Recreational opportunities offered by City of Toronto over the Easter long weekend

The City of Toronto will offer many fun activities at its recreational facilities and attractions, as well as at its historic sites, during the Easter long weekend.Recreation programs and services will operate as usual on Saturday, April 15 and Sunday, April 16, but there will not be any recreation programs or permits at parks and recreation facilities on Friday, April 14 (Good Friday) and Monday, April 17 (Easter Monday) – with the exception of scheduled tournament or league play at indoor arenas. Residents can contact their local community and recreation centre or visit http://www.toronto.ca/parks for more information about individual facilities.Golf coursesAll five City-run golf courses will be open for business, weather permitting, and remain open throughout the holiday weekend. Toronto's courses are all affordable, high quality and TTC-accessible. For a limited time, early spring rates are in effect and Don Valley Golf Course is offering a 14-hole round at the nine-hole rate. More information about the City's golf courses is available at http://www.toronto.ca/golf. Tee times can be booked by calling the courses directly.Family attractionsRiverdale Farm, Toronto Island Park and High Park Zoo will all be open over the long weekend. Details follow.Riverdale Farm features a variety of farm animals, including brand new triplet goat kids. Visitors can stroll the grounds, visit the barns and paddocks, and meet the farmers. The farm is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free. More information: http://www.toronto.ca/parks/featured-parksToronto Island Park, minutes away from the downtown core by ferry, is a great place to walk, roll, cycle, explore and enjoy views of the city skyline. Franklin Children's Garden is open daily and details are available at bit.ly/1AP32H7. More information about Toronto Island Park: http://www.toronto.ca/parks/islandThe High Park Zoo on Deer Pen Road is home to domestic and exotic animals, including three baby capybaras. The animal attraction is open daily from 7 a.m. to dusk. More information: http://www.toronto.ca/parks/zooEaster flower showsThe City's annual Easter flower shows will run from April 14 to May 14 at Centennial Park Conservatory and Allan Gardens Conservatory, featuring lilies, primroses, spring bulbs and cineraria. The two conservatories are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free. More information is available by calling Centennial Park Conservatory at 416-394-8543 and Allan Gardens Conservatory at 416-392-7288, and online at http://www.toronto.ca/conservatories.Activities at historic sitesAll of the City's 10 historic sites will be closed on Friday, April 14 and eight of them will also be closed on Monday, April 17. Fort York National Historic Site and Spadina Museum – the two exceptions – will be open on Monday.All of the historic sites will be open on April 15 and April 16, offering tours and activities as usual on Saturday and Sunday. Regular admission fees apply. Times and activity details will vary by location. More historic sites information is available at http://www.toronto.ca/museum-events.Mackenzie House (82 Bond St.) will host a special event from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 15. Together with the Ward Museum, Mackenzie House will present Dishing Up Toronto: Hungering for Inclusion – Greek Food and Immigration. The afternoon will start with a downtown walking tour of Toronto's historic Greek community, then participants will try cooking and tasting traditional Greek recipes in Mackenzie House's historic kitchen. This event costs $75 and pre-registration is required. More information and online registration are available at http://www.wardmuseum.ca/dishinguptoronto.Toronto ZooThe Toronto Zoo will be open daily over the Easter long weekend. More information about the zoo's features, including operating hours, is available at http://www.torontozoo.com.Other municipal facilities and servicesCity of Toronto emergency and 24-hour services will operate throughout the long weekend. City administrative offices and service counters, City-operated child care centres and Children's Services district offices, and Archival Services at 255 Spadina Rd. will be closed for the four-day period April 14 to 17.