Every Saturday morning at the restored Don Valley brick factory, an excellent local farmers' market runs in the pavilion. Free to browse — local produce, artisan goods, prepared foods, plant nursery, kids' programming, and a beautiful industrial heritage site. Free admission.
Free: 550 Bayview Ave, Toronto · Season: spring
The Evergreen Brick Works Farmers' Market is one of Toronto's most beloved Saturday morning traditions — a vibrant gathering of local farmers, artisan food producers, and community members in a spectacular industrial heritage setting. The market runs every Saturday morning in the restored brick factory pavilions, and browsing is completely free. Even if you buy nothing, the atmosphere, the setting, and the community energy make this one of Toronto's great free experiences.
What to Expect
The Evergreen Brick Works is a 12-hectare site in the Don Valley that was originally the Don Valley Brick Works, operating from 1889 to 1984. The factory produced bricks used in many of Toronto's iconic buildings, including Casa Loma and Massey Hall. After decades of abandonment, the site was transformed into a community environmental centre, and the Saturday farmers' market became its beating heart.
The market runs in the historic kiln building and adjacent pavilions — soaring industrial spaces with exposed brick, steel beams, and massive windows. The setting alone is worth the visit. The combination of heritage architecture, local food, and community energy creates an atmosphere unlike any other market in the city.
The market features approximately 40 vendors each week, selling Ontario produce, artisanal cheeses, fresh bread, pasture-raised meats, prepared foods, preserves, honey, maple syrup, flowers, and plants. The vendors are the farmers and producers themselves, passionate about their products and happy to talk about their methods.
What to Do (All Free)
Browse the Market: Walk the aisles, sample products (many vendors offer tastings), talk to the producers, and absorb the atmosphere. The market is as much a social and cultural experience as a shopping one.
Explore the Site: The Evergreen Brick Works site extends far beyond the market. The quarry gardens, the Don Valley trails, the heritage buildings, and the environmental education displays are all free to explore.
The Quarry Gardens: The former clay quarry has been transformed into a stunning landscape of native plants, wetlands, and walking paths. It is free, open dawn to dusk, and genuinely beautiful in every season.
The Heritage Buildings: The original brick factory buildings have been preserved with their industrial equipment, signage, and character intact. Interpretive displays explain the site's history.
KidSpark: While the indoor play area has an admission fee, the outdoor areas and the market itself are free and welcoming to children. The site runs free family programming on market days.
Seasonal Highlights
Spring (May–June): The outdoor market begins, the quarry gardens bloom, and the first local produce of the season appears — asparagus, rhubarb, greenhouse greens, and early herbs.
Summer (July–September): Peak market season. The outdoor pavilion is full, the produce is at its most abundant, and the quarry gardens are lush. This is the best time to visit.
Fall (October–November): The final outdoor market weeks feature harvest-season produce — squash, apples, root vegetables, and preserves. The quarry gardens' fall colours are beautiful.
Winter (December–April): The market moves indoors to the kiln building. The atmosphere is cozy and intimate, with hot prepared foods, root vegetables, greenhouse produce, and preserved goods. The site in snow is genuinely beautiful.
How to Get There
Evergreen Brick Works is at 550 Bayview Avenue in the Don Valley. The most direct transit is the 28 Bayview South bus from Davisville Station on Line 1, which stops directly at the site. The site is also accessible via the Don Valley Trail from Corktown Common (a scenic but longer approach). Limited parking is available but fills quickly on market mornings — transit is strongly recommended.
Accessibility
The market pavilions and main buildings are wheelchair accessible. The quarry gardens have some gravel and unpaved sections that may be challenging. Accessible washrooms are available in the main building. The site is committed to accessibility — contact Evergreen in advance for specific needs.
Nearby Attractions
- **The Don Valley Trail:** The site is directly on the trail system — walk south to Corktown Common or north to Sunnybrook
- **Riverdale Farm:** 15-minute walk south through the valley and up to Cabbagetown
- **Cabbagetown:** The historic neighbourhood above the valley
- **Sunnybrook Park:** North along the trail system
- **The Toronto Islands:** Take transit south to the waterfront for the island ferries
Photography Tips
The industrial architecture of the kiln building is spectacular — soaring brick vaults, steel trusses, and massive windows. The quarry gardens offer beautiful natural subjects. The market itself, with its vendors and products, is excellent for documentary-style photography. Morning light through the pavilion windows is particularly beautiful.
Practical Tips for Tourists
- The Saturday market runs 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM (May–November outdoors, December–April indoors)
- The site itself is free and open dawn to dusk every day
- Bring reusable bags if you plan to shop — many vendors charge for bags
- The market is busiest between 9:30 and 11:30 AM — arrive early for thinnest crowds
- The quarry gardens are free and worth exploring regardless of whether you visit the market
- The site has a cafe with food and drinks (not free, but good)
- Public washrooms are available in the main building
Visitor tip
Saturday market runs 8am–1pm (May–November), 9am–1pm indoor market runs year-round. The site itself is always free to visit — great for a walk through the quarry gardens.