Weekend events in Toronto celebrate the amazing diversity we have to offer. Loads of food events, festivals, dance parties, and mega-art shows will help you fall in love with this city, just in case you somehow forgot.

Here are my top picks for weekend events in Toronto.

FESTIVALS

Future Routes (July 8-10)
The rhythms of guitars and sitars collide at this world music weekend. Orlando Julius, Os Tropies and a special Chak De Bhangra Dance Competition will all be happening surrounded by delicious foods and vibes. This festival blends old world with new world in a very cool way.

Ontario Latin Arts Festival (July 8-10)
The North York Civic Centre and Mel Lastman Square get spiced up this weekend with a celebration of the Latin community in TO. Explore Latin music and dance found in Canada, along with featured films, art shows and dance workshops. Times vary every day so check the website for details.

Salsa on St. Clair Street Festival (July 9-10)
Salsa on St Clair has been bubbling in the neighbourhood for almost a month with different dance lessons and performance events, but the main street closure party is finally here. Between Winona Dr. and Christie St., get your hips into a giant salsa party with live music, dance lessons, authentic cuisine and loads of stuff for family-style distractions.

Makers Festival (July 9-10)
Head up to the Toronto Reference Library from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for this two-day inventive showcase fest. Over 100 of "the city's most creative people and their projects gather together to show off what they've been working on." It's a celebration or art and technology. You can check out the official lineup here, and expect robots.

Afrofest (July 9-10)
Celebrating African music and culture in Woodbine Park, this dazzling and free cultural festival features music, dance, food, and a large marketplace showcasing emerging fashion designers. Musical highlights this year include Ruff-N-Smooth from Ghana, Lynda Thalie (a Canadian singer-songwriter of Algerian origin), Black Parents from Haiti, and Emmanuel Jal from Sudan.

Toronto Sailor Moon Celebration (July 9)
The Ontario Science Centre is invaded by solar sisters and their fans for this giant Sailor Moon gathering. Admission is $15, and things get started at 11 a.m. and run til 8 p.m. Many of the original voice actors will be there as well as the original English language singing voice of Sailor Moon, Jennifer Cihi. There will also be cos play, classic episode screenings and merch.

Anatolia Fest (July 10)
Celebrate Turkish culture at Yonge-Dundas Square during this one day festival from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. with food, music, dance, a performance from Deen Squad and historical displays about Turkey.

Markham Ribfest (July 8-10)
Get yer self over to the Markham Civic Centre for three-day rib pig out! Vendors like Bad Wolf Barbecue, Brick BBQ Yard, Billy Bones BBQ and more take over the area, plus live music, a VIP beer lounge, kid zone and a battle of the bands, all in the name of the Markham Rotary Club.

Taste of Lawrence (July 8-10)
Scarborough's largest street festival presents three days of food, music, and cultural events. Over 100 vendors line the streets on Lawrence Ave. East between Warden and Birchmount and Lighthouse will be performing. If you don't know who Lighthouse is, bring one of your parents and they'll thank you for it.

Summerlicious (July 8-24)
The two-week, city-wide prix fixe festival returns for another year. Enjoy three course lunches and dinners at over 220 restaurants that you might otherwise never be able to afford to eat at. Check out our top picks for this season.

TO Food Fest (July 9 - 10)
Taking place at the Chinese Cultural Centre on Sheppard Avenue East, this mega-food event features some pretty amazing snacks and fun. Check out our favourite eats from last year's event. Celebrating our city's diversity through food, all this festival requires is you show up with cash and an empty stomach.

Thrill of the Grill (July 9)
The Danforth's annual food cook-off pits local restaurants Allen's, Globe Bistro, The Combine Eatery, Factory Girl, The Edmund Burke as well as The Meat Department against each other in a winner-take-all competition to see who makes the best ribs and corn in the 'hood.

MUSIC

Promise Cherry Beach (July 9)
From 3 - 9 p.m. beach-loving dancers gather on the sands and forests of Cherry Beach to dance like it's nobody's business at this regular sun-loving dance music festival. This weekend they've hinted at some surprise guests along with DJ Mark Oliver.

• Nite Jewel (July 8)
• Phoebe Ryan (July 8)
• Keith Urban (July 9)
• Lil' Jon (July 9)
• Swans (July 10)

ART

Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibit (July 8-10)
The city's oldest art fair takes over Nathan Phillips Square with all kinds of artwork from photography to sculpture. It's an excellent chance to start a collection or just chat with artists.

Entertainment District Art Crawl (July 8)
Art in the Entertainment District? This art crawl might be confusing at first, but know this: it happens for one day only from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at David Pecaut Square. Admission is free, and there are over 60 artists showing their stuff, plus food trucks and DJs all day.

It's not U it's Me (July 9)
Waterside art house The Power Plant launches a new parties series they describe as something "celebrating the diverse cultures and DIY community spirit of underground dance music with internationally renowned DJs, AV performance art, sculptural installations, and dance floors you can lose yourself in."

FREE STUFF

Bike Night at 1903 Cafe (July 8)
It's Bike Night at the new Harley Davidson-themed cafe on Ossington, and tonight they're giving away free Fahrenheit Coffee from 5-7 p.m. It's a bit of a strange concept, but it's free coffee, folks. You can also test ride on the JumpStart ride simulator in the cafe itself.

DANCING

Senseless (July 9, Evergreen Brickworks)
A crazy new dance experience in the Don Valley, this one-day and night experience is a feast for all the senses. The party starts at 3 p.m., so hop on the free shuttle available at Yonge and Bloor and head down to experience DJs, new immersive technologies, art, food vendors and machines that literally pumping out scents.

• LatinXO - A Fundraiser for the Victims of the Pulse Orlando Shooting (July 8, YTB Gallery)
• Garden Party (July 8, Gladstone Hotel)
• Jukebox Meltdown 50's and 60's dance party (July 9, Swan Dive)

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.

Photo of TO Food Fest by Jesse Milns.