The Bentway’s Moving Forest rolls through Toronto this weekend

This summer, Toronto’s streets are coming alive with The Bentway Moving Forest, a playful and thought-provoking art procession that reimagines how nature and city life intersect. As part of The Bentway’s Sun/Shade season, fifty trees planted in shopping carts will roll through downtown, creating pop-up pockets of shade where the city needs them most.

What’s Happening?

Toronto’s streets are about to get a little greener, and a lot more imaginative. On Saturday, July 5, The Bentway’s summer exhibition Sun/Shade brings the city a sight unlike anything you’ve seen before: Moving Forest, a whimsical yet meaningful public art project by Amsterdam’s NL Architects.

Fifty living trees, each planted in its own shopping cart, will parade from The Bentway to Toronto’s waterfront, creating mobile canopies of shade in some of the city’s sunniest and most exposed spaces. Pushed by teams of volunteers, this moving forest invites passersby to pause, reflect, and experience the important role that trees play in shaping a livable city.

Media will have the opportunity to speak with Ilana Altman, Co-Executive Director of The Bentway, about the inspiration behind Moving Forest and how creative public spaces can help cities adapt to a changing climate.

When and Where

Date: Saturday, July 5, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM (media camera call)
Location: Starts at The Bentway (250 Fort York Blvd, Toronto), travelling toward the waterfront

Whether you’re catching the moment on camera, taking in the sights, or simply stumbling upon this joyful urban spectacle, this event is one of the summer’s most unexpected experiences.

Explore More of Sun/Shade

Moving Forest is one of the feature projects in Sun/Shade, The Bentway’s Summer 2025 season running from May 23 to October 5. The exhibition explores the creative possibilities of sunlight and shadow in shaping urban life.

Other highlights of Sun/Shade include:

• La sombra que te cobija by Edra Soto: A sculptural pavilion inspired by Puerto Rican homes, casting intricate shadow patterns and creating a cool, welcoming space.
• Seeing Celsius by LeuWebb Projects: An installation that lets you “see” heat through thermal imaging, shifting how we view our environment.
• Casting a Net, Casting a Spell by Celeste: A quilted canopy filtering light and heat, creating a calm gathering space below.

How to Join The Fun

The public is welcome to witness this rare moment of environmental performance art. Whether you’re an art lover, an environmental advocate, or someone who just loves a good photo opportunity, stop by and follow the forest’s journey to the waterfront.

Want to help make it happen? Volunteer opportunities are available for those interested in rolling a tree and helping shape this living artwork. Details at thebentway.ca.

If you’re exploring the waterfront later in the day, keep an eye out, you might just find yourself standing beneath a surprise canopy of greenery.

Why It Matters For Toronto

Toronto is aiming high with its goal to expand the city’s tree canopy to 40% by 2050, but making that vision a shared community priority takes more than planting trees. That’s where The Bentway’s Moving Forest comes in: a playful yet thought-provoking public art project by NL Architects that rolls the conversation about urban greenery into the streets, inviting the entire city to take part.

Follow The Action

For full details on Moving Forest, the Sun/Shade exhibition, and other summer programming at The Bentway, visit:
thebentway.ca. Follow @thebentway on Instagram, X, and YouTube for live updates and behind-the-scenes stories. #thebentway

More…

• https://thebentway.ca
• https://www.instagram.com/thebentway
• https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/article-bentway-sun-shade-exhibition