Weekend Events Toronto

August long weekend events in Toronto 2013

August long weekend events in Toronto is our guide to events happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here's what's happening in Toronto this August 2-5, 2013.

FESTIVAL

Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Festival 2013
The Caribana festivities have begun and the weekend is packed with events. The main event--the Caribana parade--takes place at its usual time on Saturday near Exhibition Place with dozens of performances, floats and costumes. On Friday night, check out Pan Alive, the steelpan competition, at Allan Lamport Stadium. Caribbean food stalls and musical performances will take place throughout the weekend at locations across the city. Check the official site for the full event calendar.
Various locations and events across the city, August 2-4, 2013, Free

MUSIC

OVO Fest
By now, everyone knows that the August 4th portion of OVO Fest is canceled but the Monday show must go on and, really, it's been the most exciting night of the show since its inception. The night will predominantly feature Drake but his special guests are always a line-up of top rappers and hip hop artists, which can be anybody's guess with all of the acts swirling around the area playing Osheaga and Lollapalooza sets. Tickets are still available for Monday's show through Ticketmaster. (This is the part where I refuse to tell you to YOLO.)
Molson Amphitheatre (909 Lakeshore Boulevard West), August 5, 2013, 7PM $172.75

The Grove Music Festival
The Grove Music Festival has successfully made the big move from the Niagara region to Toronto and this one-day festival is a pretty solid indie alternative to the hip hop and EDM-centric festivals of the weekend. Save yourself some money, stay in town and hit up the Grove for performances by Phoenix, Hot Chip, Girl Talk and newer bands like Wavves and Young Empires. It's cheap, it's good, you'll love it.
Fort York & Garrison Common (440 King Street), August 3, 2013, 7PM $59.50

VELD Music Festival
Possibly the biggest EDM music festival in Canada, VELD returns this year with an amazing line-up for even those who don't like electronic. Deadmau5, Kaskade, Pretty Lights, Steve Aoki and newcomers Krewella will perform throughout the three-day festival in Downsview Park. Tickets are still available through Ink Tickets and Elevate Your Night and if you really want to be that guy, a VIP ticket can get you bottle service. Yes, at a music festival. No comment on what this world is coming to.
Downsview Park (1-35 Carl Hall Road), August 3-5, 2013, 11AM $219.79

Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar, the 26-year-old Compton rapper who has often been associated with Drake and Lil Wayne, has still not sold out his Sound Academy show this Friday night. If you're not heading to Osheaga or Lollapalooza this weekend, this smaller show is probably the best place to see Lamar perform, though it can almost be guaranteed he'll be one of Drake's special guests on Monday at OVO Fest. If you can't risk that, VIP tickets are what's left for the show but are still (sorta?) reasonable if you're a serious fan.
Sound Academy (11 Polson Street), August 2, 2013, 6:30PM $109.50

For more music listings, check out our Toronto Concerts post.

MARKET

Junction Flea
The Junction Flea moves to Rosedale Valley for this weekend's final summer market. Hauling the vintage finds and artisanal goods to the Evergreen Brick Works, the Junction Flea will see all the regular vendors and some new faces selling everything from jewelry to food to clothing and accessories. Admittance to the flea is just $2 making the bike ride there worth your while.
Evergreen Brick Works (550 Bayview Avenue), August 4, 2013, 10AM $2

FILM

Christie Pits Film Festival
Because it's been a rainy summer, Christie Pits Film Festival has rescheduled their opening outdoor film for this Sunday. Taking place on the same hill off Bloor Street as all the CPFF screenings before, this Sunday night the Tom Hanks-directed 1996 film That Thing You Do! will play. BYOBlanket and show up early to see the new music video by Army Girls, directed by Southern Souls. This event depends on the cooperation of the weather.
Christie Pits Park (750 Bloor Street West), August 4, 2013, 9PM Free

For more film listings, check out our This Week in Film post.

ART

Artfest Toronto
The downtown core will be chaotic with activity this weekend so if you're looking for a quieter outdoor event, slip out to the outskirts where the Distillery District will transform into a cobble-stoned art fair. 65 artists and artisans will be selling handmade and homemade goods ranging from jewelry to desserts to pottery in this outdoor fair. Admission is free but this long-weekend only event closes Monday.
Distillery District (55 Mill Street), August 3-5, 2013, 11AM Free

Kensington WAL-MART!
Inspired by the ideas of Eric Moschopedis, Kensington is getting a version of Wal-Mart this weekend. The pop-up superstore will offer a selection of low-priced toiletries and canned food items at prices that will outstrip neighbourhood vendors with the hope of making a point about what Wal-Mart's future role in Kensington should be. Stop by Videofag between 11AM and 5PM all weekend long to give the retail giant a special Kensington welcome. We promise, you'll be entertained.
Videofag (187 Augusta Avenue), August 3-4, 2013, 11AM Free

COMMUNITY

Yoga + Art + Park
Trinity Bellwoods will be a place of peace this weekend with the Yoga + Art + Park event taking place on Saturday and Sunday. Downward Dog Yoga Center will be hosting free yoga classes intermittently throughout the day. There will be an arts & crafts market as well as a wellness and yoga community fair scattered throughout the park. The event runs from 11AM to 8PM with plenty of activities and sights. All are welcome to participate.
Trinity Bellwoods Park (790 Queen Street West), August 3-4, 2013, 11AM Free

PUBLISHING

Zine Dream 6
Zine creators display what can be accomplished through self-publishing at Zine Dream 6, a weekend-long event featuring local artists, writers, illustrators and poets. Four events will take place throughout the weekend, including Friday night's Nieves Zine Library & Innen Shop Window Display (Art Metropole, 1490 Dundas West) and the Fear of Punk / Fear of Art exhibit (Communication Art Gallery, 209 Harbord Street). Panel discussions will take place on Saturday and the focal point of the festival, Zine Dream Small Press Art Fair (The TRANZAC, 292 Brunswick Avenue), runs on Sunday with over 50 self-publishing exhibitors. Get your selfie on!
Various locations, August 2-4, 2013, 7PM Free

THEATRE

The Judy Monologues
Elley-Ray Hennessy stars as Judy Garland in The Judy Monologues, a multimedia docudrama performance that takes place after Dorothy crosses over the rainbow. Opening at The Box this Friday night for two performances only, the performance by playwright Darren Stewart-Jones retells the final years of Judy Garland's life through rare autobiographical recordings. The play runs as part of the One More Night Festival, closing Saturday.
The Box (89 Niagara Street), August 2-3, 2013, 7:30PM $10

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

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

Photo by eudeamon in the blogTO Flickr pool


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in Radar

15 things to do in Toronto this weekend

Santa Claus Parade route and road closures in Toronto for 2024

There's a free month-long Filipino night market in Toronto for the holiday season

Law & Order star brings Los Angeles-inspired dancing event to Toronto

There's a free outdoor concert and tree lighting ceremony in Toronto this weekend

15 things to do in Toronto this week

15 things to do in Toronto this weekend

Christmas market is back in the Distillery District and this might be the best year yet