2022 Sundays at Riverside Common Series (Main Street Innovation Fund Project)

Thanks to all who joined us over the 2022 events season for Sundays @ Riverside Common park!
657 Queen St East (Just Steps West of Broadview)

We worked together to host 20+ events over May-December on Sundays. These outdoor community events happened in Toronto’s Riverside Common Park, just steps of Queen East & Broadview, and included local live music, fun activities, art, eats and shopping this spring, summer and fall.

THANK YOU to Our Generous Community Supporters of the Sundays @ Riverside Common series in 2022:

The City of Toronto (Main Street Innovation Fund), Government of Canada and FedDev Ontario

Government of Ontario (Reconnect Ontario Programme)

Riverside BIA

Check out our Project Toolkit (coming soon) and see what we got up to through the descriptions and photos below.

Interested in being part of our 2023 Events?

Stay tuned for our Vendor Form and our Volunteer Sign Up Form to our main webpage for Riverside Common events

Follow Riverside BIA on Instagram

More About 2022 Events @ Riverside Common Park

The Riverside BIA, established in 1980, is one of Canada’s first BIAs, located along Queen Street East between the Queen Street Viaduct to just past De Grassi Street. Rich in history, green spaces and public art, the BIA includes over 100 unique eateries, retails shops, boutiques and a range of professional services.

Riverside Common Park is located at 657 Queen Street East and was officially opened in October 2021. The Riverside BIA and community collaborators are working together to bring in regular activations to this new community space in 2022. It’s all part of welcoming everyone to enjoy what our local business district and neighbourhood has to offer!

2022 EVENTS @ Riverside Common

MAY 8TH | Let’s Get Cycling

Thanks to everyone who came by for a free bicycle safety check & repair quote/ assessment by Ride Away Bikes, Kids Bike Swap (up to 12 yrs) and bicycle donations accepted with the Canadian Bicycle Recycling team, and safety tips & mini-course from TPS Division 55! Everyone enjoyed Live Music by the fabulous Camille Blott (11:00-1:00) and Murray Drive Band (1:30-3:30) and more fun!

MAY 15TH | Community Greening & Engagement

Thanks to everyone who joined us for a day of community greening and engagement at Riverside Common Park. Everyone is welcome: drop by to visit! The Recreate Place team was on site (10am-3pm) getting kids, families, and everyone involved in imagining possible future uses of Riverside Common Park. Folks shared ideas, built models with natural materials, helped create a community collage and map, and got active with a parachute, sidewalk chalk and more fun! PLUS, we enjoyed Balcony Gardening demos (11:30am and 12:30pm) and Plant Wisdom (11-1) with Danette Steele, The Herbalist…and our spring planting with our activity area (for kids of all ages!) – materials supplied free by Riverside BIA. Live Music by Camille Blott (11:00-1:00) and Murray Drive Band(1:30-3:30) was amazing!

MAY 29TH | Riverside Public Art Tours & Dance Performances

Thanks to all who can on an artistic journey with Riverside Public Art Tours as part of Doors Open Toronto Tours were we explored public art in Riverside including the Women Paint Riverside multi-block laneway corridor! Click this link to do your own self-guided tour anytime 🙂

We also came together to experience Two x 30’ – an outdoor contemporary dance/live art work, presented in duet performances that explores the inextricable link between our collective and unconscious patterns of movement and our environment – the landscape and waterways, and surrounding architecture, as part of ArtworxTO. It’s all happening in and around Riverside Common Park!

Riverside Common Events May 29th ArtworxTO

JUNE 5TH | Patio Season & Pride Celebration & Market

Thanks to everyone who celebrated at our kick-off to patio-season and pride day at Riverside Common Park!! Everyone enjoyed a market focusing on eco-sustainable lifestyles with artisans, food/drink and services, paired with live Music by Samba Toronto and Dr. Draw, Kids/ Family Corner activities, and more fun for everyone!

JUNE 19TH | Kemetic Yoga Session & Local Market

Thank to everyone who joined for a morning Kemetic Yoga in Riverside Common Park on Juneteenth (June 19) with Vonnette Forde from Higher Love Yoga. Participants were introduced to the significance of Juneteenth and what it means for many Afrodiasporic communities, and how it relates to us in Canada. This special in-person yoga flow was based on the Water session from the Earthseeds: Space of the Living – Kemetic Yoga Series. It elaborated on the significance of water–the role water played in the middle passage, the role it plays in reconciliation with the hurts of the past, and in our healing journeys. This session is free but limited to 30 participants.

A local market followed and everyone enjoyed shopping local artisans, food/drink and services. Plus Live Music by Steel Pannist Trenyce Sweeney and The Don Valley Stompers, Kids/ Family Corner activities, and more.

Kemetic Yoga Session Riverside Common June 19th 2022

JUNE 26TH | Art in The Park

Thanks to everyone who joined us for Art in The Park at Riverside Common Park!! This event was hosted by The Artists’ Network and included an artists’ market, community mural creation, interactive activations, live music and more. This was a great opportunity to meet artists and find that perfect piece for your home. This is the first in the monthly series with The Artists’ Network (upcoming dates are Sundays: August 14 and October 2 at 11am to 4pm) so stay tuned!!

This summer and fall the Artists’ Network, in partnership with the Riverside BIA, brings art to your community with outdoor art shows on your doorstep. Plan to visit often — each of the art pop-ups will showcase different artists where you’ll be able to meet the artists and learn more about their work.

JULY 8TH & 9TH | Jazz Fest @ Riverside Common

The Beaches International Jazz Festival is a month-long music festival held each year in Toronto in July. This year for the first time, the jazz fest came to Riverside Common park as part of it’s third year of Sounds of Leslieville & Riverside series on the festival’s kick-off weekend July 8-10! Check the Beaches Jazz Fest website for more details on what’s on and when!

JULY 17TH | ArtHaus x NoHa Collective

Thanks to ArtHaus and NoHa Collective for bringing a fun event to Riverside Common Park in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood!! Everyone enjoyed Live Music by an incredible line up of local musicians including Sakako, Enrii Mart and Divine Lightbody, and friends, plus a curated market featuring local artisans, kids/family activities.

JULY 24TH | The Riverside Common Market BY The Leslieville Flea

The popular Leslieville Flea popped-up at Riverside Common from 10am-5pm! This infamous curated market focuses on local artisans and collectors and everyone enjoyed live music by Murray Drive Band, plus more fun for everyone! Don’t miss the next one on August 21st!

JULY 31ST | Vegan & Eco Lifestyle Market

We had a great time at the second in our monthly series presented in collaboration with Animal Liberation Kitchen and other vegan and eco-sustainable lifestyle focused vendors including with artisans, food/drink and services. Live music by John David Williams (clarinet) and Emelyn Stam (accordion) and all our amazing vendors, staff from Riveride BIA and volunteers from George Brown School of ESL!

AUGUST 7TH | Afraspektion Celebration & Market

AFRASPEKTION at Riverside Common Park (657 Queen E) on August 7th. From 11am to 4pm celebrated & highlighted the contributions and creativity of the Afrodiaspora during Emancipation Month. Everyone enjoyed an incredible opening ceremony and a fun day of entertainment and activities with a market with local vendors. This vibrant event was hosted by the ever-charismatic Levyi-Alexander J. Love, with live music by amazing local artists: Steel pannist Trenyce Sweeney, singer song-writer Markus Aurelyus, and Afro-Caribbean drummer & dancer Emilie Jabouin. PLUS, fun giveaways, Kids/Family corner with activities including Superhero face-painting.

Thanks to support from our generous community supporters: Riverside BIA, Hullmark,Toronto’s Arts Council, Government of Ontario’s Reconnect Ontario programme, Government of Canada’s Supporting Black Canadians Communities Initiative, The City of Toronto (Mainstreet Innovation Fund), Government of Canada and FedDev Ontario.

AUGUST 14TH | Art in The Park

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the second edition of Art in The Park at Riverside Common Park!! This event was hosted by The Artists’ Network and included an artists’ market, community mural animation, interactive activations, and live music by The Don Valley Stomper and Eamon McGrath.

This was a great opportunity to meet artists and find that perfect piece for your home. This is the second in the monthly series with The Artists’ Network (upcoming date is Sunday: October 2, 11am to 4pm).

Thanks to support from our generous community supporters: Riverside BIA, Artists’ Network, Government of Ontario’s Reconnect Ontario programme, The City of Toronto (Mainstreet Innovation Fund), Government of Canada and FedDev Ontario.

AUGUST 21ST | The Riverside Common Market BY The Leslieville Flea

The popular Leslieville Flea popped again at Riverside Common from 10am-5pm. This infamous curated market focused on local artisans and collectors and everyone enjoyed live music by The Foragers and Murray Drive Band, plus more fun for everyone.

Thanks to support from our generous community supporters: Riverside BIA, The Leslieville Flea, Government of Ontario’s Reconnect Ontario programme, The City of Toronto (Mainstreet Innovation Fund), Government of Canada and FedDev Ontario.

AUGUST 28TH | Vegan & Eco Lifestyle Market

Thanks to all who joined for our monthly series presented in collaboration with Animal Liberation Kitchen and other vegan and eco-sustainable lifestyle focused vendors including with artisans, food/drink and services. Everyone enjoyed live music by Jay Smooth and Holly Santonato and more fun for everyone!

Thanks to support from our generous community supporters: Riverside BIA, Government of Ontario’s Reconnect Ontario programme, The City of Toronto (Mainstreet Innovation Fund), Government of Canada and FedDev Ontario.

SEPTEMBER 4TH | Local Vendors Market

Thank you to everyone who came out to our local market with shopping from local artisans, food/drink and services. Plus Live Music by local musicians Holly Santonato AND The West End Riverboard Band, Kids/ Family Corner activities, and local Riverside Trivia Show for amazing prizes.

SEPTEMBER 11TH | Dog Lovers’ Market

Thanks to all the dogs and dog lovers’ who came to enjoy this event on September 11th from 11-4pm at Riverside Common Park, 657 Queen E. Co-hosted by Toronto Dog Moms, Riverside BIA, Tom and Sawyer, and Dirty Pawz Dog Washthis fun event included live music, vendors, treats, nail trims, photography booth with professional pet photographer Danica Oliva and Tasting Bar-K presented by Tom&Sawyer, & more – it was all for the dogs (and their owners and friends)!

This was a great opportunity to meet local dog care-focused vendors and organizations and have some fun with your best friend(s)! Everyone enjoyed:

Market of local dog-care vendors
Live music by local musicians: The West End Riverboat Band and The Foragers
Complimentary doggie treats and doggie refreshments
Free dog photos taken by professional pet photographer
Dog-friendly activities like nail trims, animal nutrition consultations and more fun!

SEPTEMBER 18TH | Local Vendors Market

Thanks to everyone who came out (despite the wet weather) to our local market with shopping from local artisans, food/drink and services. Thanks to local musicians Salvador AND Jay Smooth! It all happened from 11-4pm at Riverside Common Park, 657 Queen E (just steps west of Broadview!)

OCTOBER 2ND | Art in The Park

Thanks to everyone who came out to our last edition for ’22 of ‘Art in The Park’ at Riverside Common Park!! This event was part of our monthly series hosted with The Artists’ Network and included an artists’ market, community mural creation, interactive activations, live music and more. This was a great opportunity to meet artists and find that perfect piece for your home. This was the final event in our monthly Art in the Park series in 2022 which has run through the summer and fall..

OCTOBER 16TH | Local Vendors Market

Thank you to everyone who came out to our local market with shopping from local artisans, food/drink and services, plus great live music by Murray Drive!

OCTOBER 30TH | RIVERSIDE HALLOWEEN

Kids of ALL ages, pets too, joined us for the Riverside Halloween Mini-Fest from 11-4 at Riverside Common Park! Some fun and spooky costumes were seen and everyone enjoyd FREE happenings and activities including Pumpkin patch – pick and decorate your own pumpkins, Live music by local musicians, Halloween Treats and hot drinks, Spooky photo booth, Facepainting, glitter tattoos and cotton candy, our haunted house, lots of crafts and more surprises!

NOVEMBER 6TH | Community Mural Celebration & Local Vendors Market

Thanks to everyone who celebrated the new 2000 square foot public art mural with artist Nick Sweetman at the south end of Baseball Place (just steps south of Riverside Common), and enjoyed our local market in Riverside Common park with shopping from local artisans, food/drink and services, took part in our Quiz Game with local trivia for prizes, did some beautiful kids painting with local artist Monika, and enjoyed live music by local musicians Jay Smooth AND Murray Drive!

NOVEMBER 27TH & DECEMBER 4TH | Riverside Holiday Markets

Thanks to all who came out and took part in our Riverside Holiday Markets on November 27th and December 4th from 11-4 at Riverside Common Park! Thanks for bringing holiday cheer, and taking part in our happenings and activities presented by the Riverside BIA including: Meet & Greet with Santa, Carollers, our Window Wonderland Scavenger Hunt for Prizes, Hot Drinks, Holiday Shopping from local vendors and more! It’s all happened from 11-4pm at Riverside Common Park, 657 Queen E (just steps west of Broadview!)

Thanks to all who joined us over the 2022 events season for Sundays @ Riverside Common park! 657 Queen St East (Just Steps West of Broadview)