19 things to do in Toronto today: Saturday, October 20

Toronto, you’ve officially made it through the work-week and the weekend is in full force.

Don’t worry if you haven’t locked down any plans yet, there are plenty of awesome events happening throughout the city and we’ve made a list of some of the top ones to check out.

From the 14th edition of Cask Days, a massive event showcasing some of North America’s finest beers and ciders to spooky Halloween events, here are the top events for this fine Saturday.

Love me out of it: Citadel + Compagnie

What: Today is the last day to check out Citadel + Compagnie’s series Love Me Out of It at The Citadel: Ross Centre for Dance. Choreographed and performed by the company’s Artistic Director Laurence Lemieux, Love Me Out of It is set to the iconic sounds of Canadian punk band Teenage Head’s album “Frantic City.”

When: Now until October 20
Time: Varies by day
Where: The Citadel: Ross Centre for Dance, 304 Parliament Street
Price: From $20

Cask Days

What: Coming back for their 14th season, Cask Days celebrates the time before metal kegs and refrigerated coolers with beer that has finished its fermenting just days before it arrives on the drinker’s lips. The event will showcase some of North America’s finest beers and ciders.

When: Now until October 21
Time: Varies by day
Where: Evergreen Brickworks, 550 Bayview Avenue
Price: Admission varies

imagineNATIVE

What: imagineNATIVE is the world’s largest presenter of Indigenous screen content. The organization is recognized locally, nationally, and internationally for excellence and innovation in programming and as the global centre for Indigenous media arts.

When: Now until October 21
Time: Varies by day
Where: TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King Street West
Price: Prices vary

World Press Photo Exhibit

What: Come and experience this incredible global exhibition presenting the best visual journalism of the past year. Here you’ll find the most compelling photos in stunning high-quality Canon prints.

When: Now until October 23
Time: 9 am to 9 pm
Where: Brookfield Place, Allen Lambert Galleria, 181 Bay Street
Price: Admission into the exhibit is free

14th Annual Art Walk

What: Over 50 businesses will feature the works of local artists. Works will be displayed in storefront windows and establishments along Yonge Street between Lawrence Avenue and Yonge Boulevard. The public will then be invited to vote for the “People’s Choice Award” for Best Merchant Display.

When: Now until October 24
Time: Runs all day
Where: Along Yonge Street between Lawrence Avenue
Price: Free

Red Bull Music Festival Toronto 2018

What: While summer is over, festival season continues as Red Bull brings its inaugural Music Festival to Toronto this month. This October, Red Bull Music Festival will take over several venues in Toronto for a week of shows throughout the city.

When: Now until October 25
Time: Varies by day
Where: Various venues
Price: Varies by the show

International Festival of Authors

What: The 39th edition of Toronto’s International Festival of Authors (IFOA) is a celebration of words and ideas, of writers and readers. The festival brings together the world’s best writers of contemporary literature for 11 days of readings, interviews, artist talks, roundtable discussions, public book signings and a number of special events.

When: Now until October 28
Time: Varies by day
Where: Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West
Price: Varies by event

Halloween Haunt

What: Canada’s Wonderland is transforming from theme park to scream park during its annual Halloween Haunt, which kicks off for its 14th season this Saturday. Experience the thrilling park rides, and then the chills of 20 terrifying haunted attractions and shows.

When: Select nights from now until October 31
Time: From 7 pm to midnight on select nights
Where: Canada’s Wonderland
Price: Tickets start at $32.99

Witchfest North

What: Come out and celebrate Witchfest North, a Toronto festival celebrating women in the arts who identify as Witches, Wiccans, and Pagans but open for all to attend and participate.

When: Now until October 31
Time: Times vary by day/event
Where: Various venues throughout the city
Price: Free to attend

Cinesphere Fall Film Series

What: Toronto’s Cinesphere theatre at Ontario Place will be screening several iconic films over the next few months as part of its fall and winter programming. The Cinesphere will screen a number of iconic films including Top Gun in IMAX 3D, followed by Back to the Future, Ghostbusters, Alien, Aliens, Blade Runner: The Final Cut, Blade Runner 2049 in IMAX, The Fifth Element and Die Hard. 

When: Now until December 23
Time: Showtimes vary by day
Where: Cinesphere at Ontario Place, 955 Lake Shore Blvd West
Price: $15 for adults

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

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: October 20
Time: 8 am to 1 pm
Where: Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview
Price: Admission is free

Toronto Flower Market

What: This is your final chance to check out the Toronto Flower Market. This Saturday 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: October 20
Time: 10 am to 3 pm
Where: CAMH, 1001 Queen Street West
Price: Entry is free

2nd Annual Fall MRKT Show and Sale

What: The MRKT is a community shopping event organized by the Toronto Creative Entrepreneurs, which features local vendors including fashion, beauty, wellness, visual artists, crafters, food merchants, and retailers.

When: October 20
Time: 11 am to 4 pm
Where: Centre for Social Innovation, 192 Spadina Avenue
Price: Free to attend

Awkward Halloween Pet Photos

What: This Halloween-themed fundraiser event doesn’t just support rescue and re-homing work by Fetch & Releash, it’s also absolutely adorable. By booking a five-minute photo shoot and making a donation, Toronto pet lovers can get a hi-res photo of their best four-legged friend with hilarious Halloween costumes.

When: October 20
Time: 12 pm to 3 pm
Where: Pet Uno, 675 College Street
Price: Minimum donation of $20

Toronto Soup Festival

What: Second Harvest is the largest food rescue group in Canada. What better way to support such an amazing organization than with soup? Toronto Soup Festival brings two crazy days filled with decadent soups and artisan exhibitions. Baked goods, live entertainment and cooking demonstrations will all be at this festival too.

When: October 20 and 21
Time: Saturday, 12 pm to 7 pm; Sunday, 12 pm to 5:30 pm
Where: 100 Garrison Road
Price: Admission is $15

YouTube Music Night Market Toronto

What: YouTube is bringing together the culture, sound, and people that move Toronto’s music scene by hosting a free two-day music night market. The Night Market will feature incredible food and drink, local music purveyors, and a live performance by none other than Roy Woods on Saturday night.

When: October 20
Time: 5 pm to 11 pm
Where: 464 King Street West
Price: Free to attend

Screemers

What: Screemers takes over Exhibition Place on weekends leading up to Halloween and is billing seven haunted houses, over 120 live scare actors and a midway of mayhem all in one place. Thrill-seeking Torontonians can look forward to a number of new haunted attractions including The Kill Show, a gory illusions act, and Winter Horrorland, a frozen nightmare of screams.

When: October 20 and 21
Time: 7 pm to 12 am
Where: Exhibition Place, 180 Princes’ Boulevard
Price: Admission from $33 online

Hush Hush

What: This epic after-hours party is taking over the stacks at this Toronto library. This unique party showcases a fusion of aesthetic nostalgia and advanced technology with inspiration from retro writing, neon signage, and modern circuit boards.

When: October 20
Time: 9 pm to 1 am
Where: Bloor/Gladstone Library
Price: $130

See also

• Toronto’s massive cask beer festival is back this weekend
• Arkells' country-wide tour making a stop in Toronto this winter
• Roy Woods playing free show at new night market in Toronto this weekend