A former Toronto airport runway will be turned into a giant public playground next month, as the free Play on the Runway festival returns to the YZD lands for its fifth year.
The event runs July 11 and 12 from noon to 5 p.m. at YZD Runway, 10 Hanover Rd., on the 370-acre redevelopment of the former Downsview Airport lands. Admission is free, but advance registration is required, according to Streets Of Toronto.
This year's edition is themed "Festival of Wind," with programming centred on movement, creativity and outdoor play. The festival stretches more than a kilometre across the runway, giving visitors a rare chance to explore a site that was once off-limits to the public.
Kites, DJs and bubble performances
Activities include giant kite displays, live DJs, food trucks, a learn-to-skateboard program, a family-friendly Bike Party with wheel decorating, and oversized bubble performances from the North Fire circus.
New programming this year includes a guided photography walk led by Adapted Lens on the Sunday, and an accessible described walking tour for visually impaired visitors hosted by JJ Hunt on the Saturday.
"Play on the Runway is about giving people permission to engage with space in creative, playful and personal ways," says Alana Mercury, director of placemaking and programming at Northcrest Developments, in the Streets Of Toronto report.
Roller skates and scooters will be available to rent on site, and bikes can be borrowed from nearby Bike Share Toronto stations. Organizers encourage guests to bring a picnic blanket and snacks to enjoy the open space.
A sneak peek at the future of the lands
For decades, the property was home to aircraft manufacturing and testing, first under de Havilland Canada and later under Bombardier. After the land was sold in 2018, it began being reimagined as a mixed-use community with parks, cultural spaces, homes and public gathering places.
The runway has also become a destination for large-scale events in recent years, including a stop on Bruno Mars' Canadian tour at Rogers Stadium, which is temporarily located on the old Bombardier grounds.
For GTA residents, the festival offers a one-weekend chance to roam the decommissioned runway before the lands are built over.
