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Aug 1 – 2 | One Love Festival

Saturday and Sunday, August 1 and 2, 2026 11 AM to 4 PM Free | Registration not required About the Program Celebrate community and culture at the second annual One Love Festival. This vibrant weekend brings people together through music, art, and food in an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere. Enjoy live performances, creative activities, and […]

Aug 14 – 16 | Button-Making inspired by the Markham Indy

Friday to Saturday, August 14 to 16, 2026 During gallery public hours $5/group (up to 4) Registration not required About the Program Enjoy a drop-in button-making activity inspired by the Markham Indy. Create your own design using racing-inspired colours, patterns, and imagery, and take home a unique keepsake to remember the day. Located just a […]

Aug 22 – 23 | Markham Jazz Festival

Saturday and Sunday, August 22 and 23, 2026 10 AM to 5 PM Free | Registration not required About the Program During the Markham Jazz Festival, the Varley Art Gallery will be open for visitors to enjoy self-guided tours. Step inside to explore our current exhibitions at your own pace in a welcoming, air-conditioned space, […]

Aug 29 | Process Over Product: Experimental Drop-in Art Workshop

Saturday, August 29, 2026 1 to 4:30 PM Free | Registration not required About the Program Inspired by the current exhibitions, visitors are invited to drop into an open studio focused on experimentation. Explore mark-making, layering, and abstraction without the pressure of a finished product, emphasizing intuition and creative process. All materials provided. About “What […]

Apr 19 | Curator’s Corner

Sunday, April 19, 2026 2 PM Free | In-person | Limited space; registration recommended About the Program Step into our Collections Gallery and explore the Varley Art Gallery’s historical works with a guided curator tour by Anik Glaude. Hear the fascinating stories behind the artworks, learn about Fred Varley, his drawings, and the history of […]

Apr 18 | Sketching the Past: A Hands-On Dinosaur Experience

Saturday, April 18, 2026 2 to 4 PM Free | In-person | Limited space; registration recommended About the Program Join the Varley Art Gallery and the Royal Ontario Museum for an engaging, hands-on experience inspired by the Varley’s 2026 Winter Exhibition, Sketching the Past. Discover how Group of Seven artist Fred Varley closely observed dinosaurs, fossils, […]

Mar 28 | Fundraiser: Boots for Art

Saturday, March 28, 2026 7 to 10 PM Tickets: $50 Benefiting the Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham About the Fundraiser Pull on your boots and hit the dance floor at Boots for Art, a lively line dancing lesson led by the crowd-favourite Cheatin’ Hearts. This upbeat, beginner-friendly evening brings the community together for music, movement, and a […]

Mar 11 | Lunch and Learn with Sameer Farooq

Wednesday, March 11, 2026 12:30 to 1:30 PM Free | Online | Zoom link provided upon registration  Revisit the conversation anytime with the full program recording: Watch Recording About the Program Take your lunch break with us and join a free online talk with Sameer Farooq, featured artist from the Varley Art Gallery’s winter exhibition Sameer Farooq: […]

Feb 21 and 22 | LunarFest 2026

Saturday and Sunday, February 21 and 22, 2026 10 AM to 5 PM Free | Registration not required About the Program 2026 LunarFest GTA returns to the Varley Art Gallery with a new set of Lunar Lanterns, free workshops, and a film screening. Welcome the Year of the Horse through arts and storytelling for the […]

Lunar Lanterns

February 21 to March 20, 2026 Free | at the Varley Art Gallery courtyard About the Program Featuring artists from diverse cultural backgrounds, this year’s lanterns share stories of heritage, identity, and connection. Participating artists include Stephanie Avery, a Canadian artist, Philip Cote, an Indigenous artist, Keerat Kaur, a Canadian artist of Sikh-Panjabi heritage, Jieun […]