This August 2025 marks the fifth year of celebrating Emancipation Month in Ontario. Oddside Arts and Riverside BIA invite everyone to continue the carnival weekend festivities at our family-friendly festival: Afraspektion.

Join us on Sunday, August 17th, 2pm-7pm at Riverside Common Park (657 Queen St E, just west of Queen E/Broadview) to celebrate and highlight the contributions and creativity of the Afrodiaspora, and honour the legacy of African Canadians. Enjoy the memorable opening ceremony, followed by a day filled with festival fun, giveaways, a curated market, live music and free entertainment for all ages!

Afraspektion 2025 – What’s Happening

2:00 PM – Welcome by Oddside Arts
2:05 PM – Afraspektion Opening Ceremony
2:35 PM -Interactive drumming activity with the audience
3:20 PM – Traditional Rwandan Dancing by Amarebe Cultural Troupe
3:30 PM – Pan Fantasy Steelpan band and Moko Jumbie Stilt Walkers from Michael Lee Poy’s Moko Jumbie Mas Camp
4:00 PM – Superhero Pictionary featuring Cosplayers WonderWoman905, TrinidadianSuga and Cosplay Q
4:25 PM – Music Break with DJ Ace Dillinger
5:00 PM -Live Cooking Demonstration with Chef Lee
5:50 PM -Ballroom Performance by House of Monroe
7:00 PM – Closing
Throughout the day – There will be a chance for guests to get a cute sketch of themselves done by illustrator artist Zaina Bovell and they can also get their face painted by Najla Nubyanluv.