My Home My Hood: Beats, Bites and Belonging
Get Ready!
ST. JAMES TOWN FESTIVAL 2025
- Date and Time: Saturday, September 6, 2025 | 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM
- Location: St. James Avenue & Wellesley Street East, Toronto
Welcome to the 2025 St. James Town Festival
Get ready to celebrate the heart of our vibrant community! The 2025 St. James Town Festival is your chance to experience music, dance, art, and food from over 50 cultural communities — all in one place. Bring your family, friends, and neighbours to connect, explore, and enjoy an afternoon filled with creativity, laughter, and local talent.
Here’s a taste of what’s in store for you:
What to Expect at the 2025 Festival
The festival is packed with fun, creativity, and culture for everyone:
- Live Performances: Energetic music, traditional dances, and captivating cultural showcases from local talent.
- Community Market: Artisan goods, handmade crafts, and delicious food from diverse culinary traditions — Halal, vegetarian, and more.
- Family-Friendly Fun: Creative activities, play areas, and interactive workshops for kids of all ages.
- Connect with Local Leaders: Meet community organizations, service providers, and neighbours to learn, share, and build connections.
- Impact Awards: Celebrate individuals and groups making outstanding contributions to St. James Town.
"Experience the energy, creativity, and diversity that make St. James Town truly special."
Why the Festival Matters
The St. James Town Festival is more than a celebration—it’s a platform for connection, culture, and community building. Rooted in one of Toronto’s most diverse neighbourhoods, the festival:
- Celebrates Diversity: Showcases traditions and talents from over 50 cultural communities.
- Strengthens Community Bonds: Provides a welcoming space for residents, organizations, and local businesses to connect and collaborate.
- Highlights Local Talent: Offers a stage for performers, artisans, and entrepreneurs.
- Encourages Civic Engagement: Brings together service providers, leaders, and residents to share resources and build awareness.
- Promotes Sustainability & Inclusion: Reflects neighbourhood values of environmental responsibility and belonging.
Frequently Asked Questions
Date and Time: Saturday, September 6, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: St. James Avenue & Wellesley Street East, Toronto
Volunteer, spread the word, donate, or become a sponsor. Every contribution helps!
No, the festival is free and open to all community members.
Live performances, cultural dances, food vendors (Halal, vegetarian, non-vegetarian), community market, children’s activities, and workshops
2024 St. James Town Festival Recap
The 2024 Festival on September 7 brought together over 1,000 community members, even with challenging weather.
Theme: Greener & Safer: Rebuilding & Reviving Relationships
Highlights:
- 26 performances
- 5 food vendors and 8 artisan vendors
- 60+ volunteers supporting the event
- Attendance from MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam, Councillor Chris Moise, and other leaders
- Kids’ play area, inflatable bouncy castle, and booths from community partners like TNG, TNO, the St. James Town Residents Council, and MP Marci Ien
The 2024 festival showcased the neighbourhood’s resilience, diversity, and commitment to equity, sustainability, and decolonization.
Volunteers and Collaboration
The success of the St. James Town Festival relies heavily on the dedication of its volunteers and community partners. More than 60 volunteers contributed their time and energy in 2024, supporting everything from event setup to workshop facilitation.
This event is a collaborative effort involving:
- The St. James Town Service Providers Network (SJT SPN)
- St. James Town residents
- The Corner
Together, they create an inclusive, vibrant celebration that reflects the spirit of St. James Town.
Want to be part of this amazing community experience? Join us as a volunteer or support the festival in any way you can. Every helping hand helps make the St. James Town Festival an even bigger success—your time, energy, and enthusiasm make a real difference!
For Volunteering:
Call us directly @ +1-416-964-6657 or
Email us festival@stjamestown.org or
Walk-in to The Corner @ 200 or The Corner @ 240
About St. James Town
St. James Town is a unique downtown Toronto neighbourhood:
- Canada’s largest high-rise community with ~25,000 residents across 20+ towers and low-rises
- Home to residents from 50+ countries, including immigrants, newcomers, seniors, and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community
- Excellent transit access and proximity to downtown jobs
- Originally a middle-class Victorian neighbourhood, transformed in the 1950s–60s under the “Towers in the Park” concept
- Today, one of North America’s densest and most diverse communities
"St. James Town is where diversity, community, and creativity come together."
Reports from Previous Festivals
Curious about how we celebrated in past years? Take a look at our previous festival reports and relive the joy, memories, and traditions from earlier celebrations.
- 2014 Festival Report
- 2015 Festival Report
- 2017 Festival Report
- 2018 Festival Report
- 2019 Festival Report
- 2020 Festival not held due to pandemic
- 2021 festival not held due to pandemic
- 2023 Festival Report
- 2024 Festival Report
