Downtown Guelph has deals on good food, and lots of good fun for kids during March Break.
The Downtown Guelph Business Association has been working for several weeks on March Break in Downtown Guelph, a way to promote businesses in the city’s core, and to offer grandparents, parents and kids a host of things to do for March Break.
Next week, kids can get free eats at some 15 participating restaurants, with some restrictions, and Guelph Public Library and Guelph Civic Museum are onboard with events throughout the week. The Bookshelf Cinema at 41 Quebec Street will host afternoon matinees, all great for school-aged kids.
“This is for those people who don’t have their kids in March Break camp, and who realize on Monday that they really need something to do with them,” said Sam Jewell, events coordinator for Downtown Guelph.
“You find that there’s always a lot of grandparents that are looking for stuff to do with the grandkids, because they have to step up and take care of them during March Break,” she added.
Most of the 15 restaurants participating will offer “1 kid eats free” deals, and there are others that offer free cookies, a free grab-bag of sweets, or free pancakes. Kids much be 12 or younger.
Jewell said participating restaurants are eager to have families in their establishments, and to appeal to that demographic.
“It’s not just about popping in,” Jewell said of planned events. “There are a lot of things where you can come and spend a good chunk of the day downtown.”
The library will be a magical place on Monday, with a magic show by Magical Mr. O at 10:30 a.m. There are hands-on activities involving getting wacky with water in the afternoon. There’s a teen movie Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m., and a movie time on Thursday morning for younger children.
The museum will host special guests and demonstrations throughout the week, including dancing and drumming good times on Monday and Tuesday. There’s a travelling reptile show on Wednesday, yoga on Thursday, and an exploration of water on Friday. All museum activities start at 1 p.m.
And Dragon, the comic book store in the Old Quebec Street Mall will host games of Pokemon, Dungeons and Dragons, and more in the afternoon and evening on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
“I think the most important thing for us is the kids eat free component,” Jewell said. “Kids are picky eaters so there’s lots of choices of where you can take them. There’s anything from a cake pop at Wellington Cakes to a full meal.”
All seats to Bookshelf Cinema’s 2 p.m. daily matinees are five bucks.
“So you and your kids could be sitting there watching a movie that just came out last year, or an older one like Princess Bride,” Jewell said. “We always try to get one movie that people might have missed the first time on the big screen.”
Jewell would like to see a bustle in the downtown next week.
“I hope it’s going to be parents and grandparents kicking back, saying, ‘Oh good, my work is being done for me,’ as their kids are being entertained, and they can just relax,” Jewell added.
Check out Downtown Guelph's March Break listing for activities at participating shops and restaurants.
Find other community activities on GuelphToday's community calendar.
