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It’s going to be another hot weekend in Toronto!
From concerts and food festivals to free family-friendly events, here are the top 30 things to do in Toronto from July 6 to 8.
Giro d’Italia
Ardo Restaurant
What: Italian Restaurant Week returns to Toronto this summer for 10 days in July. Participating restaurants will each showcase the cuisine of a different region of Italy by offering a four-course prezzo fisso (prix fixe) menu priced at $52.
When: Now until the 15
Time: Varies by location
Where: At participating Italian restaurants in Toronto
Price: $52
Toronto Fringe Festival
What: With 160 plays at 45 venues and over a thousand events that include live theatre, music, dance, arts, buskers, and performances, there’s something for everyone at the Toronto Fringe Festival.
When: Now until July 15
Time: Varies by day
Where: Various venues
Price: Varies by the show
CITE at The Bentway
What: The Bentway Skate Trail has officially kicked off its summer-long celebration of skate culture. A great use of public space, CITE is both an art installation and a skatepark, featuring sculptures that skateboarders are free to ride on.
When: Now until August 12
Time: 10 am to 9 pm
Where: The Bentway Skate Trail, 250 Fort York Blvd.
Price: Free
Union Summer Market
What: The open-air market situated on the doorstep of Toronto’s Union Station returns this summer, hosting an incredible line-up of food vendors, ongoing programming, and events that bring Toronto’s talent, culture, and spirit to life.
When: Now until August 19
Time: 11 am to 8 pm
Where: 65 Front Street West, Toronto
Price: Admission is 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
FREE vegan cookie dough at Planta Sweets
Planta
What: Toronto’s popular vegan hotspot is launching a vegan dessert shop pop-up this weekend. Planta Sweets will dish out a menu of sweet treats including Dough To Go, Banging Chocolate Chip Cookies, Iconic Chocolate Truffles, and Gelato Bars by Bar Ape. To celebrate, the Yorkville location is giving away FREE, raw, edible, plant-based cookie dough on Friday while supplies last.
When: July 6, 2018, from noon while supplies last
Where: 1221 Bay Street, Toronto
The Foodie Festival
What: Not only is admission FREE for this food fest but so are the samples from a selection of local and multicultural restaurants and vendors. There will also be family-friendly performances, free yoga and Zumba classes and food education presentations.
When: July 6
Time: 4 pm to 8 pm
Where: Albion Library, 1515 Albion Road, Etobicoke
Price: Admission is free
Indie Fridays
What: Chevrolet Canada presents Indie Fridays, a free concert series featuring some of Canada’s top indie musicians on Friday evenings.
When: July 6
Time: 8 pm to 11 pm
Where: Yonge-Dundas Square, 1 Dundas Street East
Price: Free
Friday Night Lights at Downsview Park
What: Taking place at the football field and running track at Downsview Park, moviegoers can enjoy a variety of recent family-friendly flicks all summer long.
When: July 6
Time: Roughly 9:30 pm
Where: 79 Carl Hall Road, Football Field & Running Track
Price: Free
Shania Twain
What: The OG “Queen of Country Pop” is heading to Toronto this weekend as part of her Now Tour. This tour marks Twain’s first time on the road since “Rock This Country” back in 2015.
When: July 6 and 7
Time: Doors at 6:30 pm/Show at 7:30 pm
Where: Scotiabank Arena, 40 Bay Street
Price: Tickets start at $47
BurgerMania
Burgermania/Facebook
What: Billed as a three-day food extravaganza, this food fest is devoted to the “greatest North American invention of all time, BURGERS.”
When: July 6 to 8
Time: Friday, noon to 11 pm; Saturday, 11 am to 11 pm; Sunday, 11 am to 9 pm
Where: Ontario Place, 955 Lake Shore Boulevard West, Toronto
Price: Tickets from $10
Toronto Outdoor Art Fair
What: Now in its 57th year, the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition will feature over 340 visual artists, performers, and sculptures. There will also be a beer garden by Henderson Brewing Co. open throughout the day for food, beer, and refreshments.
When: July 6 to 8
Time: Friday and Saturday, 10 am to 7 pm; Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm
Where: Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen Street West
Price: Free
Taste of Lawrence
What: This three-day food and cultural festival is hosted by the Wexford Heights BIA and is billed as Scarborough’s largest street festival.
When: July 6 to 8
Time: Friday, 6 pm to 11 pm; Saturday, 11 am to 11 pm; Sunday, 11 am to 7 pm
Where: Wexford Heights, Lawrence Avenue East from Warden Avenue to Birchmount Road
Price: Admission is free
SHADE FEST
What: SHADE is an inclusive comedy show that represents and celebrates comedians of colour, comedians from the LGBTQ+ community, and comedians who identify as women. Although this platform is for those listed above, SHADE is an inclusive space and all are welcome.
When: July 6 to 8
Time: 8 pm to 11:30 pm
Where: Rivoli, 334 Queen Street West
Price: Three day passes cost $64.24
Summerlicious
What: You can enjoy delicious lunch or dinner menus at a select group of Toronto’s finest restaurants during this summer food fest.
When: July 6 to July 22
Time: Varies by location
Where: Restaurants across Toronto
Price: Lunch menus priced at $23, $28, and $33 and dinner is $33, $43, and $53
Beaches International Jazz Festival
Beaches Jazz Festival/Facebook
What: A festival that needs almost no introduction, the Beaches International Jazz Festival is celebrating its 30th year.
When: July 6 to 29
Time: Varies by day
Where: The Beach Neighbourhood
Price: Admission is free
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: July 7
Time: 8 am to 1 pm
Where: Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview
Price: Admission is free
Really Really Free Market
What: This month’s edition of the Really Really Free Market is taking place this Saturday. Taking place at Campbell Park, everything you see at the market is absolutely free. Seriously, no money is required, and there’s no swapping involved. Just remember, if you bring items to share, you must bring them before 3 pm and make sure they are in clean and working condition.
When: July 7
Time: 10 am to 4 pm
Where: Campbell Park, 225 Campbell Avenue
Price: Free
Toronto Veggie Parade
What: Give peas a chance! The eighth annual Veggie Parade celebrates vegan, vegetarian, and veg-loving lifestyles in Toronto.
When: July 7
Time: Noon to 3 pm
Where: Parade route details available online
Price: Free to attend
Cultura 2018
What: Cultura is a free family-friendly outdoor festival presenting music, art, food, and film every Friday evening in July at Mel Lastman Square. Cultura celebrates Toronto’s rich diversity featuring world-renowned musicians, tasty international street food, explosive buskers and dance, interactive art activities, and evening film screenings under the stars.
When: July 7
Rime: 6 pm to 11 pm
Where: Mel Lastman Square
Price: Free admission
Junction Night Market
Junction Farmers Market/Flickr
What: Billed as a community food festival benefiting programs that promote access to local food, this event promises an abundance of food and brews all priced for $5 per serving.
When: July 7
Time: 7 pm to 11 pm
Where: Pacific Avenue, North of Dundas Street, Toronto
Price: $5 per serving
Christie Pits Film Festival
What: Christie Pits Film Festival is back for another exciting season and will feature four free screenings this month including Porch Stories, Casablanca, In the Mood for Love, Oceans Eleven, and Waste Land. Although all screenings are free of charge, there is a suggested donation of $10.
When: July 7
Time: Roughly 9 pm
Where: Christie Pits Park, 779 Crawford Ave West
Price: Admission is free but donations accepted
Maker Extravaganza 2018
What: For one weekend only, the city’s most creative people and their projects gather together at the Toronto Reference Library to share their latest creations, demonstrate their newest projects and make things together.
When: July 7 and 8
Time: Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm; Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm
Where: Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street
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 every Saturday and Sunday.
When: July 7 and 8
Time: Saturday, 11 am to 8 pm; Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm
Where: HTO Park, 339 Queens Quay West
Price: Admission is free
Afrofest
What: Afrofest is the largest free African American festival in North America, dedicating two days to celebrating African culture.
When: July 7 and 8
Time: Saturday, 12 pm to 11 pm; Sunday, 12 pm to 8 pm
Where: Woodbine Park, 1695 Queen Street East
Price: Free
TD Salsa in Toronto Festival
Salsa on St Clair/twitter
What: One of Canada’s largest Latin-themed celebrations is Toronto’s TD Salsa in Toronto Festival, which takes place over three weeks and features music, food, dance and family events.
When: July 7 and 8
Time: Varies by day
Where: St. Clair Avenue West, between Winona Drive and Christie Street
Price: Free
Ontario Vintage Market
What: Looking to find a one-of-a-kind treasure? You can shop for nothing but vintage goods at this monthly market.
When: July 8
Time: 10 am to 3 pm
Where: Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Avenue
Price: Admission is free
Oakville Children’s Festival
What: Families are invited to enjoy the 5th annual Oakville Children’s Festival at the beautiful Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre which will transform into an arts and culture playground for kids of all ages. This fun-filled event will feature free live performances, activities that engage the little one’s imaginations and foster creativity. Take part in interactive building and art activities, story times, scavenger hunt, sports zone, face painting, and more.
When: July 8
Time: 10 am to 4 pm
Where: Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre, 2302 Bridge Road
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 bocci, and a curated music program.
When: Every Sunday, July 8 to August 12
Time: 12 pm to 9 pm
Where: The Bentway, 250 Fort York Boulevard
Price: Admission is free
Ozmozis & Summerdaze with Way Out West, Martin Roth, David Hohme
What: Get your party shoes ready! There will be delicious food, a custom KV2 Audio sound system, and cold drinks awaiting your arrival at this outdoor location in liberty village.
When: July 8
Time: 4 pm to 11 pm
Where: 54 Fraser Avenue
Price: From $25 t0 $30
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