When you hear “Party” what comes to mind? Food, good music, food, dancing, fun people, games, food… Pedestrian Sunday in Kensington Market, Toronto was a street party and had all that in abundance and more. I went for the food but was blown away by the ambience of the streets.
About Kensington Market, Toronto
Kensington market is a unique neighbourhood in downtown Toronto that is culturally diverse. It is an eclectic mix of Caribbeans, middle and East Asians, Europeans, South Americans, East Africans with Chinatown located close by on Spadina Avenue and Dundas street west. It’s like a sensory trip around the world. Part of the character of the neighbourhood is the beautiful street arts and murals on the walls within the back alleys.
About Pedestrian Sunday in Kensington Market
Pedestrian Sunday in Kensington Market is organised to celebrate community, culture and ecology. It takes place every last Sunday of the month from May to October and 2018 was the 15th edition. It starts at 12 noon and ends by 7 pm, it is suitable for all ages and admission is free.
I went for the July 29th 2018 event, although the weather was in the mid-20s (deg. C), it felt hotter, probably due to the crowd. Thank God I dressed extra light and had my sunscreen on. Most of the shops are on Augusta Avenue, Baldwin Street and Kensington Avenue and many had an open-air display of their goods. Clothing (new, old, vintage), grocery shops, tea shops, restaurants, meat and cheese shops etc. There was a flea market nestled away from the crowd down an alley. It had mostly Rastafarian and bohemian stuff.
Outside vendors are not permitted, it is all for the Kensington market neighbourhood with the exception of the art fair on Nassau Street where they can rent a booth. We couldn’t easily locate a caricature artist to draw us so we moved on.
The streets were closed to vehicular traffic for the duration of the event. Pedestrians, therefore, walked freely on the roads along with dancers, clowns on stilts, artists with easels, musicians etc.
Taking pictures was such a pain with the sheer number of people.
About the food at Pedestrian Sunday in Kensington Market
The queues in front of vendors were so long they were almost discouraging but with the walking around, you are bound to work up an appetite. Then the heady aroma and visual appeal of the food will make you stand on the line determined to be served.
There is culinary diversity in Kensington market and there is also culinary fusion. Available were halal burgers, churros, churros doughnuts, tamales, momos, infused sausages, seafood, empanadas, jerk chicken with rice and peas, different types of fusion food etc.
Rasta Pasta has very flavourful jerk chicken. I love Poncho bakery’s Churros with its delicious fillings, they are halal/vegan and anytime I’m in the neighbourhood, I buy all three flavours, chocolate, condensed milk and dulce de leche because having to choose is so difficult.
I was also on the lookout for Frosty-roll, the handmade fresh fruit Thai ice cream roll shop along Augusta Avenue. It was there last year when I visited with my daughters and the ice cream was crazy delicious but I couldn’t locate them this time.
Bonus…
As an extra, stroll down Spadina Avenue and Dundas street west and enjoy some bubble tea, sugarcane juice, a variety of smoked meat, cheap pastries, exotic fruits and vegetables, delicious crepe etc.
It was a heady Foodfest and we went home thoroughly satisfied.
If you enjoyed my journey to Pedestrian Sunday in Kensington Market, Toronto, check out my other Food Treks Kothu fest Toronto 2018 (Sri-Lankan kothu roti), Alohafest Toronto 2018 (Spirit of Aloha), Vegfest St. John’s NL Canada and St. Lawrence market, Toronto.
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I am Ganiru, a wife, a mother, a food blogger, a chef, an author and an accountant. I love to cook and write about food, especially Nigerian and afro-centric food...