It was my pleasure this is year to attend the Leslieville Tree Festival for the first time! Over last few months, it’s been hustle and bustle at the LEAF office where I was eagerly working with our staff, partners and volunteers to get ready for the big event. Over 400 people come through and spent a few hours enjoying the beautiful park and its majestic trees. Folks from all over town took part in wonderful activities hosted by our exhibitors while enjoying fresh food prepared by local vendors and performances from local artists for the wonderment of kids and grown-ups alike!
A view of our exhibitor sections being set-up where people throughout the day learned about environmental and local programs, businesses and artists.
Here are some of my favorite moments from the festival.
The festival started off to rhythmic beats, thanks to Souls of Steel Orchestra who set the tone through their beautiful music.
A ceremonial tree planting with Andrew Sherbin (Leslieville BIA), Janet McKay (LEAF), Councillor Paula Fletcher and Brain Buchan (Toronto Hydro).
This little guy hard at work making sure the newly planted White Pine got plenty of mulch to help it grow strong and healthy.
Families enjoying hands-on activities like face painting, crafts, and grass-head making while learning about benefits of trees and important role of pollinators.
Kids decorated pollinator crafts and carbon cookies (local, salvaged wood generously donated by Sawmill Sid)!
Our very popular urban forest photo booth was a hot spot where kids got a chance to make memories with Barkley and Franklin!
Festival go-ers also enjoyed interactive demonstrations – everything from wood carving to henna and suspension yoga from the The Flying Yogi!!
Sing Along Tim took kids on a musical journey and they could not stop dancing!
Groovy hula hooping with Sugar Hoops! The whole crowd was floating around as the festival came to a close.
It was an amazing experience to witness the community coming together for such a wonderful event and families enjoying themselves. This event would not have been possible without the hard work of our volunteers!
Check out the Leslieville photo album on our Facebook page for more photos!
Thank you to our amazing event sponsor Toronto Hydro! The Leslieville Tree Festival is organized by LEAF in collaboration with Councillor Paula Fletcher, Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the Leslieville BIA. Special thanks to supporters Tango Palace, Ralph Thornton Centre, Sawmill Sid and Canadian Tire.
Tooba Shakeel is LEAF’s Education and Outreach Coordinator.
Photographs taken by: David Slaughter, Kristina Banatova and Tooba Shakeel.