What to know
- Toronto’s free Indigenous Arts Festival takes place Saturday at Biidaasige Park, celebrating Indigenous Peoples Month and the cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples.
- Visitors can enjoy live performances and workshops, including jigging, Inuit drum dancing, pow wow dancing, hoop dancing, and lacrosse demonstrations.
- Dozens of vendors will be selling Indigenous art, handcrafted jewelry, clothing, food, and other goods throughout the day.
- The one-day festival begins at 11 a.m. and marks the first time the event will be held at Biidaasige Park, a space designed to reflect Indigenous heritage, waterway restoration, and reconciliation.
Toronto residents can experience live music, and good food this Saturday, at the free-to-attend Indigenous Arts Festival at Biidaasige Park.
As part of Indigenous Peoples Month, the City of Toronto, along with the Seven Grandfather Teachings, is holding the event, to celebrate the cultures of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples of Turtle Island.
What can visitors expect?
Attendees will be able to experience a full day of cultural performances and other traditional activities.
Live performances include:
- Jigging performances by the Toronto Jiggers and Strings
- Inuit drum dancing
- Pow wow dancing
- Hoop dancing workshops
- Lacrosse demonstrations
The festival ends off with a concert, showcasing the talents of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation Youth Performance, the Manitou Mkwa Singers, Lacey Hill, Derek Miller, and finishes off with Susan Aglukark.
Festivalgoers will also get the chance to explore dozens of Indigenous-owned vendors, displaying artwork, handcrafted jewelry, clothing, food and other goods.
A festival in one of Toronto’s newest parks
Despite being held at Fort York Historic Site in years past, the festival will run in Biidaasige Park for the first time, a park that opened in the middle of summer 2025. The park has Indigenous influence, and celebrates waterway restoration and reconciliation.
The park and green space on the city’s waterfront incorporates Indigenous knowledge and storytelling, taking a closer look at the restoration of historic waterways that once flowed through the area.
Organizers say the setting made it a fitting home for a festival celebrating Indigenous culture and community.
Why Indigenous Peoples Month matters
Indigenous Peoples Month is an annual celebration in June, acknowledging the culture, experiences and traditions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis who have lived in the country and on the land, dating back centuries. The month is also in place to reflect on these communities and how their presences continue to shape Canada.
The one-day festival runs Saturday, kicking off festivities at 11 a.m. with various dance performances.
What does ‘Biidaasige’ mean?
Biidaasige translates to “sunlight shining toward us” in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwemowin. The waterfront park was designed to celebrate Indigenous heritage while supporting ecological restoration and public gathering spaces in Toronto.
