Exhibition Place is launching a new year-round series of community events this summer, offering GTA residents a mix of free and donation-supported programming across the 192-acre lakefront grounds.

The series, called Community Connect, was announced on June 16 and kicks off in July with an open-air concert series, outdoor yoga, beekeeping workshops and heritage walking tours. Winter and spring programming, including free skating and photography workshops, will be announced later in 2026.

Music and yoga lead the summer schedule

The first major event is ExPlace Live: Music in the Park, a free concert series at Centennial Square Park starting Sunday, July 12. According to the announcement, the lineup will include Juno-award winners and well-known local DJs, with each concert themed around different musical genres, cultures and communities across Toronto.

Yoga in the Park runs every Tuesday evening in July, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. between July 7 and July 28, in partnership with 10XTO. Sessions take place at Stanley Barracks, where participants can take part in a vinyasa flow set against the historic site's backdrop.

Additional experiences planned for summer and fall include beekeeping workshops, heritage walking tours, a community barbecue and ghost walks, offered alongside Exhibition Place partners and tenants.

Most events free, some require registration

While most Community Connect events are free, the organization said select experiences may require advance registration and a Pay What You Can donation to a local charity. The full schedule and registration details are available at explace.on.ca.

"We're incredibly excited to introduce Community Connect, because giving back to the community is an important part of who we are," said Don Boyle, CEO of Exhibition Place, in a news release.

"We may be known for our big events, but as we work toward becoming a more connected, accessible and vibrant year-round destination for the city, the everyday moments matter just as much to us," Boyle said in the news release. "Whether you live down the street or you're visiting for the first time, there's a place for you here."

The announcement follows an Exhibition Place Board of Governors endorsement of a vision plan to transform the site into a year-round destination.

Established in 1879 on the shores of Lake Ontario, Exhibition Place hosts more than 2,000 events annually and attracts over 5.5 million visitors a year, making it Canada's largest entertainment venue, according to the organization. The site is also home to the Enercare Centre, Canada's largest exhibition and convention centre, and the Automotive Building conference venue.

For GTA residents looking for a low-cost summer outing close to transit and the waterfront, the new series adds another option to the calendar, with the concert series and yoga sessions both starting in early July.