Summer in the Park Join us for Summer in the Park 2025, presented in partnership with the Romano D’Andrea Foundation: three days of free entertainment and community programming, from August 22nd to 24th in Weston’s Little Avenue Memorial Park! This year’s lineup includes Toronto R&B singer Kibra, Tribal Vision Dance, Replay Storytelling, The Grand Salto Theatre, and spoken word from Irmão, Martin Gomes & Matheus Coelho. Guests can also enjoy a community meal, a closing Party in the Park, and more! All programming is free and family-friendly, and presented with a Relaxed Environment Approach, with additional on-site accessibility measures. Sunday, August 24 1-2 p.m.: The Adventures of the Little Rooster by The Grand Salto Theatre. Dazzle and delight at this retelling of this beloved Hungarian folktale performed with music, dance, circus and cabbage! 2-4 p.m.: Close the festival with Crossroads Theatre and Party in the Park, in partnership with the Weston Village Community Association, with food, games, music, and fun!
Summer in the Park Join us for Summer in the Park 2025, presented in partnership with the Romano D’Andrea Foundation: three days of free entertainment and community programming, from August 22nd to 24th in Weston’s Little Avenue Memorial Park! This year’s lineup includes Toronto R&B singer Kibra, Tribal Vision Dance, Replay Storytelling, The Grand Salto Theatre, and spoken word from Irmão, Martin Gomes & Matheus Coelho. Guests can also enjoy a community meal, a closing Party in the Park, and more! All programming is free and family-friendly, and presented with a Relaxed Environment Approach, with additional on-site accessibility measures. Saturday, August 23 1-2:30 p.m.: A show and workshop from Tribal Vision Dance – have fun, be active and learn about the history and meanings of First Nations social dances. 3:30-4:30 p.m.: Weston’s Bright Futures – led by Weston artist Najla Nubyanluv, a group of IBPOC young women and non-binary youth share an original performance celebrating identity and self-empowerment. 6-7:15 p.m.: Replay Storytelling presents Stories of Resilience, featuring a cast of Toronto’s best storytellers. 7:45-8:05 p.m.: Spoken Word and music with Irmão (Martin Gomes & Matheus Coelho). 8:15-9 p.m.: Toronto-based R&B and Soul artist Kibra takes the stage with her seamless blend of smooth soulful melodies and captivating vocals.
Summer in the Park Join us for Summer in the Park 2025, presented in partnership with the Romano D’Andrea Foundation: three days of free entertainment and community programming, from August 22nd to 24th in Weston’s Little Avenue Memorial Park! This year’s lineup includes Toronto R&B singer Kibra, Tribal Vision Dance, Replay Storytelling, The Grand Salto Theatre, and spoken word from Irmão, Martin Gomes & Matheus Coelho. Guests can also enjoy a community meal, a closing Party in the Park, and more! All programming is free and family-friendly, and presented with a Relaxed Environment Approach, with additional on-site accessibility measures. Friday, August 22 6-7:30 p.m.: The Summer in the Park Opening Night Celebration, a lively and fun summertime evening of music, and a community meal in partnership with the Creative Commons Collective. 7:30-8:30 p.m.: Rooted in Weston, hosted by Replay Storytelling: developed through a series of workshops facilitated by Paul Aflalo and Chantal Lim of Replay, members of the community share true stories based on their own lived experience.
Dusk Dances Every evening from August 3 to August 10, 2025, Dusk Dances is returning to Withrow Park! Get ready to immerse yourself in this week-long festival and celebration of dance. This year’s festival promises to be an unforgettable event under the leadership of Festival Director Sofi Gudiño. Hosted by Ana Lía, the beloved festival will present four dance pieces, each unfolding throughout the park: BABAElan by Blessyl Buan; Re-Imagining Bhamakalapam by Harikishan S Nair; Portrait by Lina Cruz; and Sweet Mother by Kwasi Obeng-Adjei Each evening will begin at 7:00pm with a Dabke dance workshop, open to audience members of all ages and abilities. Don’t miss this chance to witness the magic of Dusk Dances. We are looking forward to seeing you in the park this summer!
Summer Jam Concert Series Ashkenaz Festival & Magen Group are returning to Earl Bales Park for the third edition of the Summer Jam FREE concert series, including FOUR exciting and eclectic double-bill concerts on alternating Monday evenings. Each concert will feature a Jewish roots performance, paired with a pop, rock or jamband tribute act, attracting inter-generational fans from across the musical spectrum. Bring a blanket or lawnchair, a picnic and beverages and enjoy amazing music in an idyllic setting with friends and family. Mondays will never be the same! MONDAY JULY 14 Andy Statman Trio (Bluegrass, Klezmer and Hassidic soul) Sam Grisman Project (Dawg meets Dead) MONDAY JULY 28 Sophie Lukacs (Soulful Songs with African Vibes) Tommy Youngsteen (Tribute to Paul Simon) MONDAY AUGUST 11 Lea Kalisch – (Yiddish cabaret) Will Chalmers (Tribute to Neil Diamond) MONDAY AUGUST 25 Neta Elkayam (North African soul meets jazz) Reggaddiction’s “Ganja Harvest” (Tribute to Neil Young & Reggae greats)
Summer Jam Concert Series Ashkenaz Festival & Magen Group are returning to Earl Bales Park for the third edition of the Summer Jam FREE concert series, including FOUR exciting and eclectic double-bill concerts on alternating Monday evenings. Each concert will feature a Jewish roots performance, paired with a pop, rock or jamband tribute act, attracting inter-generational fans from across the musical spectrum. Bring a blanket or lawnchair, a picnic and beverages and enjoy amazing music in an idyllic setting with friends and family. Mondays will never be the same! MONDAY JULY 14 Andy Statman Trio (Bluegrass, Klezmer and Hassidic soul) Sam Grisman Project (Dawg meets Dead) MONDAY JULY 28 Sophie Lukacs (Soulful Songs with African Vibes) Tommy Youngsteen (Tribute to Paul Simon) MONDAY AUGUST 11 Lea Kalisch – (Yiddish cabaret) Will Chalmers (Tribute to Neil Diamond) MONDAY AUGUST 25 Neta Elkayam (North African soul meets jazz) Reggaddiction’s “Ganja Harvest” (Tribute to Neil Young & Reggae greats)
Summer Jam Concert Series Ashkenaz Festival & Magen Group are returning to Earl Bales Park for the third edition of the Summer Jam FREE concert series, including FOUR exciting and eclectic double-bill concerts on alternating Monday evenings. Each concert will feature a Jewish roots performance, paired with a pop, rock or jamband tribute act, attracting inter-generational fans from across the musical spectrum. Bring a blanket or lawnchair, a picnic and beverages and enjoy amazing music in an idyllic setting with friends and family. Mondays will never be the same! MONDAY JULY 14 Andy Statman Trio (Bluegrass, Klezmer and Hassidic soul) Sam Grisman Project (Dawg meets Dead) MONDAY JULY 28 Sophie Lukacs (Soulful Songs with African Vibes) Tommy Youngsteen (Tribute to Paul Simon) MONDAY AUGUST 11 Lea Kalisch – (Yiddish cabaret) Will Chalmers (Tribute to Neil Diamond) MONDAY AUGUST 25 Neta Elkayam (North African soul meets jazz) Reggaddiction’s “Ganja Harvest” (Tribute to Neil Young & Reggae greats)
Summer Jam Concert Series Ashkenaz Festival & Magen Group are returning to Earl Bales Park for the third edition of the Summer Jam FREE concert series, including FOUR exciting and eclectic double-bill concerts on alternating Monday evenings. Each concert will feature a Jewish roots performance, paired with a pop, rock or jamband tribute act, attracting inter-generational fans from across the musical spectrum. Bring a blanket or lawnchair, a picnic and beverages and enjoy amazing music in an idyllic setting with friends and family. Mondays will never be the same! MONDAY JULY 14 Andy Statman Trio (Bluegrass, Klezmer and Hassidic soul) Sam Grisman Project (Dawg meets Dead) MONDAY JULY 28 Sophie Lukacs (Soulful Songs with African Vibes) Tommy Youngsteen (Tribute to Paul Simon) MONDAY AUGUST 11 Lea Kalisch – (Yiddish cabaret) Will Chalmers (Tribute to Neil Diamond) MONDAY AUGUST 25 Neta Elkayam (North African soul meets jazz) Reggaddiction’s “Ganja Harvest” (Tribute to Neil Young & Reggae greats)
Sun/Shade Throughout the twentieth century, few forces have impacted the shape of North American cities as significantly as the sun. Driven first by public health objectives and later by an insatiable desire for daylight and broad views, urban centres and the spaces they support are largely celebrated for the ways in which they maximize access to light. Over time, unobstructed rays became synonymous with urban progress and yet, as temperatures rise every year, our sun-drenched streets and public spaces are becoming less and less comfortable. Extreme heat events are predicted to rise in the Greater Toronto Area from 20 days per year now to 66 days per year by 2050, leading to increased risk of illnesses and mortality. How can we collaborate with the sun in new ways? How will shade help to define new spaces for civic life? The Bentway’s summer exhibition of public art, Sun/Shade, brings together artists, designers, and researchers from Toronto and beyond to deploy the sun and shade as creative tools, revealing how new thinking about familiar resources can improve urban life. This summer, we invite you under the highway to shine a light on the benefits of shade.
Roller Skate Parties Meet us under the Gardiner to move and groove at our monthly Roller Skate Parties! Whether you have superfly moves to share or are working on the basics, all are encouraged to cruise our figure-eight trail together. Expect local DJs, group skate demos and theme nights, shop the Toronto Queer Market. Join us for the best summer vibes!