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Mel Lastman Square

Weekend Roundup, September 16 to 18

Friday: Paul Gross and Kim Cattrall debut in Noël Coward's Private Lives

Friday, September 16
Kim Cattrall and Paul Gross trade the silver screen for the big stage in the Toronto engagement of Private Lives. This straight-from-London production of Noël Coward’s comedy classic opens tonight at the Royal Alexandra Theatre.

Discover Ukrainian culture at the Toronto Ukrainian Festival. The event kicks off tonight and runs all weekend in Bloor West Village. Watch dancers and musicians, taste authentic Ukrainian food and drinks, and shop the sidewalk sale.

Cheer on slugger Jose Bautista, rising star Brett Lawrie, and the rest of the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre, as they open a three-game series against the New York Yankees (and look to spoil the Bronx Bombers’ hopes of another division title).

Saturday: Celebrate the season at Black Creek Pioneer Village

Saturday, September 17
Press some cider, bid on handmade quilts, and take a horse-drawn wagon ride at the 55th Pioneer Festival at Black Creek Pioneer Village. This year’s event celebrates local food and the history of the harvest with fresh-baked pies and a team of volunteers producing 1,000 pounds of sausage throughout the day.

Don your red threads and head over to BMO Field for some Major League Soccer action. See if Torsten Frings and Julian de Guzman can lead Toronto FC to victory against the visiting Colorado Rapids.

Listen to the folk-rock melodies of Wilco at Massey Hall. The Chicago-based band is following up on its 2009 Grammy-nominated, self-titled record with the release of its eighth studio album, The Whole Love, due out later this month.

Sunday: Cheer on the thousands of runners keeping Terry Fox's dream alive (photo by Logantech)

Sunday, September 18
Carry on the legacy and spirit of national hero and support cancer research. Running, walking, and cycling paths of various lengths will be set up at Terry Fox Run sites around the city.

Celebrate “Hangawi,” also known as the Korean Thanksgiving at the Korean Harvest Festival. Concerts, a Korean culture show, and a singing competition are all part of the festivities taking place at Mel Lastman Square in North Toronto.

Polka your way over to Roncesvalles Village for the Roncesvalles Polish Festival. Experience the heritage, art, music, and food of Poland, along with a soccer tournament, and film screenings at the Revue cinema.

Weekend Roundup: Canada Day Edition

Our national pride soars on Canada Day (photo by Will Spaetzle)

We’re all-Canadian for this edition of the roundup, as Canada’s 144th birthday is celebrated throughout the city (and nation-wide). On Friday, July 1, check out these fun-for-the-whole-family events and activities.

> Get up early and head north to Downsview Park for a special Canada Day breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. If you’re lucky enough to have tickets, you’ll be certain to return in the afternoon for a much-anticipated concert by the Tragically Hip, with special guests Broken Social Scene, Buck 65 and others.

> Harbourfront Centre is always busy on summer weekends, and this one is no exception, with Canada Day festivities—everything from a strawberry “culinary marathon” to a performance by Esthero—happening all day long.

> A favourite long weekend event, the annual Toronto Ribfest takes over Centennial Park. Live music and kid-friendly attractions keep the whole family entertained, but the real draw, of course, are the meaty barbecue offerings from some of North America’s best “ribbers.”

> Head to Yonge-Dundas Square for something a little different—the downtown venue hosts the fifth annual Multicultural Canada Day Celebration, presented by the Community Folk Art Council of Toronto. Starting at noon, this spirited party features music, dancing and more from a variety of cultures. Be sure to be hanging around at 7 p.m., when the special Bollywood dance party kicks off.

> And, of course, Canada Day wouldn’t be complete without a colourful fireworks display. The city’s biggest show takes place over Lake Ontario’s shore at Ontario Place, where free grounds admission makes finding an ideal viewing spot even easier this year. There are also crowd-pleasing fireworks displays occurring to the east (at Ashbridges Bay), the west (at Centennial Park), the north (at Mel Lastman Square) and even further north (at Canada’s Wonderland).

If you have any energy remaining, the rest of the weekend provides ample opportunity for entertainment, too!

> The TD Toronto Jazz Festival continues through to the end of the weekend, with headline performances by the likes of The Roots (on Friday night), Bootsy Collins (Saturday) and vocal powerhouse Nikki Yanofsky (Sunday)

> A distinctive culinary event comes to the Distillery Historic District on Saturday—Food Truck Eats gathers mobile fare purveyors from Toronto and elsewhere in southern Ontario, all offering samples of street fare such as tacos, poutine, smoked meat and more.

> One of Toronto’s biggest parties, the world-famous Pride Parade, marches down Church Street on Sunday afternoon, in a vibrant celebration of diversity and acceptance.

Weekend Roundup, August 20 to 22

The Canadian National Exhibition opens this weekend, but it’s hardly the only game in town. There’s plenty of entertainment for everyone!

Friday: Be touched by the timeless musical, South Pacific

Friday, August 20
Get a major dose of theatre tonight at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, which offers three highly anticipated plays on its various stages. The main event is the debut of Window on Toronto, in which artists from Soulpepper Theatre Company’s academy examine the city from the perspective of a hot-dog vendor. The evening also offers preview performances of Joe Orton’s bold and witty What the Butler Saw, as well as Sharon Pollock’s award-winning drama, Doc.

The play’s the thing at the Four Seasons Centre, too! Take your loved ones to witness a triumphant re-staging of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific. The heart-rending musical romance has received glowing reviews from Toronto critics and audiences.

Head to the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre to see a Canadian folk-rock institution, as ebullient East Coast band Great Big Sea is in concert tonight. Get to the venue early for a real treat: emerging all-female country group Ladies of the Canyon opens the show.

Celebrate Cuba with the third annual Havana Cultura festival, which showcases that country’s music, arts and food all weekend long. Tonight, hear popular Cuban musician Julio Cuza, see a cigar-rolling demonstration, and much more.

Saturday: Enjoy the midway rides and more at The Ex (photo by Scooter Korek)

Saturday, August 21
Let’s go to The Ex! What better way to spend your afternoon than at the Canadian National Exhibition. Saturday brings many events: the warrior’s day parade; the popular veterans parade, a sculpting competition and much more! There are plenty of rides, shows, vendors, concerts and circus-style performances, too!

Catch Bieber Fever at the Air Canada Centre, as Canadian-born teen-pop king Justin Bieber performs his hits and drives the girls crazy. The mop-topped Bieber arrives with special guest Sean Kingston in tow—he shares vocals on their chart-topping hit “Eenie Meenie.”

Indulge in authentic Ontario craft beers and an exclusive seven-course meal at Beer Bistro, which hosts the annual Golden Tap Awards dinner. Craft breweries from across the province are featured along with cuisine that complements the different beers. The prize for best tasting brew will be presented at evening’s end.

Groove to the music mix at Kensington Market hot spot Supermarket during its Do Right Saturdays event. DJs Fase, John Kong and MC Abdominal are set to bust out catchy funk, soul and hip-hop tunes that will keep you dancing through the night.

Sunday: Tuck into dumpling noodle soup and more at Harbourfront Centre

Sunday, August 22
Cool off at Ontario Place today! Not only does the park’s Froster Soak City offer numerous waterslides, but the Extreme Wake Series has arrived to present daredevil stunts performed by top wakeboarders. The-dropping spectacle is fun for all ages.

Reenergize with delicious Asian-flavoured fare at Harbourfront Centre’s Fortune Cooking Food Festival. Here, numerous vendors and local restaurants offer up their best apps, mains, desserts and drinks for your gustatory pleasure. As with all of Harbourfront’s World Routes events, there are also cultural performances to keep you entertained.

Put on your dancing shoes and swing your way to Mel Lastman Square in north Toronto. The weekly Sunday Serenades Concert and Dance Series offers visitors the chance to learn some unique dance steps and hear some great live jazz.

Canada Day Bashes

Join all of Toronto in celebrating Canada’s 143rd birthday! The city is bursting with memorable parties, activities and festivals to commemorate the special occasion.

photo by Ian Muttoo

There’s no such thing as too many birthday parties!
>> Sing “Happy Birthday” to this country on Canada Day at Mel Lastman Square. The North Toronto venue offers magicians, fire-breathers, jugglers and musical entertainment, including performances by Digging Roots and God Made Me Funky. There’s also an opportunity to meet 2010 Olympic gold medallists Vicky Sunohara (from Canada’s women’s hockey team), Kristina Groves (long-track speed skating), and Charles and François Hamelin (short-track speed skating). Fill up on barbecue fare before the evening culminates with an explosion of fireworks.

>> A fun-filled day by the lake awaits as part of Harbourfront Centre’s Canada Day festivities. International food, musicians and fun kids’ activities top the list of things to do. View award-winning Canadian short films courtesy of the National Film Board, or say hello to Olympic gold-medal-winning speed skater Christine Nesbitt. Cool off in the afternoon with a canoe ride before settling in for evening concerts by Cheryl L’Hirondelle (6:30 p.m.) and The Sadies (9:30 p.m.).

>> Bring the whole family to Ontario Place to splash in the waterpark, enjoy the Wilderness Adventure Ride and bask in the Canadian spirit. Live performances by First Nations dance troupes are offered during the day, while the much-anticipated Festival of Fire lights up Lake Ontario with a huge fireworks show.

>> Black Creek Pioneer Village presents a Canada Day Celebration in line with its historical mandate. Tour the heritage site in a horse-drawn wagon and look on as 30 people officially become Canadian citizens. Friendly animals keep you company while you partake in pioneer-era activities like croquet and stilt-walking.

>> Gather at downtown’s Yonge-Dundas Square for a multicultural Canada Day event that honours the traditions of Toronto’s ethnically diverse population. Experience an array of international arts, crafts, food and dance, including a performance from Montreal’s Les Éclusiers de Lachine.

>> The theatrical Canadian Stage TD Dream in High Park offers an all-ages carnival-themed party with games and music, plus pizza, cake and cotton candy. Meet this year’s Dream cast and crew and snag a backstage tour before taking in a free evening performance of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet at the open-air High Park Amphitheatre.

>> Free Canada Day events are also offered at several other Toronto parks. Groove to live tunes at Queen’s Park (site of the Ontario Legislature), or revel in carnival games, sports, street performances and a fire truck ride. Northwest of downtown, Downsview Park’s bounty includes free amusement rides, a petting zoo, acrobatic performances, concerts, a citizenship and immigration ceremony, and, of course, fireworks. And at East York Park you can peruse a street sale, embark on a Toronto Maple Leafs ice hockey tour, and indulge in great food and fireworks, too.

>> Take a trip to Mississauga, Toronto’s westerly neighbour—the city’s Canada Day treat of free public transportation makes it an easily accessible destination. Hit the 330-plus stores at Square One, or stop by next door at the City Centre for a Canada Day celebration with such performers as Canadian Idol winner Eva Avila, plus fireworks to commemorate the occasion.

And the fun doesn’t stop there!
>> The 44th annual CHIN International Picnic, the world’s largest free picnic and music festival, is a Canada Day-weekend staple. The festivities at Exhibition Place kick off with a flag-raising ceremony, followed by musical performances by Chinese singer/actor Gallen Lo Ka-leung and South Asian sensations Ghulam Ali and Jazzy B. As dusk falls, picnickers can view the Ontario Place Festival of Fire.

>> Lords and ladies are welcome to attend Casa Loma’s Renaissance Festival. Take a trip back to medieval times: warhorses parade in the stables, warriors patrol a Viking encampment, and minstrels stroll by as you explore the castle. Don’t be surprised to see soldiers burst into spontaneous duels!

>> Head to Lake Ontario and climb aboard one of the visiting Tall Ships during the Redpath Waterfront Festival, or stroll over to the nearby Power Plant contemporary art gallery to view its summer exhibition and browse an afternoon book sale.

>> Art buffs can also go further afield—to the picturesque town of Kleinburg, 45 minutes northwest of downtown Toronto—to take advantage of two-for-one Canada Day admission at the renowned McMichael Canadian Art Collection.

>> Dig into some meaty goodness at the massive Toronto Ribfest at Centennial Park. Here, more than 70 vendors offer some of the best ribs in North America, plus other such fare as pizza and corn on the cob.