Cabbagetown Festival holds with finesse!

Photo credit: Now Toronto

The Cabbagetown Festival made its impact in the central Toronto neighbourhood on Saturday and Sunday

The 46-year-old celebration flooded Parliament, Carlton, and neighbouring streets with over 300 vendors offering irresistible food and drinks, artisan shopping, games, and non-stop energetic Performances.

After nearly half a century, the festival is getting richer in displaying heritage and culture woven through the Cabbagetown and its surrounding communities of St. Jamestown, Moss Park and Regent Park. The name of the festival dates back to the 1800s, when impoverished Irish immigrants fleeing the Great Famine settled in the area and grew cabbage in their front yards.

According to the Executive Director of BIA Matthew Mohan, “They say that the highest concentration of Indigenous folks outside of a reservation lives in Toronto centre. So why are we not doing as much as we can to show off and share indigenous stories and Indigenous voices.”

Live musicians, DJs, circus performers, and kid-friendly activities added glamour to the event. 

Mohan told Now that “What makes the Cabbagetown Festival so exceptional is that no matter where you are, there’s fun for everyone.

“In a neighbourhood like ours, where I think we have such a diverse community, it’s really important to us that all people, all families, can come out and have a great time without spending a dime, so that they feel like everyone is a part of this community.”

It was a great event with great music and food, including Gushi Japanese Street Food, Maya Bay Thai, Kingyo Fisherman’s market, and quite a few other delicacies. It was an opportunity for Torontonians to come together to support small family-run businesses in a neighbourhood they might have overlooked.

“This community is so cool. There’s so much fun here,” Mohan said.

“We have a really strong small business community… every time that you come here and you spend time in Cabbagetown, and you meet business owners, and you spend money here, you’re supporting a small business owner and their family, and I think that’s what’s important to remember.”