There’s a street festival in Toronto to celebrate the longest night of the year

Image via Patrick Messier / Shutterstock

December 21st is the longest night of 2023, and you may as well make use of it!

For the 34th year, the Kensington Market Winter Solstice is celebrating the night with an electrifying street festival full of live music, theatrical performances, roaming ensembles of tall puppets and more.

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The festival is put on every year by Red Pepper Spectacle Arts. According to their website, they are “a non-profit, community arts organization that co-creates and facilitates multidisciplinary collaborative arts engagement cross-culturally and primarily serves First Nations/Metis/Inuit Communities.”

Red Pepper’s beautiful hand-made Solstice Lanterns will be on sale during the event at 160 Baldwin St just off Augusta Ave, as well as offered from the Solstice Lantern Pedicab which will be weaving through the streets.

Thousands of people are expected to attend the event, which runs from 6 PM – 9:30 PM along Augusta Ave.

While the streets will be filled with performances and art, there are some changes to this year’s festival. The parade usually held in the neighbouring Alexandra Park known as the Fire Finale, will not take place this year due to the Alexandra Park Revitalization which is still in its construction stage.

And don’t worry about about getting cold! This year’s event will also feature various warming stations throughout so you can get warm and continue the night of fun!

So no need to fret about the longest night of the year! Instead, go celebrate it!