17th Annual Woofstock!

 Woofstock Toronto: The Ultimate Pup Party You Didn’t Know You Needed

Woodbine Park, Toronto | woofstock.ca

Every early summer, Toronto goes to the dogs—literally—as Woofstock, North America’s largest dog festival, takes over Woodbine Park for a tail-wagging good time. Now in its 17th year, this is no ordinary dog walk in the park. It’s a full-blown canine carnival with fashion, fitness, fun, and fur!

And here’s the kicker: my husband and I don’t even own a dog. We're lifelong cat people! We are CAT people!😺 But the sheer buzz around Woofstock had us too curious to stay away. So we grabbed our cameras and curiosity and headed out to see what the bark was all about.

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Wait, Which Woodbine?

Let’s get this out of the way: Woodbine Park is not the same as Woodbine Beach. Trust me, my husband insisted otherwise, and we spent 30 minutes biking in the wrong direction before realizing it. Learn from us: Woofstock happens at Queen St. East & Northern Dancer Blvd, just across from the Beaches neighbourhood. 🙃

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A Pet-Lover’s Playground

By the time we arrived, the park was buzzing with activity. Tents were up, tails were wagging, and vendors had set up shop with everything your dog could ever want—and plenty you didn’t even know existed. Think gourmet treats, custom outfits, massage therapy, and pawdicures.

Big shoutout to Benny Bully’s—the Official Dog Treat of Woofstock—who landed in style (seriously, their tent looked like a spaceship). Their Bark 'n' Dash Lure Course was a huge hit, giving dogs the chance to run, chase, and sniff out treats like it was a barnyard-style Easter egg hunt.

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The Shows, The Fashion, The Silliness

Even without a ticket ($20/person, dog or no dog), we hung around just long enough to witness the beginning of some of the fun—and now I kind of regret not going in. Later in the day, visitors could enjoy:

• Mr. & Ms. Canine Canada Pageant

• Best Costume Contest

• Stupid Dog Trick Show

• Dog Yoga (Yes, Doga!)

• Races like Puppy Prowl, Running of the Pugs, Weiner Dash, Rescue Run, and Frenchie Flash

• Doggy Dating: Single Mingle Mixer by Toronto Dating Hub!

Not to mention the obstacle courses that had pups sniffing out hidden treats with the intensity of truffle hunters. Too cute.

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And for the Humans...

If your pup was living their best life, you wouldn’t be left out either. Food trucks were serving up mouthwatering eats, and for the 19+ crowd, the Woofstock Lounge was stocked with BarDog Wine, Tito’s Vodka, and Wooftinis. 

Mark Your Calendar for 2025!

So, was it worth the $20? In hindsight—absolutely. The experiences, photo ops, and entertainment make it a doggone good deal (even for cat lovers like us!).

👉 Next year, don’t just peek from outside the fence—join in the fun! Bring your dog, your camera, or just your sense of adventure. Heck, borrow a pooch for the day if you must. 🐕

📸 I snapped a few photos of the contestants strutting their stuff—stay tuned for those in my next post!

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💬 Have you been to Woofstock or another fun pet festival? I’d love to hear about your favourite pup-tastic memories or doggie meet-cutes. Drop them in the comments below or tag me in your fur-bulous moments!

www.woofstock.ca

The Indigenous Arts Festival 2024

    While looking for something to do in Toronto this weekend, I came upon the Indigenous Arts Festival 2024 -Celebrating Culture and Heritage Through Art and Film

On our bikes, we set out to Old Fort York where the grounds were splayed with an array of vibrant colours and rich culture of the Indigenous people.

This year brought together artists, performers, and communities from diverse indigenous backgrounds to celebrate and showcase their unique traditions and contemporary expressions.

The festival was held from June 14-16 from 12:00 - 5:00, on the grassland just north of "The Bentway" over the hill, located in the Garrison Common - in the heart of the city.  There were hundred of people dressed in beautiful garments, decorated with colourful feathers, beads and leathers.

The festival attracts thousands of visitors eager to immerse themselves in the beauty and depth of indigenous cultures, but it's the first time I've ever gone.

A Showcase of Artistic Excellence in the Artisan Market

As an artistic festival, you can expect to to see and hear an extensive array of artistic expressions, including traditional music, dance, visual arts, crafts, and storytelling. 

I loved the mesmerizing performances by indigenous dance groups showcasing their traditional dances passed down through generations, as well as contemporary dance pieces that fused traditional elements with modern influences.

Visual artists displayed their traditional artwork ranging from intricate beadwork and pottery to modern paintings and sculptures. 

Traditional Food and Drink at the Food market

Tents lined the main gally where you can find an array of diverse flavours, celebrating the rich tapestry of Turtle Island’s indigenous traditions. Traditional teas are found such as Sassafras, cedar and pine needle teas among some of choices.  There was a definite scent of maple syrup permeating in the air in the crowds.  While more commonly used as a sweetener, the sap of maple trees is consumed directly or boiled down into syrup. Drinking the sap directly is a traditional springtime practice among some tribes.

Documenting the Journey: A Cinematic Endeavor

There was signage as you entered the park letting you know that this year’s festival was being documented in a film project to share experiences of the event with a global audience. 

A team of filmmakers, led by renowned director Emily Johnson will capture the essence of the festival through a series of interviews, performance recordings, and behind-the-scenes footage.

After doing some research I learned the documentary, slated for release later this year, and will take an intimate look at the artists' creative processes, the significance of their works, and the communal spirit that underpins the festival. 

It aims to not only celebrate indigenous art but also to raise awareness about the importance of preserving these cultural practices for future generations.

Community and Cultural Exchange

The Indigenous Arts Festival 2024 offers a chance for a cultural exchange and dialogue for visitors to ask questions and witness their cultures sights and sounds. The "Chicken Dance' although sounded funny was actually a really sensual kind of movement performed by men.

Although I believe I should have asked permission to take photographs, they were kind and respectful and the entire feel of the afternoon was an exchenage of openness and a genuine sharing of traditions without any negative overtones.

I felt a deeper understanding and appreciation of indigenous cultures among a diverse audience when I left once I witnessed it for myself and it will leave a lasting impact on me.  As I left the festival, the sense of unity and cultural pride was palpable.  The festival highlighted the incredible talent within the indigenous communities but also emphasize the importance of cultural preservation and education.  

The importance of the Documentary

The documentation of the festival through film ensures that these moments will be cherished and remembered, inspiring future generations to engage with and honor their heritage.

I am looking forward to next year's events and hope they will include a more diverse representation of their art and culture.  

As the echoes of drums and songs linger, the Indigenous Arts Festival 2024 stands as a testament to the enduring strength and beauty of indigenous cultures worldwide.

Niagara Butterfly Conservatory

On a lovely spring Saturday morning, we decided to take the GO Train to Niagara Falls. First stop was to a buffet breakfast at the Young Garden buffet and BBQ before taking our bikes along the Niagara parkway to head for the Niagara Butterfly Conservatory, located at 2565 Niagara River Pkwy in Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada.


The first thing you will notice is the botanical gardens and outdoor cafes, with winding paths surrounding one of the largest glass-encased butterfly conservatories in North America.


Although their website touts there are over 2,000 different butterfly species, I think I have seen approximately 30-40 of them! My husband describes this place as magical! I don't think I would go that far, although I could appreciate this through the eyes of a child as such. I had a new camera with me, and was fumbling too much to try and get a still shot of the butterflies :) They were quite vivacious both in colour and personality! Some species, especially the pretty blue ones would not stay still for a second. I guessed that is evolution - since butterflies have no defense mechanisms, the bright coloured ones are easily spotted by prey, so they need to keep moving. Though I have seen pictures of them landing on people! Sadly, it was way too crowded when we went for this to occur.
 

I promise you it's like nothing you've experienced nothing like it before. Winding paths of wonderful garden and tropical plants. It's worth two hours of your time, but you may find it rather small and more eager people could probably go through it in an hour. The temperature is very tropical, so you may want to remember a water bottle.


They try to limit the number of people allowed in but could stay as long as I wanted. This is why it becomes very crowded as you would expect it to be for such a popular family experience. Everyone was patient and it was a joy to watch the parents with the young ones teach the kids to be kind and gentle when and if a butterfly landed on them or needed to be picked up to prevent being walked on.


I was fortunate to have a few butterflies land on my hand as did my husband. I also took pictures of different species who landed on others.


I am glad I came. Hope you have a chance to enjoy it too someday!

Happy Trails! 

St. Catherines - Burgoyne Bridge & Merritt Trail

Summer is always a great time in Toronto as our local Speed rail (GO train) can extend over 100 km from the downtown Hub at Union in all directions.

We took the Niagara Falls train to St. Catherine's on Saturday - it was an express train, missing a lot of the less busy stations so it took about 1.5 hrs - which if you know traffic in the 'GTA' that's a great clock time.

A short walk from the St. Catherines GO Train station you will come to the Burgoyne Bridge, originally built in 1915 and praised for its engineering, connected St. Paul Street West to downtown over Twelve Mile Creek Park valley. 

It was replaced by a new bridge in 2016, costing $99 million. The new bridge featured a distinctive arch but had safety concerns due to low railings and a gap between lanes, leading to frequent suicides.

In response, Niagara Region installed 10-foot high, rust-resistant aluminum barriers in 2020 to prevent further incidents. While these improvements enhanced safety, some criticized the demolition of the historic bridge, valuing its heritage significance over the new structure.

If you look down from the bridge you can see the Merritt Trail.  It runs alongside Highway 406, near the Burgoyne Bridge, following the path of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Welland Canals. It honors William Hamilton Merritt, who first proposed the Welland Canal. You'll find remnants of old canal locks and mills along the way.  It's not as peaceful as the Participark Trail due to its proximity to the highway.

The Garden City Skyway is a 40-meter-high section of the QEW between St. Catharines and Niagara-on-the-Lake that often closes during bad weather.

Starting from Bradley Street in south St. Catharines and ending at Martindale Pond Road in West St. Catharines, the Merritt Trail spans 11 kilometers, connecting with the Green Ribbon Trail and the Participark Trail. It's popular for walking, hiking, biking, and motorbiking.

                                                 

Unfortunately, being new to the area and had to time our walk around the train schedule back to Toronto as well as checking out an All You Can Eat restaurant in town (for my AYCEToronto blog of course!), we didn't do the entire trail today. 

Instead we started off 

from Gale Street following the Welland Canal and did a loop south to Richard Pier point and back around again following the creek.

We noticed a lot of litter in parts a long side the park trails in a few places as well as a few vagrants, but the town is pleasant and the people are pleasant.  Times are tough everywhere, especially in the smaller towns where work is in short supply and workers - even less.

We want to come back again once I have a better camera, and I promise I will take more pictures when we do the larger trail.

In the meantime... Happy Trails! :)

Dreaming of Castle Days in Toronto? Casa Loma is a must see!

Casa Loma is open weekdays from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM (last admission at 4:00 PM), but even if you’re just passing by, the castle’s stunning exterior is fair game for photos any time of day. We’re planning a return visit soon to capture the magic inside—especially the richly detailed rooms that tell stories of grandeur and heartbreak.

Before you go, be sure to check their website—ongoing renovations over the next few months mean some sections may be temporarily closed.

Some of my favorite spots? The atmospheric wine cellar, the hauntingly beautiful empty swimming pool, and the majestic riding stables. I can't wait to revisit these hidden corners of the castle.

Casa Loma isn't just a backdrop—it's a bittersweet chapter in Toronto’s past. Built as a romantic gift by Sir Henry Pellatt for his wife, the castle’s tale ends in tragedy, as riches faded and dreams slipped away. It’s a place where beauty and history collide.

I especially love the wine cellar, the swimming pool and the riding stables so much looking forward to revisiting soon!  There is a tragic history of Sir Henry Pellatt and the gift of the castle to his wife and the riches to rags story.  

 

What are your favorite spots?  Write in the comments I would love to know! 

for a free quieter alternative, visit the Spadina House Museum just steps away!