FESTIVAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Festival weather
The Weather Network predicts a beautiful weekend for the Festival. It’ll be sunny and then partly cloudy on both Saturday and Sunday with temperatures peaking at 24 degrees. Perfect.
Festival hours
Art & Crafts in Riverdale Park takes place from1 to 6 pm on Friday and then 9:30 am to 6 pm on Saturday and 9:30 am to 5 pm on Sunday. Riverdale Farm Fall Festival happens on Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. The Cabbagetown Festival on Parliament Street runs from 11 am to 8 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Blair’s Run starts at 8 am at Carlton and Parliament.
Festival map
The official BIA Festival map is available online. For a full size version, click here.
Festival traffic
Carlton from Sherbourne to Parliament and Parliament from Gerrard to Wellesley will both be closed for the entire weekend starting at 6 am on Saturday. Streets that access them inside the closed routes will be redirected. Click on the map image to enlarge it. Click here to see a larger version.
Cabbagetown Festival online links
Online info is available for each major event with all the details about their programs. Art & Crafts - click here. Cabbagetown Festival on Parliament Street - click here. Blair’s Run - click here. Riverdale Farm Fall Festival - click here.
PARLIAMENT STREET EVENTS
Blair’s Run On Sunday
By Thursday morning, 322 participants have signed up. Over $47,700 has been raised to support the BGCTO Toronto Kiwanis (Cabbagetown Youth Centre). Start at the corner of Parliament and Carlton at 8 am on Sunday September 13. A great crowd will be running. There’s a link on the Blair’s Run website to register yourself and your team.
Cutting the cabbage on Saturday
This event is soaked in history. It started every festival for 47 years. A celebrity cuts a huge cabbage - the sacrificial veggie is donated by St James Town Steak & Chops (516 Parliament).This year’s opening ceremony happens at 11 am on Saturday morning at Carlton and Parliament and it also includes music and circus performers.
Festival entertainment
Over 40 entertainers will perform on seven stages plus a performance area in Anniversary Park. You can see the specific schedules online here. On Parliament Street, stages are set for Wellesley, Winchester (Indigenous Celebration), Carlton, Spruce and Anniversary Park. On Carlton, there’s a stage at Berkeley and in the Kids Zone at Seaton. The new EDM stage is located on Carlton at Ontario. Entertainment starts at 11 am and ends at various times each day.
The closing parade on Sunday
TDot Batu will again lead the crowd It’ll start in two places at 6:20 pm - from Gerrard and Parliament and from Sherbourne and Carlton. They’ll meet at Carlton and Parliament and then march along Parliament Street to Wellesley. A dance party will finish the show. Everybody welcome.
Cycle Solutions
The PWA ride runs annually from Toronto to Montreal as a fundraiser. Cycle Solutions (444 Parliament) has a demonstration to highlight the ride and to encourage new riders to join. 10 to 6 pm on Saturday and noon to 5 pm on Sunday.
Bostok Hathaway
Anita and Norman are silver sponsors and they’ve got a great program lined up for the weekend. Daniel Glazier, an antiques appraiser, will tell you about your family’s treasures. Bring your stuff or snap a picture and talk to him about it. Saturday from 2 to 4 pm. On Sunday from noon to 2 pm, Christine Lunan will talk about her experiences planting hundreds of tulips along Sword Street. Also on Sunday from 3 to 4 pm, Sage Goldenberg will talk about organizing and downsizing. Watch for the Bostok Hathaway tent in front of Parliament Street Fitness (498 Parliament).
RIVERDALE PARK WEST
Riverdale Farm Fall Festival
At the Simpson House in Riverdale Farm at the east end of the park. Enjoy fresh corn on the cob, hear some hog and chicken calling and start your day with a pancake breakfast. Children’s games, face painting and more.
Art & Craft Show
It’s a free event. The exhibitors sell their works. These are one-of-a-kind pieces and the exhibitors have been selected by an expert jury. Payment methods depend on the vendor. Many accept Interac and credit cards.
Art & Craft Show map and directory
A map and directory of the 160 artists are both online here. A detailed intro to the artists is online here.
Award winners
Four awards were given out in 2025. Gina Jacklin won Best in Show and her work is shown on the 2026 poster. You can see her in Booth #1 at the corner of Sumach and Winchester. Click here to reach her website.
Art & Crafts food and entertainment
The centre of the park is again reserved for the food vendors and musicians. Cabbagetowner singer-songwriter Holly Clausius and pianist composer Ewen Faircombe will perform daily - on Friday from 3 to 6 pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm. Food vendors include Lemon Maid, Nabulu coffee, Nepali Momo, Uno Dos Tacoz and Magic Oven.
YARD SALES
These are fun and part of the weekend’s spontaneous events. They pop-up everywhere and you can find then just by walking down the street. Here are a few.
Barb’s sale
She’s done it before and knows what you want. 300 Wellesley.
Eclectisaurus’s yard sale
Leslie owns the beautiful store at 410 Dundas E and she’s moved lots of her most striking contemporary, vintage and antique items here for Saturday and Sunday. Don’t miss this one.
Maggie’s Bling
Throughout the past year, Maggie has collected and cleaned your unwanted bling and now it’s for sale. New and pre-loved jewellery and fashion items. It’s a charity fundraiser - proceeds go to the Children’s Book Bank and the CYC. Cash only. Saturday only, 9 to 3 pm, 286 Carlton.
The Great Cabbagetown Clear Out
A charity fundraiser for Dixon Hall’s music program. Christina Jackson and Frank Prendergast have organized this sale. Saturday from 7 am to 4 pm at 89 Winchester. Shop for new treasures. You’ll find cookbooks, kitchen gear, furniture, décor, clothing, toys, trinkets & collectibles.
Claire’s book “Colouring Cabbagetown”
Claire has written a colouring book for adults. It’s her love letter to these 35 Cabbagetown homes. She did the photos and illustrations herself. She has a tent at Sprucecourt School on Carlton and her book s available there. $25.
FESTIVAL FOOD NEWS
Best BBQ on Parliament Street
St James Town Steak and Chops (516 Parliament) is back for another year with their ever-popular BBQ with peameal bacon sandwiches and hot dogs. 516 Parliament at the corner with Winchester.
Bisou
FOU DE JOIE at Bisou (350 Berkeley) is a Cabbagetown fest garden party on the patio to close out the summer! Insane all-star lineup with @kikilefreak, dj chris (@psychris416), @bikethug, @prince_batrick plus a very rare performance by @carlibog. Saturday September 12, 3 -11pm with no cover before 6 ($10 after). House vibes, UKG vibes, garden party vibes. Drinks + snacks + food + coffee! Come finish out the summer with us.
The Wing House
A Festival weekend full of karaoke. Wing House (420 Parliament) welcomes Mrs Morgan on Friday from 8 pm to midnight and on Saturday from 4 to 7 pm and again from 8 to 10 pm. There’ll also be an outdoor patio with food and drinks.
Cabbagetown Organics
Have some roast corn and samosas for finger food in the middle of the Festival’s events.
Patios for people watching
Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton) is returning with its outdoor patio with food and drinks and live music. Saigon Pai (446 Parliament) will serve its Thai dishes on its patio or out to the street. Rayah (509 Parliament) has a Moroccan menu for its patio. Super Bargain (441 Parliament) will have a DJ on the patio on Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 6 pm and Brayo Bryans will host karaoke on Saturday from 6 to 8 pm.
LOCAL NEWS
Rick McCarthy
Rick is a nationally recognized painter. David Silcox wrote about him that “Rick McCarthy is one of Canada's maverick artists. For the decade or so that I have known him, his work has shown ideas and a method of expression which have little relation with the mainstream of Canadian art…McCarthy's works are not easy, pleasant muzak. They are powerful reminders of deeply felt emotions that sometimes hurt, and always disturb.” Rick’s work is on display at Sahar K Boluki Gallery (160 Davenport) from Friday September 11 to Saturday September 19. The opening happens on Friday September 11 from 5 to 9 pm. Click here to see his website.
Candidates’ contact info
The City of Toronto has an official list of candidates in our Ward. It includes contact info where available. It lists the people running for offices for Mayor, Council and the various school boards.
Election news
Cabbagetown South Residents Association is holding a meet & greet with Curran Stikuts, a candidate for City Council on Tuesday September 15, 6:30 pm, 240 Gerrard E. The Corktown Residents & Business Association is hosting a candidates’ debate on Monday, September 28 at 6:30 pm in the YMCA Community Room (461 Cherry). The Bridge is having a candidates’ debate on Wednesday October 7 at 6:30pm in Central Neighbourhood House (349 Ontario).
Wild in the city
Kids can learn lots of fun info about the wildlife living around us. It’s a family drop-in program by the Friends of Allan Gardens. Free. Sunday September 13, 11 am to 1 pm, Children’s Conservatory (19 Horticultural Ave).
Fred Victor’s Harvest Festival
Every year, the Fred Victor celebrates the gardeners of Regent Park and their crops with free food, prizes, music and activities. Saturday September 19, 11 am, the Big Park (620 Dundas E).
WEEKLY CALENDAR - CLUBS & PUBS
The Calendar will return next week.
