The Town of Newmarket will welcome everyone to experience the magic of Mulock Park with grand opening festivities from September 18 to 20. The weekend will feature something for everyone with an exciting lineup celebrating community, creativity, and connection. Mulock Park opens on Friday, September 18 at 5 p.m. with festivities running until 9 p.m. and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Ample parking is available at nearby facilities (Magna Centre and Ray Twinney Recreation Complex) with free shuttle service to the park all weekend long. Parking at the park during the grand opening will be very limited.
“The excitement around Mulock Park has been building for years, and this incredible grand opening lineup is the perfect way to welcome the community in to experience everything this park has to offer,” says Newmarket Mayor John Taylor. “On a personal level this opening is very meaningful to me and I can’t wait to see everyone together on the Great Lawn, with music playing, surrounded by friends, family, neighbours and nature. Please join me on the Great Lawn Saturday evening, I plan to pack a picnic or purchase a picnic kit on site and settle in for a special evening of music in our community’s new backyard – the Mulock Park.”
From live music, roller skating and wellness activities to art, children’s programming, kite flying, lawn games and opportunities to simply gather, there is truly something for everyone.
The Mulock Park grand opening festivities feature:
- Performances all weekend, from big band and dueling pianos to acoustic sets, classical strings and jazz. The weekend kicks off with the Newmarket Citizens Band, a message from the Mayor followed by Great Canadian Dueling Pianos on Friday night. From day to night, enjoy Charlotte Clementine, Mac Shepherd, Ben Harvey and His Ornamentals, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra String Quartet, Dave Toms with headliners Lorne Lofsky Trio (Saturday) and bb Collective (Sunday).
- Retro roller skating and DJ party on the Woodland Loop on Friday and Saturday. Bring your own skates or blades or grab a free pair of roller skates and protective gear to use.
- Mayor’s Picnic with Strings and Jazz on the Great Lawn. On Saturday night join the Mayor for a special community picnic. Bring a blanket, pack a picnic or purchase a picnic kit, and settle in for a showstopping evening with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra String Quartet at 6 p.m. followed by headliner Lorne Lofsky Trio at 7:30 p.m.. Picnic kits are available while quantities last; pre-orders are encouraged.
- Local performances and children’s activities at the Little Forest Theatre
- Art from the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Indigenous and Canadian collections on exhibit in Mulock House.
- Art inspired by the Mulock Property on exhibit in the Artist Studio, in collaboration with the Society of York Region Artists featuring pieces from “Mulock Farm: Artists Preserve History” and “History Blooms” by Rachel’s Beautiful Mess
- Wellness activities on the West Lawn, including yoga and chair yoga, Qigong and meditation.
- Opportunities for all ages to play, create and get musical
- Add your mark on the Community Mosaic led by Rachel’s Beautiful Mess at the Artist Studio Patio and a story time reading and interactive kid-friendly (ages 4+) art activity based on Amelia’s Loose Part Art.
- Garden party, lawn games, croquet, a build pit with LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Toronto and activities inspired by Sir William’s life.
- Kite colouring and flying, pick and colour paper flowers, tote bag design station, nature art, and more.
- Workshops to try musical instruments, watercolour painting, calligraphy, decorate wind chimes, try line dancing and 1920s style dancing, plus a drop-in group singing session with Choir Revolution.
- Discovery tour stops throughout the park to learn about the park’s past and present and a Mulock Mail Trail with stamp-inspired photo stops.
- Creator Talks at the Artist Studio Patio, featuring conversations with the park’s planners, Rachel’s Beautiful Mess and the Canadian Peony Society.
- Special pop-up giveaways
Activities, performances and talks have set times. Giveaways, supplies and workshops are limited while supplies last. The event is rain or shine!
Food and beverage
Come together for a community picnic on the Great Lawn throughout the weekend! Bring a blanket, grab a picnic and settle in to enjoy live music, kite flying and a relaxed afternoon in the heart of Mulock Park.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase at Chickadee Café in Mulock House plus a pop-up at the Glass Hall, or visitors can grab a prepared picnic bundle from Picnics2Go to enjoy on one of the park’s three beautiful lawns (pre-orders are available at picnics2go.ca).
Food and beverage options will also be offered by My Indie Coffee, Venerosa Gelato and Wild Lemon Co.
For adults, visitors can discover the M Bar, inspired by a speakeasy-style bar in the former estate, or stop by a pop-up whisky lounge in the Walnut Grove.
Discover art throughout the park
Mulock Park features six commissioned public art pieces that celebrate the landscape through innovation and highlight stories across the past, present and future. Visitors can discover works by local, regional and international artists woven into the natural setting throughout the park. A landmark piece, Calling Community by Newmarket-raised and internationally acclaimed artist Brendan Fernandes, will soon be installed at the corner of Yonge Street and Mulock Drive, acting as a beacon that invites guests into the park. Visitors can also discover works by Brandon Vickerd, Nyle Miigizi Johnston, Michael Belmore and D’Andrea Bowie, Georgia Dickie and Laura Marotta.
On Tuesday, September 29 the Town will host an Artist Talk and homecoming celebration with Brendan Fernandes. Register to attend this free event at newtix.ca.
Plan your trip
The Town expects a large turnout and has arranged free shuttles running continuously during the grand opening. Shuttles are available from Ray Twinney Recreation Complex (100 Eagle St. W) and Magna Centre (800 Mulock Drive) offering ample parking and travel in accessible York Region Transit buses which will drop guests off near park entry points. Every shuttle passenger will receive one complimentary Town of Newmarket recreation day pass, plus an entry into a draw for prizes, including tickets to Art Gallery of Ontario, Mirvish Productions and LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Toronto!
Shuttle timing:
- Friday, September 18 from 4:30 to 10 p.m.
- Saturday, September 19 from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Sunday, September 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Residents are asked to avoid parking on surrounding residential streets. Parking enforcement staff will actively monitor local streets for illegal parking.
Parking is available at the Yonge Street Parking Lot (16830 Yonge Street), just north of the park; however, we expect it will fill up fast and encourage guests to walk, bike or take a shuttle to the festivities.
Active access
Mulock Park was designed to connect to the Town’s trail system, multi-use paths and transit network. Visitors are encouraged to walk, bike or take transit to the park. Guests cycling to the park are asked to walk their bikes onsite to help keep the park’s two kilometres of trails safe and accessible for everyone. York Region Transit and Viva stop at the park’s main entrance at the corner of Yonge Street and Mulock Drive.
Meet me at Mulock this fall and beyond
After the grand opening weekend, Mulock Park will continue to welcome visitors with year-round programming, including arts workshops, immersive experiences, fitness classes and more.
Couldn’t make opening weekend? Join us Thursday, September 24 from 5 to 9 p.m. for roller skating, lawn games, junk journalling, story time with Newmarket Library and more.
Mulock Park will be open to residents and visitors daily from dawn ‘till dusk, with no cost to explore the park and trails. Features and amenities will have set hours, including the Cedar Circle water play feature and Woodland Loop skate trail (opening in December) and Mulock House, including the Chickadee Café and a gallery in partnership with the Art Gallery of Ontario. There is no admission cost for the gallery. There will be a cost for registered programs and ticketed events throughout the year.
Visit newmarket.ca/MulockParkOpening for the complete Grand Opening event schedule, park map and how to plan your trip. Learn more about the park features and history at newmarket.ca/MulockPark.
Thank you to our Community Partners for donating their time and materials for activations, workshops, and more to make the grand opening a success: Arcadia Academy of Music, Aurora Whisky Society, Canadian Children's Theatre Co., Canadian Peony Society, Choir Revolution, Events by Ten, Flossy's Flower Truck, Goblets & Goblins, LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Toronto, New Roots Garden Centre, Rachel's Beautiful Mess Co., Society of York Region Artists (SOYRA), Sutherland Artistry, The Loose Parts Teacher, Upper Canada Stamp Society, Wild Birds Unlimited Newmarket.
About Mulock Park
Mulock Park is a 16-acre multi-faceted green space nestled at the corner of Yonge Street and Mulock Drive, a high-density, urban area of Newmarket, just north of the GTA. The Mulock site contains layers of diverse histories, starting with the initial stewards of the land, the Indigenous First Nations. The Town of Newmarket purchased the property from the family of notable Canadian and Newmarket resident, Sir William Mulock. Thousands of community members were engaged in creating a vision for the park. Opening in late summer 2026, the four-season park will include a winter skate trail through the woods (one of the longest refrigerated public trails in Ontario), two unique water features, a greenhouse conservatory connected to an artist studio space, public art across the site, space for concerts and events and a network of paths for open exploration. The Mulock House is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act and has been preserved, updated, and reimagined featuring the Chickadee Café operated by A Million Mouthfuls Catering and an art gallery in partnership with the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO).