Summer officially begins this weekend, and in the Junction, they plan to celebrate. The annual
Junction Summer Solstice Festival happens this Saturday from noon to midnight. “It’s a great chance to celebrate the eclectic vibe of the neighbourhood. We can cover a lot of interests,” says Jessica Myers, Executive Director of the Junction BIA.
The Festival, now in its fourth year, showcases local businesses and offers plenty of cultural and artistic programming. Local eateries like Indie Ale House and Bunner’s Bakery will be taking their wares to the sidewalk in what Myers calls ”curbside cuisine.” Home chefs can come out for the Junction Jubilee, a parade that kicks off at 7 PM in front of SMASH (2880 Dundas Street West). People are encouraged to decorate their bikes, strollers, and wagons, and the parade will finish up with a BYO-goodies picnic in Vine Parkette. “There will be food, but it’s about the gathering,” says Myers.
Throughout the day, festival-goers can check out a wide range of events. There will be street performers, such as musicians, buskers and Native dancers, not to mention public art (“We have really interesting art installations that we’re putting in to highlight the use of public space,” says Myers), a mural that will be created live, and a bike clinic. Local businesses get in on the act, too. “One store called ARTiculations is doing a huge cardboard carnival with their curbside closure,” says Myers. There will be outdoor yoga classes, family-friendly art workshops, and sales in the local retail shops, some of which will be open as late as midnight.
The Junction BIA funds and organizes the entire day. “It’s a nice chance to celebrate the neighbourhood overall. There a lot of people here, a lot of young families. Instead of going to festivals downtown or across town, they’re able to celebrate the reasons they live here,” says Myers. “We want to highlight the neighbourhood, and the businesses in the neighbourhood. Each business goes above and beyond and does their own individual events.”