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Getting Ready for the Riverside Vintage Crawl – Halloween Edition

The first Riverside Vintage Crawl in June was such a hit, we’re doing another round–a Halloween edition!

On October 17 (6pm-10pm), your favorite vintage stores in Riverside will be curating clothing and accessories perfect for the spooky season.

Aside from cool vintage pieces, there will be Halloween music and refreshments as well, plus enter our Raffle in stores. Just like the first installment, the stores will also be covering the tax for all purchases made in-store during the event.

We’re all excited to go shopping but before we go on another fun night of all things vintage, we’ve got a few reminders:

Plan your Route.

Just like you did for trick or treating as a kid, but easier, since we’ve got five participating Vintage Shops within just a few blocks, you should have no problem finding and visiting them all!

Photo credit: Second Voyage Vintage

Prepare costume references.

The event is only four hours so you want to come with a mission. That means having a costume in mind, so you know what pieces to look for. A list of items would be helpful as well.

Photo credit: Pexels

Dress strategically.

Wear a jacket that’s easy to take on and off. A tank top or a t-shirt works great as a base layer so it’s easy to try on clothes. All the participating stores have changing rooms.

Photo credit: Pexels

Bring a reusable bag.

Don’t forget to bring a reusable shopping bag or two to put your purchases in, especially if you plan on doing quite a bit of shopping.

Photo credit: Pexels

Follow the vintage stores on social.

They usually post pieces they have in store, so you get dibs if you follow their accounts. Feel free to tag them during the event too!

RSVP.

Give us a heads up that you’re coming. When you sign up, you get event details, perks and promos straight to your inbox. Get your free tickets here.

Reminder to check out all participating Locations:

Don’t forget to follow @riverside_bia on Instagram for updates on the Riverside Vintage Crawl and other exciting happenings in the neighbourhood. See you on Thursday!

A Barkin’ Good Time at Riverside Halloween Fest

In Toronto’s Riverside, Halloween isn’t just for the kids. This year, we’ve prepared a fun day for all our dog parents and pups.

For Riverside Halloween Fest on October 27 (10am-3pm), bring your pups over to Joel Weeks Park at 10 Thompson Street for a barkin’ good time. 

Here’s everything happening for the dogs at Riverside Halloween Fest:

Dog Costume Contest

Show off your dog’s best Halloween costume and get a chance to win prizes from local vendors and businesses. Awards include Best in Show, People’s Choice, Most Creative, Most Original and Best Pair a.k.a. Dog + Owner. Sign up here. 

Photo BOOth

Immortalize your Riverside Halloween Fest experience by snapping a pic at the free photobooth, courtesy of Jenny & Shane Sage Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage.

No Tricks, Just Treats

We’ll be giving away free treats to all the doggos. You better come early though as they come in limited quantities.

Shop Small

If you missed the Dog Lovers’ Market last month, here’s your chance to shop delicious treats and cute dog accessories while supporting small businesses.

Doggy Donation Drive

Bring new or your gently used dog toys and supplies, Save Our Scruff will be there to receive them! 

We’ve got an exciting lineup of events happening in the neighbourhood this month so be sure to follow @riverside_bia on Instagram for updates!

Stock images from Pexels

Small Acts, Big Impact : 5 Ways To Support Small Businesses Everyday

Toronto’s Riverside is not only a neighbourhood rich in culture and history; it’s also home to a diverse community of small-scale entrepreneurs, from food to fashion to beauty.

In celebration of small businesses during this Small Business Week (Oct 20-26th) and everyday, here are five ways you can show up for the amazing businesses that you love: 

Have a ‘small business first’ mindset.

Whenever you want to purchase something, think of your local shops near you first, before resorting to the big box stores or online ordering.

For example, looking for a cool jacket for the fall? Check out local vintage shops first.

Explore Local and Attend Community Events.

Check out our online directory for an updated list of all the businesses in our BIA. Follow @riverside_bia on Instagram for updates on what’s new and happening in the neighbourhood, and check out our local narrated tour here.

Weekend markets are great places to not only shop from small businesses, but also to meet the people behind them and know their stories. We love organizing markets in Riverside. Check out our event calendar to see what we have coming up.

Shop local.

With the holidays just around the corner, this might be a good time to slowly start working on that list. For Halloween costuming, check out the Riverside Vintage Crawl and for holiday gifts swing by the Local Holiday Market at Riverside Common on November 24. There will be plenty of amazing small businesses to check out.

Leave a review.

Google and Yelp are popular review platforms where you can share your experience to other users. A lot of people check reviews before going, so don’t think one review won’t matter. Your kind words will go a long way.

Spread the word on social media.

Small businesses don’t have advertising budgets like big companies do, so social media is the best tool to leverage. Post about them. Tag them in your Stories. Follow their accounts. Social media is how people discover things now.

Don’t forget to follow @riverside_bia on Instagram for updates on what’s new and happening in the neighbourhood!

Photo credit: Riverside BIA

Riverside Vintage Crawl – Halloween Edition: What’s Happening?

Shortly after the success of the first Riverside Vintage Crawl in June, there was clamor for a follow-up–and we heard you!

Join us on October 17th from 6pm to 10pm as your favorite vintage shops in Toronto’s Riverside are coming together again for a Halloween edition of the popular Riverside Vintage Crawl.

If you’re still searching for a costume for Halloween this year, this is the perfect opportunity to get creative and find something unique, while supporting small businesses.

Before we go on another fun night of vintage shopping, here’s everything you need to know about the Riverside Vintage Crawl – Halloween Edition:

Photo credit: Common Sort

Shop Halloween costumes and accessories.

From hats to coats to shoes to jewelry to little knick-knacks, the participating stores will be curating all things spooky and stylish for this event. 

Photo credit: Ran’s Closet

Save the tax (in store).

Like the first Riverside Vintage Crawl, the shops will be covering the HST for all purchases made during the event; so take advantage of this sweet deal!

Photo credit: Second Voyage Vintage

Vibe to Halloween tunes while shopping.

What’s a party without good music? Jam to nostalgic Halloween songs while browsing through the wide selection of vintage goodies. Who knows, it might even spark an idea for a costume!

Photo credit: Good Juice Box Vintage

Enjoy complimentary treats and refreshments.

If you find yourself feeling parched or peckish during the vintage crawl, help yourself to drinks and nibbles that participating shops have available.

Enter the prize raffle in store.

Make sure to ask about the raffle when you drop by the stores so you can have a chance to win a cool surprise!

Participating Locations:

Don’t forget to let us know you’re coming so we can send event deets straight to our inbox. RSVP to the Riverside Vintage Crawl – Halloween Edition here.

We’ve got an exciting line-up of events this month so be sure to follow @riverside_bia on Instagram to stay in the loop!

A Spooktacular Season: Halloween 2024 in Toronto’s Riverside

If you love Halloween, you’re in for a treat because from October 17th to November 1st, we’ve partnered with local businesses and community organizations for an exciting lineup of activities for the spooky season. From family-friendly parties to shopping events, here’s What’s ON in Toronto’s Riverside this Halloween: 

Riverside Vintage Crawl – Halloween Edition!

Date & Time: Thursday, October 17th | 6pm-10pm

Location: Multiple locations

Following the success of Riverside’s first Vintage Crawl in June, it’s back for a special Halloween installment. Shop costumes and accessories from your favorite vintage shops in the neighbourhood tax-free for one day only. Get your free tickets here.

Dance Party

Date & Time: Friday, October 25th | 10:30am-11:30am

Location: 2nd floor of Ralph Thornton Community Centre

Put on your best costume and get ready to groove to classic Halloween tunes in this dance party for the little ones and their caregivers. This event is presented by the South Riverdale Child-Parent Centre and Queen/Saulter Library.

Pumpkin Carving

Date & Time: Saturday, October 26th | 9:30am-noon

Location: Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre

Partake in the autumnal tradition of pumpkin carving. Materials and tools will be provided at no cost.

Family Crafty Halloween

Date & Time: Saturday, October 26th | 2pm-3pm

Location: Toronto Public Library Queen/Saulter Branch

Get your creative juices flowing by making your own spooky Halloween craft to take home! All materials will be provided. This event is suitable for pre-school and school-aged children and their caregivers.

Riverside Halloween Fest & Dog Paw-ty!

Date & Time: Sunday, October 27th | 10am-3pm

Location: Riverside Common and Joel Weeks Park

Pumpkins, treats, cotton candy, and more await guests at the Riverside Halloween Fest. Family activities will be happening at Riverside Common, while pet events like the dog costume party will be at Joel Weeks Park. Plus, get tickets to join the Riverside Ghost Walk here.

Spooktacular Halloween Party

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

Location: Ralph Thornton Community Centre

No tricks, only treats at this party for children and their caregivers. Free goodie bags will be in limited quantity so come early! This event is presented by the Ralph Thornton Community Centre, Riverside BIA, South Riverdale Child-Parent Centre and Queen/Saulter Library.

Degrassi Pumpkin Parade

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

Location: Degrassi Street Park

Show off your finest jack-o’-lantern for a final time in this community pumpkin parade happening at Degrassi Street Park. After the event, you can leave your pumpkins for composting by the City of Toronto.

RSVP here to let us know you’re coming and you’ll get event deets and reminders straight to your inbox. See you in Riverside!

To stay updated on the latest events and programming in the neighbourhood, check out @riverside_bia on Instagram and the Riverside Blog!

Stock images from Pexels.com