Toronto's AlohaFest is back this summer for a celebration of Polynesian food, heritage, and way of life.
Curiocity Read article ↗
Press Kit
Media resources for AlohaFest Toronto.
Everything you need to cover Toronto's original and only united celebration of Polynesian culture.
At a glance
Fast facts
- What
- Free Polynesian culture festival
- Edition
- 10th annual
- Date
- Sat, July 25, 2026
- Hours
- 11am–10pm
- Where
- Mel Lastman Square, North York
- Admission
- Free · all ages · rain or shine
- Founded
- 2015
- Attendance
- 15,000+ annually
- Performances
- 20+ cultural acts · 15+ hālau
- Presented by
- Hālau Hula I Ka Lā
About
Boilerplate
Short: AlohaFest Toronto is the city's original and only united celebration of Polynesian culture. Presented by Hālau Hula I Ka Lā ("Hula School in the Sun"), the free, all-ages festival fills Mel Lastman Square with hula, music, island food and makers for one day each summer.
Long: Founded in 2015, AlohaFest Toronto was created to educate the Greater Toronto community about the Aloha spirit by uniting the city's hula hālau and Polynesian-inspired organizations to showcase the culture, art and dance of the Pacific. After a pandemic pause, the festival returned in 2022 and has grown to welcome more than 15,000 guests a year. For its 10th anniversary in 2026, the celebration extends into the evening for the first time, running 11 am to 10 pm.
Mission
Why we gather
To educate the Greater Toronto community about the Aloha spirit by uniting the multiple hula hālau and other Polynesian-inspired organizations and businesses to showcase Polynesian culture, art and dance.
"Events like AlohaFest play an integral role in making Toronto a lively and welcoming city, one where everyone is welcome."
— Councillor Lily Cheng, City of Toronto, 2023
Leadership & coverage
Who & where
Founder & Director: Joanne Vicencio. Presented by Hālau Hula I Ka Lā, a Toronto-based hula school (with a sister school in Clovis, California) dedicated to sharing authentic Hawaiian values and traditions.
As featured in
Breakfast TelevisionCP24 BreakfastCityTVCTVBlogTOCuriocityToronto.comView the VibeDestination TorontoOver Here TorontoFamily Fun CanadaYonge North York
In their words
Coverage & quotes
A decade of celebration, covered across the city's media — quotes free to cite with attribution.
This free festival is Toronto's first and only celebration of Hawaiian culture.
Toronto.com Read article ↗
Performers take the stage in colourful regalia to showcase the rich traditions of Hawaiʻi, Samoa, Tahiti, Fiji, and more.
BlogTO Read article ↗
Say Aloha to this Hawaiian festival in Toronto this weekend.
View the Vibe Read article ↗
Dina and Sid learn the traditional Polynesian dance form, Hula — with director Joanne Vicencio.
Breakfast Television Watch segment ↗
Director Joanne Vicencio shares the Aloha spirit live on CP24 Breakfast ahead of the festival.
CP24 Breakfast Watch segment ↗
Inclusive, joyful, and rooted in community — a warm, positive vibe in the middle of the city.
Over Here Toronto Read article ↗
A free event that shines bright at Mel Lastman Square — a united celebration of Polynesian culture.
Family Fun Canada Read article ↗
An annual celebration of Hawaiian and Polynesian culture, bringing the spirit of Aloha to the city.
Yonge North York Read article ↗
Brand assets
Logos & downloads
Please use official AlohaFest Toronto logos without alteration. Click to download.
Media enquiries
Get in touch
For interviews, photography, accreditation or additional assets, we're happy to help.
Press: info@alohafesttoronto.com