Week of August 24-30, 2026

The end of August is upon us, sweet babies. (Cue relevant soundtrack.)

Last week, my littlest babe turned 4 (I cried), I prepped for her celebrations (we laughed), and finally prepped to take some well-deserved time off work (we cheered!) It's why this roundup is a bit late. 🤷‍♀️

I haven't spent nearly as much time outside this summer as I usually do. Maybe it has something to do with our uncomfortable patio furniture, slowly disintegrating deck (why is home ownership this hard?), or the endless hum of air conditioning near every sitting area. But I'm not complaining, just noting — for the record.

Now I have 2 weeks to spend with my kids and not think about work for a precious little moment — until school begins anew.

Were you one of those people who liked going back to school? I loved it, even when anxiety crashed into me in the night hours about all the what-ifs, and how-wills.

September is my new year — but man, do my kids ever make me realize how fast the new years come and go. But anyways. Here's the weekly.

🗓️ This week in Durham

Ajax

• 🎤 Thursday, Aug 27 (doors 8pm, show 8:30pm) — Ajax Comedy Club: Dylan Gott — inside Lumbini Restaurant's banquet hall (60 Randall Dr), tickets $15–19. They're already booked out through Sep 17 if you want to plan ahead: Gilson Lubin (Sep 3), Michael Harrison (Sep 10), Habib Siam (Sep 17). They've also just teased a Jay Rainville headliner night — no date yet, watch their Instagram.
  • I'm planning to get tickets soon! I'll let you know how it is when we go 😄, promise.
• 🚧 Ongoing through spring 2027 — Kingston Road construction update — lane reconfigurations and new protected turn signals at Salem Road and Harwood Avenue, part of the Durham-Scarborough Bus Rapid Transit project. Worth knowing if that's your regular route.

Clarington

• 🍿 Wednesday, Aug 26 (dusk, ~8pm) — Movies Under the Stars: Goat — free, at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex (2440 Hwy-2). Bring a blanket or lawn chair.

Oshawa

• 🧠 Wednesday, Aug 26 & Thursday, Aug 27 — trivia nights — Wednesday at The Waltzing Weasel and Torchbearer Taproom, Thursday at Bollocks Pub.

Pickering

• 🎶 Thursday, Aug 27 (7–9pm), Friday, Aug 28 (5:30–7:30pm) & Sunday, Aug 30 (2–4pm) — Summer Concert Series — the season's last few dates: Echo at Millennium Square (Thu), Jammer's Waffle House at Rick Johnson Memorial Park (Fri), and Swing Shift Little Big Band closing it out at Esplanade Park (Sun).
• 👻 Thursdays through October (9:15–10:15pm) — Pickering Paranormal Waterfront Tours — starts at Millennium Square, $25.52.
• 🧺 Saturday, Aug 29 — Farmers' Market — back for the season at the Esplanade.

Scugog

• 🎨 All week — "Shifting Perspectives" — Scugog Arts' juried show, in Port Perry.
• 🧠 Wednesday, Aug 26 — trivia at Old Flame Brewery.

Uxbridge

• 🚗 Friday–Sunday, Aug 28–30 (spectator hours 9am–5pm Sat/Sun) — Autofest Nationals — car show, food trucks, live music, and a kid's zone at Elgin Park. $15 adults, kids under 12 free.

Whitby

• 🎶 Tuesday, Aug 25 & Thursday, Aug 27 — Sounds of Summer — free concerts, Tuesday at Celebration Square, Thursday at Grass Park in Brooklin.
• 🧠 Tuesday, Aug 25 (7pm / 7:30pm) — trivia — Town Brewery, or Ruby Pub Trivia at Kings Tavern (617 Victoria St W) — call ahead for the latter, reservations aren't handled through Eventbrite.

Planning ahead?

• The Port Perry Fair runs Labour Day weekend, Sept 5–7 — right before school's back in session
• Pickering's first-ever car show rolls into the Dorsay Community & Heritage Centre on Sept 5, free entry and parking with a free burger for the first 100 guests
• The Uxbridge Fall Fair — celebrating its 50th year — follows Sept 11–13.
• Whitby's new Fieldgate Sports Complex (twin-pad arena, aquatics centre, skatepark, and more, west of Baldwin St S and south of the 407) throws open its doors Sept 12 with a free community celebration
• Durham Fashion Week hits the Audley Recreation Centre in Ajax on Sept 13, tickets on Eventbrite (their vendor call is still open too, if you know a local business that wants a table — DM the account)
• Oshawa's Culture Days close out the run from Sept 18 through Oct 4.

📍 Local gem: Take 5 Dance School (Oshawa)

When I was trying to build a after school activity planning app for parents with my husband, I did lots of interviews with activity providers to learn more about their businesses.

One of my favourite interviews was with Jesslyn from Take 5 Dance. She's been running Take 5 for 25+ years, has two locations (north Oshawa and Port Hope), and puts on some great shows. They also have a "transition to competitive" program that I haven't seen in many places – for kiddos (and parents) who are curious about competition, but maybe not ready for the full commitment yet.

💚 Why I love it: Jesslyn makes business decisions from a place of true care and generosity. Even something that seems simple, like picking a payment system or cadence for payments, is informed by her deep awareness of people's different life situations. She's one of the only studios in the area that offers classes by terms (even for the littles, which is so helpful when they're just trying things out) and different payment schedules for parents.

👨‍👩‍👧 This weekend, with littles

• 🚗 Saturday–Sunday, Aug 29–30 — Autofest Nationals, Elgin Park, Uxbridge — kids under 12 get in free, and a car show with a kid's zone is about as low-effort-high-payoff as a weekend outing gets.
• 🎶 Sunday, Aug 30 — the free Esplanade Park concert (2pm) pairs nicely with a stroll through the Farmers' Market that morning, Pickering.
• 🎒 Scrambling for camp coverage before school starts? idealab's Whitby and Pickering locations opened single-day registration for STEAM and PA Day sessions.

Before you go — a few things with a deadline

• 🔬 Ontario Science Centre (now at Harbourfront Centre) — free entry for kids 17 and under, through September 7. (Thanks to Julia from @durham_kids_events)
• 🎁 Like a little giveaway? Great Wolf Lodge and Mathnasium ($250 gift card) giveaways both close August 27–28 — worth an entry if you can spare a follow on IG. (I never win, but I share with you, so one day someone can win something, somewhere.)
• 🎡 Hitting the CNE before it wraps? The $30 "EXcelunch" refund trick works Monday–Wednesday through September 7.

Know a hidden gem (or just an obvious, but well-loved rock) in Durham Region I should feature, profile, or talk to?

Talk soon,

Arina from Whitby