Polka, Pierogi & Roncy Living: Your 2025 Guide to the Roncesvalles Polish Festival!

It's TIME!! Every September, Roncesvalles Avenue turns into a weekend-long celebration of music, dance, food, and community. The Roncesvalles Polish Festival is widely recognized as North America’s largest celebration of Polish culture, and it all happens on our west-end main street. This year’s festival runs Saturday, September 13 and Sunday, September 14, 2025.

If you are planning to go (which you absolutely should!) , expect live bands and folk dancing on multiple stages, buskers, family zones, artisan vendors, and more pierogi than you thought possible. Local restaurants and cafés usually extend their patios so you can graze as you stroll - take a bite of everything! The vibe is a mix of old-world traditions and modern Roncy energy, and it is a great snapshot of what neighbourhood life feels like here.

Like history?? Well you may not know this... After the Second World War, many Polish families settled around Roncesvalles and helped shape the neighborhood with churches, shops, and community institutions. The festival began as a local celebration of that heritage and has grown into a city-wide event while keeping those roots front and centre. 

What to see and do depends on your pace and what you like. If you like live music head for the Main Stage near Wright Avenue in the evening for live music and the dance-under-the-stars finale. If you are here with kids, the family zones and midway are an easy win. Food lovers can make a mini tasting tour out of it, from classic pierogi (YUM!) and kielbasa to dessert stops at bakeries up and down the street. Schedules and stage lineups change year to year, so check the festival site before you go.

Getting here is easy, and note that transit is your best bet on festival weekend since parking is limited and the street is closed to cars. The subway connects to Dundas West Station and there are nearby Green P lots off Bloor if you are coming from farther away and prefer to park and walk.

If you are making a day of it, build in time to wander. Grab a coffee,  a sweet to share, browse the shops, and take a look at what the vendors have to offer.  For anyone new to Roncesvalles, this is a perfect way to see why so many families choose the area for walkability, schools, patios, and easy access to High Park and the waterfront.

Why we LOVE living near Roncy goes beyond the festival. It is the everyday details like friendly streets, community events, strong small-business culture, and quick transit, that make this neighbourhood such a great place to live. If festival weekend has you imagining a move to the west end, we would be happy to talk about schools, parks, and micro-pockets nearby, and share recent case studies from Roncesvalles and the west end. 

FAQs

When is the festival in 2025? Saturday, September 13 and Sunday, September 14.
Where does it take place? Along Roncy between Queen Street West and Dundas Street West
Is the street closed to cars? Yes. Plan to walk and use the TTC.
Is it kid-friendly? Very. Look for family zones, daytime performances, and lots of snacks.