Arts Etobicoke's Community Arts Celebration brings free music, dance, and crafts to the west end

A free, family-friendly festival is bringing live music, dance, food, and hands-on art activities to Etobicoke this Saturday as Arts Etobicoke showcases Indigenous, Caribbean, African-diasporic, and local artists outside downtown Toronto.

The Community Arts Celebration runs from 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, at Michael Power Park, located at 5055 Dundas St. W. near Islington Ave. Admission is free, no tickets are required, and visitors can enjoy complimentary food and refreshments throughout the afternoon.

Mohawk singer-songwriter Logan Staats leads this year's performance lineup. The Six Nations of the Grand River musician gained national attention after winning the first season of CTV's "The Launch" in 2018. His music blends folk, soul, blues, and rock, often touching on themes of healing, identity, and Indigenous sovereignty.

Also performing are Coco Collective, a Toronto-based intergenerational ensemble celebrating African-diasporic and Caribbean traditions through dance, storytelling, and rhythm; Toronto instrumental group Five and Tens, bringing jazz, funk, and soul; and A Fantástica Bateria, the performing group from Escola de Samba de Toronto, adding Afro-Brazilian percussion and samba rhythms.

Alongside the live performances, visitors can participate in free creative activities led by local artists. Programming includes clay sculpture, weaving, block printing, and Ojos de Dios—a traditional craft created by wrapping colourful yarn around crossed sticks. All supplies are provided, and no previous art experience is required.

The annual event, launched in 2024, was created to make arts programming more accessible to residents and give local performers and artists a space to share their work. Last year's celebration attracted about 500 people and included live music, art-making, face painting, and a community dance party.