Friday: TIFF Bell Lightbox unveils the special effects behind X-Men.

Friday, August 17
Get an up-close look at the designs from cinema’s most famous mutant-movie series at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. Opening today, the free exhibition X-Men Master explores the work of makeup artist and special-effects designer (and Ontario native) Gordon Smith, whose work helped bring such comic-book characters as blade-knuckled Wolverine, feral strongman Sabretooth and blue-skinned shapeshifter Mystique to the silver screen.

Summer is nearly over, but Toronto, as ever, offers the season a fantastic send off in the form of the Canadian National Exhibition. Canada’s largest annual fair, “The Ex” opens this weekend and is bigger and better than ever, with concerts, delicious (and very indulgent) snacks, shopping pavilions, a casino, midway rides and games, and much more. Today only, enjoy $8 at-the-gate admission—that’s half the regular rate!

Saturday: Canadian folk rockers Blue Rodeo get “Lost Together” at Molson Canadian Amphitheatre.

Saturday, August 18
Get ready to rock out (or, at least, nod your head to a pleasing, mid-tempo beat) with your favourite Blue Rodeo hits. Jim Cuddy and his Canadian Music Hall of Fame–inducted compatriots stride onto the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre stage for a crowd-pleasing evening of tuneful country-rock melodies.

If you appreciate the deliciousness of pairing cold beer and juicy grilled sausages—and who doesn’t!?—then rock-radio host Dean Blundell’s Sausagefest 2012 is sure to be a satisfying party. In addition to the food and bevvies, patrons of this event at Polson Pier are also treated to rollicking performances by the likes of Sloan, The Watchmen and more.

And there’s even more music today! An enjoyable afternoon at Trinity Bellwoods Park awaits courtesy of the Queen West Musicfest, a non-profit event that aims to raise money for The Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation. Expect superlative performances by such local bands as Lazybones, Scarlett Jane and Skydiggers.

Sunday: Will you become a gnocchi monster at Piola? (photo by Saltatempo)

Sunday, August 19
Put your money where your mouth is by participating in Piola‘s inaugural gnocchi-eating competition, starting at 3 p.m. today. Sign up on the restaurant’s Facebook page by noon on Friday, August 17, and you’ll be given 10 minutes to nosh as much gnocchi as you can stomach, for the chance to win a vintage Vespa. Or you could just partake in a normal meal while offering moral support to the competitors.

You can quietly “wind down” your weekend, or you can see it off with a bash—tonight marks the closing party of the SummerWorks Performance Festival, featuring music by OG Melody, Rival Boys, DJ John Caffery and many more at the historic Great Hall on Queen West.

Your favourite alternative band from the ’90s, Our Lady Peace, is still going strong. Tonight they’re slated to perform tracks from their latest record, Curve, at sand-spackled Echo Beach. Mother Mother and Said the Whale join Raine Maida and the boys as special guests.