WAYO Children’s Festival’s 7th edition presented The Mudlark’s Mother, an original family arts experience created for children under 12 and their families. From August 12 to 16, 2026, audiences followed a maze-like route across Berkeley Castle and Berkeley Theatre, taking in five short immersive performances along the way.

This year’s festival welcomed more than 1,000 audience members, breaking a new record for WAYO Children’s Festival.

The Mudlark’s Mother moved through time, memory, and generations of life on The Esplanade. Children and families followed the descendants of a young Mudlark child as the neighbourhood changed around them, carrying stories of grief, hope, pride, wonder, welcome, and belonging. Through music, movement, storytelling, interactive art, sensory experiences, and face painting, the festival turned familiar local places into spaces for shared imagination.

Directed by Jamii’s Alchemist Isorine Marc, the 2026 edition brought together a large group of artists connected through performance, music, theatre, and community-based arts.

WAYO has become a special part of Jamii’s summer programming because it invites young audiences to experience art with their whole selves. They walk, listen, watch, respond, imagine, and take part. For families in The Esplanade and across Toronto, the festival offered a low-cost way to spend time together through live performance and local history.

Tickets were $5, keeping this record-breaking edition of WAYO Children’s Festival accessible for families while bringing high-quality live arts experiences to young audiences. A big thank you to Berkeley Castle and Canadian Stage for opening their doors for another year of WAYO Children’s Festival, and for helping us welcome families through two historic buildings in the neighbourhood. Thank you to all the artists, the WAYO Festival Team, and our wonderful volunteers for bringing so much care, creativity, and energy to every part of the festival.

This record-breaking edition was made possible with the support of Canada Council for the Arts, Toronto Arts Council, Rama Gaming House, Canadian Heritage, and Metcalf Foundation Booster Fund.