Dufferin Grove Park

Dufferin Grove Park — Toronto’s community backyard

Famous for its wood-fired bake ovens, a year-round organic farmers’ market and a beloved natural ice rink, Dufferin Grove is one of the city’s great experiments in resident-run public space — a neighbourhood park that feels like everyone’s shared backyard.

Highlights

• Wood-fired bake ovens — two masonry ovens used for community pizza and bread days; one, damaged by fire in December 2023, is being restored.
• Dufferin Grove Organic Farmers’ Market — Thursday afternoons, year-round since 2002 and one of Toronto’s longest-running markets.
• Natural ice rink — two outdoor pads, one for pleasure skating and one for shinny, with skate rentals on site.
• The Marsh Fountain — a 1998 water feature by artist Gene Threndyle.
• Custom House ruins — architectural fragments of the second Toronto Custom House (1876–1919), relocated here from High Park.

What you’ll find

Across roughly two city blocks and about 14 acres, the park packs in something for every age:

• A large playground and a separate children’s playground.
• A wading pool for hot summer days.
• A basketball court, a volleyball net and a ping-pong table.
• A clubhouse and community kitchen used for food programming.
• The resident Clay & Paper Theatre, which stages outdoor plays.

Things to do — and who it’s for

• Food lovers — shop local and organic at the Thursday market.
• Families — mix playground, wading pool and pizza days at the ovens.
• Skaters and hockey players — glide or play shinny on the winter rink.
• Casual athletes — pick up basketball, volleyball or ping-pong.
• Community-goers — join bake-oven days, theatre and neighbourhood gatherings.

Getting there & practical

The park lies in the Dufferin Grove neighbourhood, directly across from Dufferin Mall. It is a short walk from the nearest subway station, with streetcar connections close by, so it is easy to reach without a car. The park is open and free year-round; the market runs Thursday afternoons, and an hour will cover the ovens, rink and playgrounds — longer if you settle in for a picnic.

When to visit

The natural ice rink runs roughly from late November to early March, weather permitting. Summer brings pizza days at the ovens and outdoor plays by the resident Clay & Paper Theatre, while the organic market moves indoors in the cold months and carries on all year.

Good to know

Dufferin Grove is widely regarded as a Toronto model for resident-led, community-managed public space. Its wood-fired ovens and volunteer food programs are central to that identity, and the park is also home to the Clay & Paper Theatre and to the relocated ruins of the second Custom House.

Visitor tips

• Come on a Thursday to catch the organic market at its liveliest.
• Check ahead on pizza and bake-oven days — one oven is under repair.
• Bring or rent skates in winter; the shinny pad fills up fast.

Questions & answers

What is Dufferin Grove best known for? Its wood-fired bake ovens, a year-round organic farmers’ market and a much-loved natural ice rink.

When is the farmers’ market? Thursday afternoons, year-round — it has run since 2002 and moves indoors in the cold months.

Can I skate here in winter? Yes — there are two outdoor natural-ice pads, one for pleasure skating and one for shinny, with skate rentals on site.

Are the bake ovens working? Two masonry ovens serve community pizza and bread days; one was damaged by fire in December 2023 and is being restored.

Is it good for kids? Very — there is a large playground, a children’s playground and a summer wading pool.

What are the old stone ruins? Fragments of the second Toronto Custom House (1876–1919), relocated to the park from High Park.