YORK UNLOCKED Your weekly cheat sheet to York Region Issue #4 — June 23, 2026
👨👩👧 FOR THE FAMILY
Taste of Asia Festival — Markham
When: Friday–Sunday, June 26–28 (Fri 5–11 p.m., Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.–5 p.m.)
Where: Kennedy Road & Steeles Avenue East (street closed for the festival) — Free
The Vibe: Organizer FCCM bills this as Canada's largest outdoor Asian street festival, drawing well over 180,000 visitors and 150-plus vendors across three days on a closed Kennedy Road. Hong Kong actor Philip Keung headlines the Saturday evening lineup on June 27. Fccm
Newmarket Multicultural & Asian Harmony Festival — Newmarket
When: Saturday–Sunday, June 27–28, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
Where: Ray Twinney Recreation Complex, 100 Eagle Street West — Free
The Vibe: More than 40 vendors, a kids zone with inflatables and Asian cultural showcases fill the complex across two days. Saturday's free Persian Festival Night runs 5 to 8 p.m. with singer Anna Jahanbakhsh, a DJ set by Iraj and performances by Sara Dance Academy.
Markham Cycling Day — Markham - New Date
When: Sunday, June 28, 8 a.m.–1 p.m.
Where: Millennium Bandstand, Main Street Unionville (Fred Varley Drive & Main Street) — Free
The Vibe: Five self-guided routes from 5 km to 60 km start at the Unionville bandstand, with children's bike races and rest stops along the way. Helmets and a working bell are required, and you register first at markham.ca/cyclingday. MarkhamcyclesCity of Markham
Aurora Farmers' Market & Artisan Fair — Aurora
When: Saturday, June 27, 8 a.m.–1 p.m.
Where: Aurora Town Park, 49 Wells Street — Free
The Vibe: The market's own site lists over fifty vendors — farmers, food stalls, artisans and community groups — at Town Park every Saturday morning. It runs rain or shine, and the season continues into October. Instagram
Vaughan Concerts in the Park: Beach Party Boys — Vaughan
When: Wednesday, June 24, 7:30–9 p.m.
Where: Dufferin District Park, 1441 Clark Avenue — Free
The Vibe: The city's free Wednesday concert series stops here with a Beach Boys tribute act. Bring a lawn chair, and refreshments are sold on site. City of Vaughan
🍻 FOR ADULTS
FIFA World Cup Watch Party: Team Canada — Richmond Hill
When: Wednesday, June 24, from 2 p.m.
Where: Dave Barrow Civic Square, 1 Atkinson Street (beside the Central Library) — Free
The Vibe: Richmond Hill screens Team Canada's third World Cup group match on a large outdoor screen. Admission is free and seating is first-come, so arrive early to claim a patch of the square.
Early Keyboard Festival — Newmarket
When: Through Sunday, June 28 (Music Academy Showcase June 27, Voyage to Versailles June 28, both 2 p.m.)
Where: Old Town Hall, 460 Botsford Street — Ticketed ($25–$50)
The Vibe: Céleste Music's collection of rare early keyboards is on display in an interactive exhibit, with recitals played on the historic instruments. The closing weekend pairs a student showcase with a French Baroque program.
Asado at Assembly Park — Vaughan
When: Saturday–Sunday, June 27–28 (Sat noon–11 p.m., Sun noon–8 p.m.)
Where: Assembly Park, Vaughan Metropolitan Centre — Free before 6 p.m. (registration required)
The Vibe: Copa Cabana and Toronto Latinos run a two-day Latin asado with a vendor marketplace, DJs and live performances. Entry is free before 6 p.m. with registration, and children under 10 are free.
🏪 LOCAL SPOTLIGHT
My Indie Coffee — Newmarket A second-generation, woman-owned coffee roastery turning out small-batch organic and fair-trade beans from a north Newmarket plaza.
Meagan Dier took over what began as her family roasting beans in the backyard for their own cafés and built it into a standalone roastery on Leslie Street, one light north of Market Brewing. The beans are roasted on site in small batches on a 15-kilogram Toper roaster imported from Turkey, then sold as single origins, blends and a weekly fresh-roast subscription with free shipping. It is mostly a grab-and-go counter with a single bench, so most people find it by word of mouth rather than by walking past. Dier told NewmarketToday the shop "is absolutely a labour of love for me."
🏡 HOMEOWNER CORNER
New-build owners: brace for the supplementary tax bill If you bought a newly built home in Markham, Vaughan or Richmond Hill, your first property tax bills likely cover only the land your house sits on, not the building. MPAC's homeowner guidance says you can expect your home to be assessed within one year of occupancy, after which your municipality issues a supplementary and retroactive tax bill for the structure, prorated to the number of days the building has been complete or occupied, often several thousand dollars arriving at once. Estimate the full figure now using your town's residential tax calculator, such as Richmond Hill's at eservices.richmondhill.ca/taxcalculator, and set aside the monthly difference so the catch-up bill does not blindside you this year.
📍 AROUND THE REGION
York Region: Regional council voted June 11 to apply for $1.74 billion in federal-provincial funding for the North York-Durham sewage system expansion; the program would require the region to further cut development charges by 30 to 50 per cent, a shortfall NewmarketToday equates to a 2.1 per cent tax levy increase. Full story at NewmarketToday.ca.
Newmarket: A June 15 council parking study found 111 of 117 sampled homes near Flagstone Way exceeded the 1.2-metre walkway limit as residents widen walkways for extra parking; staff will bring recommendations in late 2026. Full story at NewmarketToday.ca. Newmarket News
Vaughan: Pine Valley Drive between Highway 7 and Langstaff Road is scheduled for road rehabilitation starting this month, while Major Mackenzie Drive near Ontario Street has lane reductions and closures under a Metrolinx project. Details on York Region's road construction schedule at york.ca. York Region
📅 THIS WEEK'S CALENDAR
MARKHAM
→ Taste of Asia Festival — June 26–28, Fri 5–11 p.m. / Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m. / Sun 11 a.m.–5 p.m., [Free], Kennedy Rd & Steeles Ave E
→ Canada Day Community Mural — June 27–28, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., [Free], Varley Art Gallery of Markham (216 Main St, Unionville)
→ Markham Cycling Day — June 28, 8 a.m.–1 p.m., [Free], Millennium Bandstand, Main Street Unionville (Fred Varley Dr & Main St) markham.ca/cyclingday
→ Thursday Nights at the Bandstand: Epic Eagles — July 2, 7:30–9 p.m., [Free], Millennium Bandstand, Main Street Unionville
RICHMOND HILL
→ FIFA World Cup Watch Party: Team Canada Match #3 — June 24, from 2 p.m., [Free], Dave Barrow Civic Square (1 Atkinson St)
VAUGHAN
→ Concerts in the Park: Beach Party Boys — June 24, 7:30–9 p.m., [Free], Dufferin District Park (1441 Clark Ave)
→ Asado at Assembly Park — June 27–28, Sat noon–11 p.m. / Sun noon–8 p.m., [Free before 6 p.m.], Assembly Park (Vaughan Metropolitan Centre) assemblypark.ca/events
→ Canada Day: Sam Roberts Band — July 1, [Free], Boyd Conservation Park (8739 Islington Ave)
AURORA
→ Aurora Farmers' Market & Artisan Fair — June 27, 8 a.m.–1 p.m., [Free], Aurora Town Park (49 Wells St)
→ Canada Day Festivities — June 30 (Dance in the Park) & July 1 (parade and fireworks), [Free], Town Park / Lambert Willson Park
NEWMARKET
→ Newmarket Multicultural & Asian Harmony Festival — June 27–28, 11 a.m.–9 p.m., [Free], Ray Twinney Recreation Complex (100 Eagle St W)
→ Early Keyboard Festival — to June 28, recitals 2 p.m. June 27 and June 28, [Ticketed], Old Town Hall (460 Botsford St)
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See you next Tuesday.
— The York Unlocked team
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