There are weekends when you wonder what to do... and then there are weekends like this one, when the hardest part is choosing.
From one of London’s biggest celebrations of love and inclusion to authentic Colombian food, live music, and hundreds of classic cars lining Richmond Row, the city is absolutely buzzing. See my weekend picks below! Thanks as always for subscribing!
Editor’s Note: I wrote this column a few days ago before the wildfires started in Northern Ontario, and before Rock the Park was cut short last night. All of the events listed below are outdoor. I hope the air clears up and that the events go forward, but please be safe everyone!
Three to consider for July 16 - 19, 2026
The Loon recommends:
Pride Parade
Colombian Gastronomy Festival
Rides on Richmond
Meet the People Behind the Events - An Interview with Rides on Richmond Co-Founder Terry Johnson
🌈 Pride London Parade - The Heart of Pride Week
Sunday, July 19 | Downtown London | Starts at 12:00 PM | FREE
There’s something incredibly uplifting about seeing thousands of people line the streets to celebrate love, authenticity, and community.
The Pride London Parade is one of those events that reminds you just how vibrant and welcoming our city can be. Whether you’re marching, cheering from the sidelines, or attending for the very first time, the atmosphere is joyful, colourful, and full of positive energy. It’s the kind of event that leaves you smiling long after the last float has rolled by.
More Than a Just a Parade
The parade is the centrepiece of the 10-day Pride London Summer Festival, which wraps up with three days of entertainment, community programming, and celebrations in Victoria Park this weekend.
More than just a parade, Pride is an opportunity to celebrate the diversity that makes our city stronger while supporting our 2SLGBTQIA+ friends, neighbours, family members, and colleagues.
So bring a lawn chair, wave a rainbow flag, and join one of London’s most welcoming and uplifting summer traditions!
For full info, see Pride London’s website here
Sponsor Highlight: Downtown London
Very excited to announce that this week we welcome Downtown London as a new supporter of The Loon. Downtown London is dedicated to championing the businesses, events, restaurants, shops, and people that make the core of our city vibrant.
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Get a Taste of Colombia, Right Here in London
Friday, July 17 - Sunday, July 19 | Dundas Place | FREE
If your idea of travel this weekend involves your taste buds doing the flying, make your way to the Colombian Gastronomy Festival.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this lively downtown festival serves up authentic Colombian cuisine alongside live music, dancing, cultural performances, and plenty of Latin energy.
Come Hungry to Dundas Place
Come hungry, you’ll find everything from sizzling street food and traditional dishes to refreshing drinks and sweet treats that might just have you planning your next vacation.
One of the things I love about London’s summer festival season is that you can experience cultures from around the world without leaving the city. Grab some friends, order something you’ve never tried before, soak up the music, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself dancing a little between bites. After all, calories consumed while eating empanadas barely counts... right?
Colombian Gastronomy Festival Dates and Times:
Friday, July 17: 4 PM to 12 PM
Saturday, July 18: 12 PM - 12 AM
Sunday, July 19: 12 PM - 11 PM
For more information, see the event page on Tourism London’s site here
Rides on Richmond - Chrome & Community
Sunday, July 19 | Richmond Row | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | FREE
For one day this weekend, Richmond Row will transform into a giant outdoor showroom filled with everything from gleaming classic cars, hot rods, exotics, lowriders, tuners, muscle cars, and lovingly restored vintage beauties. It’s part car show, part street festival, and part nostalgia trip. This year there will be over 500+ cars on display!
I’ll admit it: I’m not really a car person. I went to Rides on Richmond last year mainly because I work with co-founder Terry Johnson and I wanted to support him. I thought I would look around a bit and then take off, but once my husband and I got there, we both really liked it a lot! There are tons and tons of cool cars to check out, plus music, entertainment, good food and plenty of great people watching - AND it’s free! Can you ask for anything more?! I say no.
This was also a very family-friendly event with lots of familes and kids. It was a lot of fun. I even phoned my teen from the show, urging her to come down to attend. Alas, getting a teen out of bed is no mean feat and I was unsuccesful, but I will try to bring her this year!
Every Car Has a Story
What makes Rides on Richmond special is that it isn’t just for gearheads. As Terry told me, every car has a story. Someone spots the same Chevy their grandfather used to drive. Someone else finally sees their dream car in person. And somewhere, a kid falls in love with cars for the very first time.
It’s also a wonderful excuse to rediscover downtown. Grab lunch on a patio, browse the local shops, enjoy the live entertainment, and spend an afternoon surrounded by chrome, conversation, and one of the friendliest crowds you’ll find anywhere in the city.
Take a look at last year’s Rides on Richmond:
Rides on Richmond Details
Sunday, July 19, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: Richmond Street, between Oxford Street and Central Avenue
Meet the People Behind the Events
Building Community, One Car at a Time
An Interview with Rides on Richmond Co-Founder Terry Johnson
I’d like to make interviews a regular part of The Loon, shining a light on the people who help make London such a vibrant place to live. First up is Rides on Richmond co-founder Terry Johnson, who shares how the event got its start, and why it’s about much more than just cars.
This year is the 5th Annual Rides on Richmond event. How did the event get started, and what was your vision for it?
The idea for Rides on Richmond came about during a photoshoot for a friend's clothing brand featuring my car outside Dos Tacos restaurant on Richmond Row. Asaad Naeeli from Dos Tacos and I (from Grenade Garage), started talking about creating a car show that would celebrate both the local car community and everything downtown London has to offer.
We first pitched the idea to the City in 2019, but just a few events were being approved at the time, we had to be patient and keep pushing. In 2021, we finally received approval for a street closure and held the first Rides on Richmond.
From the beginning, our goal was to help build the car community as well as showcase what downtown London has to offer.
I attended the show last year and it was packed! Did you ever imagine it would become this popular?
Our first show was very successful, so we knew we were on to something. The second year we went a little bigger and kept that size for the third year and filled up quickly. For the 4th year added another 2 blocks.
The growth and support from the community has been amazing. We knew it was going to grow and be something people would look forward to each year.
Car culture often gets stereotyped, but when you walk through Rides on Richmond you see families, teenagers, retirees, and everyone in between. What do you think it is about classic and custom cars that brings so many different people together?
The show is open to a large variety of car types and years. We want to have something for everyone to see. Cars allow people to express themselves and create an individuality they can drive.
We want to be an event to share and spread the passion for the hobby. Classics, Exotics, Tuners, Lowriders, Minitrucks and more show up. People walking through might see something they had growing up and can tell their kids about it. The event facilitates stories and builds memories.
Everyone has that one vehicle they still regret selling, or one they dream of owning. What’s the one car that always makes you stop in your tracks when it rolls onto Richmond Row?
I enjoy seeing cars from the 1940s and 1950s. I own a 1954 Chevy Bel Air and a 1957 Chevy 210. I grew up around cars like these, so it's always special to see the models my dad owned when I was young.
Beyond the incredible vehicles, the event also shines a spotlight on Richmond Row’s restaurants, patios, and local businesses. How important has it been to create an event that not only celebrates cars, but also helps bring people into the heart of downtown?
That was a part of what we wanted to achieve, to bring people from London and the surrounding area to the downtown core. So many fantastic restaurants and stores to enjoy that they might not have known about. We have had many people comment that they don’t usually go downtown but found a great restaurant and will be going back.
For someone who’s never been to Rides on Richmond, how would you convince them to spend a Sunday afternoon wandering the street? And is there anything this year that you’re especially excited for people to experience?
Rides on Richmond is an event used to share the passion and hopefully pass that along to the next generation. We have live music, artists, and car related vendors. They can walk 20 feet and see modern to classic cars, enjoying the past and present. We are excited to fill up the street again, see our friends, eat some food and have an amazing day.
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