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When you live in a major city, you can never justifiably say there’s nothing to do. On any given day, something fun is going on, and that’s doubly true in the summer. In addition to the influx of tourists comes a massive increase in events for all ages and interests. The summer seems to fly by, and if you’re also surprised it’s now August, this is the time to start digging into the many fun and inspiring things happening in Toronto.
Need some suggestions? Here’s five creative events to fill out your calendar and make the most of the season!
Waterfront Night Market
August 9th-11th, 4pm @ Ontario Place
For some, the bright, blistering heat of the summer can be the season’s least appealing quality. If that sounds like you, the Waterfront Night Market might just make for a perfect time. Running over the course of three days and evenings, the market combines three corresponding events: the Pan-Asian Food Festival, a celebration of Asian street food, Kre8ions, an artisan market featuring an array of art, fashion, film, photography, and performances, and Waterfront Beercraft Festival, a 19+ zone for craft beer and interactive features like Foosball competitions and the Miss BCF Cosplay Showdown.
August 11th, 11am @ Trinity Bellwoods Park
If you’re interested in a peek into the local arts and craft scene, the Toronto Artisan Market is the event for you. Hosted in parks across the city, the Toronto Artisan Market features some of the city’s finest artists and makers, offering all varieties of original items like ceramics, jewelry, skincare, and more. And did I mention that Toronto Artisan, the organization that hosts these markets, is a non-profit that organizes events to raise funds for local charities? You can drop in for free, shop in a beautiful park, and support both local artists and the community at large. It doesn’t get much better than that. Plus, if you can’t make it to the August market, there are other opportunities on September 8th, also at Trinity Bellwoods, and September 15th at Christie Pits.
August 18th, 10am @ Bloor Street and Yonge Street
If you’re looking to get a new perspective on the city’s core, Open Streets TO is back for another day of car-free pedestrian fun. The stretch of Bloor from Ossington to Church and Yonge from Bloor to Queen will be closed for vehicles, and walkers and bikers will be able to freely walk the streets and join in on the many free activity hubs along the route, all making for an exciting and unique way to experience downtown Toronto.
8 80 Streets Danforth
August 23rd-24th, 12am @ Danforth Ave 2000 Block
There are a lot of festivals that temporarily take over a part of town for a day or two, but few truly transform a neighbourhood. That’s the goal with 8 80 Streets Danforth, a pop-up street makeover project featuring the world renowned urban revitalization organization the Better Block. This is Toronto’s first ever pop-up street makeover and will feature public art, performance spaces, and programming all with the goal of improving the safety and accessibility of the Danforth between Woodmount and Woodbine.
Toronto Bicycle Music Festival
August 24th, 11am @ Bell Manor Park
Looking for a music festival that stands out in a city with oodles of summer festivals? The 10th Annual Toronto Bicycle Music Festival might be the one for you. The day starts with a show at Bell Manor Park, just west of the Humber River, and at noon, kicks off into a group ride east to the second stage at Trinity Bell. The twist? The amplifiers for the performances are pedal-powered, making this one of the greenest festivals around.
Want to get involved? The show’s first act is made up of artists picked from the BOOM (Best Of Our Neighbourhood) Open Stage series. There are still two more dates, August 6th and 13th, where performers of all varieties can share their talents.
