The Bentway Block Party (2023)

The Bentway Block Party was back and bigger than ever last year! Over 5,000 attendees joined this annual signature event where live music, roving performances, family-friendly activities, art workshops, street food, and more transform our space into a festive site of community celebration.

Visitors enjoyed an afternoon showcase of local DJs curated by ISO Radio, featuring Jelz, Beat Sampras, and dj miss. Throughout the day, roving performances popped up by Toronto’s own afro-Brazilian percussion and song troupe Maracatu Mar Aberto and dance collective T.O. Waacking. Hosted by Fly Lady Di.

All-ages were invited to create colourful, upcycled pom poms with artist Jillian Jerat, culminating in a community cheer workshop and performance led by PCT Cheer & Tumble.

The dancefloor came alive as a fusion of live and electronic musicians took us into the night. Brooklyn-based artist BAYLI headlined, supported by Toronto’s dance duo TUSH and DJ Sofia Fly.

New last year, Block Party visitors could explore an artists’ market by Toronto Art Crawl – bringing over 80 local artists and artisans selling photography, sculptures, jewellery, fashion, home decor, and one-of-a-kind items at The Bentway Skate Trail.

This event was free to attend and open to everyone!

Schedule

12pm: Event kick-off; Food and beverage opens

12pm – 3:30pm: Pompom Making with Jillian Jerat

12pm – 5pm: Drop-in arts activities and ISO Radio showcase

12pm – 6pm: Toronto Art Crawl market open

3:30pm – 4pm: Cheer Workshop with PCT Cheer & Tumble

4pm: PCT Cheer & Tumble Performance

5pm – 5:45pm: Maracatu Mar Alberto roving performance

6pm: TUSH

7pm: BAYLI

8pm: Sofia Fly

8pm: T.O. Waacking pop-up performance

8:30pm: Last Call

9pm: Event wrap-up

collaborators

BAYLI

BAYLI is a recording artist and songwriter from Brooklyn, NY. Her anthemic production and infectious melodies were cultivated under the mentorship of music guru, Rick Rubin. Following the 2017 debut of her band “The Skins” and their massive tour with DNCE, BAYLI has stepped into the beginning of her solo career with an exciting jumpstart. […]

TUSH

Having only released a handful of EPs, and more recently, their debut album Fantast, dance duo TUSH (Kamilah Apong, Jamie Kidd) have gained attention around the world. With nods and collaborations with electronic music mavens like Jazzanova, Matthew Herbert, and Osunlade, TUSH are building a name due to their authentic approach to dance music. Their […]

Sofia Fly

Sofia Fly is a DJ and Recording Artist from Toronto. She is co-founder of the club collective “Veneno” and an iconic mainstay of queer dance floors in TO. Her DJ sets are complex, genre-hopping, beat puzzles built around her own signature remixes and beats. Her music features poetic party-girl lyrics set to a Latin inspired […]

Jelz

Drawing inspiration from electronic African, House, Techno and more; Jelz is a Toronto based open format DJ that will make you move. Through her sets she strives to spread the sound of global dance while playing something for everyone. She has taken stages in Toronto and beyond including but not limited to MURAL Festival, Electric […]

Beat Sampras

Beat Sampras is a DJ and producer based in Toronto. He hosts Nile Radio Club on ISO Radio in support of his lifestyle brand, Nile Coffee Club. He also curates the evening house, disco, and dance party called Introverts.

dj miss

dj miss is a Toronto-based DJ and writer. Their eclectic sets explore cutie grooves, pinballing trance, rubbery club music, and beyond. The goal? Warm, colourful sounds for a playful, welcoming dancefloor.

ISO Radio

ISO is a community-minded radio platform based in downtown Toronto. We were founded in 2019 to showcase the diverse talents and perspectives of the DJs, producers, and collectives who create and curate music in our city.

Jillian Jerat

Jillian Jerat is a Toronto-based creative-thinker who embraces challenging the status quo and celebrating one’s inner child through playful explorations. She believes that experimenting with colour is medicinal for the soul – a sentiment that radiates through her rainbow-saturated textiles and workshops.

Maracatu Mar Aberto

Maracatu Mar Aberto is a Toronto-based community percussion group playing Maracatu de Baque Virado and other rhythms derived from the traditions of Northeastern Brazil. Translated to English as the Open Sea, the name represents the aggregated influences that have traveled from Africato Brazilto Toronto and beyond. Founded in 2010, the group has played on streets […]

T.O. Waacking

T.O. Waacking/Whacking is a Toronto-based dance community collective that strives to respectfully practice and evolve the street dance called “waacking.” Our members include street dancers, choreographers, dance educators, DJs, interdisciplinary artists, and more. The queer roots of waacking remain strong as queer dancers find safety, support, and freedom within the style, culture, and community. Waacking/whacking […]

PCT Cheer & Tumble

Established in 2004, PCT Cheer & Tumble is the premier cheerleading and tumbling facility in the GTA. Located in the Winston Churchill and Dundas Area of Mississauga, ON, we teach life lessons through the sport of cheerleading – confidence, self esteem, work ethic, and so much more.

Fly Lady Di

If Toronto native Diana Reyes a.k.a Fly Lady Di has been known for rocking parties and stages from New York to Mumbai since her early 20s, she wants to spend the latter part of her 30s onward recognized for her work as a creator; streamlining her abilities as a dancer, choreographer, DJ, writer, actor, performer […]

Toronto Art Crawl

Toronto Art Crawl was established in 2013 by Toronto Artist Nadia Lloyd. It’s main goal has always been to create events and opportunities for local artists to meet and connect a Toronto art loving crowd, who will support their creativity. Toronto Art Crawl hosts 5-7 events per year, representing thousands of artists, and hosting over […]