Are you ready to take a stroll along Harbord Street? On June 4, the Harbord St. Artisan Studio Tour will kick off with an array of artisans out on the sidewalks between Borden Street and Sussex Mews.

The self-guided walking tour will take place between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. and will feature artists, restaurants, and musicians. Tables will be set up outside the artisan studios to display their artwork. Expect to see brilliant clay sculptures from Clay Design, unique pieces from the Rock Store, and abstract art from Spence Gallery. A soon-to-open studio for a glassblower is located at 150 Harbord Street. Students from Central Technical School will display their work, and there will be street art venues, musicians and childrens’ face painters. Restaurants will be preparing special food, including Harbord Bakery, a local favourite.

This event is being hosted by the Harbord Village Residents’ Association (HVRA), the Harbord Street BIA, as well as Wright Real Estate. Harbord Street BIA chair, Neil Wright, explained that this event is being held to “kick-start the economy” of the area after closures due to COVID-19. Wright said that the neighbourhood has always been a creative hub, but recently he’s noticed an influx of artisan stores to the area. After seeing the success of the annual Great Harbord Street Pumpkin Festival, an event hosted by the HVRA the day after Halloween, he wanted to see a similar community gathering in the spring to celebrate these artisans and welcome the warm weather. 

—Fox Oliver/Gleaner News