Grab your paddle and get ready to dink: it’s time to serve up some fun for a great cause!

Wonder Works Children’s Museum invites you to Playful Pickle, an evening of play on the pickleball court. Come dressed in costume (costumes are optional, but encouraged) or your favorite pickle athletic wear. Join us for a night of games, laughs, and community spirit — all in support of the museum’s mission to spark curiosity and imagination in children throughout our community.

The evening kicks off at 5:00 PM with a lobby check-in and mingling session — grab a drink, admire everyone’s costume creativity, and get ready for the main event. Drinks and food will be available throughout the private event at Oak Park Tennis and Fitness Centre. Guests will split into two rotating play sessions across eight nets, so everyone gets plenty of court time:

• 5:30 – 6:30 PM: First group takes the courts 
• 6:30 – 7:30 PM: Second group steps up to play 
• 7:30 – 8:00 PM: Closing remarks, a final mingle, and the raffle drawing

Not a seasoned player? No problem. Pickleball pros will be on hand throughout the evening to guide activities, offer tips, and keep the games moving — whether you’re diving into competitive play or keeping things light and easy with our casual, beginner-friendly option. There’s a court style for everyone, from first-timers to seasoned smashers.

Prizes, Prizes, Prizes

Bragging rights are on the line! We’ll be awarding prizes for both best costume and top pickleball performance, so come ready to compete on and off the court. Plus, don’t miss the raffle drawing during closing remarks — you won’t want to leave early.

Every serve, smash, and costume contest helps support Wonder Works Children’s Museum’s hands-on exhibits and programs that inspire young minds to explore, create, and learn. Your participation directly fuels the museum’s ability to be a place of wonder for kids and families for years to come.

• What: Playful Pickle Fundraiser
• When: Saturday, October 24, 2026, 5:00 – 8:00 PM
• Where: Oak Park Tennis and Fitness Centre, 301 Lake Street, Oak Park
• Dress: Costumes optional — pick your favorite decade!
• Play: Competitive and casual options available, guided by pickleball pros
• Prizes: Best costume and top pickleball play

Space is limited to 64 players across two sessions, so reserve your spot early. Come for the pickleball, stay for the throwback style, and leave knowing you helped bring a little more wonder into a child’s world.

See you on the court!

The Playful Pickle raffle will raise critically needed funds to support the mission of Wonder Works Children’s Museum. With your generosity, our museum will continue to create and offer high-quality play, arts, literature, science and nature experiences for ALL children in our community. Hands-on play helps children grow into curious, confident, life-long learners. Thank you for joining us at the wine tasting and providing support that is essential to the continued success of our non-profit museum. 

The Playful Pickle Raffle will feature a variety of items including Oak Park Tennis and Fitness Centre gift certificates, restaurant gift certificates, limousine rides, and wine tastings.  

You can purchase single tickets or ticket bundles for individual ticket discounts.

• 1 ticket for $10
• 4 tickets for $25
• 10 tickets for $50

Thank you for your raffle ticket purchase. Your raffle ticket donation will help provide learning through play opportunities to ALL children in our community. Thanks to you, Wonder Works can continue to change lives through creative play.