The Bentway Presents A Block Party 60 Years In The Making!

Lead Photo: Tiffany Shum

A BLOCK PARTY 60 YEARS IN THE MAKING
The Bentway Completes Phase 1 with the Opening of the Strachan Gate
and a Celebration of Summer with a FREE All-Day, All-Ages Block Party!
Saturday, August 25, 2018, Noon – 10pm

The first section of the Gardiner Expressway opened in 1958. The first section of The Bentway opened in 2018. To celebrate the full completion of Phase 1, The Bentway presents A Block Party 60 Years in the Making!

Everyone is invited, from Noon to 10pm on Saturday, August 25, to explore Toronto’s newest public space at the biggest, baddest and boldest Block Party this city has ever seen!

Throughout the day there will be traditional family games and activities in the Kids Zone; an open-air arcade from Hand Eye Society; roaming live musical performances; dance workshops followed by a streetdance competition presented by Funky Facilitators; a human Bent parade designed by Rob Shostak that will also serve as a photo booth and selfie-station; large-scale art installations including a gigantic giraffe piñata by Gensler; and various food and beverage delights.

Fort York National Historic Site will also be offering family fun, takeaway crafts for the kids, and free entry to the new Visitor Centre.

The evening line-up of live entertainment includes performances from local musicians Myles Castello, Monowhales, Brave Shores, and headliners, the art-rock duo Darcys.

The Block Party also celebrates the opening of the Strachan Gate, designed byGensler with Public Work, at the west end of the site. A grand, cascading wooden staircase and open-air Amphitheatre, the Strachan Gate serves as the main entrance to The Bentway, directly from Strachan Avenue, and doubles as an intimate performance space which can accommodate approximately 250 people.

In 1958 the Gardiner Expressway opened to the public. In 2018, the Gardiner Expressway opened for the public!  Turn it up under the Gardiner at The Bentway Block Party.