Special Events

Life in Toronto is getting back to normal, which means the return of special events in the City.  The various parades and fundraising events add vibrancy to the neighbourhood, but most involve road closures of some sort.  Major scheduled events that involve road closures in the Bay Cloverhill neighbourhood will be listed on the Calendar of Events at www.baycloverhill.com .

The Gumball 3000 Rally will take place Friday May 27th to Saturday May 28th.  It is a convoy of exotic cars that travel from Toronto to Miami that raises funds for educational and recreational projects for underprivileged youth.  On Friday May 27th from 6 am to Saturday May 28th at 1 pm, Bay Street will be closed from Bloor Street north to Scollard Street, and involve some restrictions on Cumberland Avenue, Bellair Street, Yorkville Avenue and Scollard Street.  The Cumberland Parkade on Cumberland Street and Green P on Yorkville Avenue will remain open.  On Saturday May 28th from 10:45 am to 12:30 pm, groups of vehicles will be travelling from Bay and Scollard Streets, south on Bay Street, east on Gerrard Street and south on Yonge Street.  There will be rolling closures on Yonge Street between Gerrard Street and Dundas Street.  A car rally will be held at noon at Yonge Dundas Square.  For more details about the event: www.gumball3000.com.

The Run for Women happens on Saturday June 11th starting at 7 am.  1,500 runners participate in a 5k or 10k walk/run in support of Women’s College Hospital’s Women’s Mental Health Program. The event starts at Women's College Hospital at 76 Grenville Street at 7 am.  During the event Surrey Place may be inaccessible. The route is a loop from Bloor Street to Bay Street to St. Joseph Street to Queen's Park Crescent West to Wellesley Street West to Queen's Park Crescent East to College Street to Spadina Avenue.  The event website is www.runforwomen.ca.


The 12th annual Yorkville Exotic Car Show returns on Father’s Day, Sunday June 19th from noon to 5 pm.  The event raises funds for Melanoma Canada and features classic, exotic and super cars on the red carpet.  Just north of the Bay Cloverhill neighbourhood, Bloor Street West will be closed from Avenue Road to Bay Street, with portions of Bellair Street and St. Thomas Street also closed.  www.yorkvilleexotics.com

The usual Pride events celebrating the LGBTQ+ community will be back in person this summer.  There will be street closures in The Village, centered around Church Street.  In addition, the Trans March will happen on Friday June 24th from 8 to 9 pm.  The route starts at Bloor and Church Streets, going west along Bloor Street, south on Yonge Street and wraps up at Carlton and Church Streets.  The Dyke March travels the same route, and is scheduled for Saturday June 25th from 2 to 4 pm.  The colour Pride Parade will return with eco-friendly vehicles on Sunday June 26th from 2 to 6 pm.  The parade will launch from Church and Bloor Streets, travel west along Bloor Street, turning south on Yonge Street and wrapping up at Yonge Dundas Square. Details on the many events are noted on www.pridetoronto.com.

Open Streets will likely return after a pandemic pause for a Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm in mid-August and another Sunday in mid-September.  Programming is set up by local businesses and residents and roads will be closed to vehicles along Bloor Street from Ossington Avenue to Church Street and Yonge Street from Bloor Street to Queen Street.  www.openstreetsto.org 

The Yorkville Run is scheduled for Sunday September 11th from 8:30 am to 10:30 am.  This 5k event is enjoyed by 1,500 runners and supports over 30 charities, with a fundraising goal of $1m. The event starts and finishes in the Jesse Ketchum School Courtyard at 61 Davenport Road.  Road closures will be eastbound Davenport Road, southbound Bay Street, westbound Dundas Street and northbound University Avenue/Queen’s Park Crescent East/Avenue Road.  www.yorkvillerun.com

The last event of the year will be the family friendly Santa Clause Parade in November or December.  Details are being firmed up, but the parade usually starts at Christie Pits, goes east along Bloor Street, south on University Avenue, east at Wellington Street, ending at the St. Lawrence Market. www.thesantaclausparade.com