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We finally have another long weekend to enjoy, Toronto!
If you’re not planning on relaxing at a cottage, there are plenty of amazing events and activities happening in the city to keep you entertained.
Whether you want to hit up an outdoor concert or eat your way through an incredible food festival, we’re rounded up the can’t-miss events and popular attractions happening in Toronto this long weekend.
See also
- The Weather Network warns of isolated tornado risk for long weekend commute
- There's a delicious cider festival along Toronto's waterfront this month
- There's a 3-day long craft beer festival in Toronto next week
Toronto Summer Music Festival
What: From jazz to classical, the Toronto Summer Music Festival will explore the music of Canada and feature the very best of Canada’s many world-renowned classical performers.
Where: Venues throughout the city
When: Now until August 5
Caribana Pre-game
What: Kick off the legendary long weekend at this exclusive pre-game happy hour hosted by Black Foodie and The Food Society. BBQ, bevies, and DJs are all on the bill. Tickets are $10 in advance.
Where: Food Society, 650 Bay Street
When: August 4, 5 pm to 9 pm
Caribana
What: For another exciting weekend, Caribana will be taking over Toronto. Don’t forget to check out the massive Caribbean Carnival Grande Parade, the parties, concerts and countless Caribbean events taking place throughout the city.
Where: Various venues throughout the city
When: Now until August 7
SummerWorks: Performance Festival
What: Canada’s largest curated performance festival of theatre, dance, music and live art will be kicking off this week. This year’s 11-day festival will feature 52 unique projects, as well a SLIP series of artist workshops, a collection of new performance experiments in the SummerWorks Lab, and nightly parties.
Where: Various venues throughout the city
When: Now until August 13
2167: Indigenous Life in 150 Years
What: Indigenous filmmakers and artists imagine Indigenous life 150 years in the future in new VR projects.
Where: TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King Street West
When: Now until August 13, 12 pm to 8 pm
Voguing for Vitality
What: This free workshop is inspired by the ballroom culture of Voguing, combined with yoga. Led by artist Robert Halley, participants will explore musical rhythm, character role-play, modelling, eye-contact, strutting the catwalk and geometric arm coordination patterns.
Where: Underpass Park, River Street
When: August 4, 6 pm to 7:30 pm
Indie Fridays
What: Chevrolet Canada presents Indie Fridays, a free concert series featuring some of Canada’s top indie musicians.
Where: Yonge-Dundas Square, 1 Dundas Street East
When: August 4, 8 pm to 11 pm
Fleet Foxes
What: American indie folk band Fleet Foxes are back from a hiatus and fans couldn’t be more excited. Crack-Up came out in June and was certainly worth the wait. And now fans can see them live again this month.
Where: Massey Hall, 178 Victoria Street
When: August 4 to 5, 8 pm
Shakespeare in High Park
What: Toronto’s annual Shakespeare in High Park is back for another exciting summer and will be taking on two classics this year. This season’s performances will include Twelfth Night and King Lear, with all screenings starting at 8 pm. Tickets are pay what you can.
Where: High Park Amphitheatre
When: August 4 to 5, 8 pm
Muslimfest
What: Come and celebrate one the biggest religions in the world this long weekend. Hosted by the Muslim community of Canada, attendees can enjoy the music, food, and art of the culture.
Where: Mississauga Celebration Square, 300 City Centre Drive
When: August 4 to 6
Island Soul
What: This long weekend, catch some island vibes on the waterfront and experience the rich legacy of Caribbean music heard throughout Canada and around the world.
Where: Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West
When: August 4 to 7
Scarborough Ribfest
What: The Scarborough Ribfest will be celebrating its 16th anniversary this weekend. Come out and sample delicious ribs, pulled pork and chicken from ribbers like Camp 31, Jack the Ribber, Blazin BBQ and Hawgs Gone Wild.
Where: Thomson Memorial Park, 1005 Brimley Rd
When: August 4 to 7
Toronto Food Truck Festival
What: Returning to the Toronto Beach(es), this food truck festival takes over Woodbine Park over the civic holiday long weekend. As always, admission is free and in addition to street foods expect live-eating challenges and other entertainment on site.
Where: Woodbine Park, 1695 Queen Street East
When: August 4, 5 pm to 10 pm; August 5, noon to 10 pm; August 6, noon to 8 pm; August 7, noon to 8 pm
Art & Music Ontario Festival
What: The Art & Music Ontario Festival celebrates a diverse range of local art and music in honour of the province’s 150th anniversary. Highlights include art installations along the North Walk, art history classes perfect for the whole family, a drone light show, and a digital graffiti wall. The event is completely free and showcases the province’s artsy side with plenty of activities, food, drinks, and art.
Where: Ontario Place, 955 Lake Shore Blvd.
When: August 4 to 7
Evergreen Brickworks Saturday Market
What: Come and enjoy the city’s largest farmers’ market and stock up on seasonal produce from local farmers, food producers, and chefs.
Where: Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview
When: August 5, 8 am to 1 pm
Taste of India Food Festival
What: This family-friendly event will feature more than 50 vendors and entertainment including Bollywood style dances, classical temple dances, bhangra, music and a live DJ to rock the square.
Where: Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen Street West
When: August 5, 12 pm to 10 pm
PartyNextDoor & Roy Woods
What: Perhaps it’s not a concert, but get your OVO fest weekend started with PartyNextDoor and Roy Woods up close and personal. The guys are hosting a pool party at Cabana for the long weekend.
Where: Cabana Pool Bar, 11 Polson Street
When: August 5, 1 pm
VELD Music Festival
What: VELD is entering its fifth year, and takes place over two-days in August at Downsview Park in Toronto. Headliners this year include Future, Major Lazer, Migos, and Tiësto.
Where: Downsview Park
When: August 5 and 6
Rogers Cup
What: Toronto is the centre of the tennis world as the Rogers Cup returns for another exciting year. The world’s best in women’s tennis, including Venus Williams, will be hitting up Toronto, starting this Saturday.
Where: Aviva Centre: York University, 1 Shoreham Drive, Suite 100
When: August 5 to 13
Christie Pits Film Festival
What: This year, the Christie Pits Film Festival’s theme is EYES ON THE PRIZE, and will be screening films about competition and beating the odds. Locally organized, the Christie Pits Film Festival has attracted thousands to its free weekly series of outdoor films. Sundays throughout the summer, the screenings will include a mix of old and new. Although all screenings are free of charge, there is a suggested donation of $10.
Where: Christie Pits Park, 779 Crawford Ave West
When: August 6
Doubles vs. Patties
What: This West Indian snack battle will pit Doubles against Patties. The Caribana launch party hosted by Black Foodie will feature complimentary doubles and patties from Nyam Catering, alongside a vegan-friendly summer menu from Chef Joe Friday. BYO tamarind sauce. Tickets cost $25.
Where: Food Society, 650 Bay Street
When: August 6, 2 pm to 6 pm
New Generation Steel Band Festival
What: This weekend, come and celebrate the magic of Caribbean steel pan music alongside GTA youth steel bands and the award winning ensembles Pan Fantasy and Afropan. Visitors can dine on authentic Caribbean food, all ages pan workshops and plenty of opportunities for audience participation. Come celebrate Toronto’s vibrant Caribbean community and support youth engagement with this proud tradition.
Where: Fort York National Historic Site, 250 Fort York Blvd
When: August 6, 1 pm to 7 pm
Layers of Rush Lane: A Party in Graffiti Alley, Rush Lane
What: The Laneway Project and Queen Street West BIA will be hosting a long weekend party in Graffiti Alley this Sunday. Layers of Rush Lane: A Party in Graffiti Alley, Rush Lane is part of the 2017 Laneway Crawl Series. It’s a laneway party fully stacked with beer, wine, music, food, art, games, virtual reality, and so much more.
Where: Alley south of Queen between Portland and Augusta
When: August 6, 2 pm to 8 pm
Seafood Sundays
What: Hosted on the Sky Yard rooftop patio, The Drake Hotel hosts this East Coast style seafood boil, a communal feast featuring maritime seafood classics with all the fixings, house brew, and live fiddle music. Tickets cost $35 a person.
Where: The Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen Street West
When: August 6, 6 pm
Jambana
What: Jambana One World Festival represents Canada’s growing cultural diversity in its finest form. Attendees can experience Canada’s multicultural communities through performances by internationally acclaimed bands, artists, and JUNO Award winners, and experience the sights, sounds, taste and global diversity.
Where: Markham Fairgrounds, 10801 McCowan Road
When: August 6 to 7, 1 pm to 9:30 pm
Simcoe Day
What: Fort York will come to life this holiday Monday in honour of the first Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Upper Canada (1793-96) and founder of Fort York and the Town of York – John Graves Simcoe. Guests can explore the historic grounds, enjoy musketry, artillery, music demonstrations, visit the working kitchen, and take tours of the fort’s buildings and grounds.
Where: Fort York National Historic Site, 250 Fort York Blvd
When: August 7, 10 am to 5 pm
Blowout Fest
What: Legendary New York-based hip hop artists Pete Rock & CL Smooth will be headlining the inaugural Blowout Festival. The party will be hosted by Michie Mee and there will be incredible performances from Saukrates, Korexion, Blessed, Ammoye, and much more.
Where: Earl Bales Park, 4169 Bathurst Street
When: August 7, 12 pm to 11 pm
OVO Fest
What: OVO Fest is back and returning to the Budweiser Stage. The festival is full of OVO Sound’ artists like PartyNextDoor, dvsn, Majid Jordan, and Roywoods joining Drizzy. As always, OVO Fest is full of surprises, so that list of artist is bound to increase during the Fest.
Where: Budweiser Stage, 909 Lakeshore Blvd W
When: August 7
Electric Island
What: Put on your dancing shoes and get ready to get down to the sounds of Toronto’s biggest electronic DJs. Portlands is plugged in for the long weekend party with this massive concert and picnic.
Where: Portlands, 51 Commissioners Street
When: August 7, 1 pm to 11 pm
WWE Monday Night Raw
What: Enjoy a taste of nostalgia and witness Monday Night RAW this holiday Monday. The evening will include a double bill of Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe and Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt.
Where: Air Canada Centre, 40 Bay Street
When: August 7, 7:30 pm
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