Special events, such as parades, ceremonies and fundraising events add vibrancy to the neighbourhood, but most involve road closures of some sort. Upcoming special events will be detailed on our social media and will also be announced at General Members' Meetings.
The City of Toronto has listings for all kinds of art exhibits, charity events, sporting games, street markets and more at www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/festivals-events/.
The City of Toronto has listings for all kinds of art exhibits, charity events, sporting games, street markets and more at www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/festivals-events/.
Annual Events
There are numerous scheduled events that take place annually in the area. Often there are unscheduled events such as protests at Queen's Park that may affect the neighbourhood. In order to assist residents with planning, here are the events that typically reoccur each year.
Event |
Website |
Date |
St. Patrick’s Day Parade |
Sunday in March close to St. Patrick's Day March 17th |
|
Toronto Marathon |
First Sunday in May - no local road closures |
|
Ontario Police Memorial Ceremony of Remembrance |
First Sunday in May |
|
Corrections Ceremony of Remembrance |
Early May |
|
Sporting Life 10k |
Second Sunday in May |
|
Gumball 3000 Rally |
Weekend in late May |
|
Run for Women |
Saturday in mid-June |
|
Word on the Street Festival |
Weekend in mid-June |
|
EpiC Day and Purple Walk for Epilepsy Toronto |
Saturday in mid-June |
|
Yorkville Exotic Car Show |
Father's Day Sunday in June |
|
Trans March |
Last Friday in June |
|
Pride and Remembrance Run |
Last Saturday in June |
|
Dyke March |
Last Saturday in June |
|
Pride Parade |
Last Sunday in June |
|
Toronto Jazz Festival |
Friday in late June to Canada Day long weekend in July |
|
Grassy Narrows River Run |
Thursday in mid-September |
|
Open Streets (ActiveTO) |
Sunday in mid-September and mid-October |
|
Jesus in the City |
Sunday in mid-September |
|
Yorkville Run |
Sunday in mid-September |
|
Journey to Conquer Cancer |
Sunday in mid-June/September |
|
Big Toronto Bike Ride |
Saturday in mid-September |
|
National Police Officers' Memorial Run |
Thursday in late September |
|
Global Climate Strike |
Friday in mid September |
|
Community March Against Gun Violence |
Saturday in late September |
|
Ontario Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial |
Sunday in early October |
|
Light Up Toronto For Safe Streets |
Sunday in early October |
|
Queen's Park Remembrance Day Ceremony |
November 11th |
|
Santa Claus Parade |
Third Sunday in November |
Upcoming Events - 2023
Details of upcoming events are posted when details have been confirmed. Please keep that many events involve road closures and increased pedestrian traffic, so plan your activities accordingly.
The National Police Officers’ Memorial Run is a 460 km relay that starts in Toronto on Thursday September 21st and ends in Ottawa on Saturday September 23rd at the annual Police and Peace Officer’s Memorial Service held on Parliament Hill. The event is a tribute to fallen officers. The first leg of the 19th annual run starts at the Ontario Police Memorial at Queen’s Park. www.npomr.org
- The Toronto Ride for Safe Streets is part of MPP Joel Harden’s bike ride from Ottawa to Queen’s Park, in support of Bill 40, Moving Ontarians Safely Act. On Sunday September 24th, the Toronto community ride will start in Scarborough, go to Nathan Phillips Square at 3:30 pm and end at 4:15 pm at Queen’s Park.
The Ontario Health Coalition is holding a rally at Queen’s Park on Monday September 25th from 11 am to 1 pm. Members of the Ontario Federation of Labour, Ontario Council of Hospital Unions and Canadian Union of Public Employees will be expressing their thoughts against the privatization of hospital services.
Five First Nations from Northern Ontario will lead a March for the Land on Wednesday September 27th to call for an end to unwanted mining on their lands and waters. The event starts at Grange Park (at Dundas Street West and Beverley Street – behind the Art Gallery of Ontario) at noon and ends at Queen’s Park. https://freegrassy.net/land-alliance-march/
The Big Toronto Bike Ride is back on Sunday October 1st! The 12k fundraising ride helps Cycle Toronto raise funds for education programs and cycling advocacy. Participants must purchase a ticket for $30 and raise a minimum of $150. The ride starts at Irene Avenue Parkette at 760 Shaw Street (just north of Bloor Street) at 4:30 pm and finishes at Dundas and River at 6 pm. There will be a post-ride social at Bevy, 738 Dundas Street from 6 to 9 pm. Cycle TO website
The Ontario Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial is scheduled for Sunday October 1st. The one hour ceremony will start at 1 pm in Frost Plaza at 7 Queen's Park Crescent East (on the north east corner of Queen's Park Crescent and College Street) where the loss of 49 fire fighters will be honoured. www.opffa.org
The Ontario Autism Coalition will be protesting at Queen’s Park on Monday October 16th starting at 10 am. Supporters will be expressing their frustration with 50,000 children unable to participate in the services and programs of the Ontario Autism Program. www.ontarioautismcoalition.com
The University of Toronto will hold its annual Service of Remembrance on Friday November 10th at Soldiers’ Tower in Hart House Circle. U of T alumni, students, faculty and staff who were killed in WWI, WWII and other conflicts are honoured.
The family friendly Santa Claus Parade is on Sunday November 26th starting at 12:30 pm. Please drop off new and unwrapped gifts for CP24 CHUM Christmas wish at Emmanuelle College at 75 Queen’s Park Crescent East. Along the parade route, the 5k Holly Jolly Fun Run with costumed runners will start at 11:45 am. The parade starts at Christie Pits, goes east along Bloor Street, south on University Avenue, east at Wellington Street, south on Yonge Street, east on Front Street, ending at the St. Lawrence Market. www.thesantaclausparade.com