What to know
- The free, family-friendly festival runs from 3 to 6 p.m. at Michael Power Park in Etobicoke.
- The performance lineup includes Mohawk singer-songwriter Logan Staats, Coco Collective, Five and Tens and A Fantástica Bateria.
- Visitors can enjoy complimentary food and take part in free clay, weaving, block-printing and craft activities.
A free west-end festival is bringing live music, dance, food, and hands-on art activities to Etobicoke this weekend.
Arts Etobicoke’s third annual Community Arts Celebration will take over Michael Power Park on Saturday, Jul. 18, showcasing Indigenous, Caribbean, African-diasporic and local artists outside of Toronto’s downtown core.
The event runs from 3 to 6 p.m. at 5055 Dundas St. W., near Islington Ave. Admission is free, no tickets are required, and visitors can expect complimentary food and refreshments throughout the afternoon.
Mohawk singer-songwriter Logan Staats is among the artists leading this year’s performance lineup. The Six Nations of the Grand River musician gained national attention after winning the first season of CTV’s The Launch in 2018.
His music blends folk, soul, blues and rock, often touching on themes of healing, identity and Indigenous sovereignty.
The lineup also includes Coco Collective, a Toronto-based intergenerational ensemble that celebrates African-diasporic and Caribbean traditions through dance, storytelling and rhythm.
Toronto instrumental group Five and Tens will bring its mix of jazz, funk and soul to the park. A Fantástica Bateria, the performing group from Escola de Samba de Toronto, is also scheduled to perform, adding Afro-Brazilian percussion and samba rhythms to the event.
Alongside the live performances, visitors can take part in free creative activities led by local artists.
The programming includes clay sculpture, weaving, block printing, and Ojos de Dios, a traditional craft created by wrapping colourful yarn around crossed sticks. All supplies will be provided, and no previous art experience is required.
The annual event was launched in 2024 as a way to make arts programming more accessible to residents and give local performers and artists a space to share their work. Last year’s celebration attracted about 500 people and included live music, art-making, face painting and a community dance party.
Arts Etobicoke has provided arts programming in the west end for more than 50 years and is one of Toronto’s six Local Arts Service Organizations, which support artists and cultural programming in communities across the city.
