30 things to do in Toronto this weekend: August 17 to 19

Aug 16 2018, 4:13 am

Alright Toronto, the weekend is finally here! Not sure what to do?

For starters, the CNE is opening its doors, so you can enjoy all of the epic and obscene treats in store this year.

Whatever you’re into, chances are there’s an event (or two) that’s perfect for you happening in the city this weekend.

Friday, August 17

Tapas Journey

Tapas Journey

Tapas Journey

What: Spotlighting Spanish flavours in Ontario, the summer-time event, now in its fourth year, offers a chance to enjoy three plates of tapas and a lager for just $20 at nearly 40 participating restaurants.

When: Now until August 19
Time: Varies by the restaurant
Where: Participating Toronto restaurants
Price: Varies by the restaurant

SummerWorks: Performance Festival

What: Canada’s largest curated performance festival of theatre, dance, music and live art is back, and runs for 10 days in its 28th edition.

When: Now until August 19
Time: Schedules vary by day
Where: Various venues throughout the city
Price: Single tickets start at $15

Union Summer Market

What: The open-air market, presented by TD, launched on Canada Day and is happening now until August 19 on the doorstep of Union Station. Participating food vendors include Amano PastaBananza, Fugo DessertsHarry’s CharbroiledMean BaoRoywoodsThe Carbon BarThe Plant YYZ, Union Chicken, and Wvrst.

When: On now until August 19
Time: 11 am to 8 pm
Where: 65 Front Street West, Toronto
Price: Admission is free

Manifesto

What: Manifesto Festival of Community & Culture returns this August, taking over downtown Toronto with multi-arts events that end with a FREE concert and community gathering at City Hall.

When: Now until August 19
Time: 12 pm to 4 pm
Where: Various venues
Price: Free

The Art of Banksy

What: A new massive exhibit curated by Steve Lazarides, Banksy’s former manager, is now open in Toronto displaying the largest collection of the artist’s works. According to organizers, with over $35 million in art, this is the largest Banksy exhibit ever assembled.

When: Now until August 19
Time: Friday, 11 am to 10 pm; Saturday, 9 am to 12 am; Sunday, 9 am to 9 pm
Where: 213 Sterling Road, Toronto
Price: Tickets start at $35

Museum of the Moon

Summer events

GDIFestival/Twitter

What: The world-renowned Museum of the Moon is a touring art installation by artist Luke Jerram, and will be landing in Stratford as it makes its first-ever appearance in the province. The strikingly realistic, scale-model moon exhibit has been visiting major cultural cities around the world since 2016, inspiring and entertaining with its blend of science and art.

When: Now until August 25
Time: 8:30 pm
Where: Avon River, Tom Patterson Island
Price: Free

A Forest of Canoes at The Bentway

What: A Forest of Canoes by Dana Claxton, is a site-specific installation set up throughout The Bentway and is co-commissioned with Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival and curated by Bonnie Rubenstein. The installation highlights the iconic role and symbolism of the canoe in Canadian, Metis, and Indigenous histories.

When: Now until August 31
Time: All day
Where: The Bentway, 250 Fort York Blvd.
Price: Free

Spiders: Fear & Fascination

What: This summer, the ROM welcomed a new exhibit, Spiders: Fear & Fascination and trust us, it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. The exhibit explores the hunting, burrowing, and weaving world of these eight-legged creatures and will feature more than 400 live and preserved spiders, cutting-edge interactive experiences, and new scientific discoveries.

When: Now until January 2019
Time: 10 am to 5:30 pm
Where: The Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park
Price: $32 for adults

Indie Fridays

What: Chevrolet Canada presents Indie Fridays, a free concert series featuring some of Canada’s top indie musicians on Friday evenings.

When: August 17
Time: 8 pm to 11 pm
Where: Yonge-Dundas Square, 1 Dundas Street East
Price: Free

Mississauga ITALIFEST

What: ITALFEST celebrates all that is Italian. Featuring delicious food and crafts from 40+ vendors and artisans, cultural and family-oriented activities, entertainment from local and international talent, a thriving “marketo” and much more, the festival spotlights a community rich in heritage, entertainment and family values.

When: August 17 and 18
Time: Friday, 2 pm to 11 pm; Saturday, 10 am to 10:50 pm
Where: Mississauga Celebration Square, 300 City Centre Drive
Price: Free admission

Chudleigh Cider Summer Nights

@chudleighsfarm/Instagram

What: Chudleigh’s Farm re-opened in July, unveiling a brand new way to experience the farm. As part of the new experience, the farm is launching Summer Cider Nights, which will take place on Friday and Saturday nights throughout August, featuring live music, delicious food, wagon rides, the new Chudleigh’s Hard Cider and so much more.

When: August 17 and 18
Time: 4 pm to 10 pm
Where:
 9528 Regional Road 25, Halton Hills, ON
Price: $10 per person

The Burger Fest

What: Taking place at Interchange Park from August 17 to 19, this family-friendly festival is promising a weekend full of burgers, beers, and live entertainment.

When: August 17 to 19
Time: Friday, 4 pm to 11 pm; Saturday, 12 pm to 11 pm; Sunday, 12 pm to 6 pm
Where: Interchange Park, 1 Commerce Street, Vaughan
Price: Tickets are $10 online

Canadian National Exhibition (CNE)

What: No summer is complete without a visit to the EX. Get some food, and win some ridiculously large prizes.

When: August 17 to September 3
Time: The grounds are open daily from 10 am to midnight, but attractions and rides all close at different times
Where: Canadian National Exhibition, 210 Princes’ Boulevard
Price: General admission is $19.99

Saturday, August 18

Evergreen Brickworks Saturday Market

What: The Evergreen Brick Works’ Saturday Farmers’ Market is the largest farmers’ market in Toronto. Come and enjoy good food from local farmers, food producers, and chefs.

When: August 18
Time: 8 am to 1 pm
Where: Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview
Price: Admission is free

Toronto Flower Market

What: There will be 18 incredible vendor stalls on display to visit and admire, each selling an assortment of seasonal showstoppers including tulips, daffodils, gerbera, orchids, hyacinths, muscari, lilacs, and more. Plus there will also be an array of dahlia tubers, seedlings, garden planters, handmade pots and indoor plants also for sale.

When: August 18
Time: 10 am to 3 pm
Where: CAMH, 1001 Queen Street West
Price: Free admission

Butterfly Festival

Butterfly Montreal

Shutterstock

What: This August, visitors can learn about Monarch Butterflies through many activities, nature hikes, and educational displays, while discovering the more than 55 species of butterflies recorded at the park to date. This fun family event is free and everyone is welcome to come and celebrate the incredible migration of the Monarch Butterfly.

When: August 18
Time: 10 am to 3 pm
Where: Tommy Thompson Park, 1 Leslie Street, Toronto
Price: Free to attend

Cityfest Parc Rosé

What: Rosé is totally having a moment in Toronto this summer. Toronto has already been blessed with a sea of rosy summer picnics and runs in 2018, and now you can add one more to the list. Cityfest Parc Rosé is licensing a park for an afternoon devoted to day-drinking rosé this August.

When: August 18
Time: 3 pm to 11 pm
Where: Canoe Landing Park
Price: Tickets from $30

Free Movies at the Park – Jumanji

What: This Saturday you can enjoy a free screening of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle at Downsview Park’s outdoor football field and running track. Bring a lawn chair or blanket (and a friend), and be sure to arrive early to enter our raffle for a chance to win a prize pack.

When: August 18
Time: Roughly 9 pm
Where: 79 Carl Hall Road, Football Field & Running Track
Price: Free to attend

Free Yoga at Ontario Place

What: Every weekend this summer, Ontario Place hosts yoga at Trillium Park. On Saturday and Sundays, from now until August 26, the morning classes will be offered with no sign ups necessary. Yogis just need to bring a mat for practice.

When: August 18 and 19
Time: Saturday, 10 am; Sunday, 11 am
Where: Trillium Park, Ontario Place
Price: Free

Waterfront Artisan Market

What: Back for its third year, the Waterfront Artisan Market features 50 bakers, chefs, and artisans hawking summery street foods and locally-made products. The market runs every Saturday and Sunday.

When: August 18 and 19
Time: Saturday, 11 am to 8 pm; Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm
Where: HTO Park, 339 Queens Quay West
Price: Admission is free

Toronto’s Chinatown Festival

chinatown festival

Chinatown BIA/Facebook

What: Toronto’s 18th annual Chinatown Festival is back. The staple at Dundas and Spadina returns this weekend and brings with it traditional dancing, food, art, and performances.

When: August 18 and 19
Time: Saturday, 12 pm to 11 pm; Sunday, 11 am to 8 pm
Where: West side of Spadina Avenue, (between St. Andrew Street and Sullivan Street)
Price: Free to attend

Camp Wavelength

What: For two magical days, Camp Wavelength will summon the spirit of summer camp and take festival-goers on a journey of discovery and escape. Look forward to incredible live music, interactive installations, DIY activities, games, and much more.

When: August 18 and 19
Time: Saturday, 1 pm to 1 am; Sunday, 1 pm to 10 am
Where: Fort York National Historic Site, 250 Fort York Blvd.
Price: From $28

Christie Pits Film Festival: Surprise Screenings

What: This weekend, the Christie Pits Film Festival is hosting two surprise screenings.  Although all screenings are free of charge, there is a suggested donation of $10.

When: August 18 and 19
Time: Roughly 9 pm
Where: Christie Pits Park, 779 Crawford Ave West
Price: Free to attend

Sunday, August 19

Open Streets TO

What: Open Streets programs, also known as Ciclovias, open streets to people and close them to cars encouraging participation in physical activity and healthy recreation. They are free, regularly occurring programs, and offer communities the opportunity to experience their city streets in a whole new way.

When: August 19
Time: 10 am to 2 pm
Where: Bloor and Yonge Streets
Price: Free to attend

Wild Blueberry Festival

What: Attendees can look forward to a range of wild blueberry-inspired vendors serving up wild blueberry infused dishes and products along with activities and demos from more than 20 food producers, preservers, bakers, and chefs.

When: August 19
Time: 10 am to 3 pm
Where: Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Avenue
Price: Admission is free

The Trinity Bellwoods Flea – End of Summer Market

May 27

@thetrinitybellwoodsflea/Instagram

What: This Sunday you can shop from a number of local food, goods and vintage vendors at the Trinty Bellwood’s Flea End of Summer Market. As always, admission is FREE, and four-legged friends and kiddos are encouraged.

When: August 19
Time: 10 am to 6 pm
Where: 1087 Street West
Price: Admission is free

Warriors’ Day Parade

What: The 97th Warriors’ Day Parade honouring the Toronto Garrison will take place on August 18. The event recognizes those who served and those serving today.

When: August 19
Time: 10:30 am
Where: Canadian National Exhibition, 210 Princes’ Blvd.
Price: Free to attend

Sunday Social at The Bentway Beer Garden

What: Every Sunday, The Bentway will be home to Toronto’s coolest covered patio, serving up beer from Collective Arts Brewing and cider from Strongbow, along with tasty treats from SPiN, Toronto’s Ping-Pong social club, plus outdoor games like ping pong and bocce, and a curated music program.

When: August 19
Time: 12 pm to 9 pm
Where: The Bentway, 250 Fort York Boulevard
Price: Admission is free

Promise Cherry Beach 2018

What: Come and enjoy an unmissable chance to take in the best of Toronto’s underground music scene surrounded by sun and fun at the beach.

When: August 19
Time: 3 pm to 11 pm
Where: Cherry Beach, Cherry Street just south of Unwin Avenue
Price: $20

Sunnyside 20 – Episode 06 with Tony Humphries

What: This Sunday, celebrate the 20th season of summer music and events at Sunnyside Pavilion. Come and enjoy an evening filled with good music, people and vibes.

When: August 19
Time: 
4 pm to 11 pm
Where: Sunnyside Pavilion, 1755 Lake Shore Boulevard West
Price: $25 to $30

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