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Meet The Vendors of Riverside Holiday Market 2024

The annual Riverside Holiday Market is happening on November 24, 2024 (10am-4pm) at Riverside Common located along 657 Queen St E in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood.

With the holidays officially just around the corner, the Riverside Holiday Market is a perfect place to work on your shopping list or simply indulge in a little well-deserved retail therapy. It’s a great opportunity to support local too.

Here’s a sneak peek into some of the small businesses and vendors who will be bringing their amazing products to the Riverside Holiday Market on November 24:

Photo credit: Bee’s Baking

Bee’s Baking (@bees.baking)

Gourmet micro bakery offering specialized patisserie treats inspired by different cultural backgrounds and travel destinations

 Photo credit: The Wine Stuff

The Wine Stuff (@floatingwineglasscanada)

Modern products for wine drinkers

Photo credit: DC Canada Education Publishing

DC Canada Education Publishing (@dceducation)

Small innovative publisher of children’s books, games and toys

 Photo credit: ica

ica (@icatoronto)

Latino- and female-owned business selling alpaca blankets and cotton ponchos sourced from Ecuadorian artisans

Photo credit: Marubashi Preserves

Marubashi Preserves (@marubashi.shop)

Pickled vegetables, spice blends, seasonings and sauces inspired by Japanese and Japanese Canadian foods

Photo credit: The Modern Witch

The Modern Witch (@themodernwitchca)

Handcrafted metaphysical lifestyle items such as intention candles, smoke bundles, simmer pots, spell bottles and mystery book bundles on non-fiction witchy subjects

Photo credit: Link Haus

Link Haus (@link_haus)

Unique gourmet sausages with over three dozen flavours available vacuum sealed or hot and ready to eat

Photo credit: Angelee & Co.

Angelee & Co. (@angeleeandcompany)

Natural handmade soaps

Photo credit: bymonina

bymonina (@bymonina)

Handmade ceramics and original art

Photo credit: sophupshop

sophupshop (@sophupshop)

Stickers, iron-on patches and paper goods inspired by Jamaican, Caribbean and diasporic culture

There will be more vendors at the market + FREE activities for the whole family. We look forward to seeing you there!

Don’t forget to RSVP here and let us know you’re coming. Follow @riverside_bia on Instagram for updates!

Let’s Get Ready for the Riverside Holiday Market!

In case you hadn’t heard, the Riverside BIA has one more outdoor market before the holiday season is in full swing!

Join us on November 24, 2024 (10am-4pm) at Riverside Common (657 Queen St E) for the annual Riverside Holiday Market. From local vendors to free cupcake decorating to meet-and-greet with Santa, we’ve got a fun Sunday prepared for you.

It’s the last of our Riverside C’Mon 2024! series of outdoor community programming, so let’s make it a memorable one. Here’s a few tips to keep in mind before the event:

Photo from Pexels

Come early.

If you’ve been to our previous Riverside C’Mon! events, you know that we’ve got a lot of FREE goodies and activities. However, they do come in limited quantities so be there as early as 10am so you don’t miss out on free cupcakes, crafts, hot chocolate and more!

Photo from Pexels

Prepare a list.

If you’re planning on getting some holiday shopping done, make a list and check it twice. We’ve got an awesome line-up of local vendors and small businesses showcasing their products at the market.

Photo from Pexels

Dress accordingly.

Since this is an outdoor event, make sure to dress warm. While we’re hoping for sunny skies, it’s still going to be chilly as we near the end of fall. If you do find yourself feeling underdressed, you can check out the vintage clothing stores in the neighbourhood and look for a cute jacket!

Photo by Riverside BIA

Tell your family and friends.

This is a community event so bring your community to ours! Also, Riverside Common is a dog-friendly space so the pups can come too. Everyone is invited. The more the merrier, right?

RSVP.

Let us know you’re coming. When you pre-register, you can get event deets and other important updates straight to your inbox. Sign up here to get your FREE tickets!

Follow @riverside_bia on Instagram so you’re always updated on exciting happenings in the neighbourhood. See you on November 24!

A Festive Fair: Riverside Holiday Market 2024

Is it really that time of the year already? We’ve got a few more weeks before the official holidays, but in Riverside, we bring in the festive cheer early – starting with the Riverside Holiday Market!

Head to Riverside Common (657 Queen St E) on November 24, 2024 (10am-4pm) and partake in fun free activities courtesy of the Riverside BIA and holiday shopping from local vendors.

Get excited because it’s going to be a holly jolly Sunday in the neighbourhood. Here’s what’s happening at this year’s Riverside Holiday Market:

Photo by Needles & Knots

Holiday Market

Shop from a curated selection of local vendors and small businesses.

Photo by Riverside BIA

Meet and Greet with Santa

Say hello and snap a photo with the big guy in red and white!

Photo by Encore Dance Arts

Storytelling Through Dance

Enjoy a performance by Encore Dance Arts including excerpts from “The Nutcracker Sweet”, happening at noon.

Photo by Riverside BIA

Live DJ Music

Groove to nostalgic tunes of the holidays spun by DJ Stevie Kicks.

Photo from Pexels

Christmas Crafts

Show off your kids’ creativity with cupcake decorating and crafts.

Photo by Riverside BIA

Cozy Up with Some Cocoa

Keep warm with a comforting cup of hot chocolate – on us!

Photo by Riverside BIA

Peek Into Toronto’s Parks & Recreation Plan

Learn more about the City of Toronto’s Facilities Master Plan and the Parkland Strategy at their booth from 10am to 1pm.

Photo by Riverside BIA

Queen East Winter Windows Showcase Kickoff

Join us as we officially launch the Queen East Winter Windows Showcase. There will be over 45 unique storefront window art pieces to see + a fun scavenger hunt and raffle contest!

That’s it for now but we’ve got a few more surprises in store so make sure to check out the Riverside Blog regularly.

Get your FREE tickets here and don’t forget to follow @riverside_bia on Instagram to stay updated on exciting events in the neighbourhood!

The Riverside Holiday Market 2024 is organized by the Riverside BIA, with collaborator the Scadding Court Community Centre Entrepreneurship Programs.

A Spooktacular Success: Riverside Halloween Fest 2024 Recap

This year’s Riverside Halloween Fest was a smashing success — thanks to everyone who came out to enjoy and take part!

Hundreds of families made their way to Riverside Common and Joel Weeks Park in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood on Oct. 27 to participate in some wholesome Halloween fun. 

On behalf of all our partners and vendors, thank you for spending your pre-Halloween Sunday with us. Here are some highlights from the big day:

Our pumpkin patch in Riverside Common was the perfect photo op (we had 150 pumpkins at the start!)

The sun was shining. The skies were clear. It was a boo-tiful day to be out and about.

Kids crafts and activities galore!! Our haunted house, cupcake decorating as well as pumpkin and mask decorating stations were a hit with the costumed kiddos

Check out this life-sized Connect 4 at DUCA Credit Union’s booth. How fun!

DJ Stevie Kicks brought the Halloween tunes to the party!

Setting up the haunted mansion booth required an extra set of hands, as you can see.

If you only saw the queue, face painting by Merlin and Laura proved to be a hit among the kids.

These mini cakes by Amber’s Kitchn are spooky and sweet.

Look at those two working the camera at Fetch’n Pet Photography’s free photo booth. Thanks to Jenny & Shane Sage Real Estate Brokerage for sponsoring the event’s photobooth!

Local resident Simon Wong hosted the dog costume contest in Joel Weeks Park on behalf of the Riverside BIA.  Big thanks Big thanks to all our local judges and contestants who took part, as well as our fabulous audience!

A cereal killer. Get it? This cutie won Most Creative in the dog costume contest.

Our Riverside Ghost Walk led by Shari Kasman. The group stopped for a bite at the Queen Garden Cafe (Photo credit: Selina McCallum @shotbyselina)

But wait! We’re not saying goodbye to the spooky season just yet. We’ve got a couple more events coming up this week, which you can read more about here.

For updates on what’s new and happening in the neighbourhood, follow @riverside_bia on Instagram!

Photos by Christian Jay Quilo

Halloween Week: Events in Riverside (Oct. 29-Nov. 1)

October has been a pretty busy and fun month in Riverside, with events such as Riverside Vintage Crawl – Halloween Edition and Riverside Halloween Fest.

But Halloween in Riverside isn’t over just yet. We’ve got a few more treats in our boo bucket before we bid goodbye to the spooky season.

Check out these events happening in the neighbourhood and by local businesses in Oct 29-Nov 1:

Photo credit: Ralph Thornton Community Centre

Spooktacular Halloween Party

Date & Time: Tuesday, October 29th | 3:30pm-5:30pm

Location: Ralph Thornton Community Centre (765 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1H3)

Free goodie bags and fun activities await little monsters (and their guardians) at this ghoulish gathering. This event is presented by the Ralph Thornton Community Centre, Riverside BIA, South Riverdale Child-Parent Centre and Queen/Saulter Library.

Photo credit: Duke’s Riverside

Halloween at Duke’s Refresher + Bar

Date & Time: Thursday, October 31st | 7pm-closing

Location: Duke’s Riverside (709 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1H1)

Head over to Duke’s Riverside on the 31st for a night of cocktails, horror movies, raffle prizes and spooky costumes. Come in your best Halloween ensemble and you might just win a special surprise from Duke’s!

Photo credit: The Broadview Hotel

Electric Evenings on The Rooftop

Date & Time: Thursday, October 31st | 7pm-10pm

Location: The Broadview Hotel (106 Broadview Ave, Toronto, ON M4M 2G1)

Catch the last night of The Broadview Hotel’s Electric Evenings. Enjoy delicious drinks, panoramic views and awesome music courtesy of DJ Jonathan Amar at The Rooftop. Don’t worry, there will be heating and blankets in case it gets chilly.

Photo credit: The Opera House

Pep Rally Presents: Circus Halloween

Date & Time: Thursday, October 31st | 9pm-2:30am

Location: The Opera House (735 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1H1)

Let loose on the spookiest night of the year at Circus Halloween, a party at The Opera House organized by Pep Rally. Acts include BAE BAE, Bambii, Teeno b2b Chinelo and Ms. Myles. Doors open at 9pm. Get your tickets here.

Photo credit: Riverside BIA

Degrassi Pumpkin Parade

Date & Time: Friday, November 1st | 6:30pm-7:30pm

Location: Degrassi Street Park (125 De Grassi St, Toronto, ON M4M 1R6)

Culminating our series of Halloween festivities is the community pumpkin parade at Degrassi Street Park, where you can give your best jack-o’-lantern the audience it deserves. You can leave your pumpkins for composting by the City of Toronto after the event.

Join our community on Instagram for real-time updates on Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood, from new businesses to fun events!