I spent last summer in Montreal trying desperately to stay focused on completing my thesis. Every day I would be confronted with some terribly tempting cultural event that would pit dedication to the work against fun in the city. (I could stay a few more hours at the library today. Orrrrr I could go see a tipsy Rachid Taha trip over his mic cord at the Jazz Fest. Hmmm. A toss up. —Not!)
Montreal as we know is a premiere summer city – festival after festival, week after week, from the Jazz Fest to Just for Laughs. Best of all, it’s mostly free and it’s mostly outdoors. It’s truly amazing anyone gets anything done from June to September.
Though I hope to make a trip back to Montreal sometime this season, I have to say that summer in Toronto is nothing to sneeze at. My mental calendar is already filling up with ideas of wonderful things to see and do in the months of sweltering heat that await. Here are some summer venues and upcoming events worth getting excited about.
MAY
- Doors Open Toronto | May 24 & 25
- Toronto the Good | May 27
- Film Jam 9 | May 30
- More than Just a Yardage Sale | May 30 & 31
JUNE
- Luminato – Toronto Festival of Arts & Creativity | June 6-15
- Toronto Small Press Book Fair | June 7
- North By Northeast Music and Film Festival & Conference | June 12-15
- Pride Week | June 20-29
- Annual Cacti and Succulent Show | June 28 & 29
JULY
- The Fringe – Toronto’s Theatre Festival | July 2-13
- Beaches Jazz Fest | July 18-27
- Romeo & Juliet (Driftwood Theatre Group) | July 29-31
AUGUST
- Irie Music Festival | August 1-4
- Caribana Parade | August 2
- Taste of the Danforth | August 8-11
- The Ex | August 15-September 1
SUMMERLONG
- Canada’s Wonderland | May 4-September 1
- PS Kensington | last Sunday of the month May through October, begins May 25
- Dream in High Park | June 24-August 31
- Harbourfront World Routes Festival | Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from June-September, begins June 27
- Toronto Islands
There are many more of course – feel free to add!
