🎨 Riverdale ArtWalk 📅 June 6 & 7, 2026 📍 Jimmie Simpson Park, Toronto 🎉 FREE Admission 🏆 25+ Years 👶 Family Friendly

Riverdale ArtWalk 2026 — Toronto’s Outdoor Art Show

For one weekend each June, Jimmie Simpson Park fills with tents, easels and original art. On Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, 2026, Riverdale ArtWalk brings 150+ established and emerging artists together in the heart of Toronto’s Queen East Arts District — and it’s free to walk right in.

Now running for over 25 years, it’s one of the city’s premier outdoor art exhibitions. This isn’t a behind-glass kind of show: artists are right there at their booths, ready to talk about their work, their process and what inspires them — and to sell you the original piece you didn’t know you were looking for.

🎨 150+ artists 💰 Buy original art 🤝 Meet the makers 🌍 Juried exhibition 🌳 Outdoor in the park

🌐 Official Page 📍 Get Directions →

💡 Thinking of buying? This is one of the friendliest places to start a collection — the show has a long reputation for variety and quality, and many artists build a following of collectors who return year after year.

🔗 Jump to a section

✨ Why Go 🎨 What to Expect 💰 Buying Art 🌍 The Jury 📍 Essentials 🚗 Getting There 💡 Tips ❓ FAQ

✨ Why This Show Is Worth Your Weekend

There’s a particular magic to buying art outdoors, in a park, from the person who made it. No hushed gallery, no pressure — just rows of tents, a couple hundred artists, and the chance to find something that genuinely speaks to you. That’s Riverdale ArtWalk in a nutshell.

After more than 25 years, it’s earned a reputation as one of Toronto’s best outdoor art exhibitions. The range is huge — painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, mixed media and more — spanning seasoned names and exciting newcomers, all juried for quality.

And it’s set in one of the city’s most charming neighbourhoods. Jimmie Simpson Park sits right in the Queen East Arts District, so a visit pairs naturally with the cafes, galleries and shops along Queen Street East. Come for the art, stay for the afternoon.

🎨 What to Expect

Two days, one park, and a whole lot of original art. Here’s what fills the weekend.

💰 Thinking of Buying?

Riverdale ArtWalk is one of the most welcoming places in the city to buy art — whether it’s your first piece or your fiftieth. The show’s long-standing reputation for excellence and variety draws experienced collectors, and gives first-timers the confidence to buy directly from the artist.

All the work on display is original and for sale, straight from the maker. You’re not just taking home a piece — you’re starting a relationship with an artist whose work you can follow for years.

🎉 Many ArtWalk artists say the same thing: collectors come back to their booth year after year. If you find someone whose work you love, it’s often the start of something ongoing.

🌍 A Juried Show

Part of what keeps the quality high is that Riverdale ArtWalk is juried — participating artists are selected by a panel of respected figures from Toronto’s art world. The 2026 jury brings serious curatorial and gallery experience:

📍 The Essentials

📍 Directions to Jimmie Simpson Park →

🚗 Getting There

Jimmie Simpson Park is at 872 Queen Street East in Toronto’s east end — well served by transit and very walkable from the surrounding neighbourhoods.

💡 A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Go

🚶 Do a full loop first. With 150+ booths, it pays to walk the whole show once before deciding — then circle back to the pieces that stuck with you.

💬 Talk to the artists. It’s the whole point. Even if you’re just browsing, hearing the story behind a work makes the visit (and any purchase) so much richer.

💳 Be ready to buy. If something grabs you, it may be one of a kind. Have a payment method handy — and ask the artist about delivery for larger pieces.

🍽️ Make a day of the neighbourhood. Queen East and Riverside are packed with cafes and restaurants — perfect for a break between aisles.

⛅ It’s outdoors. Sun or light rain, the show goes on in the park — dress for the forecast and wear comfortable shoes.

Want to Get Involved? 🎨

Riverdale ArtWalk is powered by volunteers, and they’re always looking for friendly help — from visitor engagement and artist liaison to photography and logistics. It’s a great way to earn community service hours and spend a weekend among artists and art lovers. Artists interested in exhibiting can also apply through the Artist Hub.

❓ Common Questions