Season brings energy to the city
Never a dull moment in Toronto with an abundance of attractions
Caribbean Getaway
The newly renamed Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival (July 7-Aug 6) was founded (as Caribana) to celebrate Canada’s centennial. This year, the festival pays tribute to its community and creators with a Historical Exhibition at Metro Hall (July 5-6) showcasing a celebratory photo exhibit chronicling the Carnival Arts over the years. The official kick off takes place at Nathan Phillips Square (July 11) with other key events to follow including Carnival Village (July 15), Junior Carnival Parade and Family Day (July 22), the Calypso Show (July 23), Carnival Ball (July 28), the King & Queen Parade (Aug. 3), Pan Alive (Aug. 4) and the glittering Grand Parade (Aug. 5). torontocaribbeancarnival.com
Park Pleasures
For its second summer season, Arts in the Parks will animate 35 parks with over 230 arts events, including full-scale Shakespearean productions, Uke Can Sing (free outdoor ukulele and singing workshops with K Funk and Lady Ree), the food and music of Feast in the East, bike music picnics by the Tune Your Ride Collective, and the ever-popular Dusk Dances. artsintheparksTO.org
The Power of Pride
The sequin-studded Pride Parade (June 25) was once a single-day event. Now, it’s merely the rainbow-hued centrepiece for a lavish array of Pride Month events all over town, including the Trans March (June 23), the Dyke March (June 24) and ancillary entertainments like A Night At The Aqueerium at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, a Sugar Beach Party and Classic Disco at Yonge-Dundas Square. pridetoronto.com
Track Stars
The Honda Indy Toronto roars into Exhibition Place from July 14 to 16, with the Pinty’s Grand Prix of Toronto (Saturday) and the Verizon IndyCar Series race (Sunday). On Fan Friday, admission is free with a donation to Make-A-Wish Canada. New this year: a pre-event Cycling Challenge (July 13) to benefit Prostate Cancer Canada. hondaindytoronto.com
Indigenous Spirit
From July16 to 23, Toronto hosts the North American Indigenous Games, set to attract 5,000 athletes. They’ll be coming from every Canadian province and territory and 13 U.S. regions to compete in 14 sports; a cultural festival (July17-22) will showcase Indigenous food and arts. It’s the first time in 25 years that the event will be held in the eastern region of Canada. naig2017.to
Greens Scene
Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville hosts the RBC Canadian Open from July 24 to 30. The tournament week opens with The Canada Day Pro-Am in support of the Golf Canada Foundation (July 24). Official opening ceremonies will be held on July 25, and admission is free all day. July 28 is Red and White Day, when spectators are invited to wear our national colours to support Canadian competitors. rbccanadianopen.com
Court Challenge
The Rogers Cup presented by National Bank comes to the Aviva Centre at York University from Aug. 5 to 13. Sanctioned as both a WTA Premier 5 event and a US Open series event, it will draw top female players of the calibre of Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and crowd-pleasing Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard. rogerscup.com
Floating Film Fest
Would you rather sing along to the liveaction Beauty and the Beast or relive ’90s nostalgia with Bugs Bunny and Michael Jordan in Space Jam? Until July 11, movie fans can vote for their favourites from a 15-film shortlist. The top three will be screened outdoors for free before more than 11,000 people and 100 boats at Sugar Beach during Sail-in Cinema (Aug. 17-19). sailincinema.com
Busker Bash
On the Labour Day weekend (Sept. 1-4), Toronto International BuskerFest for Epilepsy returns to Woodbine Park near Ashbridge’s Bay, with its non-stop extravaganza of street performers of every description, from sky-high stilt walkers to baffling magic-makers, astonishing escape artists, thrilling fire jugglers and death-defying daredevils. All this, plus the Family Fun Zone, Be a Busker Zone for kids, Midway and a licensed beer garden, too! torontobuskerfest.com
Heroes Welcome
In 2014, Prince Harry created a sporting event for ill and wounded military personnel. The 2017 edition of the Invictus Games is coming to Toronto from Sept. 23 to 30. It will bring 550 competitors from 17 nations to compete in 12 adaptive sports, like wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby. New this year: golf. invictusgames2017.com