24 things to do in Toronto today: Saturday, June 16

Jun 16 2018, 1:26 am

In case you haven’t made any plans yet, we’ve rounded up the hottest events happening in the city on this beautiful Saturday, June 16. Weekends in Toronto are always packed full of events and today is no exception.

Enjoy!

RIOT

Luminato

RIOT

What: Today is the final day to see RIOT, from Ireland’s thisispopbaby, is Luminato’s “house show,” which runs most of the duration of the festival. It’s a bawdy cabaret of dance, drag, circus, spoken word, and comedy. RIOT features performances from one of the most well known drags queens ever Panti Bliss and also features the famed Lords of Strut, who were finalists on Britain’s Got Talent.

When: Now until June 16
Time: Numerous show times each day
Where: Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Opera Centre, 227 Front Street East
Price: From $39

Canadian Singer Lights First-Ever Visual Art Exhibit

What: Canadian pop star Lights will be unveiling her first-ever visual arts exhibition in downtown Toronto ahead of her headlining NXNE show in Yonge-Dundas Square. The exhibit will feature illustrations from the world of Skin & Earth, her album and comic that was released over the course of the past year.

When: Now until June 16
Time: 12 pm to 6 pm
Where: Artscape Sandbox, 301 Adelaide Street West
Price: Free

Taste of Little Italy

What: Billed as the city’s “most frequented and delicious street festival,” this event features local and visiting vendors hawking everything from Italian standards like spiedini, pizza, and risotto, to international delicacies represented by businesses in the ’hood.

When: Now until June 17
Time: Saturday, 11 am to 1 pm; Sunday, 11 am to 10 pm
Where: College Street, from Bathurst Street to Shaw Street, Toronto
Price:
 Admission is free.

Taco Fest

What: Taco Fest is back! Now in its third year, the festival has announced it will return to Ontario Place for a weekend in June. The outdoor fiesta is a celebration of all things Mexican and showcases some of the Toronto’s top chefs.

When: Now until June 17
Time: Saturday, 11 am to 9:30 pm; Sunday, 11 am to 7 pm
Where: Ontario Place, 955 Lake Shore Boulevard West
Price: $9.95

North by Northeast 2018

nxne

NXNE/Twitter

What: Taking place June 8 to 17, this year’s NXNE lineup features Jazz Cartier, Azealia Banks, and Big Freedig headlining the local music fest. The headliners will join emerging and other established artists throughout the weekend including U.S. Girls, TORRES, Sean Leon, Alx Veliz, Yungblud, Cadence Weapon, Kamikaze Girls, Nate Husser, and more.

When: Now until June 17
Time: Varies by day
Where: Yonge-Dundas Square, and other venues
Price: Varies by event

Bard in the Park Presents: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

What: You can enjoy a unique rendition of  William Shakespeare’s tale of fun, mischief and love, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Set in modern day at Athens University during Frosh Week, come discover what fools these Freshmen be!

When: Now until June 17
Time
: 7 pm to 9 pm
Where: Kew Gardens
Price: Pay what you can

At the Illusionist’s Table

What: Acclaimed Scottish illusionist Scott Silven hosts At the Illusionist’s Table, which is an intimate evening of fine dining and whiskey-tasting, interwoven with illusion, mentalism, and storytelling in a private dining room at Toronto’s historic Casa Loma.

When: Now until June 24
Time: 6 pm to 8:30 or 9 pm to 11:30 pm
Where: The Austin Room, Casa Loma
Price: $225 (Includes a three-course dinner by BlueBlood Steakhouse)

Luminato 2018

What: The 12th annual Luminato Festival returns to Toronto this week. From June 6 to 24, the multi-arts and multi-platform event will take over the city for 19 days of free and ticketed programming. This year guests can look forward to an impressive lineup that fuses together arts and politics while highlighting contemporary issues such as human rights, diversity, and feminism.

When: Now until June 24
Time: Varies by day
Where: Various venues throughout the city
Price: Varies by event

Pride Month Toronto 

National Geographic

Toronto Pride, Shawn Goldberg/Shutterstock

What: Now celebrating its 36th year, Pride Toronto is back for another exciting month filled with plenty of fun. The heart of the celebration is in Toronto’s gay village but opportunities for entertainment can be found in LGBTQ-friendly bars, restaurants, and nightlife spots across the entire city.

When: Now until June 24
Time: Varies by day
Where: Events located throughout the city
Price: Varies by event

60 Years of Made in Italy

What: June marks Italian Heritage Month in Canada, which is the perfect time to celebrate the Italian community in our exceptionally diverse country. And Yorkville Village is hosting a world-renowned fashion exhibit, 60 Years of Made in Italy, into the heart of Toronto, just in time for the occasion.

When: Now until June 30
Time: Varies by day
Where: Yorkville Village, 55 Avenue Rd
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 July 11
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

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: Admission is free

Manolo Blahnik: The Art of Shoes

Manolo Blahnik

Andrea Delbo

What: This month, Manolo Blahnik and the Bata Shoe Museum will be joining forces, bringing the highly anticipated travelling exhibit Manolo Blahnik: The Art of Shoes to Toronto.

When: Now until January 6
Time: Friday and Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm; Sunday, 12 pm to 5 pm; Monday, 10 am to 5 pm
Where: Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor Street West
Price: General admission is $14

Evergreen Brick Works Saturday Markets

What: The Evergreen Brick Works Saturday market has grown to become the largest farmers’ market in Toronto. Here you’ll find a wide variety of local and seasonal food from local farmers and producers.

When: June 16
Time: 9 am to 1 pm
Where: 550 Bayview Avenue
Price: Admission is free

Gates Open Home & Garden Tour

What: You’ll be able to explore the stunning homes and gardens perched along the Scarborough Bluffs this Saturday as part of the annual Gates Open Home & Garden Tour, with all proceeds going to The Scarborough and Rouge Hospital Foundation.

When: June 16
Time: 10 am to 4 pm
Where: Cornell Campbell House, 3620 Kingston Road
Price: $30

Spiders: Fear & Fascination

What: This Saturday, the Royal Ontario Museum will be welcoming a new exhibit, Spiders: Fear & Fascination and trust us, it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. The new exhibit will explore 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: June 16 and runs until January 2019
Time: 10 am to 5:30 pm
Where: The Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park
Price: $32 for adults

Instruments of Happiness

Luminato

Instruments of Happiness

What: Instruments of Happiness is composed by Montréaler Tim Brady and features 100 electric guitarists performing a new piece inspired by The Beatles late-guitarist George Harrison.

When: June 16
Time: 11 am to 3:30 pm
Where: Brookfield Place, 181 Bay Street
Price: Free

Thrill of the Grill

What: Now in its ninth year, this event makes for an ideal Father’s Day celebration and showcases merchants and excellent eateries from Toronto’s Danforth neighbourhood.

When: June 16
Time: 12 pm to 4 pm
Where: Danforth Avenue (Broadview to Jackman Avenue)
Price: $20 for meat eaters, $10 for vegetarians

Osheaga Block Party

What: Osheaga’s popular block party is taking over Toronto this Saturday. In addition to incredible music, you can look forward to food and drinks from local vendors including Drake Commissary, Mustache Burger, and Reunion Island Coffee.

When: June 16
Time: 2 pm to 9 pm
Where: 181 Sterling Road
Price: Free

Nuit Rose Festival & Art Crawl

What: NUIT ROSE is back for its fifth annual festival of queer art and performance. Taking the theme of Unbound, the festival features art that crosses borders, both real and imagined.

When: June 16
Time: 7 pm to 11 pm
Where: Various venues throughout the city
Price: Free

Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival

What: The 30th annual Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival is taking over the Toronto Islands this weekend, bringing together culture, sport, tradition, and fun.

When: June 16 and 17
Time: 9 am to 4 pm
Where: Toronto Island
Price: Free to watch

Pretty Heros & Toronto Sailor Moon Celebration

What: Calling all Sailor Scouts! You can celebrate all things Sailor Moon at this epic two-day celebration. New this year is the addition of Pretty Heros, a convention dedicated to strong female characters. Whether you resonate with Sailor Jupiter or another female character, get dressed up and show your support!

When: June 16 and 17
Time: 11 am to 6 pm
Where: Ontario Science Centre, 770 Don Mills Rd.
Price: One day passes start at $15

Waterfront Artisan Market

What: Back for its third year in 2018, the Waterfront Artisan Market runs every weekend until the first week in October. The outdoor festival, presented by The Waterfront BIA and operated by the Scadding Court Community Centre, will feature 50 bakers, chefs, and artisans hawking summery street foods and locally-made products.

When: June 16 and 17
Time: Saturday, 11 am to 8 pm; Sunday 11 am to 5 pm
Where: HTO Park, 339 Queens Quay West, Toronto
Price: Admission is free

Beaches Rib Fest

What: The best rib teams from across Canada will be dishing out BBQ while the craft beer market will pour refreshments from Ontario’s top craft brewers at this event boasting free admission, and free parking.

When: June 16 and 17
Time:
 Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 11 pm
Where: Woodbine Park, 1695 Queen Street East
Price: Free to attend

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