Why we wrote this
Newcomers usually find their own community's parties first. The wider list of free city offerings — public swims, splash pads, library museum passes, friendship-centre events, free outdoor concerts — often goes unnoticed. This page is the shortcut.
Outdoors year-round
- Hollinger Park — Timmins' big central park: wide green space, playgrounds, picnic shelters, ball diamonds, hosts major festivals. Always free.
- Gillies Lake Conservation Area — free walking and cycling loop around the lake, beach with free summer swimming (lifeguards in season), boardwalks. Beloved by locals.
- Riverside Park — splash pad, walking trails along the Mountjoy River, free summer concerts, pavilion.
- Mountjoy Park / Pearl Lake — neighbourhood park, walking, picnic.
- Whitney Park and McChesney Park — playgrounds, sports fields, free.
- Hollinger Mine viewing — the open-pit gold mine viewing area gives a free, dramatic look at active mining (visible from designated viewpoints).
- Porcupine Lake / South Porcupine — beach and waterfront across town in South Porcupine.
In winter the Gillies Lake loop becomes a free walking and snowshoe trail; the Mountjoy River paths stay accessible.
Library card = free city pass
A card at the Timmins Public Library is free with proof of address — and you get more than books:
- Free Wi-Fi, public computers, printing, study space
- Free children's storytime, summer reading club, homework help
- Newcomer-friendly multilingual collections
- Museum and attraction passes — many Ontario libraries lend free passes; ask the front desk
- Hoopla / Libby / Kanopy — free e-books, audiobooks, movies
- Tech help and digital-literacy programs
Bilingual tip: the library has French-language collections; useful for francophone newcomers and parents wanting their kids to read in French.
Sport, swim, skate
- Timmins Aquatic Centre — public swims throughout the week. Some sessions are free, others low-cost; schedule at timmins.ca. Newcomer families often qualify for fee-assistance programs — ask.
- Gillies Lake — free outdoor swimming in summer.
- McIntyre Arena — public skating sessions; some free or by-donation in season.
- Splash pads at Riverside Park and other city parks (free, summer).
- Free outdoor rinks in winter at neighbourhood parks.
- Free pickup sports — basketball, tennis, pickleball at city courts.
Annual festivals and community events
Dates shift each year — confirm with the official site for the current year's schedule.
- Stars and Thunder — Timmins' biggest summer event, held at Hollinger Park, with international fireworks competitions. The fireworks are free to watch from many points in the park (annual, typically late June). Some concerts are ticketed.
- Great Canadian Kayak Challenge & Festival — Mountjoy River and Riverside Park: races, music, food trucks. Most of the festival is free to attend (annual, typically August).
- Riverside Park free summer concerts — outdoor music series, free.
- Timmins Multicultural Festival — food, performances, family activities at Hollinger Park (annual, typically summer). Free.
- Canada Day at Hollinger Park — free family activities and fireworks every July 1.
- Santa Claus Parade — free, on the streets in late November.
- Cochrane area — Polar Bear Habitat (a 90-minute drive, paid admission) is a fun day trip; mention only as a paid option, not free.
- Cedar Meadows wildlife — paid; check periodic free events or community days.
For the current year's calendar, see timmins.ca and Tourism Timmins.
Indigenous and cultural spaces
The Timmins Native Friendship Centre on Spruce Street runs feasts, drum circles, beading and craft nights, language tables, cultural and family programming. Many events are open to the broader community — call ahead or check social media.
Timmins sits on Treaty 9 territory and the homelands of the Mushkegowuk and Anishinaabe peoples. Pow wows in the region are usually open to non-Indigenous visitors. Respectful guidelines:
- Listen to the MC — they tell you when to stand, when photography is OK, and which dances welcome non-dancers
- Never record or photograph during ceremonial songs without explicit permission
- Dress modestly and bring a folding chair
- A small gift of tobacco, fruit, or a donation is appreciated
- Don't enter the dance arena unless invited
The Timmins Museum: National Exhibition Centre often has free admission or by-donation entry — confirm before you go.
With kids
- Library storytime and summer reading club (free, weekly)
- Splash pad at Riverside Park
- Gillies Lake beach and walking loop
- Free public skating in winter
- Friendship Centre family events
- Stars and Thunder fireworks (free viewing)
- Hollinger Mine viewpoint — kids find the trucks fascinating
Indoor free spaces
- The library — warm, quiet, free Wi-Fi, kids' area
- Friendship Centre programs — see above
- Mall walking at Timmins Square in winter — free, common with seniors
- Northern College public lectures and events — many free
DON'T LIVE NEAR A SETTLEMENT OFFICE?
Call the regional org for your area.
Settlement workers will register you by phone or video and help you find local supports. There's no requirement to live in the same town as the office — these services are funded for all of Northern Ontario.
- NW Ontario — Thunder Bay, Kenora, Dryden, Sioux Lookout, Marathon Thunder Bay Multicultural Association
- Greater Sudbury, Manitoulin, Espanola SMFAA — Sudbury Multicultural & Folk Arts Association
- Algoma — Sault Ste. Marie Sault Community Career Centre
- Nipissing — North Bay, Parry Sound, Timiskaming NOMC — Northeastern Ontario Multicultural Centre
- Cochrane District — Timmins Timmins & District Multicultural Centre
- Hearst, Kapuskasing — French-language services SÉO — Settlement services (Northeast)
Sources & references: City of Timmins, Timmins Public Library, Tourism Timmins, Timmins Native Friendship Centre. Hours, schedules, and free programming change — confirm before you go.
Last reviewed: April 2026.