Special event support

Interested in hosting an event in London? The City of London Special Events Team is here to help!

We can assist you with navigating the policies and procedures associated with hosting an event on City property, help you find the perfect location for your event, and connect you with our community partners.

Our team supports Event Operators that offer unique opportunities for Londoners and visitors to enjoy arts, culture and entertainment in municipal parks, roadways and squares. 

We’ll guide you through the event approval process, coordinate your event contract and fee payments and, depending on your event, help you through the various additional permits you may need along the way. We are here to help.

Please email SpecialEvents@london.ca or call 519-661-2489, extension 7767 to begin planning your event.

Located at 580 Clarence Street, Victoria Park is an ideal location for signature level festivals and concerts, and bookings are available all year long. The capacity at Victoria Park is 20,000 people. There is a limit of 9 events with amplified sound from June to Labour Day 

Amenities: 

• Plenty of electric and water outlets available
• Mandatory grey water disposal system
• Washrooms (wheelchair accessible)
• Bike valet equipment available
• Band shell
  • Electric designed to facilitate concerts on stage
  • Small loading dock at rear
  • Greenroom attached to band shell
  • Accessible elevator lift (35 inches wide x 48 inches deep)
• Locates are required for the staking of tents or inflatables.
• Limited wifi availability in the bandshell
• Limited on-site parking

Dundas Place is a premier destination for shopping, dining, art, and celebration. From Wellington to Ridout Streets, Dundas Place is a flexible street shared by pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. 

With extra wide sidewalks and no curbs, parking spaces can easily transform into patios, and be used for sidewalk sales, or by street performers. 

Dundas Place can be closed to vehicles for special events and programming, to offer more space for pedestrians and cyclists. 

For more information, check out the Dundas Place page or email dundasplace@london.ca.

Amenities:

• Electric and water outlets
• Grey water disposal system
• Washrooms (wheelchair accessible) available at Dundas Place Fieldhouse
• Bike valet equipment available
• Portable stage available
• Limited onsite parking
• No staking of tents or inflatables

Located at 530 Ridout Street North, Harris Park is an ideal location for large festivals and concerts due to it’s large unobstructed field, and scenic river view. 

Bookings are available all year long. The capacity at Harris Park is 20,000 people. This park may be used for ticketed/gated events in partnership with a non-profit charity. Maximum of 12 days for events with amplified sound per year.

Amenities: 

• Hydro/water outlets (water not available in winter)
• Gazebo/Pavillion
• Bike valet equipment available
• No washrooms available
• No parking on site
• Locates are required for the staking of tents.

Located at 285 Wonderland Road South, Springbank Gardens is an ideal location for warm weather walk-or run-a-thons and small concerts. 

The facilty is closed from Thanksgiving to Easter. The capacity at the Springbank Gardens Complex is 540 people standing and 150 people sitting. 

Amenities: 

• Additional electrical and water available
• Features: serving area with fridge
• Additional concession building with family washroom
• Public washrooms (wheelchair accessible) in bandshell
• Large parking lot
• Staked tents/inflatables are not permitted
• Band shell
  • Electrical outlets and sound system
  • Wheelchair access to stage
  • Tables and chairs on site to rent

Located at 1085 Commissioners Road West, Springbank Park has limits on the number of events in the park and when they can be booked during the year. 

Springbank is not available for booking from June to Labour Day. A limit of 5 special events will be approved outside of these summer months. The capacity at Springbank Park is 20,000 people. 

Amenities: 

• Washrooms located throughout park  (wheelchair accessible)
• Parking at various lots throughout park (not exclusive)
• Picnic tables available throughout park.  To book a pavilion or picnic site, please call 519-661-5575.
• Bike valet equipment is available
• No band shell, but showmobile may be available.
• No hydro/water outlets

Greenway Park (50 Greenside Avenue) is ideal for community walk- or run-a-thons and small festivals . Events are limited to April – Thanksgiving. The capacity at this park is 20,000. 

Amenities: 

• Washrooms (wheelchair accessible)
• Parking lot available - non-exclusive
• No band shell but showmobile may be available.
• No electrical/water outlets
• Locates are required for the staking of tents or inflatables

Gibbons Park (2A Grosvenor Street) is ideal for community walk- or run-a-thons and small festivals. Events are limited to April – Thanksgiving. The capacity of this park is 20,000. 

Amenities: 

• Washrooms (wheelchair accessible)
• Parking lot available - non-exclusive
• No band shell but showmobile may be available.
• No electrical/water outlets
• Locates are required for the staking of tents or inflatables

Located at 99 Dundas Street, the Canada Life Place parking lot is a great location to host festivals and concerts. 

Bookings are available all year long, and the capacity is 10,000 people. 

Amenities: 

• Hydro outlet. No water.
• No washroom facilities
• Parking on site
• No band shell but showmobile may be available
• No staking of tents or inflatables

Requesting to Use City of London Property for your Event

The approval process to use City property for your outdoor special event starts with:

1. Fill out our special event request form. This helps us understand your request clearly and begins the approval process.

Special event request form

If you are planning a neighbourhood event (less than 300 people, non-revenue generating and non-fundraising, free and open to the neighbourhood etc.) please consult the Supports for Neighbourhood Events page and complete the Neighbourhood Events Application Form.

2. If your special event request is approved, a contract will be generated with a condition of $5,000,000 liability insurance and that the City of London Insurance Certificate is completed by your broker. Only the City of London Insurance Certificate will be accepted. The individual or organization on the City of London Facility Use Agreement (contract) must match who is named on the insurance certificate.

Certificate of Insurance Form

3. The contract will need to be returned signed and fees paid in full prior to your event unless otherwise agreed. The administration fee is non-refundable for any cancelled contract. Please contact the Special Events Team at specialevents@london.ca or (519) 661-2489 ext. 7767 with any questions or concerns regarding insurance or fees. 

4. If it is your intention as the organizer of the event to serve/provide food or have vendors provide this service on your behalf, please forward the form below to the Middlesex-London Health Unit.  Please indicate on your special event request form if you have food vendors as part of your event.

Middlesex-London Health Unit Special Events Form

5. If your event includes rolling road closures related to a parade, march, walk, run or race on a roadway, London Police Service must approve. A copy of the request form is located in the Special Events Administrative Procedures Manual or contact the London Police Service at SpecialEvents@londonpolice.ca. Further information is in the Administrative Procedures Manual.

6. Depending on the details of your event, additional information and planning will be required prior to approval. The Special Events Administrative Procedure Manual has been created to provide a comprehensive resource for Event Operators.

We're here to help! 

With a versatile landscape, skilled crews, and available talent, London provides an economical alternative to large-city filming locations for feature films, television, commercials, corporate productions, and music videos.

The City of London recognizes the value of the television and film industry’s use of City facilities and spaces for film productions. To support this work, the City has established formal guidelines and an application process that protect film producers, City staff, and municipal assets from injury, loss, or damage.

Important links:

• City of London Film Production Guidelines (coming soon)
• Film London

The Showmobile is a mobile stage system that can be set up almost anywhere! With a push of a button the canopy and stage opens automatically. The canopy can be closed with the stage in set-up position to secure equipment between performances.

Showmobile Details:

• 42 foot long by 13 foot wide (ceiling angled front to back with the front being approx. 8 ½  feet with back being 6 ½ feet high),
• includes generator, a basic PA system (no CD player, but there is a 15 amp outlet),
• 1 microphone with stand,
• Plywood flooring (fibreglass coated non-slip texture).
• Delivered and picked up by Ross Towing

User fees for the Showmobile cover the cost of delivering and picking up the stage.   

To book the Showmobile, complete and return the Special Events Request Form. 

Special event request form

Special Event Operators must ensure free drinking water is available at all gated special events, and attendees must be permitted to bring empty reusable water bottles into the event. Further, Special Event Operators must ensure free drinking water is available at sites without water fountains or water bottle filling stations. 

To support Event Operators, free water stations are available. Water stations require access to a tap in the event space. Please identify on the Special Event Request Form if you require a water station.

The Thirstmobile is a large multi-tap water station that is used primarily in Victoria Park and at select large events. 

Thirstations are smaller single filling/fountain water stations and are bookable through the City of London Water. Thirstations are assigned on a first come, first serve basis and require 4-6 weeks' notice. Please email water@london.ca or call 519-661-2489, extension 5081 to receive the relevant application.

• London’s Tourism office provides free event listing advertising for events. Submit your event through the Tourism London webpage.
• Request access to the official London Bicentennial Logo for your event by contacting Strategic Communications at cocc@london.ca.