Things to Do in Newmarket, Ontario
Newmarket is the rare York Region town where you can leave the car once. Main Street, Riverwalk Commons, the Elman Campbell Museum and Fairy Lake all connect on foot, so an afternoon here is one walk with several stops.
Last reviewed November 1, 2026 by the York Happening editorial team.
The downtown loop
Park at Fairy Lake Park on Water Street, or near Riverwalk Commons on Doug Duncan Drive. The park is free and open all year. Walk the Tom Taylor Trail around the lake, cross the bridges, then turn toward Main Street for food. The lake exists because early settlers built a mill at the foot of Main Street in the early 1800s, and the dam at the Water Street bridge now serves flood control.
The museum sits in the former North York Registry Office, an 1884 building on Main Street. Entry is free, and it opens Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m., so it suits a short stop when the weather turns. Riverwalk Commons is the town's outdoor room, with a stage and a water feature that becomes an ice rink.
Fairy Lake Park
A 13.4-hectare park around the lake, also called Wesley Brooks Conservation Area.
Water Street, Newmarket
Elman W. Campbell Museum
Local history in the 1884 registry office. The building is wheelchair accessible.
134 Main Street South, Newmarket
Riverwalk Commons
The outdoor stage and seasonal rink, and the site of the large town festivals.
Doug Duncan Drive, Newmarket
Historic Main Street
Independent shops, restaurants and cafes. The BIA posts a yearly event list.
Main Street South, Newmarket
Indoors and on stage
The former Newmarket Theatre now goes by NewRoads Performing Arts Centre, so search for that name when you look for tickets. Old Town Hall on Botsford Street is the smaller heritage venue, and the town uses it for Culture Days and similar events.
On a rainy day, the Newmarket Public Library on Park Avenue is the indoor stop near Main Street.
NewRoads Performing Arts Centre
The town's main theatre, on Pickering Crescent.
505 Pickering Crescent, Newmarket
How to use the town
With small children: the lake park gives them room to stop and start. Take snacks, because the food is on Main Street, not the shoreline.
No budget: the loop and the park are free. Check the town page for the Riverwalk rink in winter.
By transit: GO's Barrie line and YRT serve the town, and YRT Route 50 runs north from here to Keswick and Sutton. Check which station is closest to downtown before you buy a ticket.
Two stops in one day: morning at the lake, lunch on Main Street, a show at NewRoads at night. In summer, swap the show for a concert at Riverwalk Commons.
Seasons: the lake loop works all year, and winter moves the day indoors to the museum, the library and the theatre. The BIA posts its yearly event list, so check it before you pick a date.
Upcoming events
From the York Happening events calendar, updated daily.
Senior Iranian Multicultural Association
Newmarket Public Library · 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Candle Decorating for Twenty-Somethings
Newmarket Public Library · 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Sunday Activities with 108 Health Promotion Association
Newmarket Public Library · 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
The Canadian Centre for Housing Rights Drop In
Newmarket Public Library · 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Monday Activities with 108 Health Promotion Association
Newmarket Public Library · 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Ontario Disability Support Program - Drop In
Newmarket Public Library · 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do in Newmarket today?
Walk the Tom Taylor Trail around Fairy Lake, visit the Elman W. Campbell Museum, and eat on Main Street. The list on this page shows today's events.
Where do you park in downtown Newmarket?
The town lists parking inside Fairy Lake Park south of Water Street on non-event days, near Riverwalk Commons on Doug Duncan Drive, on Main Street and on Cane Parkway.
Is Fairy Lake Park free?
Yes. The town says that the park is open all year and free of charge.
What happened to the Newmarket Theatre?
The town's listings now use the name NewRoads Performing Arts Centre for the venue at 505 Pickering Crescent.
Sources
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