The City of Markham is pleased to share information about a selection of grant opportunities that may be of interest to your community event. Eligibility requirements vary by program.
Celebrate Markham
The City’s Celebrate Markham grant program provides annual grants to non-profit organizations for arts and culture events, festivals, sports events and seniors’ clubs. While matching funding is not required, applicants are strongly encouraged to cost-share or seek assistance from other sources such as fundraising, funding from other levels of governments, foundations and corporate sponsors.
The Celebrate Markham grant:
- Supports community events and programs
- Encourages community inclusivity
- Enhances Markham’s reputation as a destination City for visitors and tourists
Learn more about the Celebrate Markham grant program.
Celebrate Canada
The Celebrate Canada grant program is run by the Department of Canadian Heritage and provides funding for activities organized on:
- National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21)
- Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (June 24)
- Canadian Multiculturalism Day (June 27)
- Canada Day (July 1)
Events funded are expected to be held on the date of the designated day.
Learn
more about the Celebrate Canada grant program.
Local Festivals
The Local Festivals grant program is run by the Department of Canadian Heritage and provides funding to local groups for recurring festivals that present the work of local artists, artisans or heritage performers. This includes the celebration of LGBTQ2+ communities and Indigenous cultural celebrations.
Learn
more about the Local Festivals grant program.
Events on City roads and sidewalks
The City of Markham receives applications for festivals and community events on city roads and sidewalks. All planned events, including parades, races, festivals and street parties involving or impacting sidewalks or streets require a road occupancy permit.
Events requesting to use city roads and/or sidewalks are required to submit the following documents for City review and approval:
- Road Occupancy Permit Application Form
- Certificate of Insurance
- Event Site/Route Map
- Traffic Management Plan
- Public Notification of Road Use Notice/Letter
Permit fees and additional logistical requirements apply depending on the scale and scope of the event.
If your event needs a Road Occupancy Permit, please refer to the Application Timelines above to ensure the required application timelines.
Find
out who owns the road before you apply
Submit
a road/sidewalk closure (Road Occupancy Permit) application
Events on Regional roads
Permission to close a Regional road for a community event must be submitted directly to York Region. Visit the York Region website for more information about requesting a regional road.
Find
out who owns the road before you apply
Apply
for a Regional road closure
Markham Civic Centre
101 Town Centre Boulevard
Flag Raising Ceremony
The City of Markham permits the use of the Community Flag Pole(s) at Markham Civic Centre in accordance with the City’s Community Flag Raisings & Flag Protocol Policy.
Flag raising event applications will be accepted for requests on Monday to Sunday, between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM. Flag raisings are not available on statutory holidays.
This space is suitable for events up to one hour in length, with a maximum of 100 people. Permit/booking fees apply and additional logistical requirements may be required.
Flag Raising Ceremony Application - Apply Now
Community Events - Conference/Forum/Summit
The City of Markham permits the use of the Council Chamber for Community Events (Conference/Forum/Summit) at Markham Civic Centre. Please direct any questions and return the completed application form to: specialevents@markham.ca.
Once the completed application form has been received and reviewed, an Event Lead with the City will work with you through the event planning process.
Permit/booking fees apply and additional logistical requirements may be required.
Community Event Application - Apply Now
Millennium Bandstand
146 Main Street Unionville 
The City of Markham permits community events and entertainment performances at the Millennium Bandstand between May 1 and October 30 annually, weather permitting. This space is suitable for one-day events. Permit/booking fees apply and additional logistical requirements may be required depending on the size and scope of the request.
Unionville BIA is managing and permitting the Millennium Bandstand facility for the City of Markham in 2023.
Please direct any questions to: events@unionvilleinfo.com
Public Parks
The City of Markham is presently piloting applications for public park events, offering rentals of selected parks for community based events. Markham's public parks boast a diverse array of features, elements, and sites of varying sizes tailored to accommodate your group's needs.
The four public parks that are available for applications:
Deadline for submissions is Friday, April 5th 2024.
Applications will be reviewed by April 2024, accepted applicants will be contacted by City of Markham staff to further discuss the event and components.
Outdoor Event Season - June to October
Minimum Notice - 10 weeks.
Black out dates for 2024 season:
- June 1-2, 8-9, 14-16, 29-30
- July 1
- August 16-18
- September 6-8
Minimum Application
Timeline
|
Events With...
|
3 months before the event date
|
350+ people, and/or
Secondary permits: noise exemption
Food trucks or vendors
|
10 weeks before the event date
|
100+ people
|
Public
Park Application – Apply Now
Markham Museum
Markham Museum brings the present and past together. Learn about our city’s history and the tools we use today in our changing world. The 25-acre Museum site offers:
- Exhibits
- School programs
- Public programs
- Events
- Private event venues
- Research facilities
For more information, visit Markham Museum -Renting Space contact us at museuminfo@markham.ca or call us at 905-305-5970.
