Blog > When is the Markham-Milliken Children's Festival and where do I park?
When is the Markham-Milliken Children's Festival and where do I park?
The Markham-Milliken Children's Festival runs Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Aaniin Community Centre, 5665 14th Avenue. Entry is free. A Play-All-Day Pass for unlimited rides is $10 plus HST in advance or $15 plus HST on the day. The detail that matters most: there is no public parking at Aaniin. Park free at Milliken Mills Community Centre, 7600 Kennedy Road, and take the complimentary shuttle, which runs every 30 minutes from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Road closures are in effect around the venue.
Read the Parking Section First
This is the part that decides whether your day starts well.
There is no public parking at Aaniin Community Centre. Accessible spaces are reserved, and that is all. Driving to 5665 14th Avenue expecting to park is the mistake to avoid.
Instead:
- Park free at Milliken Mills Community Centre, 7600 Kennedy Road
- Take the complimentary shuttle, which departs every 30 minutes toward the venue
- Shuttle hours: 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Road closures are in effect around Aaniin during the festival, so even street parking nearby is not a workaround. Build the shuttle into your timing, particularly if you are travelling with a stroller or a child who does not do well with waiting.
What It Costs
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Festival entry | Free |
| Play-All-Day Pass, advance purchase | $10 plus HST |
| Play-All-Day Pass, event day | $15 plus HST |
| Millie Doll and Play-All-Day Pass bundle, advance | $30 plus HST |
Buying the pass in advance saves $5 per child. For a family of three children that is $15, which is worth the two minutes it takes.
A useful point for parents of very young children: a good portion of the festival is free without any pass at all. If your child is two and mostly interested in sensory tables and toddler rides, you may not need to buy anything.
What Is Free and What Needs a Pass
Free programming
- Sensory tables
- STEM activities
- Mini putt
- Toddler-specific rides
Play-All-Day Pass attractions
- Trackless train rides
- Obstacle courses
- Slides
- Circus-themed inflatables
Entertainment, running continuously
An interactive DJ, animal shows, magic, bubble performances and dance acts run through the day, including a Global Dance Party with Chris McKhool. Entertainment is scheduled across the full ten hours rather than concentrated at one point, so arriving mid-afternoon still catches a full programme.
Why the Venue Is Worth the Trip
Aaniin Community Centre and Library is Markham's most ambitious recreation building. It opened in 2017 at 122,000 square feet and a construction cost of $52 million, designed by Perkins&Will to LEED Gold standard, and it has won five design awards including Best of Year Institutional from Interior Design Magazine and an Institutional Wood Design Award from WoodWORKS!.
The name is an Ojibwe greeting, commonly rendered as "welcome" or "hello", and also translated as "I see your light". It was chosen to honour Indigenous peoples and Truth and Reconciliation.
Inside are an aquatics centre, a double gymnasium, a 150 metre indoor track, a library branch with a makerspace, a teaching kitchen, a performance space with amphitheatre seating and an indoor playground. Michael John Lau, a REALTOR® who helps families purchase homes in Markham, Ontario, points buyers with young children toward this building specifically, because a festival day is a good way to see how a community facility actually functions.
The Festival's Track Record
This is not a small local event. The Markham-Milliken Children's Festival has been named to the Festivals and Events Ontario Top 100 list for 2026, and previously in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024. Five Top 100 recognitions in seven years is a genuine record.
For context, AppleFest at the Markham Museum earned the same recognition in 2025. Markham runs two of the province's recognised festivals within a week of each other.
Practical Notes for the Day
- Arrive before 11:00 a.m. or after 3:00 p.m. The middle of a ten hour family festival is the busiest stretch, and shuttle queues follow the same curve.
- Buy the pass in advance if you intend to use the rides at all. The $5 saving per child applies whether you arrive at nine or at four.
- Bring what a shuttle trip requires. You are not walking back to the car for a forgotten hat or a change of clothes.
- Accessible parking is available at Aaniin for those who need it.
- Plan for weather either way. Aaniin has substantial indoor space, which is more than most outdoor festivals can offer.
Questions about your own property or timeline? Call Michael John Lau, REALTOR®, at (416) 700-0286 for a direct answer on your street and your situation.
Make It a Markham Weekend
September is the busiest month on Markham's community calendar.
- Saturday, September 19: AppleFest at the Markham Museum, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., $14 for adults and $11 for youth 4 to 18. Apple cider pressing, heritage demonstrations and more than 30 historic buildings on a 25 acre site.
- Saturday, September 26: Doors Open Markham, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., free, with 17 heritage and civic sites open across Unionville, Markham Village and Thornhill.
- Saturdays until October 10: the Markham Village Farmers' Market at Main Street and Robinson Street, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Thursday to Sunday, October 1 to 4: the Markham Fair at 10801 McCowan Road, $25 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Markham-Milliken Children's Festival 2026?
Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Aaniin Community Centre, 5665 14th Avenue, Markham.
Is the Markham-Milliken Children's Festival free?
Entry is free, and a portion of the programming including sensory tables, STEM activities, mini putt and toddler rides costs nothing. A Play-All-Day Pass for the rides is $10 plus HST in advance or $15 plus HST on the day.
Where do I park for the Children's Festival?
Not at Aaniin. There is no public parking at the venue apart from accessible spaces. Park free at Milliken Mills Community Centre, 7600 Kennedy Road, and take the complimentary shuttle, which runs every 30 minutes from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
What ages is the festival suitable for?
It is built for a wide range. Toddler-specific rides and sensory tables serve the youngest visitors, while obstacle courses, slides and the trackless train suit older children. Entertainment runs continuously throughout the day.
Do I need to register in advance?
No registration is required for general attendance. Only the Play-All-Day Pass benefits from advance purchase, which saves $5 per pass.
Are there road closures?
Yes. Road closures are in effect around Aaniin Community Centre during the festival, which is why the shuttle from Milliken Mills is the intended way in.
Looking for a family home in Markham?
Michael John Lau matches buyers to communities on the amenities they will actually use, and a festival Saturday is one of the better ways to judge one.
Michael John Lau, REALTOR® · Markham, Ontario · (416) 700-0286
Disclaimer. Michael John Lau is a licensed REALTOR® serving buyers and sellers in Markham, Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area. Event details, hours, pricing and parking arrangements are current to September 2026 and are subject to change. Attendees are encouraged to confirm details directly with the City of Markham before travelling.