Top five things to do in Vaughan on Thanksgiving Day
Need to walk off that turkey from this weekend? We’ve got you covered! From exploring scenic trails to discovering art created by local artists, there are many fun, free activities to keep you and your family entertained for the whole day. So, grab your sunglasses, leave the elastic-waist pants at home, and get ready to gobble up some fun in our city’s great outdoors!
Here's the top five things to do in Vaughan today:
1. Take a stroll along a trail or neighbourhood walk
Lace up your hiking shoes and prepare to embark on an outdoor adventure on one of the 12 Great Walks of Vaughan: Jersey Creek Neighbourhood Walk, Mackenzie Glen Neighbourhood Walk, Maple Nature Reserve Nature Walk, Marita Payne Neighbourhood Walk, North Maple Regional Park Nature Walk, Peter Rupert Neighbourhood Walk, Rainbow Creek Neighbourhood Walk (note: select paths temporarily closed for stormwater management pond installations), Riverwalk Neighbourhood Walk, Sonoma Heights Neighbourhood Walk, Sugarbush Nature Walk, Vellore Neighbourhood Walk and William Granger Greenway Nature Walk. There’s a trail for all ages, abilities and comfort levels. Visit vaughan.ca/GreatWalks for more information and maps. You can also browse the Parks and Trails webpage for an interactive view of all trails and parks throughout the city, the Great Walks of Vaughan walking trail guide (PDF) and the City’s Great Walks of Vaughan map legend (PDF).
In addition to the Great Walks of Vaughan, our city has many other local trails to explore, including the Bartley Smith Greenway, the William Granger Greenway (Humber Trail), the Nashville Conservation Reserve Trails and the Vaughan Super Trail. Learn more about these trails at vaughan.ca/trails.
2. Discover art created by local artists
If you’re looking for an art adventure, Vaughan has 12 new public art stops to add to your long weekend plans! One dozen traffic signal boxes across the city have been transformed into extraordinary works of art through the City of Vaughan’s ARTonBOXES program. Check them out at the following locations:
Ward 1
Major Mackenzie Drive and Keele Street – Maria Suzdaleva, The Calmest Hour
Melville Avenue and Springside Road – Hailey Shema, Joy
Ward 2
Woodbridge Avenue and Clarence Street – Cailin Sadecka, Ethereality
Woodbridge Avenue and Islington Avenue – Alessandra Raso, The Hunt
Woodbridge Avenue and Kipling Avenue – Allyson Safran, Mountain Vast
Woodbridge Avenue and the Market Lane Shopping Centre – Kaitlyn Hsieh, Wilderness
Ward 3
Chrislea Road and Northview Boulevard – Daniel Zhang, Muskoka Woods
Famous Avenue and Colossus Drive – Anna Ladizginsky, Twine
Ward 4
Apple Mill Road and Millway Avenue – Marni Pellicane, Beauty of Banff
Ilan Ramon Boulevard and Lebovic Campus Drive – Caia Rotman, Peggy
Ward 5
Clark Avenue and New Westminster Drive – Lorenzo Pereira Misiunas, The Lone Boat
Yonge Street and Centre Street – Rana Silakhori, Snowy Serenity
To learn more, visit vaughan.ca/ARTonBOXES.
3. Enjoy your local park
The City’s parks offer a wide variety of outdoor activities for all ages to enjoy, including:
baseball fields
basketball courts
bocce courts
off-leash dog parks
outdoor exercise equipment
playgrounds
skateboard parks
soccer fields
tennis and pickleball courts
trails
volleyball court
All washroom facilities in City parks remain open until Monday, Oct. 30. Visit vaughan.ca/parks for more information.
4. Catch some wind while cycling through Vaughan
Vaughan’s cycling and multi-use recreational trails network consists of the following:
In-boulevard cycle tracks: designated spaces for people riding bikes separate from those walking or driving. These areas are marked with a bicycle symbol and diamond.
On-road bike lanes: designated spaces for people riding bikes separate from those walking but run alongside people driving. These areas are made visible with pavement markings on the roadway.
In-boulevard multi-use pathways: shared spaces for people walking and riding their bikes separate from those driving. These areas are within the boulevard along a roadway.
Multi-use recreational trails: shared spaces for people walking and riding their bikes within parks and open spaces.
And the network continues to grow! For more information, visit vaughan.ca/cycling. You can also explore Vaughan’s cycling facilities in the York Region Cycling Map.
5. Immerse yourself in nature's tales with StoryWalk
Discover StoryWalk – back again this year! As you walk along select City trails, discover large panels showcasing colourful pages of children’s books. With each step along the trail, the story unfolds one page at a time in this immersive experience. StoryWalk is the perfect opportunity to get active outdoors with your family and friends in a place where books come to life under the open sky. When you’re visiting a StoryWalk, use the hashtag #LoveVPL on social media and share pictures and videos of your outdoor fun. Remember not to disturb or get close to wildlife. Find a StoryWalk trail at vaughanpl.info/storywalk.
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