Maple Keys carpet in Sherbourne Common

The urban park along lower, Lower Sherbourne has two sections; one north and one south of Queens Quay East. This is a great park that runs right up to the edge of the inner harbour and includes cool features such as a winding, concrete channel and some art installations that provide water cascading down to the channel, a washroom facility, a skating rink/splash pad, plenty of open space and some Maple trees that are shedding their seeds onto the concrete surface.

The seeds are maple keys that act light little helicopters, dropping from the tree and hoping to hit a nice, welcoming patch of soil that will allow a new crop of Maple trees. Sadly in this case they also need to wait for a nice wind to get them out of that urban hard spot. So many have dropped that it is hard to see the grey concrete through the seeds.

Monument to the War of 1812

Just checking in on Douglas Coupland's sculpture made of good old resin and steel and titled Monument to the War of 1812. It's still there at 600 Fleet Street in Toronto, a nod to the war that ended in a stalemate in a time long since passed.

The work of art installed in January of 2008 features two War of 1812 soldiers, one in gold standing over the other silver soldier lying at his feet. It is not real violence depicted as they appear to be toy soldiers.

@jmhcet Monument to the War of 1812 #Toronto, Canada. #sculpture #toysoldiers #douglascoupland ♬ sonido original - David

Do West Fest Toronto 2026

Dundas West from Ossington to Lansdowne is only 1.5km and on a map it doesn't look too big, but add an incredibly large street festival and thousands of people and it seems to take forever to go from one end to the other.

Someone carries a sign saying "Beware Pickpockets"

This is one of the first festivals in Toronto and I think the people all across the city said why not and headed to Do West Fest. It is on from Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 7 and includes three stages, a kids zone, plenty of vendors and a dunk tank.

DJ Reflection

The Dunk Tank. She is sad because she has been splashed quite a few times

Taking place in the heart of Little Portugal, just as Dundas deflects North West at Ossington Avenue, the street party is a good place to grab some chow, drinks and take in the entertainment.

Dundas St W between Ossington Ave and Lansdowne Ave.
Friday, June 5 | 6PM-11PM
Saturday, June 6 | 11AM-11PM
Sunday, June 7 | 11AM-6PM

See more of the festival after the jump.

Toronto Pillow Fight 2026

Urban Playground Toronto organized the latest edition of the Toronto Pillow Fight which was held in Berczy Park on Saturday, June 6, 2026. It was deferred due to inclement weather on its original scheduled date of May 23, and then it was almost canceled on June 6 as more rain was scheduled in the afternoon, however they waited until around 10am to say the fight was still on and as a bonus the weather ended up being perfect.

There was about 50 to 75 people participating in the pillow bashing, first they filled out a consent form, posed for a group photo, listened to instructions and wham, the fighting began at around 1:45pm. It was good natured and a lot of fun for everyone.

Berczy Park Dog Fountain. Calm before the war

Instructions for the group

See more photos of the pillow fight after the jump.

RedBall down at Harbourfront

That RedBall is having a great time exploring Toronto, he squeezed into a tight space, like always, in Harbour Square Park West and is enjoying the sun and taking a break to just hang. The ball started its Toronto run on June 3rd at the entrance to Old City Hall and will finish on June 7, 2026 in Regent Park. If he had found his way down to Sugar Beach he might have been reborn as a giant beach ball.

The round, red art installation travels the world and is in our fair city as part of Luminato Festival.

From the Festival's website, "This is RedBall Toronto by artist Kurt Perschke. Having travelled to more than 40 cities across six continents, RedBall Project has yet to roam the same streets twice. Until now. As we celebrate Luminato’s 20th anniversary and RedBall Project’s 25th anniversary, we welcome the project back to transform the streets and public spaces of Toronto, turning everyday experiences into moments of surprise and playfulness."

June 3 - Old City Hall 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
June 4 - TMU Student Learning Centre 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
June 5 - St. Lawrence Market North 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
June 5 - Meridian Hall 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
June 6 - Harbour Square Park West 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
June 7 - Regent Park Aquatic Centre 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM

RedBall Toronto and Luminato Festival 2026

June in Toronto is full of art, beauty and PRIDE. Luminato Festival brings art to buildings and streets with a number of installations, film, dance, music and much, much more on their 20th anniversary.

From their website, "Luminato Festival transforms the people, places, and possibilities of Toronto with extraordinary art experiences. Every June we present bold, playful, and of the moment art for all to enjoy. Distinctly Toronto, proudly Canadian and totally Global, we welcome the world to explore our streets, stages and stories. Encounter our city like never before."

I personally love free art and events so I am looking forward to three installations and a Circus! The big, red ball - for some reason known as RedBall, Anthems of Colour, Pyramid Fields and the circus - Camion d’Intervention Artistique - CIART. In addition to this small sample the festival calendar is full of events and attractions, so go crazy and find your favourites.

RedBall was last in Toronto in 2009 (see one of my posts here) and is returning for five days from June 3 to June 7. I love RedBall, much like I like the giant rubber ducky from the Waterfront Festival, and I am glad that RedBall by Kurt Perschke is back for Luminato 2026. "The iconic RedBall appears somewhere in the city. Each day it appears in a new location—wedged between buildings, perched on staircases, or tucked into alleyways. Whether people follow the ball’s journey or encounter it by chance, each interaction is unique and special."

RedBall Toronto 2026 Schedule
Wednesday, June 3 – Sunday, June 7, 2026

June 3 - Old City Hall 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
June 4 - TMU Student Learning Centre 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
June 5 - St. Lawrence Market North 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
June 5 - Meridian Hall 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
June 6 - Harbour Square Park West 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
June 7 - Regent Park Aquatic Centre 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Pyramid Fields by Cyril Lancelin is another installation using "surreal scultpures" that glow at night. "Drawing on the pyramid’s long-standing symbolism of stability and balance, the work reimagines the form as soft, temporary, and immersive—inviting audiences to step inside these storey-high grid inspired structures. The installations are positioned next to the modernist lines of the TD Centre, designed by Mies van der Rohe, and Eberhardt Zeidler's CF Toronto Eaton Centre, creating a striking contrast between the brilliantly coloured pyramids and the surrounding dark steel-and-glass architecture."

Anthems to Colour by artist Liz West will appear in three buildings in the downtown core. The sculptures are colourful surfaces that work with light, changing with the location of the sun. "Across three Brookfield Properties locations in downtown Toronto, British artist Liz West creates sculptural works using coloured acrylic, mirrored surfaces, and refracted light. Designed to respond to the movement of the sun, the installations shift throughout the day: grids of coloured panels glow against glass facades, mirrored elements reflect and multiply surrounding architecture, and translucent walls scatter prismatic colour into the space around them."

Brookfield Place

Bay Adelaide Centre courtyard

The free circus comes to town and will appear in Sankofa Square on Friday, June 12 followed by a move to Harbourfront Centre from Saturday, June 13 to Sunday, June 14. "Camion d’Intervention Artistique - CIART is a unique immersive show presented on a real fire truck converted into a vertical stage. Led by colourful characters, the project combines aerial acrobatics, physical theatre, music, and monumental scenography. Created with collaborators from Cirque du Soleil, CIART offers powerful and accessible dramaturgy designed to bring all audiences together. Each performance transforms public spaces into spectacular worlds where imagination reigns supreme."

@jmhcet #redball is back in #Toronto for #luminato2026. #redballtoronto ♬ Let Me Entertain You - Robbie Williams

@jmhcet #pyramidfields #artinstallation for #luminato 2026. #Toronto ♬ Crumblin' Down - John Mellencamp

Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham 2026 tickets now on sale

When one track closes, another opens. Ticket sales have started for the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham race, coming soon to a town near you, especially if you live in the GTA. You can now buy 2-Day Reserved Grandstand or General Admission along with pit and paddock access tickets for the August 14-16 racing event. Free Fan Friday returns for the Markham race with entrance courtesy of a voluntary donation to Make-A-Wish Canada and sponsored by the Ontario Honda Dealers Association.

“It’s an exciting day to be opening up public ticket sales for the inaugural Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham," said Jeff Atkinson, president of the event. “This new venue in Downtown Markham will offer expanded sightlines across multiple grandstand locations around the 12-turn track. Some great general admission vantage points are also in store for fans. We cannot wait to welcome everyone to this new festival site on August 14th!”

The temporary street course is a 12-turn, 3.52km winding through the downtown streets of Markham. The race festival also comes with food trucks, displays, activities and other attractions. Eight races will take place during Race weekend from a number of race series, including NASCAR Canada Series, USF Pro 2000 Presented by Continental Tire, the USF2000 Championship Presented by Continental Tire, and the Emzone Radical Cup Canada presented by Michelin.

There are four grandstand locations along with a number of general admission areas, perfect for viewing the new home for the only Canadian race "for the world’s fastest race car drivers from the NTT INDYCAR SERIES".

Toronto Waterfront Festival taking a break for 2026

Sadly FIFA seems to be hogging the sponsorship money and so the annual Toronto Waterfront Festival has been deferred for 2026 and will return in 2027 - with the giant rubber ducky! The inflatable bathtub toy is 6 stories tall and weighs over 16,000 pounds. I don't know if ICE being in town for FIFA led to the duck thinking it might be apprehended and deported so it decided to skip this year's event. These type of ducks obviously migrate across borders, without papers, which is something that infuriates a certain someone.

“The Toronto Waterfront Festival has been an award-winning event for 16 years. We have welcomed millions of visitors, driven tens of millions of dollars in economic impact, and consistently delivered world-class programming that put Toronto’s waterfront on an international scale. Taking a year off is not a decision we made lightly. As a free, not-for-profit festival, without any government grant support and a decrease in corporate sponsorship, we are not in a financial position to put on a successful event for 2026. We are committed to doing this right, and we will be back,” said Mike Riehl, Chair, Water’s Edge Festivals & Events Board of Directors.

"The festival team is using the 2026 pause to plan a GIANT return. To give Torontonians something to look forward to, Water’s Edge Festivals & Events is thrilled to announce that the World’s Largest Rubber Duck will be returning to Toronto’s waterfront in 2027. “Mama Duck floated into Toronto in 2017 to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary. A decade later, we felt it was only fitting for her to waddle back for Canada’s 160th in 2027,” states Victoria Mahoney, Co-Producer of the festival."

Doors Open Toronto 2026 #DOT26

There are a lot of buildings to explore as Toronto embraces Doors Open for another year. Over 160 locations are taking part in the annual Doors Open Toronto on Saturday to Sunday, May 23-24, 2026. Buildings are open from 10am to 5pm (unless otherwise posted) and are free to visit (note there could be fees, like parking at some sites). The theme is “The World in a City” so check out some interesting places which usually cost to visit, or are rarely open to the public.

From the City "As Toronto prepares to welcome fans from around the world for FIFA World Cup 2026™, Doors Open 2026 shines a spotlight on the city’s diversity as a defining strength. From globally-inspired architecture and cultural landmarks to spaces shaped by newcomer communities, the event highlights how Toronto’s many cultures and traditions come together – and how shared experiences can connect people.

While Doors Open will highlight spaces and communities central to Toronto’s early beginnings, new additions also showcase the city’s evolution. Newly featured sites include 25 Ookwemin St., Old Fire Hall 30 at Biidaasige Park, Netflix Canada, the Corleck, Toronto Star, TVO Studios, Anishnawbe Health Toronto, HOK Toronto Design Studio, Humber Valley Church and the University of Toronto Bookstore.

Additional highlights include cultural institutions and spaces for community connection, working spaces not open to the public, historic and heritage buildings and popular attractions such as the Aga Khan Museum.

City Hall Hub

Toronto City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square return as the hub for Doors Open Toronto 2026, featuring family-friendly programming. Visitors can explore the Council Chamber, Mayor’s Office, 27th Floor Observation Deck and enjoy an eclectic mix of music performances on the Nathan Phillips Square stage.

Guided Neighbourhood Tours

Fourteen guided tours explore Toronto’s vibrant neighbourhoods, public spaces and landmarks with the help of a local guide. Ten of the tours are new for 2026, including an exclusive opportunity at the CN Tower marking its 50th anniversary.

New tours for 2026 include:Inside the CN Tower: Behind-the-Scenes Tour
Building Identity: Toronto’s Story in Four Spaces
From the Ward to Kensington Market

Registration in advance is required.

Doors Open Talks

The Doors Open Talks Series returns with a lineup of panel discussions and lectures that explore how Toronto’s landmarks, public spaces, art and architecture shape its identity and build a vibrant world.

All talks are free but require advance registration.

Plan ahead

For the best experience, visitors are encouraged to plan ahead using the interactive map and site listings available on the Doors Open Toronto website. Check site-specific hours and dates and consider visiting early in the day to avoid long lines. Popular locations like Osgoode Hall, the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant and the Don Jail tend to draw large crowds and may have long wait times.

For information regarding all participating sites, talks, neighbourhood tours, programming at the City Hall hub, and accessibility, please visit the City’s Doors Open event microsite."