Take a FREE Walking Tour of Cabbagetown this summer

Main Street Mosaic Tours: Exploring Heritage and Hubs launches June 15

TORONTO, May 28, 2024 – The Cabbagetown BIA today announced its summer walking tour program Main Street Mosaic Tours: Exploring Heritage and Hubs will launch on Saturday, June 15. The innovative app-guided tour invites locals and visitors alike to embark on a captivating journey through the historic main street of Cabbagetown to uncover the rich history and stories behind the dynamic neighbourhood and its small businesses.

Interactive app tour explores the diverse attractions and historical gems of Cabbagetown

 
Utilizing the state-of-the-art, free-to-use mobile and web app platform Driftscape Main Street Mosaic Tours’ provides an interactive, user-friendly way to explore the diverse attractions and historical gems of Cabbagetown. From architectural splendors to historic landmarks, participants will gain a unique insight into the past, present and future of one of Toronto’s oldest and most cherished neighborhoods.

Cabbagetown free walking tour schedule

Running daily from Saturday, June 15 through mid-August, the free app-guided walking tour is around 1km long and can take participants anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours to complete. Over a dozen local businesses, including The Epicure Shop, Super Bargain, St Jamestown Steak & Chops, Noushe, Playground Cafe, Rapid Photo, Thairoom, Revolt Hairshop and Parliament Optical Inc., will provide special offers exclusive to tour takers.
 
“We are excited to launch our Main Street Mosaic Walking Tours initiative and to invite both residents and tourists to discover the incredible history and culture of Cabbagetown like never before,” said Matthew Mohan, Executive Director, The Cabbagetown BIA. “Visitors are used to hearing about the residential homes around Cabbagetown, but this new walking tour offers access to a wealth of captivating stories and intriguing facts about our incredible small business main street. It is a truly unique and fun activity to do this summer that is open to everyone.”

Tour Features Include:

– An Immersive Tour Guide: Visitors can explore Cabbagetown at their own pace, thanks to the app’s many features, including auto-play self-guided tours. The app uses GPS technology to deliver relevant information and engaging content as visitors move around the neighbourhood, ensuring a truly personalized and immersive experience
– Rich Content: The Cabbagetown BIA team has enriched the sites and stories, mapped in the app, with images, audio guides and written content, ensuring that visitors receive comprehensive and captivating information about each location they visit
– Exclusive Interviews: Tour stops will include fun interviews with the local business owners who will tell stories about how their businesses came to grow in the historic sites
– Special Offers from Local Businesses: Tour takers will receive special offers, highlighted in the app, for products and services from local businesses including Super Bargain, St Jamestown Steak & Chops, Noushe, Playground Cafe, and Rapid Photo
– Exclusive Insider Tips: Packed with exclusive tips and recommendations from local expert Gilles Huot – from the Cabbagetown Preservation Association – a partnership that ensures that Cabbagetown visitors uncover hidden gems, historical events as well as must-try products and services by local businesses
– Accessible and Offline Access: To cater to each participant’s needs, the app will offer offline access to its content, ensuring that visitors can explore Cabbagetown even with limited internet connectivity, as well as audio guides to assist those with visual impairment

“We’ve partnered with Driftscape to provide a one-of-a-kind educational and engaging walking tour experience that celebrates our community’s diverse heritage as well as promotes sustainable and authentic tourism in Cabbagetown. This initiative also supports the continued recovery of small businesses affected by COVID-19, providing them with much-needed exposure and helping to rejuvenate our local economy,” added Mohan.
 
The ‘Main Street Mosaic Tours’ are designed to delight history buffs, architecture enthusiasts and anyone curious about the soul of one of Toronto’s most intriguing districts. Connect with the community and learn the stories behind the small businesses that made up and continue to make up the picturesque streets of Cabbagetown. To participate in the Cabbagetown ‘Main Street Mosaic Tour’ adventure, people can download the Driftscape app, available for download on both iOS and Android devices.

Launch event at Winchester Park

To inaugurate Main Street Mosaic Tours, The Cabbagetown BIA is hosting a launch event at Winchester Park at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 15. This family-friendly event will feature a historic photo exhibit, live music, dance lessons, food vendors, an old-time photo booth, a caricature artist, a face painter and mini “sneak-peak” tours. The evening will culminate with a movie in the park at 9 p.m.
 
For more information, visit www.cabbagetownto.com

Where is 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.

all images supplied by Cabbagetown BIA

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