What is the difference between Main Street Unionville and Main Street Markham?Main Street Unionville is the postcard: a compact heritage strip of boutiques, restaurants and patios beside Toogood Pond, home to the Unionville Festival (June 6 and 7 in 2026) and the Markham Jazz Festival (August 21 to 23). Main Street Markham, the heart of Markham Village, is a longer working main street with local shops, services and restaurants, the Saturday Markham Farmers’ Market from May to October, and the Markham Village Music Festival (June 19 and 20 in 2026). Both are protected heritage districts. Unionville feels like a destination; Markham Village feels like a hometown.
Markham grew from several 19th-century villages, and two of them still have the main streets to prove it. Today, Main Street Unionville and Main Street Markham are where residents go for a slow coffee, a weekend stroll and the city’s best-loved festivals.
Michael John Lau, a REALTOR® with the Kaizen Real Estate Team, one of the most active real estate teams in Markham and York Region, often starts tours for heritage-loving buyers on one of these two streets, because the character of the main street sets the tone for the neighbourhoods around it.
Side by side
| Main Street Unionville | Main Street Markham | |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | Compact, scenic, a weekend destination | Longer, everyday village main street |
| Setting | Beside Toogood Pond and the Rouge Valley Trail | Centre of historic Markham Village, near Markham GO station |
| Shops and food | Boutiques, galleries, restaurants and patios | Local shops, services, cafes and restaurants |
| Signature events | Unionville Festival, Markham Jazz Festival | Markham Village Music Festival, Markham Farmers’ Market |
| Heritage protection | Heritage conservation district | Heritage conservation district |
Two villages, one city
Long before Markham became a city of more than 300,000 people, it was a township of small farming and mill villages along the Rouge River and its tributaries. Unionville and Markham Village were two of the largest. Each grew its own main street of shops, churches, hotels and homes in the 1800s.
As the suburbs grew around them in the late 20th century, both villages kept their historic cores. Heritage designation helped protect the buildings, and the streets kept their scale, which is why they still feel so different from the newer parts of the city.
Main Street Unionville
Unionville’s Main Street is short enough to walk end to end in a few minutes, and most visitors take much longer because they keep stopping. Heritage buildings house boutiques, galleries, restaurants and cafes, and many have patios in warmer months. Toogood Pond sits just steps away, so a coffee often turns into a lap of the pond.
The street is busiest on summer weekends and during festivals. The Unionville Festival, held June 6 and 7 in 2026, fills Main Street with live music and local vendors, and the Markham Jazz Festival returns to Main Street Unionville August 21 to 23. For homes in the area, see Unionville real estate.
Dreaming of a home near a historic main street?
Michael John Lau can show you homes within walking distance of Main Street Unionville or Main Street Markham, and explain any heritage rules.
Book a buyer consultationSearch Markham homesPrefer to talk? Call the Kaizen Real Estate Team at (647) 370-8885.
Main Street Markham
Main Street Markham runs through the centre of Markham Village, one of the city’s original settlements. It is a working main street, with long-established local businesses alongside newer cafes and restaurants. Residents use it for everyday errands as much as weekend outings.
The Markham Farmers’ Market runs every Saturday from May 9 to October 10 in 2026, in the parking lot at Main Street and Robinson Street. The Markham Village Music Festival, June 19 and 20 in 2026, brings more than 50 performers, a multicultural food fair and artisan vendors. Markham GO station nearby makes it easy to reach by train.
Living with heritage rules
Both main streets sit within heritage conservation districts protected under the Ontario Heritage Act. That protection is a big part of their charm, and it also affects owners. Exterior changes such as new windows, additions, porches or demolition usually need heritage approval as well as a building permit. Owners of designated homes should expect a review by the City’s heritage staff before work begins.
For buyers, the trade-off is clear: stronger protection of the streetscape in exchange for more process when renovating. Ask for any heritage designation and past approvals before you buy.
Getting there and parking
On busy summer weekends and festival days, parking near both main streets fills early. Arrive in the morning, use public lots where available, or walk or cycle in from nearby neighbourhoods. Markham GO station is a short walk from Main Street Markham, which makes the Markham Village Music Festival and the farmers’ market easy to reach by train. Unionville’s Main Street is a short drive or longer walk from Unionville GO, and the Rouge Valley Trail offers a scenic way in on foot.
A weekend plan for each
Unionville
- Morning coffee on Main Street.
- A walk around Toogood Pond and along the Rouge Valley Trail.
- Lunch on a patio, then browse the boutiques.
Markham Village
- Saturday morning at the Markham Farmers’ Market.
- Coffee and errands along Main Street.
- An afternoon at a nearby park or the Markham Museum.
For more outdoor ideas, see Markham’s walking trails, parks and green escapes.
Which one is for you?
If you want a picture-perfect village to visit on weekends, Unionville delivers. If you want a walkable main street you will use every day, Markham Village has the edge. Many residents love both and split their weekends between them. Ultimately, the decision is yours. The goal is to make sure you have all the information.
Markham’s two historic main streets give the city a sense of place that newer communities cannot copy. Call the Kaizen Real Estate Team at (647) 370-8885 or book a consultation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Unionville and Markham Village?
Main Street Unionville is a compact, scenic heritage strip beside Toogood Pond, known as a weekend destination. Main Street Markham is a longer, everyday village main street in historic Markham Village.
When is the Unionville Festival in 2026?
The Unionville Festival was held June 6 and 7, 2026, on Main Street Unionville, with live music, local vendors and food.
When is the Markham Farmers’ Market?
In 2026, the Markham Farmers’ Market runs every Saturday from May 9 to October 10, in the parking lot at Main Street Markham and Robinson Street.
When is the Markham Village Music Festival?
In 2026, the Markham Village Music Festival was held June 19 and 20 on Main Street Markham, with more than 50 performers, a food fair and artisan vendors.
Are Unionville and Markham Village heritage districts?
Yes. Both are heritage conservation districts under the Ontario Heritage Act. Exterior changes to homes in these districts usually need heritage approval.
Where is the Markham Jazz Festival held?
The Markham Jazz Festival is held on Main Street Unionville. In 2026, it runs August 21 to 23.
Michael John Lau and Neeraj Moolchandani are licensed REALTORS® with the Kaizen Real Estate Team, eXp Realty, Brokerage, 9763 Markham Rd, Markham, ON L6E 1A4. Licence #4784577. Call (647) 370-8885. Event dates are from Visit Markham’s 2026 guide to summer festivals in Markham. Heritage information is general and based on Ontario Heritage Act designations. Check with the City of Markham for current heritage rules and event details. This article is general information only and is not financial, legal or tax advice. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract with another brokerage.
