Kyle Lowry Is Coming Home to Jurassic Park for a Toronto Block Party

There are athletes who play for Toronto, and then there are athletes who become part of Toronto. Kyle Lowry belongs firmly in the second category. The longtime Toronto Raptors point guard and one of the most beloved players in franchise history is returning to a place that holds plenty of memories for both Lowry and Raptors fans: Jurassic Park.

On Saturday, September 19, Maple Leaf Square will become Kyle’s Block Party, a free daytime celebration honouring Lowry’s remarkable career, his connection with Toronto and the fans who followed the Raptors through some of the greatest moments in the team’s history.

And yes — Lowry himself will be there.

A Party Made for Raptors Fans

Beginning at 11:30 a.m., Kyle’s Block Party will transform the familiar gathering place outside Scotiabank Arena into a celebration of No. 7. Fans can expect food and beverage stations, exclusive merchandise pop-ups, giveaways, apparel customization, a photo booth, music from a DJ and special guest appearances.

More importantly, it is an opportunity for Toronto fans to celebrate Lowry together — in the very place where thousands gathered during Raptors playoff runs and the unforgettable journey to the 2019 NBA Championship.

Jurassic Park became one of the defining images of Toronto basketball culture during that era. While Lowry and his teammates battled inside the arena, enormous crowds packed Maple Leaf Square outside, watching the games on the big screen and turning downtown Toronto into a sea of red.

Bringing Lowry back there feels appropriately full circle.

Why Kyle Lowry Means So Much to Toronto

Lowry arrived in Toronto in 2012 and spent nine seasons with the Raptors. What followed was the most successful period the franchise had ever experienced. He became a six-time NBA All-Star as a Raptor, helped lead Toronto to seven consecutive playoff appearances and, most memorably, played a central role in delivering Canada’s first NBA Championship in 2019.

But statistics alone don’t entirely explain Toronto’s relationship with Lowry.

Fans embraced his toughness, competitiveness and willingness to do whatever was necessary to win. Over time, Toronto became much more than another stop in his NBA career. When Lowry officially retired in July 2026 after 20 NBA seasons, he chose to sign a ceremonial one-day contract so he could finish his career where so much of his basketball legacy was built — as a Toronto Raptor.

It’s one reason the nickname GROAT — Greatest Raptor of All Time — has stuck.

How to Get Into Kyle’s Block Party

The September 19 celebration is free, but fans will need passes to attend. Fans can enter for an opportunity to receive passes through Fan Access on the official Raptors app beginning Friday, September 4 at noon ET.

Registration remains open until Wednesday, September 16 at noon, with selected fans expected to be notified later that day.

Given Lowry’s popularity in Toronto, Raptors fans interested in attending shouldn’t leave registration until the last minute.

It’s an Entire Weekend Celebrating No. 7

Kyle’s Block Party is actually the centrepiece of a larger Toronto weekend celebrating Lowry’s career and community impact. The festivities begin Friday, September 18 with The KLOW Invitational, a charity golf tournament bringing together Lowry’s friends, former teammates, partners and guests.

Following Saturday’s Jurassic Park celebration, the weekend continues that evening with A Night For Seven, a gala featuring entertainment and storytelling while raising funds for MLSE Foundation.

Together, the events turn the weekend into something bigger than a retirement celebration. They’re also an acknowledgement of the relationship Lowry built with Toronto during nearly a decade in the city.

And Toronto Isn’t Finished Celebrating Yet

The biggest tribute is still coming. The Raptors have announced three special GROAT Nights at Scotiabank Arena in January 2027, culminating in one of the most significant ceremonies in franchise history.

On January 10, 2027, following Toronto’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Kyle Lowry’s No. 7 will be raised to the Scotiabank Arena rafters. Lowry will become only the second player in Toronto Raptors history to have his number retired, following Vince Carter’s No. 15.

For Raptors fans who lived through the playoff heartbreaks, the rise of Jurassic Park and finally the unforgettable championship run of 2019, it promises to be an emotional night.

But first, Toronto gets to throw Kyle a party. And there may be no more appropriate place to do it than Jurassic Park.