Yonge-Dundas Square Now Accepting 2024 Community Event Applications
It’s that time. Yonge-Dundas Square is now accepting community event applications for 2024. The Square is a vibrant multi-use space that accommodates gatherings of various sizes and types, including community events, concerts, interactive art exhibits, receptions, and marketing activations and promotions.
The busiest and most vibrant intersection in Canada
Yonge-Dundas Square is a prime event location in downtown Toronto with more than 110,000 residents and 500,000 workers within a 10-minute walk of the Square, plus 50 million visitors each year. Events hosted at the Square gain exposure to a diverse audience from nearby attractions and institutions including Eaton Centre, Little Canada, Ed Mirvish Theatre, Massey Hall, Toronto Metropolitan University, Cineplex Yonge-Dundas, and onsite City Sightseeing Tours bus stop.
Visitors and event audiences have the added convenience and accessibility with the Dundas TTC subway station onsite and nearby streetcar stops plus under-the-Square parking and washroom facilities.
“In a fiery burst of fashion and culture, African Fashion Week set Toronto's downtown core ablaze… This electrifying launch sparks a city-wide celebration of diversity and culture, putting African flair on full display in Toronto’s Yonge-Dundas Square.
“Since last year and this year, we decided to commercialize it and make it as available to the entire community here in Toronto,” said [Co-founder Isaac] Ansah. “That’s the reason we went to Dundas Square, so we can capture a broader audience.”
– African Fashion Week Toronto: Where diversity and culture collide on the runway (Yahoo! News, Sept 1, 2023)
We’re here to help from start to finish
We understand that planning and creating an event is about bringing a lot of different pieces together. If you’re new to creating events or a seasoned event producer, here are some of the support resources available you:
Included with your booking at no additional cost:
A dedicated experienced event coordinator works with your team on the necessary event permits to help you adhere to and follow City or Toronto by-laws and Yonge-Dundas Square guidelines. They will also serve as your point of contact from planning to event day.
Supplement your promotional efforts with additional awareness support on the Yonge-Dundas Square website, event calendar, in our public newsletter, social media, media notices, and “what’s coming up” highlights on our onsite digital screens.
Fee-based add-ons determined by type, size, and scope of event:
Access to the audio and video capabilities from concert sound for stage performances to incorporating the Square’s five on-site digital screens that bring your event to life.
Equipment rentals such as pop-up tents, tables, chairs, barricades, electrical, and water services.
Onsite Yonge-Dundas Square staff and event professionals during your event to help with set-up and take-down, operate stage and sound equipment, keep the event clean, and secure.
Additional Support for Community Clients
Yonge-Dundas Square operates in part due to permit fees, event bookings, and some financial support from the City of Toronto. We thank all our event clients for their continued support. We also recognize that ongoing pandemic recovery and inflation have increased the costs associated with producing events. To help minimize these costs, we are offering our community event clients the following:
Free digital screens. Enhance your event day(s) with pre-programmed messages, video, or images on the five digital screens onsite at the Square. A value of approximately $10,000/day.
Waived permit fees. Registered charities, nonprofits and community groups may be eligible to have their permit fees waived for one day in a calendar year, with a letter of support from their City Councillor (staffing and support/equipment fees still apply). A $4,000 value.
Access to resources and grants. We have connections and contacts with various funders and granting organizations that support events and festivals. We are happy to connect you to these opportunities, some of which our listed on our website.
The Square’s facilities and capabilities combined with your vision and imagination can create magical moments and lasting memories for your audiences and individuals in the community. We are excited about the 2024 event season and look forward to working with existing and new community event creators.
For additional information and to apply, visit Booking Yonge-Dundas Square.