100+ Things to do with Kids in Abbotsford, BC

I have been looking for a good list of things to do with kids in my home town (Abbotsford, BC, Canada) and so far I haven't found one, so I decided to do some research, ask fellow parents, talk to childcare workers, consult city resources, and scour the internet for ideas.

I figured I'm not the first parent to ask the same question, so I thought I'd share my list! If you live in the area and have some suggestions of things to add I'll do an update every once in a while with new things!

100 Things to do with Kids In Abbotsford

1. Matsqui Recreation Center: Swimming, skating, classes, events, parties
2. Abbotsford Recreation Center: Swimming, gym, classes, skating, events, parties
3. Abbotsford Recreation Centre Open Playtime: Open gym playtime for NB-5 yrs (Check ARC Gymnasium schedule for time)  
4. Mill Lake Park: (Central Abbotsford) Water park, 3 playgrounds, walking trail, picnic shelters, baseball diamonds, and Centennial Outdoor Pool
5. Ellwood Park/Fishtrap Creek: (Clearbrook/West Abbotsford) 
6. Jubilee Park: New playground! (Downtown)
7. Swensson Park: (Aberdeen)
8. Garden Park: (West Abbotsford)
9. Grant Park: (Clearbrook)
10. Delair Park: (East Abbotsford)
11. Callaghan Park: (East Abbotsford)
12. High Street Mall Playground: (West Abbotsford)
13. McDonald Park: Fraser Valley Astronomers Society Dark Sky Park (light pollution free park)
14. Albert Dyck Lake (Molson Lake): Beach, swimming, waterskiing & wakeboarding
15. Clearbrook Library
16. Mt. Lehman Library
17. Abbotsford Community Library 
18. Central Abbotsford Community School Programs: Programs for kids and summer camps
19. Summer Day Camps: (Check with the City of abbotsford, or local churches/community organizations)
20. Parachute Games and Storytime in the park: check with abbotsford early childhood education committee for more info.
21. StrongStart: Parent/caregiver & tot drop in program 
22. Family Centre: Abbotsford Community Services provides programs including drop-in programs, best for babies, perinatal support, triple p parenting courses & abby dads programs.
23. Abbotsford Community Cruiser (summers only): Kids activities in local parks, check website and newspapers for locations 
24. Abbotsford Circle Farm Tour: Self-drive tour of local farms
25. Maan Farms: Berries, wine, baked goods, vegetables, market, playground, petting zoo, pumpkin patch
26. Taves Family Farms & Apple Barn: Apples, pumpkins, market, corn maze, petting zoo, playground and more
27. Willow View Farms: Berries, apples, fruit, pumpkins, hayrides, petting barn, playground
28. EcoDairy: Demonstration farm & Nutrimarket
29. Birchwood Dairy: Ice cream, farm tours & country store
30. Devan Greenhouses: Plants, play area & petting zoo 
31. Neufeld Farms: Chicken, market, berries, soft ice cream
32. Campbell's Gold Honey Farm and Meadery: Bees, honey, mead, crafts
33. Tanglebank Gardens & Brambles Bistro: Boutique gardens & bistro 
34. Goat's Pride Dairy: Goats & Goats milk products
35. Kensington Prairie Farm: Alpaca Farm
36. Lepp Farm Market: Market, deli, events
37. Tuscan Farm Gardens: Lavender Farm
38. Fraser Valley Trout Hatchery: Learn to fish programs, parties and education 
39. Silverbrook U Catch Rainbow Trout Farm: Fishing
40. The Reptile Guy: Reptile rescue and education
41. Happy Kids Club at Seven Oaks Mall: Contact customer service for children's activities
42. Abbotsford Farm & Country Market: Local Farmer's Market
43. High Street Mall: Shopping, restaurants, movie theater, playground, events
44. Clayburn Village: Heritage Village, museum, store/tea room
45. Abbotsford Sunday Flea Market: Find what you're looking for
46. The Book Man: Used books
47. Hemingway's Book Stores: New & used books
48. Downtown Abbotsford: Shopping, activities
49. Sticky's Candy: Candy Store (sorry!)
50. Tracycakes Bakery Cafe: Cupcakes, high tea, parties 
51. Sound of Music: Music retail & music academy
52. The Clay Cottage: Ceramics Studio
53. Strung Out On Beads: Beads, jewelry, classes
54. The Reach: Art Gallery and community events
55. Kariton Art Gallery: Art Studio
56. Tretheway House: Museum, Abbotsford history & heritage site
57. Gur Sikh Temple Historical Site: Sikh history in BC & religious heritage site
58. Granny & Grumpa's Antiques: 37936 Wells Line Road, Abbotsford, BC V3G 2A1 Phone: 604-854-1033
59. Play Abby: Indoor Playground and Laser Tag
60. Castle Fun Park: Mini Golf (indoor & outdoor), arcade & games
61. Abbotsford International Airport: Watch planes land & take off
62. SRY & CP Train crossings: (Vye Road near Sumas Rd) watch trains cross and move cars to build trains 
63. Geocaching: Real world treasure hunt
64. Heart for Gold Excursions: Gold panning on the Fraser River 604-859-2386
65. Glass Hive Studio: Glass studio, learn & create your own
66. Home Depot Kids Workshops: Projects & education for kids
67. Michaels: Parties, classes & events for kids
68. Abbotsford Community Gardens: Plant a garden
69. Gallery 7 Theatre & Performing Arts: Live theatre productions & drama camps 
70. Fraser Valley Stage: Live theatre productions
71. Abbotsford Children's Theatre: Live Theatre productions & drama camps
72. Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service: Education and demonstrations for groups
73. Abby Sports Hall of Fame: Memorabilia & recognition of athletes in Abbotsford
74. Abbotsford Pilots: Junior hockey
75. University of the Fraser Valley Cascades: Watch games, sports camps
76. Columbia Bible College Bearcats: Watch games, sports camps
77. Twisters Gymnastics: Drop-in gymnastics
78. Skateboard Parks: McMillan & Mouat skateboard parks
79. BMX Track: Racing & practice
80. Viking Icelandic Horse Riding Tours: Horseback riding
81. Galaxy Bowl: Bowling
82. Project Climbing Centre: Rock climbing gym
83. Mountain biking: Local trails & rider information/community (search Abbotsford, BC)
84. Chadsey Lake: (medium) hike to the lake for a picnic
85. Sumas Peak: (medium) hike to chasedy lake, then continue on to sumas peak
86. Sumas Mountain Trail: (difficult) hiking trail
87. Discovery Trail: (easy, paved, accessible) waslk the 30+ km paved trail spanning Abbotsford
88. Willband Creek Park: (easy) Bird watching, wetlands, hiking
89. Matsqui Trail Regional Park: (easy/medium) Walk along the Fraser river and through fields
90. Trans Canada Walking Trail : Walk the abbotsford portion of the Trans Canada Trail (includes some of the trails listed above)
91. Other Walking Trails in Abbotsford: find other walking trails in abbotsford
92. Abbotsford Centre: (formerly Abbotsford Entertainment Centre) Event centre, various events, see calendar for children's events
93. TradeX:  Event centre, various events, see calendar for children's events
94. Abbotsford International Airshow: (August) Airplanes, airplanes, airplanes
95. Berry Beat Festival (Berry Festival): (July) Celebrate the berries with music, dancing, food & fun in downtown abbotsford
96. Agrifair & Rodeo: (August) Country fair & rodeo
97. Jam in Jubilee: (summer) Music & art 
98. Envision Concert Series: (summer) Coffee houses & concerts in the park
99. Passport to Christmas: (December) Christmas shopping and events at local places
100. Fraser Valley Tulip Festival: Tulips (April)
101. Abbotsford Diwali Festival: Late October/early November. October 23, 2014 (this year's date) Check local papers for locations of events and times.
102. Bradner Flower show: Daffodils (April)
103. Bradner May Day Celebration (May - check with Bradner PAC for more info)
104. Mt. Lehman Canada Parade (July 1st)
105. Canada Day Festival: (July 1st) Parade & family activities
106. Abbotsford MCC Festival for World Relief: (September) Food, auctions/shopping, children's activities, music
107. Prospera Valley Grandfondo: Cycling race
108. AbbyFest: Multicultural Festival
109. Trick or Treat: (October 31) Downtown Abbotsford businesses provide a safe, fun environment for trick or treating on Halloween
110. Abbotsford Car Show: (August) Fabulous cars  

Other Great Resources

1. Abbotsford Parks, Recreation & Culture Program Guide: Abbotsford City program guide to activities & events sponsored by the city.
2. Tourism Abbotsford: what's happening in Abbotsford
3. Mrs. Abbotsford: Follow on Facebook for local events
4. Find Family Fun: Great list of things to do in Vancouver & area 
5. Freshair Cinema: Outdoor Movie Company - find one in your area 
6. Kids Bowl Free: Register kids to get 2 free bowling games per day (@Galaxy Bowl and others in the area)
7. Abby Dads: Father involvement program and activities

Updated June 3, 2014

Help me make this list current and helpful to parents and childcare workers in the area! 

If you know of an annual event, business, activity, or place in Abbotsford that is great for kids, please add it in the comments and I'll update the list occasionally. If you come across something that is no longer in operation or the information is incorrect, please let me know! I will also try to create a list for other areas nearby eventually.

Please note: This list is strictly a collection of my research for my own use that I am sharing with other parents and childcare workers in the area - there is no advertising or $ involved.