Things to Do in Markham

Old villages and museums

Start with the Markham Museum if you want the local story in one visit. The historic buildings stand on 25 acres, with indoor exhibitions on science, industry and history, so a wet afternoon does not end the trip. Fall hours are Wednesday to Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it closes on Mondays and Tuesdays. Hours change by season, so check the museum page.

Unionville is the other half of the history. Its Main Street leads north toward Toogood Pond, and the Varley Art Gallery sits on that street. Admission to the gallery is free, and it closes on Mondays, so a walk at the pond is the Monday option. Stiver Mill, a restored feed mill near the station, shows the working side of the village.

Outdoors

Three green spaces suit three kinds of outing. Toogood Pond is the short walk that pairs with Unionville. Milne Dam Conservation Park is a city park on McCowan Road, and the City lists washrooms there. Rouge National Urban Park is the long option. Parks Canada says that the park spans Toronto, Markham, Pickering and Uxbridge and has many points of entry, so choose your trailhead on the park map, not by postal code.

Food, shopping and a night out

Pacific Mall on Steeles is the place that people drive in for. The mall counts more than 350 stores and more than 2,000 parking spaces, with an area called Heritage Town. It says that it opens 365 days a year, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., so it suits a cold day with teenagers.

For an evening, Flato Markham Theatre on Town Centre Boulevard has the touring shows. Its box office answers from noon to 5 p.m. on weekdays. The Markham Fairgrounds, far to the north on McCowan Road, is a venue and not a daily attraction, so visit only for a show such as Home for the Holidays, which runs November 20 to 22, 2026.

Thornhill on the west edge

Thornhill sits at the far end of the city from Markham Village, on Yonge Street. Heintzman House, a City-owned heritage house, holds its Artisan Craft Show on November 14 and 15, 2026. Tours of the house are by appointment. Thornhill Village Library on Colborne Street is the indoor stop, and it closes on Mondays. See the Thornhill page for the history.

Places to visit in Markham with a plan

Rainy day: go to the Varley first, then the museum exhibitions, or Pacific Mall for lunch and an afternoon indoors.

Small children: the 25 acres at the Markham Museum give them room to move, and the sibling page for children has live family events.

Free day: the Varley, a loop of Toogood Pond and a walk along Main Street make up an afternoon with no admission charge.

By train: GO's Stouffville line stops at Unionville GO, the station that GO names for the Unionville Festival. GO says to walk or take YRT to Main Street from there.

Dates to plan around

The Unionville Festival fills Main Street in early June, and the Santa Claus parade and the holiday sale take over November. The live list on this page shows what is on in Markham this week.

Upcoming events

From the York Happening events calendar, updated daily.

Sources

• City of Markham: Markham Museum
• Varley Art Gallery of Markham
• Parks Canada: Rouge National Urban Park
• Pacific Mall
• City of Markham: Parks list
• Markham Public Library: Thornhill Village Branch
• Heintzman House: 2026 Artisan Craft Show
• GO Transit: Unionville Festival