Enjoying summer in Toronto, but stressed about all the traffic? The organizers of this street festival thought the same: take a stroll at BIG on Bloor, the perfect opportunity to enjoy a pedestrian-only, outdoor event full of art, culture and food.
BIG on Bloor, a recurring summer festival in Toronto’s Bloordale, is back for its 20th edition on July 18 and 19 on Bloor Street West, between Dufferin to Lansdowne. That means nearly two decades of community gathering and an anticipated 160,000+ visitors this year.
From 12 p.m. to midnight on Saturday and 12 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, visitors can enjoy a car-free Bloordale and different activities and events outside. That includes the debut of public art spectacle CEREMONY, an immersive experience that transforms the street into a curatorial feature that is inspired by multicultural wedding traditions — basically, a massive wedding venue. Attendees are invited to sign up for a ceremony slot, where they can declare their love for really anything: your favourite food, your dog, a new hobby. Just make sure to sign up before July 11!
It’s a unique chance to view and challenge the concept of marriage, union and love, with interactive installations and live performance exploring themes of connection, ritual and collective celebration. There will also be henna tattoos, lion dragon performances, Celtic hand fastening workshops, hora dances and more activations involved.
Visiting with kids means that BIG on Bloor is fun for the entire family, because you’ll also get the chance to sign your kids up in the Youth Market. Children can participate in this kid-only market where youth can sell goods at their own tables. Alternatives to monetary transactions are recommended by the festival, and no registration is required.
For the creatives, PULP: Reclaimed Materials Arts and Design is returning with a Card-yard: essentially a larger-than-life playground of plywood and cardboard, this pop-up architecture art installation is great for the young and the young at heart.
Performers will also grace the main stage with music programming made available by Uma Nota, a not-for-profit that fosters the Canadian music landscape. Performers will be announced on the BIG on Bloor website ahead of the event.
Over 50 artists come together from diverse backgrounds and groups in this year’s festival. You can also expect to find scavenger hunts and beach tours.
The best part of BIG on Bloor is that it’s free, so head on over in July if you’re looking forward to viewing public art and walking around on a car-free weekend.
If you want to get involved with BIG on Bloor as a vendor, registration is required online.