Home Sweet Home Festival

The Home Sweet Home Festival is an epic all-day festival on July 25, 2026 that showcases what truly makes Whitby our home. Whitby’s entire Downtown core will be pedestrian focused and walkable!

Celebrate our home by exploring the vibrant BIA businesses, outdoor patios, the Whitby’s Farmers’ Market, Station Gallery’s Artisan Alley, cultural dances, performances, and exciting family activities!

Discover the Home Sweet Home Festival 

Main intersection in Downtown Whitby with historic buildings and Town banners on pole

Downtown Whitby Businesses

Shop, eat, drink, and discover! Find new flavours, old favourites in the heart of Downtown Whitby!

Farmer's market strawberries laid out on table in containers

Whitby & Brooklin’s Farmers’ Markets

Local produce, handcrafts, seasonal favourites, delicious treats and so much more! 

Jack De Kayzer performing on stage with an electric guitar

Live Music & Entertainment

Enjoy live music at the main stage. Full schedule below.

Woman smiling hanging from zipline

Adventure & Kids Zone

With a 300ft zipline, facepainting, balloon artists, games, and more - family fun all day long!

Shop attended handing bag to customer

Shopping

Shop one-of-a-kind finds. Downtown Whitby businesses and outdoor vendors are open!

Group of 20 something girls hanging out on patio

Delicious Food & Patios

Enjoy delicious food and drinks. Extended patios and the Whitby Legion have great views!

Close up of painting art lining a curb

Station Gallery's Artisan Alley

Watch visual art demonstrations!

Youth having an outdoor dance party

Meet Bluey and Bingo & Dance with Spider-Man

The Whitby Public Library presents a meet and greet Bluey and Bingo and a dance party with Spider-Man at Celebration Square. 

Exterior of Lynde House

Lynde House Museum Activities

Participate in historical activities like butter churning. 

Youth leaning against brick wall in alley and smiling

Youth Entrepreneur Alley

Showcasing the next generation of changemakers and artists ages 10–25, Youth Entrepreneur Alley is a vibrant hub of creativity, innovation, and ambition.

Trackless train

Trackless Train & Town Trolley

Explore each end of the festival by riding the trackless train or hop-on hop-off trolley. Shuttle service to event available from the Henry Street Lot by Go Transit. 

Group of Bollywood Dancers on stage performing

Cultural Performance Showcase

Learn new moves and express yourself with interactive dance performances and live demonstrations from different cultures. Fun for the whole family! Full schedule below.

Graphic of house with heart in hands

Home Sweet Home Helps the Homeless

Provide a monetary donation and dunk a Whitby leader or Pack with Purpose to help the homeless. Learn more below.

Girl playing with mom in toy room

Sensory Zone at Whitby Library

Whitby's Accessibility Advisory Committee is excited to offer a Sensory Space at Home Sweet Home Festival! Located within the Whitby Public Library - Central Branch (405 Dundas Street West), this quiet, low-stimulation area provides a calming retreat and sensory tools to help individuals who may feel overwhelmed by crowds, noise, or busy environments to regulate and feel comfortable. This initiative promotes greater inclusion and accessibility, ensuring everyone can participate fully in the event.

Graphic of question marks on blue background

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Questions about shuttle services, parking, accessibility, and lost and found items? See below for answers to common FAQs.

Entertainment Schedules 

10:00 am - Event Opens

10:00 am - Rob Tardik

11:00 am - Official Ceremony

12:30 am - Ryan Scott

2:30 pm  -  Shooter

4:00 pm  -  Event Ends

10:00 am - Fire10 Entertainment

11:30 am - Bollywood Dancing with Rhythm Riders  

12:00 pm - Mabrook Entertainment

1:30 pm  -  Bollywood Dancing with Rhythm Riders  

2:00 pm  -  Salsa & Bachata Dancing with Latin Dancers of Durham & Friends

3:15 pm  -  Auriele Diotte - Metis Jigger

4:00 pm  -  Event Ends

Temporary Road Closures, Restrictions, and Parking Information 

Temporary road closures are in place 6:00 am – 6:00 pm to ensure the safety of attendees, participants, and staff for preparation and during the event. These closures help manage traffic, allow space for event activities, and ensure emergency access if needed. Please plan ahead, follow detour signs and allow extra travel time. We appreciate your patience and cooperation. 

Advance information signs will be posted to advise motorists of the upcoming road closure. Temporary traffic and detour signs will be installed on site to direct motorists during the road closure. During the event, access for emergency vehicles will be maintained. View the map or list below for full listing of closures.

  • Brock St N – Mary St to Dundas St
  • Brock St S – Dundas St to Dunlop St
  • Dundas St W – Henry St to Brock St
  • Dundas St E – Brock St S to Perry St
  • Byron St S – Dundas St to Colborne St
  • Colborne St W – Byron St to Brock St
  • Colborne St E – Brock St to Green St
  • Elm St – Brock St to parking lot entrance
  • Green St – Dundas St to Colborne St

  • Byron Street N – Dundas to Mary St
  • Byron Steet S – Colborne St to Dunlop St
  • Center Street N – Dundas to Mary St
  • Center Street S – Dundas to Colborne St
  • King Street S – Dundas to Parking Lot
  • Kent Street – Dundas to Mary St
  • Green Street S – Colborne St to Dunlop St

On-Street (No parking) on the following roads: 

  • Henry Street/Euclid Street between Mary St and Dunlop St;
  • Kent Street between Dundas St and Mary St;
  • King Street between Dundas St and Colborne St;
  • Centre Street between Mary St and Dunlop St;
  • Byron Street between Mary St and Dunlop St;
  • Brock Street between Mary St and Dunlop St;
  • Green Street between Dundas St and Dunlop St;
  • Perry Street between Mary St and Dundas St;
  • Athol Street, between Dundas St and Dunlop St;
  • Mary Street, between High St and Perry St;
  • No Parking on Elm Street;
  • Dundas Street between Euclid St/Henry St and Athol Street
  • Colborne Street between Henry St and Athol St 

Parking Meters (No parking): 

  • All parking meters in the Downtown Whitby within the event area will be unavailable. 

Municipal Parking Lots:

  • There will be no parking in Municipal Lot 1 (next to the Whitby Legion) however, several municipal parking lots are available near the festival site. We encourage guests to park at the Henry Street Parking Lot and take the free shuttle to the event.

Accessible Parking is available at all Downtown lots. Additional accessible parking spaces will be added to Municipal Lots 6 and 7 (Colborne Street and Perry Street Lots). 

Home Sweet Home Helps the Homeless 

The Downtown Whitby BIA and Mayor Elizabeth Roy are thrilled to introduce Home Sweet Home Helps the Homeless to support people in our community experiencing homelessness.

There are two ways you can help at the upcoming Home Sweet Home Festival:

  • Donate for Dunks – Make a splash for a good cause! Donate for a chance to dunk Whitby community leaders in the dunk tank. Cost: $5 for 3 throws.
  • Pack with Purpose – Donate new items to help fill care kits with summer essentials for those in need.

Together, we can make a difference—one dunk, one donation, and one act of kindness at a time.
Can't donate items? Monetary donations are also welcome and will be used to purchase specific items needed to complete Care Kits.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Yes! The Home Sweet Home Festival is a dog-friendly event. Water bowls will be available throughout the site. Some restaurants allow dogs on their patios — we recommend contacting individual establishments for details.

Parking Meters (No parking): 

  • All parking meters in the Downtown Whitby within the event area will be unavailable. 

Municipal Parking Lots:

  • There will be no parking in Municipal Lot 1 (next to the Whitby Legion) however, several municipal parking lots are available near the festival site. We encourage guests to park at the Henry Street Lot by Go Transit and take the free shuttle to the event.

Accessible Parking is available at all Downtown lots. Additional accessible parking spaces will be added to Municipal Lots 6 and 7 (Colborne Street and Perry Street Lots). 

Yes! A free shuttle will run between the Henry Street Parking Lot and the festival, with drop-off at the Whitby Public Library (west side of the event site). Shuttles run every 10 minutes from 9:50 a.m. to 4:20 p.m.

Absolutely. The event takes place on flat, paved ground suitable for all mobility devices.

  • Accessible parking is available and expanded at:
    • Municipal Lot 7 (by the library)
    • Municipal Lot 6 (Perry Street)
  • Accessible washrooms include:
    • Portable toilets on-site
    • Indoor washrooms at the Whitby Public Library

Inclusion is achieved when every community member can independently access, participate in, and feel welcome at our events—to support individuals with sensory sensitivities, the Town is happy to offer a Sensory Room. Sensory Rooms are designed to provide a calm, supportive environment where individuals can take a break from overwhelming sounds, lights, crowds, and other stimuli. These spaces play an important role in promoting accessibility and inclusion by helping to reduce anxiety, prevent sensory overload, and enable individuals to regulate their sensory needs so they can continue to participate fully in community activities.

Sensory spaces are intentionally designed with a range of elements that support different sensory preferences and needs. Features may include quiet or lower lit areas, comfortable seating, sensory mats, fidgets, and tactile items that provide calming or focusing input. Additional elements such as a trampoline or movement-based equipment can help with sensory regulation, while a tent space offers a sense of security. Visual supports like movies, colouring sheets, and structured sensory activities are also commonly included to provide gentle engagement in a low-stimulation setting.

 

Yes. Visit whitby.ca/tourism for local hotel and accommodation information.

Yes! The Home Sweet Home Festival is open to all ages — bring the whole family.

 The festival is a rain or shine event. Bring your umbrella for rain and sunscreen for sunny weather.

Entry to the festival is free.
Restaurants, vendors and businesses $$
Fundraising activities may have costs if you wish to participate.
Zipline rides are $5.00 each (cash only).

Visit the Information Tent located at the four corners Brock and Dundas Streets to report or check for lost items.
After the event, unclaimed items are turned into Service Whitby at 575 Rossland Road East. 

Thank you to our sponsors:

Contact Us

Town of Whitby

575 Rossland Road East
Whitby, ON L1N 2M8

905-430-4300
service@whitby.ca

Contact the Town of Whitby

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