weekend events toronto

The top weekend events in Toronto: June 19-21 2015

Weekend events in Toronto prove that festival season is in full swing, and neighbourhoods across the GTA are embracing the warm weather by hosting block parties. If you'd rather spend your weekend in the company of celebrities, head to the MMVAs on Sunday try and snap a selfie with a member of the A/B/C-list. You may just become insta-famous.

Here are my picks for the top events happening in Toronto June 19-21, 2015.

For more events this weekend click on over to our Events section.

FESTIVALS

Toronto Wine & Spirit Fesitval (June 18-21)
The Toronto Wine & Spirit Festival takes over Sugar Beach with drinks, music, food and entertainment. Head there for a few days of booze and beach fun.

Shorefront Festival (June 19)
This free family event will showcase everything that the Lakeshore Village has to offer. featuring a beer tent, carnival entertainment, live music and more, there's something for everyone.

Redpath Waterfront Festival (June 19-21)
The Redpath Waterfront Festival boasts a roster of events fit for the entire family. Check out the pet parade and Revitalized Waterfront Party.

Taste of Little Italy (June 19-21)
Taste of Italy will surely be the busiest spring festival of the bunch, with roughly 50 restaurants serving up a variety of Italian (and decidedly non-Italian) fare. College will be closed to traffic between Bathurst and Shaw as the roving masses devour food on sticks, gelato, and even whole-roasted pig. Live music will also be on offer.

Beach BBQ & Brews Festival (June 19-21)
If you want to kick off summer with a barbecue, here is your golden opportunity. Head to Woodbine Park part for a three-day fest of music, food, and beer hosted by boom 97.3.

Toronto Jazz Festival (June 19-27)
Though many of the Toronto Jazz Festival concerts require tickets, there are a smattering of performances that do not. On the 19th three separate performances will be open to the public: George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Dumpstaphunk, and Morris Day & The Time.

Luminato (June 19-28)
The Luminato Festival will once again explode through the streets, cinemas, theatres and concert halls of Toronto from June 19 to 28. This festival highlights the diversity of Toronto's rich arts and culture landscape by bringing the best of the world to showcase their work. Expect the unexpected and bring your dancing shoes. One of the big events for this weekend is Unsound Toronto.

Toronto Pride (June 19-28)
Toronto's biggest LGBTQ event kicks off this Friday and the weekend has no shortage of events. On offer: no masc, LGBTQ Rock Placebo Place, Pride at the Gaystone and more.

Live Art Festival (June 20)
For a day of family-friendly activities and art-centered events check out the Live Art Festival in Underpass Park.

Fairbank Village BIA Multicultural Festival (June 20)
If you're north of the downtown core and are in the market for a day of free concerts, food and fun, head to the Fairbank Village BIA Multicultural Festival. There will be a number of live performances, including one by Danny Fernandes.

Junction Summer Solstice Festival (June 20)
See what The Junction has to offer this Saturday when they host their annual Summer Solstice Festival. There will be a ferris wheel, movie screening, vendors and plenty of food.

MUSIC

MMVAs (June 21)
An impossibly long list of celebs will be rolling into town on Sunday to walk the red carpet, present, or perform at the Much Music Video Awards. If you can't stand the sound of screaming teenage girls, I suggest purchasing some ear plugs or staying far away from the downtown core.

ARTS

Souls of St. Clair (June 19-20)
Get to know the community through portraiture when Souls of St. Clair kicks off on Friday. This one of a kind photography exhibit features portraits of customers of Tre Mari Bakery photographed by Franco Deleo.

Tensions Launch Party (June 20)
If you feel like mingling with Toronto's cultural elite this weekend, head to The Gardiner Museum. Tensions is throwing a giant art-centered bash this Saturday featuring food & drink, art, dance and music.

Northern Ink Exposure (June 19-21)
If you are a fan of body art, this event will not be a let down. Northern Ink Exposure brings hundreds of tattoo fanatics to Westin Harbour Castle for seminars, shows and the opportunity to get some new ink.

SPORTS

Dragon Boat Festival (June 20-21)
Dragon Boats will take to Lake Ontario this weekend for the International Dragon Boat Race Festival. Get to the island bright and early if you want to catch the action, races begin promptly at 8am.

ENTERTAINMENT

Italian Contemporary Film Festival Closing Party (June 19)
Celebrate the ICFF coming to a close at the Ritz Carlton. The party will feature guest stars, Italian fare, and an open bar.

M for Manning (June 19)
There is nothing like a good,old-fashioned house party, and M for Manning does it right. One of the most anticipated NXNE bashes this year, you can expect a night of music, booze, BBQ and the usual house party shenanigans.

Opening Party at the Power Plant (June 19)
Who doesn't like a good party, especially when it's free? The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery is kicking off the summer season by throwing a bash filled with music, drinks and, of course, an art exhibition.

Battle of Black Creek (June 20)
Head to Black Creek Pioneer Village to witness over 100 soldiers take part in an epic battle re-enactment. There will also be an number of activities and beer sampling to take part in.

NXNE Block Party (June 20)
This Saturday the East Room and NXNE are hosting a block party. The outdoor bash will be filled with food, music, and art.

Chin Picic (June 20-21)
The world's largest multicultural picnic is coming to Little Italy for a two-day event filled with live music, midway games, and fireworks to cap it all off.

For more events this weekend click on over to our Events section. Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit it for free using this form.

Contributions from Sima Sahar Zerehi, Derek Flack and Sarah Ratchford

Photo by Matt Forsythe


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