Labour Day weekend events in Toronto will make you happy you stayed in town. Festivals, food gatherings, a couple of cool concerts, and a small mountain of dance parties (both indoors and outside!) take over the city to ensure you have a good time in between all that napping or weekend shift work.

Here are my top picks for Labour Day weekend events in Toronto.

FESTIVALS

The Ex (Until September 5, CNE Grounds
Hurry up and get down to the Ex and eat some crazy-ass food or nostalgic goodies from some of the longest standing vendors, and burn off the calories at these 10 essential activities.

FanExpo (Until September 4, Metro Toronto Convention Centre)
Geeks and nerds and freaks for days! FanExpo Canada is a monumental gathering of planet Earth's coolest, most imaginative people. We made a list off 13 things you really, really should not miss. Just bring those credit cards.

ArtFest (September 2-5, Distillery District)
From 11a.m. to 6p.m. all long weekend is this sprawling art fest all over the Distillery. Painting, photography, sculpture, fine craft, live music and food all over the place. This is an easy one to spend a couple hours strolling. The official website has more detail.

Buskerfest (September 2-5, Woodbine Park)
Let's get own to funny business. Clowns, acrobats, and show-offs gather at Woodbine Park to entertain you! There will be over 100 performers, but this time, on the beach! Don't worry, there'll also be lots of food and drink.

Toronto Pignic (September 3, Greenwood Park)
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. check out this day for Guinea Pigs, their owners and enthusiasts at Greenwood Park. There'll be a market, awards, speakers, communal guinea pig pens, piggy paparazzi, piggy Pigasso and a piggy pageant. All proceeds go to the Toronto Humane Society and Piggles guinea pig rescue.

TDOT Fest (September 4, Yonge-Dundas Square)
This is a free nine hour Urban Music Festival downtown featuring the vocal stylings of Karl Wolf, Girlicious' Natalie Mejia, Juno Award Winner Rich Kidd and Juno Nominated artists August Rigo to name a few.

MUSIC

Desiigner (September 2, The White Haus Nightclub)
Full disclosure, I have never been to this nightclub and don't know anyone who has, but Desiigner will be live in the house alongside over 10 local DJs. It's going to be a wild night of hip hop, and if you're lucky you'll get to hear "Panda."

• Nerd Noise! (September 3, The Horseshoe)
• Drum Circle Season Finale (September 4, Trinity Bellwoods)
• Wild Child (September 4, Lee's Palace)
• Tiesto (Cabana Pool Bar)
• An evening with David Crosby (September 4, Danforth Music Hall)

SHOPPING

Dirty Talk night market (September 2, Round)
hop and explore as you sip your favourite cocktail and bounce to the beat at this hopping night market. Live art shows will continue through the night as Round is then transformed into a full out party.

Farewell Summer Vintage Arts Market (September 3, The Make Den Sewing Studio)
A market featuring art, clothes and handmade goods by artists and vendors from around the city inside this cute Bloor Street West studio. There's also a backyard patio party with cheap and fun booze.

FOOD

Pizza Party (September 2, The Yukon)
This Parkdale bar provides the music and you provide the 'za! It's literally a Bring Your Own Pizza party, with the added bonus of beer taps available to you and wallet/mouth.

Downsview Rib Fest (September 2-5, Downsview Park)
This four-day ribfest attracts thousands to Downsview Park. There's loads of musical entertainment including a show from "Male Country Artist of the Year" nominee Marshall Dane, as well as beer and rib eating contests.

DANCING

Electric Island (September 4-5, Hanlan's Point)
This year's final celebration of electronic music, video art and general dancing beside a clothing optional beach goes down this weekend with a two-day extravaganza. Members Only, Claude Von Stroke, Bicep and Nicole Moudaber and many more will spin.

• Big Primpin' - Blond/e (September 2, Miss Thing's)
• Baby Blue (September 2, The Beaver)
• What A Rush: A Wrestling Dance Party (September 2, Hard Luck)
• Sydney Charles (September 2, Coda)
• How Does It Feel (September 2, 76a)
• Souk Sessions (September 3, Luanda House)
• Horse Meat Disco (September 3, Coda)
• Tapette - Saloppe edition (September 3, Holy Oak)
• 60s Mod Soul Reggae Record Dance Party! WITH IT! (September 3, The Piston)
• Sunset Sessions Presents Labour Day Magic with Chus & Ceballos (Sunnyside Pavilion)
• GO Pokemon: A Nintendo FanExpo Dance Party (September 3, Sneaky Dee's)
• Sundayz w/ Eric the Tutor (September 4, Wildflower)

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events section and have a great weekend!

Photo by Tim Sandik from the Sunnyside Pavilion Facebook page.