Your guide on things to do in Perth Ontario, sunny strolls, sweet treats, and outdoor adventures in one of the province’s prettiest small towns.
Are you looking for a family day trip that checks all the boxes? Perth delivers summer fun in the most charming way possible. With its leafy parks, lazy river views, splash pad, festivals, and fudge, Perth is the kind of place where childhood memories are made and parents get to enjoy the ride too. Here’s a guide to the best bolded things to do in Perth Ontario for families.
If you’re arriving from Ottawa, Kingston, or just down the road, Perth welcomes families with walkable streets, free parking, friendly faces, and a pace that lets you catch your breath. It’s a destination that blends history with heart and the promise of a good old-fashioned cone on a warm afternoon.
You don’t need a packed itinerary or a long list of must-sees. Just a sense of curiosity, a camera for the cute moments, and maybe an extra pair of sandals for the kids who can’t resist wading in the Tay.
Cool off and splash around: Things to do in Perth Ontario
On a hot day, few things beat the pure joy of a splash pad and Perth’s is a crowd-pleaser. Tucked into Conlon Farm Recreation Complex, this spot is clean, colourful, and surrounded by shaded picnic tables. Kids can run between water jets while caregivers relax nearby.
The splash pad is just one part of the sprawling recreation complex. The park is also home to basketball courts, multiple playgrounds, biking trails, and a skateboard park. The pump track is a fan favourite for kids of all ages. Bring scooters, bikes, or even rollerblades, the wide-open layout is perfect for moving at your own speed. Between biking, skating, and other things to do in Perth Ontario, kids won’t run out of options.
For families craving a more traditional beach day, Rideau Ferry is just 15 minutes south of town. The beach is shallow, sandy, and quiet enough to feel like a mini escape. You’ll find picnic tables, portable toilets, and that easy-going cottage country vibe.
Follow the sound of summer
Perth thrives in summer, even without a blockbuster event calendar. Artisan markets, local performances, and other fun options are things to do in Perth Ontario that the whole family can enjoy. From artisan markets to local musicians playing in Stewart Park to classic car shows lining the streets, there’s always something drawing folks together.
Expect artisan markets, food vendors, and the kind of street performers who can make a toddler’s day. If you stumble across a fiddler by the water or catch a small theatre performance in the park, the energy in town is welcoming and relaxed. Summer festivals are among the most popular things to do in Perth Ontario. To find out what’s on, check the town’s website, bulletin boards downtown, chat with shop owners, or pop by the Visitor Information Centre. Even the baristas are in the know.
Nature adventures & things to do in Perth Ontario
If your crew loves the outdoors, Murphys Point Provincial Park is worth the short drive. Trails range from stroller-friendly to more adventurous, and the park includes interpretive signs, scenic lookouts, and the occasional wildlife sighting. There’s a restored mica mine and historic site on the property as well and kids love it when open tours are running.
Closer to town, the Rideau Trail and Tay River Pathway offer gentle walking routes for families who prefer something less rugged. You’ll pass wildflowers, quiet bridges, and maybe even spot a heron or two. These paths are ideal for after-lunch strolls, bug nets in hand. These are ideal things to do in Perth Ontario visitors can enjoy at their own pace.
Some local farms also offer seasonal visits or U-pick options which are perfect for little ones who want to meet a goat or pick a basket of berries. Check local listings to find out what’s in season.
History you can touch
Perth wears its history well, and in 2025, will celebrate 100 years of heritage and heart. Historic tours and museum visits are top things to do in Perth Ontario for curious kids. The Perth Museum, located inside the 1840s-era Matheson House, offers a hands-on glimpse at pioneer life. There are historic toys to try, costumes to admire, and the kind of exhibits that get children asking questions.
How about an online visit to get a feel for what’s in store? See such exhibits as the Mammoth Cheese, Last Fatal Duel of Upper Canada, and the Henry K. Wampole Collection.
Downtown is its own walking tour, with plaques marking heritage buildings and beautifully preserved stone architecture at every turn. Don’t miss the swing bridge on Beckwith Street, or the newly restored Code’s Mill, once industrial, now reimagined into a shopping and dining hub with plenty of places to pause and peek inside. You’ll see the Big Ben statue if you’re heading that way. It plays homage to Perth’s equestrian Ian “Captain Canada” Millar and his mighty horse, Big Ben
Treats for good behaviour (yours or theirs)
Let’s be honest: no day trip is complete without snacks. Perth has a relaxed and friendly food scene, with something to please even picky eaters. You can pick up a savoury hand pie from Perth Pie Co., settle in for lunch at the Rocky River Café, or duck into the Rideau Candy Shoppe for old-fashioned treats and a scoop of Kawartha Dairy ice cream.
Many restaurants offer patio seating, and downtown’s walkability makes takeout picnics a great option, especially if you’re heading to Stewart Park.
Need a day trip plan? Here’s one:
For families with toddlers or little ones, start with a splash at Conlon Farm, followed by a shady picnic at Stewart Park. In the afternoon, check out the museum or stroll along the river to spot ducks. End the day with a visit to Perth Chocolate Works or an ice cream shop for a sweet send-off.
If you’ve got tweens or teens in tow, try a morning hike at Murphys Point, lunch at one of Perth’s casual downtown spots, and an afternoon browsing shops or hitting the skatepark. If there’s live music in town that evening, it’s a great excuse to linger.
Even without a rigid calendar, Perth thrives on rhythm. Summer brings live music in at Crystal Palace during the Farmers’ Market on Saturdays, vintage car shows, sidewalk sales, and pop-up entertainment that gets the whole town buzzing. It’s the kind of place where you might stumble across a string quartet by the river or a chalk art contest unfolding near the Tay Basin.
Families will often find artisan stalls, musicians, and street performers around the downtown core on Saturdays. It’s a town that celebrates community, creativity, and warm weather in equal measure; no big-ticket headliner required.
No matter the itinerary, a day in Perth invites play, conversation, and a bit of nostalgia. It’s the kind of European vibe close to home that sticks.
Before you go
Downtown offers free two-hour parking, with paid lots available for longer stays. Public washrooms can be found at most major sites, and nearly all of Perth’s top attractions are walkable and stroller-accessible.
Stewart Park is a gem for families with shaded greenspace, shallow river access for toe-dippers, and enough space for little ones to run while parents relax. It’s just one of many things to do in Perth Ontario to make your visit memorable. Bring water shoes if you plan to wade, and bug spray if you’re sticking around past dusk.
Nearby road trips
If you have more time to spare, Perth serves as a great hub for exploring the scenic Lanark Highlands. Beyond the town centre, a variety of scenic drives offer additional things to do in Perth, Ontario. Take a scenic drive north to Lanark Village, where you’ll find a quiet public beach, a community ball diamond, and a small-town vibe that invites you to kick back for a while. Pack a lunch and spend the afternoon lakeside or bring a glove and let the kids toss a ball in the field.
Try geocaching for a twist on trail time
Families looking for an extra layer of fun can try their hand at geocaching. This is a modern-day treasure hunt using GPS coordinates. The area around Perth and Lanark Highlands has dozens of hidden caches, ranging from easy park-and-grab containers to more adventurous finds deep in the woods.
Geocaching is a great way to get kids excited about walking trails or visiting parks. All you need is a smartphone and a free app. Many caches come with a logbook to sign and tiny trinkets to trade. It’s simple, screen-based fun that actually gets you outdoors and you’ll be surprised how many little surprises are hidden in plain sight.
Make it a memory
Perth has a way of slowing you down just long enough to remember what summer should feel like. From splash pads to heritage trails, there are plenty of new things to do in Perth Ontario to make memories. Kids squeal through the splash pad. You walk the heritage trail with a snack in hand. The canopy of trees offers enough shade to turn a game of tag into a full afternoon. It’s peaceful. It’s simple. It’s exactly the kind of place that sticks with you.
You might come for the day and find yourself looking for reasons to stay.
Want to know what’s happening in town? Check out our Perth page to stay in the loop!
