This August 11th, Riverside BIA and Oddside Arts are collaborating once again for the third installment of Afraspektion, a vibrant celebration in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood of the Afrodiaspora’s creativity during Emancipation Month.
It was on August 1, 2021 when Canada officially recognized Emancipation Day for the first time. Afraspektion highlights the contributions of the Afrodiaspora to the arts, food and culture, as well as honoring the legacy of African Canadians.
Part of the BIA’s Riverside C’Mon! series of community events, the free family-friendly festival will take place between 2pm and 7pm at Riverside Common Park located at 657 Queen St E in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood.
From opening ceremony to festival closing, it’s going to be a jam-packed Sunday in Riverside for Afraspektion. Expect live entertainment, exciting giveaways, hot eats and buys in the vendors marketplace, and fun free activities for everybody. Trust us, this is a party you don’t want to miss!
More details about the festival will be shared in the coming weeks so be sure to follow @riverside_bia and @oddsidearts for updates. While you’re at it, RSVP to Afraspektion 2024 here to get event details, perks, and promos straight to your inbox!
In the meantime, let’s take a trip down memory lane with photos by Jennifer Gomez from last year’s Afraspektion:
Photos by Jennifer Gomez
Event Co-Curators at Oddside Arts:
- Queen Kukoyi (they/them), Co-lead of Oddside Arts
- Nico Taylor (she/her), Co-lead of Oddside Arts
Event Co-host at Riverside BIA:
- Jennifer Lay (she/her), Executive Director, Riverside BIA
Afraspetion 2024 is supported by: The City of Toronto Cultural Festivals Funding Program, Oddside Arts, the Riverside BIA, Hullmark, Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council and Co-Operators. Special thank you to the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative (SBCCI).