Toronto’s Biggest-Ever Cabbagetown Festival Is About to Take Over the Streets: Here’s Everything You Need to Know

Toronto’s oldest street festival is going bigger than ever. The 47th Annual Cabbagetown Festival takes over Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13, and organizers say it’ll be the largest edition yet — with an expanded footprint running along Parliament Street from Gerrard to Wellesley, and Carlton Street from Parliament to Sherbourne.

Founded in 1976, the two-day festival is completely free to attend, family- and pet-friendly, and expected to draw more than 125,000 visitors to the historic neighborhood.

What’s New This Year

For the first time, the festival is adding a dedicated EDM DJ stage, joining more than 200 local performers across the weekend, including Indigenous talent on the Indigenous Celebration stage, blues and rock bands, stilt walkers, drag performers, and interactive dancers.

There’s also a brand-new Rainbow Market, spotlighting 2SLGBTQI+-owned vendors and makers. “Every year, we look for new ways to make the Cabbagetown Festival even more reflective of the incredible community we represent, and I couldn’t be more excited about what we’re introducing this year,” said Matthew Mohan, Executive Director of the Cabbagetown BIA. “From welcoming an amazing lineup of EDM artists at our brand-new EDM stage and launching our first-ever Rainbow Market featuring 2SLGBTQI+ businesses and makers, we’re celebrating more of what makes Cabbagetown such a vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming neighbourhood.”

Shop Local, Eat Local

More than 250 vendors will line the streets, with over 85 of them local Cabbagetown businesses and roughly 65 per cent handmade-in-Canada makers. Expect everything from artisan jewellery and vintage finds to pet boutiques and furniture, with names like The Great Hall Bookshop, FTJCo Jewellery, Green’s Antiques, and Biophilia Vintage among the standouts.

Food-wise, festivalgoers can graze their way down Parliament Street with food trucks and vendors including Butter Chicken Factory, Momo Ghar, Maya Bay Thai, Liko’s Hawaiian BBQ, Pow Pow Gelato, and Tornado Fries. Several neighbourhood restaurants and bars — including House of Parliament, Golden Pigeon Beerhall, Stout Irish Pub, and Zakkushi — will also run extended patios with food and drink specials for the weekend.

Kids Zone and Entertainment

Carlton Street hosts the festival’s free Kids Zone, complete with a kids’ stage for live music and magic acts, bouncy castles, craft tables, bubble experiences, drag storytime, and face painting.

Live entertainment throughout the weekend includes sets from DJ Mike, Heavyweights Brass Band, Danny Marks, Sofonda, The Regimentals, and dozens more performers spread across the festival footprint.

Opening Ceremonies and Closing Parade

The festival kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday with Opening Ceremonies, featuring elected officials including Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, MP Evan Solomon, MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam, and Councillor Chris Moise, who’ll take part in the festival’s 47-year-old tradition: the annual cabbage cutting.

The weekend wraps with a Closing Parade at 6:20 p.m. Sunday, inviting attendees to dance down Parliament Street into an evening street party.

Plan Your Visit

• Saturday, Sept. 12 — 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 13 — 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Where — Parliament Street (Gerrard to Wellesley) and Carlton Street (Parliament to Sherbourne)
• Road closures — Streets close to traffic at 6 a.m. on Sept. 12 and reopen at 11 p.m. on Sept. 13

It’s also a packed weekend across the neighbourhood, with the Cabbagetown Art & Craft Show, St. James Town Festival, Riverdale Farm Fall Fair, a community-wide yard sale, and Blair’s Charity Run all happening alongside the main event.

For the full vendor list, entertainment schedule, and more details, visit CabbagetownTO.com.

photography by Alexei Malakhov