TORONTO, August 13, 2024 – It’s the middle of August and that means Cabbagetown BIA is announcing details for the 45th annual Cabbagetown Festival, taking place Saturday, September 7th and Sunday, September 8th.
The renowned free-to-attend neighbourhood street festival will feature participation from over 250 vendors, set up on Parliament Street from Gerrard to Wellesley and on Carlton Street from Parliament to Ontario.
Founded in 1976, the award-winning Cabbagetown Festival is one of Toronto’s longest running and most beloved street festivals. Over 75,000 visitors are expected to attend the fully accessible street festival that represents and celebrates the creativity and culture of the diverse community that live, work in and visit the historic Cabbagetown neighborhood.
From the over 250 local vendors participating in the festival, more than 80 are members of The Cabbagetown BIA.
What to expect at Cabbagetown Festival 2024
The inclusive all-ages festival will entertain and delight visitors with DJs, live music, street performers, artisan stalls and shops, food trucks, pop-up patios and restaurants, games, Kids Zone, a closing parade and more, representing and celebrating cultures from Canada and around the world.
“A beautiful reflection of Toronto and the Cabbagetown community, The Cabbagetown Festival is the most culturally, architecturally and ethnically diverse street festival in this city, from the food and the artisans, to the performers and the festival staff and guests – it’s an incredibly special event to be a part of and to attend,” said Matthew Mohan, Executive Director, The Cabbagetown BIA.
Massive street party in Cabbagetown
“It’s a massive street party with something for everyone – from EDM DJs, blues bands, delicious foods from all over the world, indigenous performances, kid’s entertainment, drag performers, cool shops with one-of-a-kind handcrafted goods – and so much more!”
“We look forward to hosting local residents as well as visitors from across the GTA and beyond in September as we celebrate the inclusive Cabbagetown neighbourhood and its outstanding beauty and history,” added Mohan.
Festival favourites returning to the event include:
- Food & beverage vendors Momo Ghar, Liko’s Hawaiian BBQ, Daniel et Daniel Catering & Events, Jerk Brothers, SaigonPai, Kingyo Fisherman’s Market, Mad Mexican, Tito’s BBQ Cookout, Cake Pop Store, Dippin Cheesecake, That Pretzel Dough, Strudel Ladies, Nourish Happy, Churricosand Super Smash Juice
- Shop stalls from The Beastiary Petshop, Toronto Cards and Collectibles, Roses without Thorns, Migohouse Gift Shop Inc, Lisa Maxwell Jewelry, HomeBaker Kits, Haley Made, Chilly Paste Co.and Cycle Solutions
- Performers DJ Mike, DJ Sena, TDot Batu, Imbayakunas, Levi Conscious Soul Full Band, Snooky Tynes and stilt entertainers from Square Circle
Exciting new festival participants this year include:
- Food & beverage vendors Good Gang Ice Cream, La Gloria Mexican Coffee, 70 Below Treats, ZERO Cocktail Bar, Tasting Room & Bottle Shop, Maya Bay Thai, Backed By Bees, Madras Curry, Eggette Lab, Sunshine Smoothies, Chaiwala from India, Pampa y Patagonia and WuBaEats
- Shop stalls from Lost and Found Healing, You’re Welcome Tattoos, Blooming Flower Bar, Blueberri Kids Clothing, Nusantara Indigenous Crafts, JustOne, Do + Dare Undie Company, Himalayan Collections, Truffles & Circumstance, Sunbalm Jewelry, Revl Tea and Mindful Apparel
- And many new performers, being announced soon!
Over a dozen patios will be open!
Plus over a dozen Cabbagetown restaurants will host extended patios onto the street and offer food & beverage specials during the festival, including House of Parliament, F’Amelia, Salt and Tobacco, Super Bargain, Stout Irish Pub and Wing House & Sports Bar.
“It’s incredibly important that we invest in and elevate our extraordinary community and businesses. For The Cabbagetown Festival, we focus on supporting and promoting local vendors and hiring local performers to ensure everyone involved feels a positive impact and to help keep our main streets thriving,” said Mohan.
“Our annual street festival is an essential weekend for many small businesses to have an opportunity to build new relationships, engage with their community, and share their goods and services with thousands of people,” added Monahan.
The always popular Kids Zone, situated on Carlton Street, between Parliament and Ontario, will feature a kids’ stage programmed with live music, magic acts and more, alongside additional family-friendly entertainment including bouncy castles, crafts tables, balloons, face painters and stilt walkers. All Kids Zone activities are free.
Opening ceremonies
To kick off The Cabbagetown Festival, the Opening Ceremonies will take place at 11am on Saturday, September 7 at the corner of Carlton St. and Parliament St. Community representatives and elected officials – including Member of Parliament Marci Ien, Member of Provincial Parliament Kristyn Wong-Tam, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, and Councillor Chris Moise – will share inspiring speeches then participate in the annual cabbage cutting, a tradition since the historic festival began in 1976.
Closing parade
The annual Closing Parade, on Sunday, September 8 at 6:20pm, will mark the end of the festival. Local Afro–Brazilian samba reggae percussion ensemble TDot Batu will lead an energetic and lively parade, open for all festival goers to join. The community parade will run up Parliament Street, starting at Gerrard and ending at Wellesley with a huge dance party.
Sponsors
The Festival would not be possible without the generous funding contributions from Gold Level sponsor TD Bank; Silver level sponsor CHARTWELL Retirement Residences; Bronze Level sponsors Castillo & Pardo Realty, and Posner Craig Stein LLP as well as from local BIA sponsors, the Government of Ontario, and the City of Toronto.
Important information about the Cabbagetown Festival
Cabbagetown Festival hours & location
Saturday, September 7 – 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Sunday, September 8 – 11 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Parliament Street (from Gerrard St. to Wellesley St.), and Carlton Street (from Parliament St. to Ontario St.)
Road Closures:
Streets mentioned above will close to traffic on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 6 a.m., and reopen on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 11 p.m.
With the Cabbagetown Art & Craft Show, St. Jamestown Festival, Cabbagetown community-wide Yard Sale, and Blair’s Charity Run all happening over the same weekend, there is no doubt that Cabbagetown is THE place to be!
About Cabbagetown
Nestled between Wellesley St. and Shuter St., bound by Sherbourne St. on the West and the Don River on the East, Cabbagetown is a historic and charming community. Along with having the largest area of preserved Victorian homes in North America, Cabbagetown is also home to an eclectic mix of independent businesses. Local shops, cozy cafes, and delectable eateries line the streets, offering a rich tapestry of experiences to residents and visitors alike. The neighborhood’s dynamic atmosphere seamlessly intertwines with its historical roots, creating a distinct character that captivates anyone who wanders its streets. Cabbagetown is one of the city’s oldest districts, established in 1840, and in 2004 much of it was declared historic districts.
Ongoing details can be found here:
Website: CabbagetownTO.com Instagram: @Cabbagetownbia Facebook: @Cabbagetownbia
feature image The Cabbagetown Festival in September 2023 by Alexei Malakhov
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