Events & Festivals

One of the best things about living in Dundas was attending all of the annual festivals. There are several annual events in Dundas to look forward to, especially back when I was growing up. For the bigger festivals, the town closes down King Street West to traffic for pedestrians only. I still enjoy attending these festivals when I can because they’re a lot of fun and they hold a lot of nostalgia for me.

If you want a little taste of local culture, attending a traditional festival or event is one of the best things to do in Dundas Ontario. Some of them happen during the day right through to the evening, so it’s easy to combine some outdoor adventures with the festivals or events. Plus, it’s one of the best ways to experience downtown Dundas.

Dundas Buskerfest

Dundas Buskerfest takes place during the first weekend of June (from Friday night to Sunday), and it’s the second biggest festival in Dundas. Back in the day, Dundas used to have a Kite Festival that happened this same weekend. But, the Kite Festival took place in the Dundas Valley Conservation Area, and the town wanted another event to draw attention to the downtown businesses. I’m not sure exactly what happened (perhaps some small town drama!), but the Dundas Kite Festival is no more and the Dundas Buskerfest is here to stay.

Dundas Buskerfest features street performers from around the world, busking and showing off their talents. Typically, there are several buskers performing at the same time from one end of King Street to the other. The street is closed down for pedestrian traffic only. You can walk from one end of downtown to the other, checking out the buskers as you go. If one of them catches your attention, a small crowd usually forms around each one, so you can stop to watch them.

There’s also vendors, food trucks, crafters and artisans, and more. I’ve been to several busker festivals in Ontario, and the Dundas Buskerfest is definitely one of the best ones. If you’re in town the first weekend of June, a trip to the Buskerfest is one of the most amazing things to do in Dundas Ontario.

Dundas Farmers Market

The Dundas Farmers Market is a small community market with farm fresh produce, baked goods, preserves, wine, and more. It aims to connect local farmers with the community. You’ll find lots of organic fruits and veggies and so much more. The market takes place every Thursday from 3pm to 7pm at a municipal parking lot (at Hatt Street and Miller’s Lane). Shopping at the Dundas Farmers Market is one of my favorite things to do in Dundas Ontario.

Dundas Cactus Festival

The Dundas Cactus Festival happens the third weekend of August every year. I’m pretty sure that everyone in town turns up for it, and people from nearby cities even come out for the festivities. The main downtown street (King Street) is closed down to vehicles.

People can walk through the streets. Vendors and shops are open until midnight. There’s stages with live music featured all day and night. Food trucks line the streets featuring tasty, unhealthy treats. And there’s a carnival midway with rides and games.

On the Thursday night, there’s the annual Dundas Cactus Festival parade with floats featuring local organizations, businesses, and marching bands. The rest of the festival starts up on Friday night and runs throughout the entire weekend.

Tree Lighting & Dickens of a Christmas

From the end of November through until Christmas, Dundas celebrates the holiday season with its Dickens of a Christmas event. It happens on Saturdays from 11am to 3pm and Sundays from noon to 3pm. You might catch Father Christmas strolling around town, hear the magical voices of carolers, and you can enjoy complimentary hot apple cider and gingerbread cookies.

There are also “Breakfasts with Santa” at multiple restaurants throughout Dundas. When the streets of Dundas are covered with a light dusting of snow and the town gets into Christmas mode, it’s super magical!

The Dundas Tree Lighting ceremony is actually the oldest tree lighting ceremony in Canada! The first municipal Christmas Tree lighting in Dundas took place in 1914. The Dundas Tree Lighting ceremony is one of the most festive events of the season. This event kicks off the Dickens of a Christmas celebrations.

The community gathers around the Christmas tree to sing Christmas carols. Then, the official tree lighting happens, and Santa usually comes riding in on top of a fire truck. Then, kids are invited to sit on Santa’s lap, and candy canes are plentiful.