YORK UNLOCKED Your weekly cheat sheet to York Region Issue #6 — Tuesday, July 7, 2026
👨👩👧 FOR THE FAMILY
Vaughan Latin Festival — Vaughan
When: Saturday, July 11, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Where: Mackenzie Glen District Park, Maple (220 Cranston Park Ave) — Free
The Vibe: Its 12th-anniversary edition is a full day of Latin music, folkloric dance, food vendors and a Kids Zone with a water park. Organizer Fuerza Latina says the event "promises to attract over 15,000 visitors," so come earlier for the family programming before the evening crowd builds.
Aurora Concerts in the Park — Aurora
When: Wednesday, July 8, 7 to 9 p.m. (food vendors from 6 p.m.)
Where: Aurora Town Park, downtown Aurora (49 Wells St) — Free
The Vibe: The TD-presented series opens its 27th year with Girls Gone Pop, featuring local sibling duo The Beresfords playing Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan covers. Bring a lawn chair; Slabtown Armoury sells licensed drinks and food vendors start at 6 p.m.
Richmond Hill Concerts in the Park — Richmond Hill
When: Thursday, July 9, 7 to 9 p.m.
Where: Mill Pond Park, Mill Street area — Free
The Vibe: The Tim Hortons-presented series opens its season by the water; the July 9 opening act has not been named yet on the city site. Parking is limited, so walk or bike if you can, or use Mackenzie Health's east lot starting at 5:30 p.m.
Newmarket Farmers' Market — Newmarket
When: Saturday, July 11, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Riverwalk Commons, downtown Newmarket — Free
The Vibe: More than 40 farmers and local vendors sell produce, baked goods and crafts along the Commons, with live music most weeks. Go before 10 a.m. for the best produce and easier parking.
The Stouffville Market — Whitchurch-Stouffville
When: Saturday, July 11, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Downtown Stouffville (6240 Main St) — Free
The Vibe: An outdoor vendor market in the historic downtown with produce, artisan goods and food stalls. Street parking fills up mid-morning, so arrive early to browse without a crowd.
🍻 FOR ADULTS
Vaughan International Music Festival — Vaughan
When: Friday and Saturday, July 17–18, 5 to 11 p.m.
Where: Assembly Park, 80 Interchange Way (steps from the VMC subway) — Free with reserved ticket
The Vibe: The festival's fifth year splits into a rock night Friday headlined by BRKN LOVE (with Bleeker), and a country night Saturday headlined by Myles Erlick (with Ryan Langdon). There is a beer and spirits garden and free on-site parking, and the VMC subway drops you at the door. Exclaim!
Live in the Plaza — Richmond Hill
When: Tuesdays, July 7 and 14, 7 to 9 p.m.
Where: Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, outdoor plaza (10268 Yonge St) — Free
The Vibe: Tuesday nights bring live music to the theatre's outdoor plaza, a quieter seated alternative to the bigger park concerts. It runs weekly through August and pairs with a walk along Yonge before the set.
Group of Seven Day: Poems on Art and Artists — Markham
When: Tuesday, July 7, 7 to 9 p.m.
Where: Varley Art Gallery of Markham, Unionville — Free
The Vibe: The gallery marks Group of Seven Day with an evening of poetry about art and artists, run with the Readings at Richvale series. It is a small, quiet night in a gallery named for Group of Seven painter Frederick Varley.
🏪 LOCAL SPOTLIGHT
Chocolate & Company — Aurora A one-person chocolate and gelato shop on Yonge Street where everything is made on site.
Owner Clayton Dixon left more than 20 years in finance at age 48, built a makeshift kitchen in his basement to test truffle recipes, and opened the shop in November 2020. AuroraToday reported that "his decision to also offer homemade gelato — with flavours that include blueberry lavender, basil, parmesan and, of course, chocolate — has ensured his success." The counter carries 24 permanent chocolate flavours and rotates 10 of more than 50 gelato flavours; the signature wild blueberry and lavender uses berries from Quebec and lavender from a neighbour's garden. If you have driven past the shops north of Wellington without stopping, this is one to notice. Auroratoday
🏡 HOMEOWNER CORNER
York Region's odd/even lawn-watering bylaw is active now Across York Region, outdoor water-use bylaws run from May 15 to September 30 every year, and they apply regardless of rainfall. Homes with odd-numbered addresses may run sprinklers only on odd-numbered calendar days, and even-numbered addresses only on even days, within set morning and evening hours that vary by municipality. Newly planted sod and hand-watering have their own allowances, and bylaw officers can issue a ticket on a first observation. Check york.ca/SaveWater or your town's Outdoor Water-Use Bylaw page this week to confirm your exact permitted hours before you set your sprinkler timer. York Region + 2
📍 AROUND THE REGION
Markham: Roadwork for the inaugural Ontario Honda Dealers Indy continues in Markham Centre, and event setup in the weeks ahead is expected to affect access to Unionville GO and its parking lot. Check markham.ca for the latest Indy construction and GO access updates.
Vaughan: Pine Valley Drive between Rutherford Road and Major Mackenzie Drive West is closed for a culvert replacement from July 3 to August 3. Check york.ca for detour routes.
Newmarket: Storm-related tree cleanup is underway across town; residents can report fallen trees or branches on roads or municipal property at 905-895-5193. More at newmarket.ca.
📅 THIS WEEK'S CALENDAR
MARKHAM
→ Group of Seven Day: Poems on Art and Artists — Tuesday, July 7, 7–9 p.m., [Free], Varley Art Gallery of Markham (Unionville)
→ Main Street Markham Farmers' Market — Saturdays, July 11 & 18, mornings, [Free], Main Street (Unionville)
RICHMOND HILL
→ Live in the Plaza — Tuesdays, July 7 & 14, 7–9 p.m., [Free], Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts outdoor plaza (10268 Yonge St)
→ Open Mic Night — Wednesdays, July 8 & 15, 6:30–9 p.m., [Free], Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts outdoor plaza (10268 Yonge St)
→ Concerts in the Park — Thursday, July 9, 7–9 p.m., [Free], Mill Pond Park (321 Mill St)
→ Retro Ribfest — July 17–19, [Free], Richmond Green Park (1300 Elgin Mills Rd E)
VAUGHAN
→ Concerts in the Park: Taylor's Story (Taylor Swift tribute) — Wednesday, July 8, 7:30–9 p.m., [Free], Chancellor District Park (430 Chancellor Dr)
→ Vaughan Latin Festival — Saturday, July 11, 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m., [Free], Mackenzie Glen District Park (220 Cranston Park Ave, Maple)
→ Vaughan International Music Festival — July 17–18, 5–11 p.m., [Free], Assembly Park (80 Interchange Way) myvimf.com
AURORA
→ Concerts in the Park — Wednesdays, July 8 & 15, 7–9 p.m., [Free], Aurora Town Park (49 Wells St)
NEWMARKET
→ TD Newmarket Music Series — Thursdays, July 9 & 16, 6:30–9:30 p.m., [Free], Riverwalk Commons (200 Doug Duncan Dr)
→ Newmarket Farmers' Market — Saturdays, July 11 & 18, 8 a.m.–1 p.m., [Free], Riverwalk Commons (200 Doug Duncan Dr)
STOUFFVILLE
→ The Stouffville Market — Saturdays, July 11 & 18, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., [Free], 6240 Main St (downtown Stouffville)
→ Symphony Under the Stars: Kindred Spirits Orchestra — Friday, July 17, 8–10 p.m., [Free], Memorial Park (Stouffville)
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See you next Tuesday.
— The York Unlocked team
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