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Hundreds Gather at Ridgeway Plaza for Pakistan Independence Day Celebrations
Hundreds gathered around Mississauga’s Ridgeway Plaza as Pakistan marked Independence Day, once again putting the popular destination known by many as the halal food plaza in the spotlight.
Published August 14, 2026 • Updated September 4, 2026
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Hundreds of people gathered around Ridgeway Plaza in Mississauga in the days surrounding Pakistan Independence Day, celebrated annually on August 14. The green-and-white crowds, flags and late-night activity were part of a pattern that has made the plaza a major gathering point for the Pakistani community in the GTA.
Pakistan Independence Day at Ridgeway Plaza
Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day on August 14, and community celebrations take place across the GTA. Ridgeway Plaza has become one of the most recognizable informal gathering spots. An Ontario Superior Court decision concerning the plaza documented Pakistan Independence Day gatherings there dating back to August 13 and 14, 2023, when an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 people attended on each day.
The celebrations have typically included Pakistani flags, decorated vehicles, families and groups of young people gathering around the plaza. The popularity of the location is closely tied to its large concentration of halal restaurants and its role as a late-night food destination.
Photo: Hamid Roshaan / Unsplash.
Why Ridgeway Plaza?
For food lovers, Ridgeway Plaza has developed a reputation far beyond Mississauga. With a large collection of Pakistani, Middle Eastern, Afghan, Turkish, Indian and other halal restaurants concentrated in one destination, many visitors refer to Ridgeway as the halal food plaza. The combination of halal dining, desserts and restaurants operating late into the evening has helped turn the plaza into a social destination as much as a place to eat.
That popularity also explains why major community occasions can draw exceptionally large crowds. The plaza has previously attracted thousands of people during Independence Day celebrations.
City restrictions remain part of the story
The gatherings have also been controversial. In 2025, the City of Mississauga obtained a court injunction after raising concerns about large unsanctioned gatherings, traffic congestion, access for emergency vehicles, excessive noise, illegal fireworks and other safety issues at Ridgeway Plaza. The court decision specifically documented the history of Pakistan Independence Day gatherings at the property.
In April 2026, Mississauga approved a settlement concerning Ridgeway Plaza that followed the earlier legal action. The broader effort has included measures intended to better manage access, security and large gatherings at the site.
A major halal food destination in Mississauga
Whatever the debate around parking-lot gatherings, Ridgeway Plaza’s emergence as a major halal dining hub is difficult to miss. For Pakistani families in particular, the concentration of familiar food, desserts and late-night options makes the halal food plaza a natural meeting point during a celebration as significant as Independence Day.
Sources: Ontario Superior Court decision — City of Mississauga v. PSCC No. 1136 et al. and City of Mississauga Council record, April 15, 2026.
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