Toronto 
Head to Warden Avenue to the Birchmount Road section of Lawrence Avenue to experience the biggest street festival in Scarborough.
Credit: Wexford Heights Business Improvement Area
The festival, which begins on Friday evening, will feature mouthwatering cuisine from all over the world. Talk about travelling the globe daily through delicious and unique food creations.
With more than 170 street vendors, this year’s festival is serving up a feast of flavours. From bold international dishes to local favourites, every stop offers something new to discover. Bring your appetite and get ready for a culinary journey that takes your taste buds around the world.
Here’s a taste of what to expect this year:
- Taste of Lawrence launches at the Main Stage with a 6:00 p.m. Grand Opening Ceremony, followed by a 6:30 p.m. Kick-Off Parade. From lion dance to carnival rhythms and multicultural performances, the festival streets come alive with colour, community, and the global spirit of the beautiful game together.
- This year, the festival is turning up the summer energy with the new TOL Soccer Hub. Lawrence Avenue East and Birchmount transform into a free soccer playground with watch parties, global-inspired programming, a mini pitch, LED foosball, soccer darts, workshops, giveaways, an AI photo booth, and more.
- Enjoy a soccer celebration packed with cheers, rivalries and energy at the watch parties. July 3 features Argentina vs. Cabo Verde at 6:00 p.m. and Colombia vs. Ghana at 9:30 p.m. July 4 brings Canada vs. Morocco at 1:00 p.m. and Paraguay vs. France at 5:00 p.m., followed by Brazil vs. Norway on July 5 at 4:00 p.m.
- Specialty vendors bring a World Cup-inspired tasting tour to the festival, serving bold flavours from participating nations around the globe. Explore South Korea with Chung Chun Rice Hotdog, Ghana with Taste of Patience Kitchen, Colombia with Crazy Snack Inc., Jamaica with Tropical Foods, China with [FOOD]+[drink] ft.[MANGO], Turkey with Sunny Hotdog, Belgium with Super Smash Juice, Nigeria with Nigeria Palace Restaurant, Canada with BeaverTails, Ecuador with Mis Amigos Festival Catering, Mexico with Picante Mix, and Brazil with Hyper Açaí.
- The Main Stage sets the weekend in motion with the Opening Ceremony and Kick-Off Parade, then keeps crowds moving with Sugar Heat, Raquel’s Riot, DJ Tricky, Sean Jones & Band, JSAI, Fully Drastic, Sonic Square, Rising Stars winners, The Band Destiny, Malia Love, Switch Beat, and The Coldplay Experience finale.
- The Family Stage turns every hour into a new surprise, with dance crews, capoeira, taekwondo, music theatre, talent showcases, drum circles, and live bands including Taposh Dance Group, Kadara Capoeira, J’Danse Studio, ALKOR & SOSA, Scarborough Music Theatre, Fully Drastic, Newton’s School of Taekwondo, HanBeat Nanta, Sarah Jordan and Matt Von, Steve Blue’s drum circle, Rising Stars, and The Shop Family delivering nonstop weekend energy together.
- The Busker Zone brings street spectacle to life with Hala on Stilts towering through the crowd, Fire10 Entertainment igniting Friday night, and K-pop Demon Hunters adding Saturday and Sunday excitement. Expect playful surprises, bold visuals, and roaming performances that turn festival paths into unforgettable pop-up stages.
- The Ultimutts Animal Actors Show spotlights internationally recognized cats, dogs, and trainers whose talents have appeared in movies and TV. Expect acting skits, skateboarding stunts, jump rope, handstands, mini cars, tightrope walking, and backflips. Catch them by Roselm/Ellington Drive on July 4 and 5 at 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. daily.
Festival-goers can also enter for a chance to win an all-inclusive trip for two to Antigua & Barbuda, with other prizes available.
Trip Planning – Taste of Lawrence 2026
Credit: Nick Wons/ Wexford BIA
When:
The free festival runs Friday, July 3 to Sunday, July 5.
The food, music and cultural festival hours are 6 p.m. – 11 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. on Saturday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Sunday.
Where: Lawrence Avenue East between Warden Avenue and Birchmount Road, Scarborough
Road Closures:
If you are heading to the festival, remember that Lawrence Avenue East between Warden Avenue and Birchmount Road will be closed to vehicle traffic from 10 a.m. Friday until 2 a.m. Monday. So plan your trip accordingly.
Warden Road and Birchmount Road will remain open.
The following streets will also be closed from Friday, July 3rd at 10 am to Monday, July 6th, 2 am:
- Ainsdale Rd. North – from Lawrence Ave E. to laneway
- Roselm Rd. North – from Lawrence Ave E. to laneway
- Ellington Dr. North – from Lawrence Ave E. to laneway
- Howden Rd. North – from Lawrence Ave E. to laneway
- Underwriters Rd. South – from Lawrence Ave E. to laneway
- Crockford Blvd. South – from Lawrence Ave E. to laneway
