Mayor Tory Opens Union Summer: Food, fun and fanfare!

Mayor Tory unveils 26-foot #unionsummer sign to mark the start of 71-day food festival at Union Station, with Lawrence Zucker, President & CEO of Osmington and Theresa McLaughlin, EVP & CMO of TD Bank Group. Image: CNW Group/Osmington, Union Station Inc.

TORONTO - Union Summer, one of the longest continuous outdoor markets in the country, is bringing an eclectic offering of food vendors, musicians, film screenings and live performances to Sir John A. Macdonald Plaza. Today, Mayor Tory unveiled a 26-foot #unionsummer sign to officially kick off the event, which will decorate Front Street for the duration of the festival.

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Co-presented by Union Station and TD Bank Group, the second annual celebration will feature vibrant programming and visionary eats from the city's most forward-thinking food vendors. The festivities will run for 71 days straight, 7 days a week, wrapping up on September 5th.
  
"Union is truly becoming a destination in the heart of the city where people can find the best of Toronto," said Lawrence Zucker, President & CEO of Osmington. "Be it the latest food trends, breakout performances, unexpected discoveries, or just a drink with friends – think of Union as your perfect meeting spot this summer."

Daily themes will guide the programming, with the TD Summer Stage being home to all entertainment. Wednesday evenings, festival goers can gather at dusk for weekly outdoor screenings of films with iconic train scenes that explore the ideas of journey and discovery. With an epic view of the CN Tower serving as the backdrop, audiences will enjoy classics like Stand By Me, Wizard of Oz, Some Like It Hot and more – with each film being preceded by an NFB short.

Thursday and Friday nights, TD will be sponsoring two performance showcases. Every Thursday, Festival Preview offers audiences a sneak peak of some of the artists performing at the city's much-anticipated weekend festivals, such as Jazzfest and Manifesto. Friday nights, the music will continue with an Emerging Artist Series –– an evening dedicated to up-and-coming talent.

On Saturdays and Sundays, adventurous families will have the chance to participate in a variety of one-of-a-kind activities, ranging from the Musical Petting Zoo by the Ontario Philharmonic, to Creative Crafts with the Design Exchange, to The INCRDBL Project + Kid Karaoke. Along with Drake-inspired dance lessons, this year's line-up also includes a PRIDE celebration, a Sunday morning sing-a-long with the cast of Ed Mirvish's Matilda the Musical, and a special performance from Japanese buskers, MunizO.

Between the hours of 7:00am - 9:00pm on weekdays, and 11:00am to sunset on weekends, hungry guests can refuel with a myriad of treats from staple Toronto eateries like Momofuku Noodle Bar, Mad Mexican, Urban Herbivore, The Carbon Bar, Gushi, Eva's Original Chimneys and Death in Venice gelato. A licensed bar area operated by P&L Catering will be open from Thursdays to Sundays, 12:00 - 9:00 PM. Rotating mobile carts offering flowers, gourmet candy and ice pops will also be on-site. 

Saturated in sun, shade and seating, Union Summer is the ideal destination for an afternoon pick-me-up, a Friday night date, or an urban summer escape. 

SOURCE Osmington, (Union Station) Inc