Weekend events in Toronto is our guide to events happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here's what's happening in Toronto this December 14-16, 2012.

HOLIDAY

Winter Solstice Festival
Offering a nature escape from the city, Evergreen Brick Works opens their new skating trail in the Koerner Gardens this Saturday evening during the Winter Solstice Festival. With live DJs and local vendors like CafĂŠ Belong and My Little Dumplings selling hot food and beverages, this outdoor event will have something for anyone looking for some outdoor entertainment and a little bit of activity on a Saturday afternoon. The festival runs until 11PM.
Evergreen Brick Works (550 Bayview Avenue), December 15, 2012, 4PM Free

FUNDRAISER

One Less Paper Cup
Specially designed cups from local Toronto artists are up for auction at this Grounds For Health fundraiser for cervical cancer screening and prevention programs in Peru, Nicaragua and Tanzania. The 4th annual One Less Paper Cup takes place at the Mascot on Friday night with designs by well-known locals like Joshua James, Zach Slootsky and Rose Broadbent on cups not made of paper. Food and booze will be served as attendees are encouraged to place their bids. The auction closes at 11PM.
The Mascot (1267 Queen Street West), December 14, 2012, 8PM

FOOD

Feast In The East 20
The monthly food, music and installation series of Toronto's east end returns to Polyhaus on Carlaw for its 20th edition. This month, Alicia Nauta and Joele Walinga will be serving up two Mexican stews at Feast In The East while eventgoers are invited to feast their eyes on the babes of bands like Toronto's Odonis Odonis, Brooklyn avant-garde ensemble Normal Love, Blonde Elvis (with Jesse Laderoute of Young Mother) and teen girl punk band Unfinished Business. The ticket price includes dinner with reduced advance tickets available at Circus Books & Music, The Film Buff, Soundscapes and Grasshopper Records.
Polyhaus (388 Carlaw Avenue), December 14, 2012, 9PM $7 advance, $10 door

Latkepalooza 2012
Hanukkah is almost over so Caplansky's wants to eat until the end. Hosting Latkepalooza, a competition to find the city's best, Caplansky's invites anyone who can cook them to enter three dozen samples of their finest latke recipe. The 3rd annual party and competition will feature a lot of potato-ey goodness so bring an appetite and a fork to do Hanukkah right.
Caplansky's Deli (356 College Street), December 16, 2012, 8PM Free

For more food listings, check out our This Week In Food post.

ENTERTAINMENT

Geekish Holiday Store & Board Game Event
Board game geeks, go where other people will understand you. The Bathurst Street CSI opens its lounge for the Geekish Holiday Store & Board Game Event this Saturday afternoon, where Toronto's nerdiest for Settlers of Catan and Scrabble will gather to play. Once you pay the entrance fee, there will be unlimited coffee, tea and Pizza Pops (yes, those Pizza Pops) until 10PM. Special deals will be available on board game purchases so get ready to geek out with your wallet.
Centre for Social Innovation (720 Bathurst Street), December 15, 2012, 2PM $5

SHOPPING

Junction Flea
The Junction Flea, Toronto's greatest market of new and used handmade goods, returns for its monthly installment this Sunday. Opening at its winter venue The Great Hall, this kickass flea market opens at 10AM, taking over all floors of the historical building with food, fashion, crafts, used trinkets, posters, accessories and jewelry. Locally-sourced products by young artisans are what make the trip to the market worthwhile (along with the grilled cheese and tarot card readings). Junction Flea is open until 5PM.
The Great Hall (1087 Queen Street West), December 16, 2012, 10AM $5

COMEDY

Back To The Future: The Improv Show
Inspired by the (dare I say best?) 80s sci-fi adventure film, Back To The Future: The Improv Show tells an action story of love that tends to go off-script. Comedic talents Sean Tabares, Jess Grant, Julian Frid, Ken Hall and Isaac Kessler perform an evening of improv that focuses on real love stories with a touch of time travel at Black Swan Tavern this Sunday night. Where the story will go, no one knows.
Black Swan Tavern (154 Danforth Avenue), December 16, 2012, 10PM Free

For more comedy listings, check out our This Week In Comedy post.

MUSIC

Machine Gun Kelly
Cleveland rapper Machine Gun Kelly has finally released his debut studio album, Lace Up, after a string of successful mixtapes and he is taking it on tour. Playing a show at Kool Haus tonight that will definitely get out of control and out of hand, the breakthrough act hits the stage early, foregoing an opener to play a longer show with his rapidfire rhymes. Tickets are available through Ticketweb.
Kool Haus (132 Queens Quay East), December 14, 2012, 7PM $40

The 9th Annual Best Of Mixtape Exchange Party
If you think you know anything about music, get in on this mixtape swap party. Happening Saturday afternoon at the Young Lions Music Club headquarters, music know-it-alls and not-so-much's are invited to bring their best mixtapes to the 9th Annual Best of Mixtape Exchange Party. Show up with a full mix of your faves in any format of your choosing and swap it out for someone else's hard work. There are work and rules involved in this game--so read carefully--but the reward is enjoying an intimate trip into what another stranger holds near and dear.
Young Lions Music Club (19B Springhurst Avenue), December 15, 2012, 4PM Free

Arkells
Hamilton alt rock band Arkells play a benefit show at the Mod Club this Saturday night to support Virgin Unite and RE*Generation partner Eva's Initiative, a local organization that gives money to three youth shelters in Toronto. Playing singles from their two studio albums and two EPs, the Arkells will be supporting life services and programs that help at-risk and homeless youth in the city. Local pop band Modern Superstitions will open the show. Tickets are available through the Virgin Mobile website.
Virgin Mobile Mod Club (722 College Street), December 15, 2012, 7PM $25

Hollerado at the Tokyo Police Club Holiday Show
Local indie rock successes Tokyo Police Club host their annual holiday show at Sound Academy with special guests Hollerado this Saturday night. Joining together in sweet, sweet, alternative indie love, Tokyo Police Club and Hollerado kick off the holidays with good tunes and a good party to match. The all ages show starts at 8PM with bands hitting the stage at 9. Tickets are will call only, to be picked up at the venue the night of the show.
Sound Academy (11 Polson Street), December 15, 2012, 8PM $22.50-$35

For more music listings, check out our Hot Ticket and December Concerts posts.

FASHION

Consign Toronto Pop Up Shop
Consign Toronto joins a long list of small indie boutiques that is experimenting with the pop-up shop. Moving south into the city, Consign sets up pop-up at Yorkville's contemporary jewelry boutique, Black Box, where they will be selling everything from denim ($30), tops ($20) to high-end shoes, purses and accessories. The sale starts early Saturday morning and runs all weekend.
The Black Box Boutique (106 Yorkville Avenue, 2nd floor), December 15, 2012, 11AM Free

For more fashion listings, check out our This Week In Fashion post.

THEATRE

Hope Night in T.O.
A variety show in support of Free The Children, Hope Night in T.O. is an evening of dance, comedy, music and performance that seeks to provide aid to children in underprivileged communities worldwide. With names like Donovan Woods, Lemon Bucket Orkestra and Tricia Cole providing music and performances by The Broadway Arts Centre and local comedians, the organizers of show are hoping to make a significant contribution to the lives of children in countries like Kenya, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Haiti, Nicaragua, Ecuador, India and China. The show opens Friday night at The Factory Theatre for a two-night engagement.
The Factory Theatre (125 Bathurst Street), December 14, 2012, 7:30PM $20

For more theatre listings, check out our This Week In Theatre post.

MORE EVENTS ON OUR WEEKEND RADAR:

• Long Winter Part 2 at the Great Hall
• De-Accessioned at Cooper Cole Gallery
• Hip Hop Karaoke at Revival
• The Power Plant Winter 2012-13 opening night party
• This Party built a school in Africa
• Lemon Bucket Orchestra at the Great Hall
• Grand opening of GameDay on College
• The Bazaar of the Bizarre Frost Bite 2012

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

Photo by Kim Yokota in the blogTO Flickr pool