March Break fun begins with a demon hunt, pizza making and butterflies

CTV’s Colton Wiens takes a look at some of the fun happening throughout Waterloo Region during March Break.

March Break is underway and families in Waterloo Region are taking advantage of a plethora of events happening throughout the week.

Free events at the library

Clemens Mill Library in Cambridge kicked off a week of themed events with a KPop Demon Hunters adventure on Monday. The activity was based on a popular, and now Academy Award-winning, movie and led participants through an obstacle course. They also made a toy microphone, rolled plush sushi and had an opportunity to get their faces painted.

“[We have] a variety of different activities - sensory, fine motor, dramatic play. We have lots of crafts,” Kim Toth, youth services team leader at Cambridge Public Library’s Clemens Mill Branch, said. “Basically, a whole bunch of stations that families can join in and participate in throughout the day,”

The activities are also aimed at keeping minds sharp during the break from schoolwork. Many of the events will incorporate math, reading, and literacy-skills.

“We didn’t really have anything to do. I just wanted to come here because I saw that we could come here,” Sadie, a participant, said. “Because it’s KPop Demon Hunters themed and I love KPop Demon Hunters.”

“Because I wanted to get my face painted,” Teagan, another participant at the library, said.

There will be more themed events happening at Cambridge Library locations every day this week, offering families free entertainment.

“We had families lined up before we opened this morning, even in the rain. So, we’re really grateful that they were so enthusiastic to come here today,” Toth said.

• Free things to do in Waterloo Region, Guelph, Brantford and beyond over March Break

While some children loved an opportunity to join in the fun, it can be overwhelming for others.

Clemens Mill also offers a dedicated sensory room for kids who need to take a break. Toth said while the other Cambridge Library branches don’t necessarily have a dedicated sensory room, they do have other forms of quiet play for anyone feeling overstimulated.

Butterfly bonanza

Elsewhere, the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory has extended its hours during March Break and brought in extra morpho butterflies from South America.

“They are flying around, landing on heads and shoulders,” Jennifer Tremeer, education coordinator at the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory, said. “You can also do a little scavenger hunt while you are here to learn more about the morpho butterflies and we have lots of really cool insects to bring out, and people can hold and touch them and learn more about other insects from tropical environments too.”

Around 2,000 of the brilliantly coloured morpho butterflies are currently at the conservatory, along with 1,000 other butterflies.

“We ask people not to touch the butterflies, but when you wear bright colors, it does attract the butterflies to come and land on you more, so they’re more likely to land on heads and shoulders and backs and give a little tickle,” Tremeer said.

Officials recommend buying tickets online before arriving.

Making pizzas for a good cause

Aspiring cooks can also find something geared toward their passions this week as Domino’s Pizza locations in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, New Hamburg, Paris and Elmira are offering kids the chance to make their own pizza for five dollars from noon to 3 p.m. all week long. Proceeds will be given to Food4Kids.

“You can add toppings on and you get to put it in the oven,” Amel, a participant in the program, told CTV News after making a pizza. “I made Hawaiian pizza, because it’s my favourite pizza.”

Around 50 kids had already dropped by the Domino’s on Fischer-Hallman Road in Kitchener by Monday afternoon.

“It’s fun, obviously. They get a store tour, they got to play with the dough, put their own toppings on. It’s something that it sounds like they talk about for a long time, and we have a lot of repeat guests come back,” Nicole Brisevac, manager of the Domino’s store at 1188 Fischer-Hallman Road in Kitchener, said.