Common Ground Dance Days Common Ground Dance Days (CGDD) produced by TOES FOR DANCE with support from Flight Festival is a free, outdoor, intercultural, and participatory celebration of movement and community that includes: -energetic and grounded beginner-level dance classes in a variety of styles -charming and evocative performances featuring both student and professional dancers -compelling and insightful artist talks through which audience members can learn more about the inspiring featured artists and their creative lives! This event is connected to Willowdale’s multi-faceted and family-friendly Common Ground Dance Festival that has brought artists and audiences together annually since 2021. In 2026, our programming at Lee Lifeson Art Park is education-focused and will take place over two weekends: September 11-12th and 25-26th. It’s only a hop, skip, and jump away from North York Centre subway station; so it’s easy to join in the fun and try something new! Through our offerings this year, you will be able to witness and experience Indigenous movement traditions, Iranian dance, Bollywood, Western Contemporary, Bharatanatyam, and much more. Our mission is intercultural, with programming that gathers a diverse constellation of Toronto’s dancers, choreographers, and community members for the purpose of creating connection. We invite you to witness the beauty and power of multiple artistic expressions moving through a shared space, and to contribute your energy and presence to the experience. It is our hope that our friendly vibe, matched with the incredible talent of the artists will move you, uplift you, challenge you, and inspire you. Whether you’re an experienced dancer or you have an unexplored curiosity for movement, let’s breathe deeply, meet each other amongst the greenery, practice curiosity, and revel in the joys of movement – together! Note: Common Ground Dance Festival will return with a larger performance-focused format once again in 2027.
Rosyland ROSYLAND is a free, all-ages outdoor concert series that transforms the park into a playful space for music, creativity, and connection. Designed for families, neighbours, and curious listeners of every age, ROSYLAND combines live performances, music education, arts and crafts, and environmental sustainability into an inviting summer experience. This year we explore how the arts help us to express and shape the human emotional world — from joy and excitement to calm, curiosity, and reflection. Each program introduces audiences to different musical styles and instruments, while encouraging active listening, participation, and emotional awareness. Performers guide audiences through how music can tell stories, communicate feelings, and help us better understand ourselves and each other. With multiple ways to engage, children and adults can choose their own level of participation — from listening from a picnic blanket, experimenting with musical toys, joining interactive moments during performances, to walking around to explore our booths and learning about nature, and creating at our arts-and-crafts stations using recycled and everyday materials. These hands-on activities reinforce the idea that music-making and creativity are accessible to everyone! New this year, ROSYLAND will feature a dedicated afternoon performance designed especially for toddlers and their caregivers, offering a gentle, age-appropriate musical experience before the mainstage concert later in the day. Rooted in community, ROSYLAND invites people to slow down, play, and gather outdoors — creating a welcoming “third place” where art, imagination, and human connection can flourish. Rain Dates: August 7, 14, 21, 28
Rosyland ROSYLAND is a free, all-ages outdoor concert series that transforms the park into a playful space for music, creativity, and connection. Designed for families, neighbours, and curious listeners of every age, ROSYLAND combines live performances, music education, arts and crafts, and environmental sustainability into an inviting summer experience. This year we explore how the arts help us to express and shape the human emotional world — from joy and excitement to calm, curiosity, and reflection. Each program introduces audiences to different musical styles and instruments, while encouraging active listening, participation, and emotional awareness. Performers guide audiences through how music can tell stories, communicate feelings, and help us better understand ourselves and each other. With multiple ways to engage, children and adults can choose their own level of participation — from listening from a picnic blanket, experimenting with musical toys, joining interactive moments during performances, to walking around to explore our booths and learning about nature, and creating at our arts-and-crafts stations using recycled and everyday materials. These hands-on activities reinforce the idea that music-making and creativity are accessible to everyone! New this year, ROSYLAND will feature a dedicated afternoon performance designed especially for toddlers and their caregivers, offering a gentle, age-appropriate musical experience before the mainstage concert later in the day. Rooted in community, ROSYLAND invites people to slow down, play, and gather outdoors — creating a welcoming “third place” where art, imagination, and human connection can flourish. Rain Dates: August 7, 14, 21, 28
Rosyland ROSYLAND is a free, all-ages outdoor concert series that transforms the park into a playful space for music, creativity, and connection. Designed for families, neighbours, and curious listeners of every age, ROSYLAND combines live performances, music education, arts and crafts, and environmental sustainability into an inviting summer experience. This year we explore how the arts help us to express and shape the human emotional world — from joy and excitement to calm, curiosity, and reflection. Each program introduces audiences to different musical styles and instruments, while encouraging active listening, participation, and emotional awareness. Performers guide audiences through how music can tell stories, communicate feelings, and help us better understand ourselves and each other. With multiple ways to engage, children and adults can choose their own level of participation — from listening from a picnic blanket, experimenting with musical toys, joining interactive moments during performances, to walking around to explore our booths and learning about nature, and creating at our arts-and-crafts stations using recycled and everyday materials. These hands-on activities reinforce the idea that music-making and creativity are accessible to everyone! New this year, ROSYLAND will feature a dedicated afternoon performance designed especially for toddlers and their caregivers, offering a gentle, age-appropriate musical experience before the mainstage concert later in the day. Rooted in community, ROSYLAND invites people to slow down, play, and gather outdoors — creating a welcoming “third place” where art, imagination, and human connection can flourish. Rain Dates: August 7, 14, 21, 28
Rosyland ROSYLAND is a free, all-ages outdoor concert series that transforms the park into a playful space for music, creativity, and connection. Designed for families, neighbours, and curious listeners of every age, ROSYLAND combines live performances, music education, arts and crafts, and environmental sustainability into an inviting summer experience. This year we explore how the arts help us to express and shape the human emotional world — from joy and excitement to calm, curiosity, and reflection. Each program introduces audiences to different musical styles and instruments, while encouraging active listening, participation, and emotional awareness. Performers guide audiences through how music can tell stories, communicate feelings, and help us better understand ourselves and each other. With multiple ways to engage, children and adults can choose their own level of participation — from listening from a picnic blanket, experimenting with musical toys, joining interactive moments during performances, to walking around to explore our booths and learning about nature, and creating at our arts-and-crafts stations using recycled and everyday materials. These hands-on activities reinforce the idea that music-making and creativity are accessible to everyone! New this year, ROSYLAND will feature a dedicated afternoon performance designed especially for toddlers and their caregivers, offering a gentle, age-appropriate musical experience before the mainstage concert later in the day. Rooted in community, ROSYLAND invites people to slow down, play, and gather outdoors — creating a welcoming “third place” where art, imagination, and human connection can flourish. Rain Dates: August 7, 14, 21, 28
GHANAFEST Ghanafest will commemorate their 14th Annual Ghanaian Festival of Arts & Culture on Sunday August 2nd, 2026 at Earl Bales Park in North York. Ghanafest aims to bring Toronto’s multicultural community together in showcasing the rich culture and heritage of black Canadian culture, specifically Ghanaian culture. This festival will feature traditional Ghanaian foods, language lessons, games, and broad spectrum arts exhibit, and will engage local Black artists, artists from across Canada, international artists. Where to find the event: Earl Bales Picnic Areas 1 – 4 Rain or Shine
Samba In The Park The Dance Migration Project is a community-centered artistic initiative created by Dance Migration that brings Brazilian dance, music, and culture into public spaces across Toronto. Rooted in the belief that art should be accessible to everyone, the project offers free performances, workshops, and cultural gatherings designed for families, newcomers, and people of all ages to experience and participate in the vibrancy of Brazilian culture. Held annually at Walter Saunders Memorial Park through the Arts in the Parks program, the Dance Migration Project transforms the park into a living cultural space where audiences are invited not only to watch, but to move, learn, and connect. Through samba, Afro-Brazilian dance, live music, and community participation, the project fosters joy, belonging, and cross-cultural exchange while creating opportunities for meaningful artistic engagement outside of traditional theatre settings. Now entering its fourth year, the project has become a gathering point for Toronto’s diverse communities, celebrating the spirit of Brazil as a culture rooted in resilience, community, and collective celebration. By removing financial barriers and bringing professional artists directly into public spaces, Dance Migration continues its mission of using dance as a tool for education, connection, and cultural understanding. The Dance Migration Project reflects the organization’s ongoing commitment to community outreach, cultural sharing, and creating inclusive environments where art becomes a shared experience — accessible, welcoming, and alive.
African Dance with Pulga This immersive, community-driven project will take place over five weekly programs that include African dance classes, with live music, followed multi-disciplinary performances by musicians, dancers, choreographers, and visual artists in Walter Saunders Memorial Park. July 4 of 2026/ Session 1: African Dance Workshop with Pulga Muchochoma followed by Performance of Ngoma solo and choreographic exploration by Pulga Muchochoma. July 11 of 2026 / Session 2: African Dance with Aisha Nicholson followed with performance by Musician Moyo Rainos Mutamba who sings and plays a traditional instrument called Mbira from Zimbabwe. July 18 of 2026 / Session 3: African Dance with Mafa Makhubalo followed with performance by Musician Moyo Rainos Mutamba who sings and plays a traditional instrument called Mbira from Zimbabwe. July 25 of 2026 / Session 4: African Dance by Aisha Nicholson followed with a visual Arts Presentation and Exploration with Hans Poppe. August 1, 2026 / Session 5: African Dance with Pulga Muchochoma followed with a drum circle led by Cece Haba & Walter Maclean( We invite all the participants to bring drum (Jembe) or any instruments that they wish to play outdoors (pots, cans, flutes etc.). Rain Dates: August 8 and 15, 2026
African Dance with Pulga This immersive, community-driven project will take place over five weekly programs that include African dance classes, with live music, followed multi-disciplinary performances by musicians, dancers, choreographers, and visual artists in Walter Saunders Memorial Park. July 4 of 2026/ Session 1: African Dance Workshop with Pulga Muchochoma followed by Performance of Ngoma solo and choreographic exploration by Pulga Muchochoma. July 11 of 2026 / Session 2: African Dance with Aisha Nicholson followed with performance by Musician Moyo Rainos Mutamba who sings and plays a traditional instrument called Mbira from Zimbabwe. July 18 of 2026 / Session 3: African Dance with Mafa Makhubalo followed with performance by Musician Moyo Rainos Mutamba who sings and plays a traditional instrument called Mbira from Zimbabwe. July 25 of 2026 / Session 4: African Dance by Aisha Nicholson followed with a visual Arts Presentation and Exploration with Hans Poppe. August 1, 2026 / Session 5: African Dance with Pulga Muchochoma followed with a drum circle led by Cece Haba & Walter Maclean( We invite all the participants to bring drum (Jembe) or any instruments that they wish to play outdoors (pots, cans, flutes etc.). Rain Dates: August 8 and 15, 2026
African Dance with Pulga This immersive, community-driven project will take place over five weekly programs that include African dance classes, with live music, followed multi-disciplinary performances by musicians, dancers, choreographers, and visual artists in Walter Saunders Memorial Park. July 4 of 2026/ Session 1: African Dance Workshop with Pulga Muchochoma followed by Performance of Ngoma solo and choreographic exploration by Pulga Muchochoma. July 11 of 2026 / Session 2: African Dance with Aisha Nicholson followed with performance by Musician Moyo Rainos Mutamba who sings and plays a traditional instrument called Mbira from Zimbabwe. July 18 of 2026 / Session 3: African Dance with Mafa Makhubalo followed with performance by Musician Moyo Rainos Mutamba who sings and plays a traditional instrument called Mbira from Zimbabwe. July 25 of 2026 / Session 4: African Dance by Aisha Nicholson followed with a visual Arts Presentation and Exploration with Hans Poppe. August 1, 2026 / Session 5: African Dance with Pulga Muchochoma followed with a drum circle led by Cece Haba & Walter Maclean( We invite all the participants to bring drum (Jembe) or any instruments that they wish to play outdoors (pots, cans, flutes etc.). Rain Dates: August 8 and 15, 2026