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- Celebrate, Play, Explore: Your August 18th to 25th Markham Guide
Celebrate, Play, Explore: Your August 18th to 25th Markham Guide
Looking for something fun to do this week? Markham’s packed with family events and festivals you won’t want to miss!
Hello Markham
August 18, 2025
Good morning, Markham!
There’s plenty happening this week, but I have to say, it feels like Markham is finally slowing down a bit with all the festivals winding down.
Thank you all for your continued support for this little newsletter! As always, if you have any suggestions or feedback, I’d love to hear from you!
Note: Events marked with a “➡️” are not in Markham but they’re too good not to share!
Alright, let’s get into it.
CITY UPDATES
Viva Purple A Detour
Viva Purple A will be on detour until August 22, 2025, at University Boulevard from YMCA Boulevard to Enterprise Boulevard due to construction.
Visit https://yrt.ca/en/news/viva-purple-a2.aspx for alternative stop locations.
Calling All Aspiring Filmmakers!
The Markham Public Library is launching its first-ever Short Film Festival, happening Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at Markham Village Library. Show off your creativity and storytelling — the theme? The library! Submissions due by September 1, 2025
WHAT’S NEW: BUILD-A-BEAR MARKVILLE GRAND OPENING
Grand Opening on Wednesday, August 20th at Markville Mall, 5000 Highway 7 East, Markham, ON L3R 4M9
Build-A-Bear Markville is ready! Join them for an exciting day as they unveil their brand-new Workshop! Come early and enjoy all the festivities they’ve planned just for you:
Ribbon Cutting with Bearemy the Mascot
First Guest through the door gets a FREE giant bear of their choice
Free Mini Bears for the first 25 guests
Bring your friends and family and be part of this fun celebration!
EVENTS, EVENTS & OH, EVENTS.
FOR THE KIDDOS
Pacific Mall’s Back to School Fun Fair 2025
📅 Saturday, August 23 & Sunday, August 24 | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 1/F Centre Court, Pacific Mall
Enjoy a weekend of family fun with face painting, henna, balloon art, giveaways, and hourly lucky draws! Learn more here.
📅 Saturday, August 23, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
📍 Milliken Mills Branch
Join local author Aura D. Marsh for a cozy storytime with Goodnight Sheepy, featuring a live reading, interactive questions, and a gentle “Sheepy Stretch & Settle” activity for kids! Register here.
2025 Family Expo – "Thrive in Unity and Support"
📅 Saturday, August 23, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
📍 Markham Wesley Centre
Enjoy free program trials, family games, parental education talks, and community resource booths for the whole family! Learn more here.
FESTIVAL CENTRAL
Summerfest on Main 2025 ➡️
📅 Thursday, August 21 to Sunday, August 24, 2025
📍 Historic Main Street, Newmarket (204 Main Street)
Experience live music, food, and summer fun as Main Street transforms into the ultimate hangout. Learn more here.
Aurora Ribfest ➡️
📅 Friday, August 22 to Sunday, August 24, 2025
📍 Machell Park, Aurora
Your last chance this season to sink your teeth into fall-off-the-bone ribs while enjoying fantastic live music! The weekend wraps up with the Professional Rib Judging, who will be crowned champion? Details here.
14th Annual Afro-Carib Fest ➡️
📅 Saturday, August 23, 2025 | 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
📍 Thomson Memorial Park
Celebrate African and Caribbean culture with live performances, delicious food, dance competitions, workshops, a cultural parade, and family-friendly activities! Details here.
Mabuhay Philippines Festival ➡️
📅 Saturday, August 23 to Sunday 24, 2025
📍 Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, ON
Celebrate the 27th year of Toronto’s longest-running Filipino festival with music, dance, food, and cultural performances that honor the creativity, resilience, and heritage of the Filipino-Canadian community. Details here.
Sankofa Day Celebration ➡️
📅 Saturday, August 23, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
📍 Sankofa Square, 1 Dundas Street East, Toronto, ON
Join a full-day free celebration of culture, art, and community featuring Indigenous and African ceremonies, the $1 million iDREAM Awards, and a special DJ set by Kardinal Offishall. Details here.
2025 TAIWANfest – Dialogue with Portugal: Echoes of the Ocean ➡️
📅 Friday, August 22 to Sunday, August 24, 2025
📍 Harbourfront Centre, Toronto
Explore the connections between Taiwan, Portugal, and Canada through live music, Hope Talks, interactive exhibitions, indigo dye workshops, an artist market, and more. Details here.
Fan Expo Canada ➡️
📅 Thursday, August 21 to Sunday, August 24, 2025
📍 Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Celebrate all things comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, gaming, and cosplay, and connect with fellow fans in a fun, immersive convention experience. Details here.
Love Island Reunion Watch Party
📅 Monday, August 25, 2025 | Begins at 9:00 PM
📍 Boston Pizza Markham Road & 14th Avenue
Catch all the drama of Love Island with friends in a fun lounge setting, complete with games, photo ops, giveaways, and great vibes! Details here.
Paint Nite at Rouge River Brewing Co.
📅 Wednesday, August 20, 2025 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Rouge River Brewing Co., Markham
Unleash your creativity! Paint, sip, and create as an instructor guides you step-by-step to your very own masterpiece. Tickets Here
Latin Night ➡️
📅 Friday, August 22, 2025 | 7:00 PM – late
📍 Sugar Cafe & Lounge, 550 Highway 7, Unit 281, 2nd Floor, Richmond Hill
Dance the night away to a live DJ with Latin beats, enjoy cocktails, bites, and a lively atmosphere! Details here.
Plant Nite at Rouge River Brewing Co.
📅 Sunday, August 24, 2025 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Rouge River Brewing Co.
Sip, relax, and get hands-on as you design your very own succulent garden in a glass container! Tickets Here
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Reesor’s Farm Market Turns 40!
📅 Saturday, August 23, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 10825 Ninth Line, Markham
Celebrate 40 years of farm-fresh goodness with roasted sweet corn, food and drink vendors, giveaways, and fun for the whole family. Come enjoy the festivities where it all began! Details here.
The Farm Picnic – Outdoor Concert
📅 Saturday, August 23, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 The Farm Rehearsal Studios, Markham
Enjoy a FREE community picnic with live performances from local musicians including DEN Beatbox, The Same, Tobias & Family, and newcomer Courtney Bowles. Bring a lawn chair, blanket, and grab a bite from local vendors on-site! Details here.
Active Community Engagement (A.C.E.): Milliken Mills Park Cleanup Event
📅 Sunday, August 24, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM (gather at 8:45 AM)
📍 Milliken Mills Park, 7600 Kennedy Rd., Markham
Join the community for a morning of park cleanup and hands-on environmental action. Volunteers of all ages are welcome to help make a difference and enjoy the outdoors. Register here.
Free Guided Walk at Rouge National Urban Park – Rouge in Bloom
📅 Sunday, August 24, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
📍 7277 14th Avenue, Markham, ON, L6B 1A8
Explore the park’s natural, cultural, and agricultural stories with Parks Canada volunteer leaders. Enjoy wildlife sightings, peaceful nature walks, and more. All for free! Details here.
SHOWTIME IN MARKHAM
Toronto Jewish Comedy Festival Headliner Series: Mikey Greenblatt ➡️
📅 Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM
📍 Jokers Theatre and Comedy Club, Richmond Hill
Get ready for a night of culturally charged comedy, clever punchlines, and laughs that everyone can enjoy! Featuring Mikey Greenblatt, winner of NYC’s shennanigans comedy competition, and a semi-finalist at the Lehigh Valley comedy competition. Tickets here.
The League Presents: Haikyuu!! Movie Night – Battle at the Dumpsters ➡️
📅 Thursday, August 21, 2025 | 8:00 PM – 11:30 PM
📍 Times Square Richmond Hill
Catch a full movie screening in a cozy lounge, connect with fellow fans, and celebrate both volleyball and anime culture! Enjoy SUGAR’s Asian fusion bar bites, from crispy karaage to bulgogi fries, paired with craft cocktails or your favorite Asian draft beers like Sapporo, Asahi, and PBR. Tickets here.
Wan Bingbing Stand-Up Special: “Unruly”
📅 Sunday, August 24, 2025 | 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM EDT (Doors at 3:15 PM)
📍 Xinflix Auditorium, 421 Bentley Street #Unit 9, Markham, ON L3R 9T2
Join Wan Bingbing for her personal stand-up special “Unruly”, presented by Anti-Inflation Comedy. A sharp-tongued yet soft-hearted performer, Wan Bingbing will take you through unspoken emotions, growing pains, and hilariously over-the-top rants! Tickets here.
SHOPPING BUZZ
Reebok Warehouse Sale
📅 Friday, August 22 to Sunday, August 24, 2025
📍 Markham Pan Am Centre, 16 Main Street, Unionville
Shop for discounted Reebok shoes and apparel at this massive warehouse sale, perfect for sneakerheads and sports enthusiasts alike. Details here.
LEARN & GROW
📅 Wednesday, August 20, 2025 | 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 Online
Markham Public Library wants to keep you safe and knowledgeable when buying a car. Join their virtual workshop with OMVIC to get expert tips and guidance for confident, informed car buying. Register here.
The Bottom Line Blueprint: Financial Strategies for Thriving Businesses
📅 Thursday, August 21, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Online
Markham Public Library’s got you a seasoned CFO to teach you all about financial strategies that boost profitability, improve cash flow, and drive long-term business growth! Register here.
Summer of Safety Series – Markham Fire & Emergency Services
📅 Saturday, August 23, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Fire Station 99 – 3255 Bur Oak Ave, Markham
Join your local firefighters for a free public education and emergency management open house. Learn safety tips, meet the team, and enjoy a fun day out! Details here.
WEEKLY MUSIC & SPORTS
LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN
🎤 Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts | Open Mic | August 20th | 6:30PM-9PM
🎤 The Duchess of Markham | Open Mic | August 21st | 8PM-11PM
🎤 Main’s Mansion | Karaoke | August 21st | 10PM to Close
🎤 The Duchess of Markham | Open Mic | August 21st | 8PM-11PM
🎵 Varley Art Gallery Courtyard | Music on the Street | August 22nd | 5PM - 8PM
🎤 Monte Carlo Inn | Open Mic | August 22nd | 7PM-10PM
🎵 The Duchess of Markham | Live Music | August 23rd | Begins at 4PM
🎵 Village Organic Market and Music | Live Music | August 23rd | 8AM-1PM
🎵 Main Street Markham | Music on Main | August 23rd | 6PM-9PM
🎤 Main’s Mansion | Karaoke | August 23rd | 10PM to Close
🎵 DTM Music Nights | Blackboard Blues Band | August 23rd | 7:30PM-10PM
🎵 Costa Sorrento | Perri Priolo | August 24th | 6PM-9PM
SPORTS HAPPENIN’S THIS WEEK
🏈 Toronto Argonauts v BC Lions | August 23rd
⚽ York United v Pacific | August 24th
⚾ Toronto Blue Jays v Minnesota Twins | August 25th
THANKS FOR READING!
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