28 things to do in Toronto this weekend: September 29 to October 1

Sep 27 2017, 9:37 am

The first weekend of October is here and even though it’s been abnormally warm in Toronto, fall weather is finally on the way.

This means there’s no better time to get into the fall spirit! And there are plenty of fall-themed events happening this weekend to help set the mood.

From autumn fairs and festivals to spooky Halloween-themed attractions, here are the hottest Toronto weekend events.

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Future Festival

What: Trendhunter’s Future Festival will attract young professionals in a variety of industries for a three-day conference on innovation. You can expect unstuffy networking events, panels, mind-blowing technology and parties.

Where: Various locations
When: Now until September 29

JFL42

What: JFL42 features 10 days of shows from some of the world’s greatest, cutting-edge comedians. Choose your headliner(s) and then spend the rest of the festival checking out the 42 other hilarious acts.

Where: Various venues throughout the city
When: Now until September 30

Invictus Games

What: Taking place from September 23 to 30, in venues across Toronto, the 2017 Invictus Games will feature adaptive sports such as wheelchair basketball, archery, swimming, athletics and, new to these Games, golf.

Where: Venues throughout the city
When: Now until September 30

Markham Fair

What: The annual fair in the ‘burbs is on this weekend and promising fireworks, a monster truck show, demolition derby, and more… not to mention, plenty of fabulous food.

Where: 10801 McCowan Road
When: Now until October 1

Buffer Festival

What: Buffer Festival is an annual showcase of YouTube world premieres, bringing the most acclaimed digital creators and their audiences together. The festival includes a variety of programming, including a red carpet gala and premiere screenings, showcasing an array of YouTube’s highest quality content.

Where: Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre, 189 Yonge Street #620
When: Now until October 1

EDIT

What: Transforming the sprawling former Unilever Factory, The Expo for Design, Information and Technology is a 150,000-square-foot immersive experience in all things forward-thinking that will surely make national headlines.

Where: East Harbour, 21 Don Roadway
When: Now until October 8

Pumpkinland and Harvest Fest

What: Get into the fall spirit at Whittamore Farm’s family-friendly Harvest Fest. Choose from 1000’s of pumpkins and become a kid again as you get lost in the corn maze. Enjoy the best of fall time entertainment, including wagon rides, spooky games, nature trails, and farm animals.

Where: Whittamore’s Farm, 8100 Steeles Avenue East
When: Now until October 31

Eating Italy: A Delicious Journey Through Italian Cuisine

What: In this six-week course, Dr. Franco Gallippi explores the history and cultural significance of some of Italy’s most famous dishes as examined through Italian cinema and literature.

Where: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, 506 Bloor Street West
When: Now until November 3

Cirque du Soleil VOLTA

What: Cirque du Soleil’s latest is for the free spirits. Filled with extreme sport, live music and signature acrobatics, VOLTA is about the freedom that comes with blazing your own trail.

Where: Under the Big Top, The Port Lands, 51 Commissioners Street
When: Now until November 26

Party Today, Panic Tomorrow

What: Second City’s latest talent-packed mainstage show is now on. Faced with our culture of bad news and political exhaustion, the show encourages the audience to “settle in and get ready for us to spin, sing and laugh away your troubles.”

Where: Second City Mainstage Theatre, 51 Mercer Street
When: Now until December 30

Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters 

What: This fall, the AGO will transform into a rare exhibit that will showcase the creative process of famed and fascinating filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and it’s one of the AGO’s most immersive exhibition experiences to date. 

Where: AGO, 317 Dundas Street West
When: Now until January 7

Glow in the Dark: Paint Night Party

What: If you’re looking for a unique way to spend your Friday night, head to Toronto’s Paint Cabin for its popular Glow in the Dark Paint Night Party! Spend the evening painting to the sounds of DJ Gadjet & DJ REC, while you enjoy local craft beer and wine. No painting experience is necessary!

Where: 723 Gerrard Street East
When: September 29, 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm

Friday Night Live at the ROM

What: Network and clink cocktails among dinosaur bones when the ROM’s weekly Friday night party series returns.

Where: The Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park
When: September 29

Barack Obama in Toronto

What: Former US president Barack Obama is coming to Toronto this week to give an address at a lunchtime event hosted by Canada 2020, an Ottawa based think-tank. After Obama’s remarks on civic engagement, community leadership and tolerance, an “on-stage discussion on a wide-range of topics” will take place.

Where: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 222 Bremner Blvd
When: September 29

Toronto Oktoberfest

What: Get the Dirndl dresses and Lederhosen ready, Toronto. Experience food, drink, and lots of merriment at the two-day festival and outdoor Bavarian Village. Toronto Oktoberfest will include free authentic German beer glass steins, real Bavarian-style communal tables, and benches from Germany. Use promo code DAILYHIVE and get $5 off your ticket!

Where: Ontario Place
When: September 29 to 30

Inland

What: Celebrating its sixth edition, Inland returns this fall to 30 to showcase a curated lineup of fashion, apparel and accessory collections – many just off the runways of TFW and RE/SET and favourites from TOM/TW. A responsive new-retail experience INLAND focuses on elevating Canadian talent through the lens of the consumer

Where: QRC West, 134 Peter Street
When: September 29 to 30

Free Krispy Kreme Coffee

What: This weekend, caffeine fans can head to any Krispy Kreme location and get a free coffee. The doughnut chain is calling these three days its “National Coffee Weekend”, part of an extended National Coffee Day celebration (October 1). Customers can order a small iced coffee or a hot coffee in any size their hearts desires for no charge.

Where:  All Canadian Krispy Kreme locations
When: September 29 to October 1

Legends of Horror

What: An immersive theatrical interpretation of all of the classic horror figures as the audience is led through a one hour, 1.75 km self-guided walk through the bowels of the historic – and spooky – castle.

Where: Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace
When: September 29 to October 31

The Lights Fest

What: Enjoy a magical night under the stars at The Light Fest. The Lights Fest is an experience where thousands of friends and families gather to listen to live music, fill up on food trucks and light up life. At the perfect moment, everyone ignites their personalized sky lanterns with Tiki torches and lets them take flight.

Where: Osweken Speedway, 1987 Chiefswood Road
When: September 30, 4 pm to 10 pm

Venus Fest

What: Come and check out this cant-miss Toronto music festival and arts celebration run by and featuring women, gender queer, and trans folk.

Where: Artscape Daniels, 585 Dundas Street East
When: September 30

Nuit Blanche Toronto

What: From sunset to sunrise on September 30, Nuit Blanche will be taking over the city. From post-apocalyptic vibes to militant nostalgia, Nuit Blanche transforms the city into an elaborate pageantry of thought-provoking pieces, light installations, and wild colours. The event features over hundreds of local, national and international artists presenting contemporary pieces.

Where: Locations throughout the city
When: September 30

Wanderlust

What: Wanderlust is the Leslieville BIA’s signature event of the year. It’s a customer appreciation event that highlights the people, places and things unique only to Leslieville. Come and enjoy delicious food, live music, and art.

Where:  Queen Street East between Vancouver and Booth Avenues
When: September 30, 12 pm to 6 pm

The #NetflixRedForest

What: Netflix will be participating in Nuit Blanche this weekend by inviting event goers to discover a world within a world inside The Red Forest.Wearing a provided hazmat suit, visitors enter The Red Forest to a gooey, creepy avant-garde reimagination of the Upside Down from Stranger Things.

Where: Walking path between University Avenue and Osgoode Lane
When: September 30, from sunset to sunrise

Yoga and Wellness Show

What: Learn, teach, shop, practice, discuss and enjoy all things associated with yoga and a healthy, active lifestyle.

Where: Enercare Centre, Exhibition grounds, 100 Princes’ Blvd
When: September 30 to October 1

Apple Fest

What: The Bayview Leaside BIA presents the second annual festival devoted to this favourite fall orchard fruit. Celebrate with ciders, pies, live music, street art, and more.

Where: Bayview Avenue from Soudan to Davisville
When: September 30 to October 1, noon to 5 pm

Halloween Haunt at Canada’s Wonderland

What: For 14 terrifying nights this fall, Canada’s Wonderland will be transformed into the most terrifying spectacle of the year. This year will be bigger, better, and more horrifying than ever. Brave your way through terrifying mazes, scare zones and live shows in addition to 700 monsters prowling through the park.

Where: Canada’s Wonderland, 1 Canada’s Wonderland Drive
When: 
September 30 to October 31

Colborne Lodge Harvest Festival

What: Celebrate fall in High Park at this annual Harvest Festival “enhanced for Canada’s Birthday.” On the itinerary: food, music, dance, artisans, family-friendly activities for the whole family, pumpkin carving, apple bobbing, and roasted potatoes.

Where: Colborne Lodge Museum, 11 Colborne Lodge Drive
When: October 1, 11 am to 5 pm

The 8th Annual Salmon Festival at Highland Creek

What: Kick off October by enjoying a guided nature tours and learn about various topics while catching a glimpse of the salmon running upstream. There will also be environmental displays, children’s activities, local food vendors, a farmer’s market and more.

Where: Morningside Park, 390 Morningside Avenue
When: October 1, 11 am to 4 pm

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