Sun/Shade Opening Night Party

Get ready to feel the heat at the summer’s coolest party! Join The Bentway, Fashion Art Toronto, and Canada’s Drag Race’s Jada Shada Hudson under the Gardiner for a Sunglasses at Night fashion show, celebrating the opening of The Bentway’s latest outdoor art exhibition. Runway shy? Come dance, mingle, and enjoy the show!

Throw on your best pair of shades and join us for our fabulous party to kick-off summer in the city! Come dance under the Gardiner with friends and neighbours among our just-opened public art exhibition Sun/Shade. Groove to beats from local DJs Juana Go-gó and Sandy Watts or take a break for eats from your favourite food trucks. Canada’s Drag Race’s Jada Shada Hudson hosts and keeps the energy up as the sun sets across the city.

For this year’s party, we’re excited to present an incredible Sunglasses at Night fashion show, created in partnership with Fashion Art Toronto – and you!

Runway shy? Come dance and enjoy the show!

Get your tickets now

Rain or shine, the party is on! We’ll be dancing under the Gardiner no matter the forecast—it’s the perfect place to stay dry and keep the vibes high. Embrace the weather and dress warmly for the night; a little drizzle just means more reason to dance off that rainy-day cabin fever. Let’s turn a rainy forecast into our runway moment!

Schedule

  • 7:00pm: Doors and bar Open! Enjoy beats by Juana Go-gó and eats from the Mr. & Mrs. Bao food truck
  • 8:00pm: Showtime! Don’t miss the Sunglasses at Night fashion show, presented by Fashion Art Toronto, hosted by Jada Shada Hudson
  • 8:30pm: Let’s keep those good vibes going, dance the night away with a DJ set from Sandy Watts

The event’s Sunglasses at Night fashion show features articles of UV-protective clothing provided by the Save Your Skin Foundation.

What to expect: 

  • A lively, celebratory party with food trucks and bar service – surrounded by artwork premiering as part of a new outdoor exhibition, Sun/Shade 
  • Show off your favourite sunglasses, or sun protection fashion! 
  • The Bentway is wheelchair accessible.  
  • The party will happen rain or shine! The space is covered by the Gardiner Expressway above. 
  • Universal and all-gender washrooms available on site.  
  • The event is all-ages; photo ID is required to purchase alcohol.

collaborators

supporters

Sun-safety partner

Supported by our seasonal supporter

and The Bentway’s growing family of friends and supporters

With help from project partners
Save Your Skin Foundation

If you like this

Sun/Shade Curators’ Tours

May 24 & 25, 2:00pm-3:30pm. June 19, July 17, August 21, September 18, 6:30pm – 8:00pm.

Go behind the scenes of our Sun/Shade outdoor art exhibition by joining a curators’ tour with The Bentway’s Programming team. Learn about the inspiration behind the season, the creation of each artwork, and how they fit together. Sun/Shade explores new ways of collaborating with the sun, as well as the importance of shade, in our urban spaces.

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Casting a Net, Casting a Spell Art Workshop with Celeste

Meet artists María Fernanda Camarena and Gabriel Rosas Alemán, who together form the Mexico City-based duo Celeste, for an afternoon of art activities! Inspired by their installation Casting a Net, Casting a Spell –  a large-scale quilted canopy evocative of a suncatcher – come explore the power of the sun through family-friendly creative exercises.

Sand Flight

to

Experience the world premiere of Sand Flight, from internationally renowned choreographer Ingri Fiksdal. Eight dancers and a 50-person choir descend on a massive sand dune under the Gardiner Expressway for a powerful performance that speculates on climates-to-come, where shade-worshipping becomes a new tradition.

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