites from the international halal food court. There will also be a Kids’ Carnival, with lots of fun rides and activities.

Monday, February 17: Family Day at Celebration Square

Celebrate Family Day with a day of family fun at Celebration Square! More details are coming, but here’s what we do know: it’s free, it runs from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., and it’ll be packed with exciting activities for all ages!

Terminal 1, 1967 | Photo Credit: George Hunter

Mississauga-centred Activities

Until January 31st: Malton’s Aviation History Exhibit

Presented by the Museums of Mississauga at the Malton Airport Gallery, check out the Malton’s Aviation History exhibit at Terminal 1 of Toronto Pearson Airport! Explore rarely seen photographs of the people, places, and planes that built Malton’s aviation legacy. This exhibit is free for all ages and runs until January 31st, 2025.

Youth Nights at the Museum

Benares Historic House is offering free Youth Nights at the Museum for those ages 14 -21. Wednesday evenings, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on February 12 (Bradley Museum), March 19 (Benares Historic House), April 6 (Bradley Museum), and May 14 (Benares Historic House), teens can dive into creative activities to connect them to Mississauga’s local history, get behind-the-scenes access to museum tours you won’t find anywhere else, and help shape museum youth events and exhibits! These events count towards volunteer hours for students who are looking for opportunities to give back to their community.

Saturday, February 22: African Drumming & Storytelling

In African culture, drumming and storytelling are part of the celebration of life, especially its cycles and seasons. Check out this event from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. at the Malton Library for an entertaining dance, hand drumming and interactive storytelling program for all ages! There’s no online registration so admission is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Ongoing Free Activities

To participate in the following ongoing free activities, you must sign up online or borrow a pass.

Get Creative in the Mississauga Public Library’s Makerspaces!

With a Mississauga Public Library card, you can access their Makerspaces for free! These are collaborative spaces where you can access free services, technology, and equipment. At various library locations across the city, you will find photography and filmmaking studios (with cameras, lights, and green screens), sound studios and recording booths (with audio equipment and electronic instruments), computers equipped with Adobe Creative Cloud, digital media labs with Cricut machines, button makers, and sewing machines, and maker studios with 3D printers, laser and vinyl cutters.

Visit the Peel Art Gallery

With a Mississauga Public Library card, you can get a “PAMA Family General Admission Pass” that allows free admission to the Peel Art Gallery for you and your family (up to 2 adults and 5 children).

Explore Mississauga’s Natural Beauty

With a Mississauga Public Library card, you can borrow a pass to visit the Credit Valley Conservation parks or any Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) parks for free. TRCA Parks include the Black Creek Pioneer Village, Bruce’s Mills Conservation Park, Heart Lake Conservation Park, and more! You can also get an Ontario Parks Pass to access and visit over 100 provincial parks for free.

Discover Egyptian History in Mississauga

Learn all about Egyptian history at the Egyptian Museum in Riverview, Mississauga. Families can take advantage of the 50% discount and get tickets for only $10. Children under six can visit for free!

Sauga At Play

Sauga At Play is a free, drop-in, after-school program for 10 to 18-year-olds. Find drop-in programs like badminton, basketball, volleyball, and soccer at various community centres across the city. Youth Memberships may be required; visit your local community centre to pick up your membership and view the drop-in program schedule!

This article is a part of a seasonal series, so check back in a few months for a list of activities for the spring months! If you have a free, family-friendly activity to add to this list, email us at marketing@foodbanksmississauga.ca.