YORK UNLOCKED Your weekly cheat sheet to York Region Issue #10 — August 5, 2026
👨👩👧 FOR THE FAMILY
Whitchurch-Stouffville Antique & Classic Car Show — Stouffville
When: Sunday, August 9, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum, Woodbine Avenue — Free
The Vibe: The 53rd annual show, averaging around 2,000 visitors and more than 400 vintage vehicles parked across the museum grounds, with the historic buildings open to walk through and food vendors on site. It has run since 1973 and food is cash-only, so arrive before noon if you want the feature cars before the crowd builds.
Richmond Hill Summer Concerts at Mill Pond — Richmond Hill
When: Thursday, August 6 and 13, 7 to 9 p.m.
Where: Mill Pond Park, Mill Street near Trench Street — Free
The Vibe: Free outdoor concerts by the pond, with tribute bands and local performers across blues, country and rock through August. Parking is tight so biking in is easier, and bring a lawn chair.
Aurora Farmers' Market — Aurora
When: Saturday, August 8, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Aurora Town Park, Wells Street at Mosley — Free
The Vibe: Growers, producers and community groups selling in the downtown park each Saturday through the season. Go early for the best produce and easier parking; it winds down by 1.
Busk Till Dusk — Newmarket
When: Friday and Saturday, August 7 and 8, 5 to 7 p.m.
Where: Main Street, downtown Newmarket — Free
The Vibe: Street performers set up along Main Street two evenings a week through August 29 while the shops and restaurants stay open. A cash tip goes straight to the performers.
🍻 FOR ADULTS
Markham Jazz Festival — Markham
When: Saturday and Sunday, August 22 and 23, from noon
Where: Main Street Unionville — Free
The Vibe: More than 30 free jazz, blues and soul sets on three stages up and down heritage Main Street, with a 2026 lineup that includes Juno winner Ranee Lee, soul act U.N. Jefferson and Latin singer Amanda Martinez, programmed for the festival's 29th year by artistic director Ernesto Cervini. A free shuttle runs from Unionville High School into the village, and the restaurants and patios along Main stay open between sets.
Vaughan Con 2026 — Vaughan
When: Saturday, August 8, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Bellvue Manor, Concord — Ticketed
The Vibe: A pop-culture convention with 150+ exhibitors, a cosplay contest and celebrity guests including wrestler Samoa Joe and actor Jeff Parazzo. Advance tickets ran cheaper than the door, and the floor leans cards, comics and collectibles more than panels.
Dear Evan Hansen — Aurora
When: Tuesday to Friday, August 18 to 21, 7 p.m.
Where: Davide De Simone Performance Hall, Aurora Town Square — Ticketed
The Vibe: The Tony-winning musical about a teenager whose lie spirals after a classmate's death runs four nights at Aurora's newest performance venue. The subject matter runs heavy on grief and mental health, so it reads older than a typical summer show.
🏪 LOCAL SPOTLIGHT
Wrong Way Records — Newmarket An independent record shop tucked into the back of a renovated building on Main Street, specializing in new and used vinyl.
Owner Ray Pelletier, a former tech worker who left his job in 2020, spent years rebuilding the record collection his parents gave away while he was out west, and opened the shop this past November as much as a hangout as a retail stop, armchairs, in-store concerts, and staff who'll talk genres with you rather than rush you out. This spring's Record Store Day pulled a line before sunrise. The shop also ships new and used stock across most of the country.
🏡 HOMEOWNER CORNER
General information, not advice specific to your situation.
Removing a backyard tree? Get the permit before you cut In Markham you now need a permit before you injure or remove any private tree with a trunk 20 centimetres or wider measured about chest height, and per the city's Tree Permit Application page, "effective January 16, 2026, a non-refundable processing fee of $20.50 applies to each Tree Permit application." The city states applications are reviewed within 45 days of payment being received, and for healthy trees it can require replacement plantings or cash-in-lieu, so a same-week removal usually isn't realistic. Rules differ by city — Richmond Hill protects trees as small as 15 centimetres — so cutting first and asking later can mean fines. This week, before you book any tree work, apply through the Tree Permit Application page at markham.ca, or check your own municipality's tree bylaw at richmondhill.ca, vaughan.ca or york.ca.
📍 AROUND THE REGION
Markham: Crews are converting Markham Centre into the temporary Honda Indy street circuit ahead of the August 14–16 race, with overnight lane closures already underway and full road closures between Kennedy Road, Enterprise Boulevard and Highway 407 running roughly August 12 to 17. Closure-by-street details are posted at markham.ca/Indy.
Markham: Unionville GO Station is losing parking and access for the race — Lots 1 and 2 close August 9 and full station access closes from August 12, with GO buses moving to a temporary stop at Birchmount Road and Enterprise Boulevard until August 17. Train service continues through the race weekend; check GO Transit notices before you travel.
Richmond Hill: In a July 23 announcement, the federal and provincial governments said crews have finished excavating the tunnel launch shaft for the Yonge North Subway Extension, digging almost 70,000 cubic metres of soil to clear the way for boring machines to start the twin 6.3-kilometre tunnels that will carry TTC Line 1 north into Richmond Hill, Markham and Vaughan. The roughly 8-kilometre extension adds five stations and is projected to carry more than 94,000 riders a day; full story at NewmarketToday.ca.
📅 THIS WEEK'S CALENDAR
MARKHAM
→ Ontario Honda Dealers Indy — August 14–16, from 8:30 a.m., [Ticketed], Downtown Markham street circuit (Enterprise Blvd & Kennedy Rd) https://hondaindy.com
→ Markham Jazz Festival — August 22–23, from noon, [Free], Main Street Unionville
RICHMOND HILL
→ Summer Concerts at Mill Pond — August 6, 13 & 20, 7 to 9 p.m., [Free], Mill Pond Park (321 Mill St)
→ Live in the Plaza — August 11 & 18, 7 to 9 p.m., [Free], Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts (10268 Yonge St) → Moonlight Movies — August 17 onward, dusk, [Free], various parks
VAUGHAN
→ Vaughan Con 2026 — August 8, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., [Ticketed], Bellvue Manor (Concord) https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/vaughan-con-2026-tickets-1987998589296
AURORA
→ Aurora Farmers' Market — Saturdays, August 8 & 15, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., [Free], Aurora Town Park (49 Wells St)
→ Dear Evan Hansen — August 18–21, 7 p.m., [Ticketed], Davide De Simone Performance Hall, Aurora Town Square (50 Victoria St) https://boxoffice.auroratownsquare.ca
NEWMARKET
→ Busk Till Dusk — Fridays & Saturdays to August 29, 5 to 7 p.m., [Free], Main Street Newmarket
→ Newmarket Farmers Market — Saturdays, August 8 & 15, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., [Free], Riverwalk Commons (200 Doug Duncan Dr)
→ Summerfest On Main — August 20–23, [Free], Historic Main Street Newmarket
STOUFFVILLE
→ Antique & Classic Car Show — August 9, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., [Free], Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum (14732 Woodbine Ave)
Know someone in York Region who'd want this? Send them your link — takes 10 seconds to sign up:
See you next Tuesday.
— The York Unlocked team
You're getting this because you signed up at York Unlocked. Unsubscribe anytime. No hard feelings.
This newsletter is for general information and entertainment purposes only. We do our best to verify every event before including it, but details can change and errors can happen — always worth a quick check with the organizer before heading out. Nothing in York Unlocked is financial, legal, tax, or professional advice for your specific situation. Program details, dates, and eligibility can change — confirm with the relevant government office, lender, or licensed professional before acting.