Category: Calendar Events

Leaside Garden Society Speaker Series: Urban farming and the Bowery Project, March 12, 2026 /Leaside Garden Society

Leaside Garden Society Speaker Series: Urban farming and the Bowery Project, March 12, 2026 /Leaside Garden Society

Leaside Garden Society Speaker Series: Urban farming and the Bowery Project, March 12, 2026 /Leaside Garden Society

Leaside Garden Society Speaker Series: Urban farming and the Bowery Project

The Leaside Garden Society’s monthly Speaker Series continues on Thursday, March 12, 2026, with a presentation by Mary Anderson on the Bowery Project, a Toronto-based initiative focused on urban agriculture and mobile food growing.

The talk will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the Leaside Library (165 McRae Dr.). Anderson, director of the Bowery Project, will discuss the history of the initiative and share examples of its work transforming vacant and underused public spaces into edible landscapes using portable container gardens.

The Bowery Project promotes urban farming through mobile growing systems — often built from repurposed milk crates — and aims to make it easier for communities to grow food in parks, sidewalks and other public spaces.

The Leaside Garden Society welcomes guests and new members to attend its meetings.

More information is available on the Leaside Garden Society website.

It’s that time of year again — when local halls, churches, and bakeries transform into festive marketplaces filled with holiday cheer. From handmade crafts to home baking, these annual fairs are a cherished way to connect with neighbours and support local causes.

🎄 St. Cuthbert’s Christmas Fair
Saturday, November 8th, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
1399 Bayview Avenue

St. Cuthbert’s Leaside is welcoming the community back for its beloved Christmas Fair, featuring all your favourite tables — from baking and preserves to books, crafts, and gift baskets. Enjoy a boxed lunch, browse “red tag” treasures, or sip a coffee while catching up with friends and neighbours. Proceeds support St. Cuthbert’s Church and its outreach programs. Learn more about St. Cuthbert’s Christmas Fair →

🕯️ Holly Berry Fair at Rosedale United Church
Saturday, November 22, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, November 23, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
159 Roxborough Drive

Celebrating 75 years, the Holly Berry Fair at Rosedale United Church is one of Toronto’s oldest community fairs. The weekend event offers festive shopping, live entertainment, and activities for all ages. Little ones can visit Santa’s interactive workshop (and bring their letters to Santa!), while adults explore the thrift market, silent auction (Saturday only), and a range of unique local vendors. Be sure to stop by for the deli lunch (Saturday will feature home-cooked ham!) and home baking.

100% of proceeds from the fair support the Out of the Cold food security program in downtown Toronto — helping provide meals and support to those in need during the winter months. See details for the Holly Berry Fair →

🍪 Robyn’s Cookies — Outdoor Holiday Marketplaces
Saturday, November 22 & Saturday, December 6
953 Mt Pleasant Road

Robyn’s Cookies will host two outdoor Holiday Marketplaces (plus a food drive) this season — perfect for picking up locally made gifts, sweet treats, and festive goodies in time for the holidays. Visit Robyn’s Cookies online →

Midtown is buzzing this weekend with two neighbourhood favourites returning for another year. Both Mount Pleasant and Leaside will be hosting family-friendly events, so there’s plenty to see, do, and taste close to home.

🍂 Mount Pleasant Harvest Fair

On Saturday, September 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mount Pleasant Village will once again transform into a bustling fall fair. Stretching from Davisville up to Eglinton, the street will be filled with local vendors, artisans, live entertainment, and kids’ activities. Admission is free, and it’s a great chance to support local businesses while soaking up the community vibe.

For more details, visit Mount Pleasant Village on Instagram.

🌽 Leaside Community Corn Roast

On Sunday, September 21 from 12 to 5 p.m., the Toronto-Leaside Rotary hosts its 29th annual Community Corn Roast at Trace Manes Park (110 Rumsey Rd). Expect face painting, inflatables, games, a fish pond, barbecue, and of course, fresh corn on the cob. This long-standing tradition brings neighbours of all ages together for a fun afternoon in the park.

For more information, visit the Toronto-Leaside Rotary website.

The Mount Pleasant Village BIA is once again inviting local residents to enjoy a summer evening under the stars with its free outdoor movie series, set to run on three Wednesday nights this August at the Manor Community Green (190 Manor Rd. E.).

The lineup features a mix of classic and crowd-pleasing favourites:

August 6 at 8:30 PM – The Wizard of Oz
August 13 at 8:30 PM – Top Gun: Maverick
August 20 at 8:15 PM – E.T.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair, and enjoy complimentary popcorn courtesy of local sponsors Scholars Leaside and Dunfield Retirement Residence. Organizers will also be accepting donations of non-perishable food items in support of the Daily Bread Food Bank.

All films are weather permitting. For updates and more information, visit: mountpleasantvillage.ca/movies.

Leaside’s Summer Street Festival Just Got Bigger

Leaside’s summer street party is just around the corner. Viva La Leaside will take over 25 Commercial Rd., east of Laird on August 10th and 11th, 2025 with two days of music, food, and family-friendly entertainment.

The free event is open to all and promises something for everyone — from tethered hot air balloon rides and a bumper car–filled Kids Zone to a vintage car exhibit and live art installations. Local musicians will take the stage throughout the weekend, and festivalgoers can explore a vendor market, enjoy eats from top Toronto food vendors, and cool off at the Latina Beer Lounge. New this year is a dog talent show hosted by KYON Dog Daycare, along with an immersive heritage exhibit called Walk Through the Ages. Saturday night wraps with a high-energy All-Star Performance Party at 9 p.m., featuring DJs and surprise acts.

Full schedule and updates are available on the Viva La Leaside Instagram page, or visit their website.

UPDATE – August 6, 2025

Organizers have announced that this year’s hot air balloon rides at Viva La Leaside have been cancelled following the recent passing of Chief Pilot Ernie Lee. A veteran balloonist whose career spanned over 50 years and continents, Lee flew for brands like Re/Max, Pizza Pizza, and Labatt’s — and once piloted the world’s largest passenger balloon in the Netherlands.

This year’s festival is now dedicated to his memory. Though his balloon won’t rise over Leaside this time, his legacy as a passionate, joyful, and generous ambassador of flight will remain part of the festival’s spirit.

For schedule updates and tributes, visit Viva La Leaside on Instagram.

Watch highlights from the inaugural Viva La Leaside in 2024 below.

📷 Instagram /@MYBIA

📷 Instagram /@MYBIA

📷 Instagram /@MYBIA

📷 Instagram /@MYBIA

Brazilian-Inspired “Arraiá on Yonge” Festival Coming to Midtown

Midtown Yonge is about to come alive with the sounds, flavours, and colours of Brazil! Arraiá on Yonge — inspired by Brazil’s festive Festa Junina — is set to take over Yonge Street (between Manor Rd. and Belsize Dr.) on Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 11 AM to 9 PM.

Expect a full day of live music, traditional Brazilian food, dance, family-friendly games, and vibrant cultural performances. Featured acts include Joy Brandt, known for her Afro-pop and Latin-infused energy, and Orquestra Zabumba, a Toronto-based quintet re-imagining traditional forró with flair.

This free event is organized by @MYBIA (Midtown Yonge BIA) with support from Councillor Josh Matlow.

Interested in volunteering? It’s a great way to meet neighbours and be part of something special. Just message @mybia.ca on Instagram to get involved.

Source: @mybia.ca via Instagram

🌵 Mark your calendars!

Join the Toronto Cactus & Succulent Club‘s Annual Show and Sale on June 8, 2025 between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. for a day filled with unique plants from all part of the world, expert advice, and a chance to connect with fellow plant enthusiasts. Explore a wide variety of cacti and succulents available for purchase most of which are not readily available anywhere else. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just starting your plant journey, this event is perfect for you. FREE admission.

More info: torontocactus.club

Spring Fest 2025 📷 Instagram/@appletree_to

Spring Fest 2025 📷 Instagram/@appletree_to

Spring Fest 2025 📷 Instagram/@appletree_to

The Good Vibes 🌼 Spring Fest is rolling into June Rowlands Park on Saturday, May 10th, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hosted by the Appletree Group and the Yonge Eglinton Community Centre, this cheerful community gathering promises a full day of fun.

Expect family-friendly games, garden activities, yoga, live music, and even a DJ dance party. Little ones can look forward to meeting costumed characters like Benny Beaver and Mickey Moose during the afternoon storytime. Meanwhile, the #ShopONCanada Marketplace will offer a variety of local finds for curious shoppers.

📍 June Rowlands Park
📅 Saturday, May 10, 2025
⏰ 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Get ready for a feast of floral creativity! The Milne House Garden Club returns with its annual Flower Show on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the Toronto Botanical Garden’s Floral Hall.

This year’s theme, “Floral Artistry,” invites visitors to marvel at stunning garden specimens, houseplants, and imaginative floral designs inspired by visual art forms — think ‘Sculpture,’ ‘Still Life,’ ‘Op Art,’ ‘Mixed Media,’ ‘Picasso,’ and ‘Stained Glass.’

🌷 Where: Floral Hall, Toronto Botanical Garden, 777 Lawrence Ave East
⏰ When: 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. (Open to the public)
🎟 Admission: Free!

🔗 Learn more at Milne House Garden Club