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Annual Events, Toronto Events

Toronto Festivals and Events 1 Weekend After Labour Day 2012

Our autumn Toronto events begin one weekend after Labour Day.

It’s an amazingly busy time with dragon boat racing, a Celtic festival, the end of an exhibition by Hungarian-Canadian artists, vegetarian food and street festivals.

(Added this list on Sept. 5, 2013): So many of these events return for 2013 that your easiest bet is to check the 2013 dates in this list, and then check their official web sites, for up-to-date information. Many of these are free things to do in Toronto this weekend.

  • The 2013 Dragon Boat races return to Marilyn Bell Park on Sept. 7-8, in the Western Beaches of Toronto; watch for free.
  • Enjoy the 2013 Vegetarian Food Festival at Harbourfront Centre from Sept. 6-8. The times vary by date. Enter for free, but you will be tempted to buy and either eat or take home to cook.
  • The 2013 Beach Celtic Festival has returned to Kew Gardens in the Beaches for Sept 7-8. I’ve just written a separate article about it (noted below). Enter for free, but consider buying something from their crafts or food vendors. (Updated Aug. 28, 2014): My latest is “Find the Beach Celtic Festival 2014 in Toronto“.
  • The 2013 Taste of the Kingsway runs Sept. 6-8. The times depend on the day. I’d really like to see the Scotiabank Dog Show on Saturday (noon-3pm). Again, the entertainment is free, but plan to pay to taste some “medieval” food. (That’s what’s on their poster!) (Updated Aug. 30, 2014): My latest is “Savour the 2014 Taste of the Kingsway in Toronto“, with no mention of medieval food.
  • Sorry, but you missed the 2013 Chinatown Festival back on Aug. 24-25, unless you’d read it in my “Richard III, Afro Caribbean or Chinatown in Toronto for 2013“.
  • The first results for searching for the Tarantella Festival in Toronto point back to 2012, rather than to 2013. My apologies for not pursuing the matter further…but let me know if you find them this year!
  • The 2013 Cabbagetown Festival of the Arts extends its stay, from Thurs. Sept. 5 through Sun. Sept. 8. The best official Cabbagetown Festival link I could find provides a lot of detail. Some of the early events charge a nominal fee, but at least some of the Sat./Sun. festivities are free to attend. That includes the Kidz Korner with free activities for children.

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Dragon Boat Races at Marilyn Bell Park in Toronto

"Dragon Boat Racing at Wellington Waterfront" image by 4nitsirk (Kristina D.C. Hoeppner)
“Dragon Boat Racing at Wellington Waterfront” image by 4nitsirk (Kristina D.C. Hoeppner)

Dragon Boat racing is a great spectator sport even for the uninitiated, since the strength and determination are visible to landlubbers.

As well, dragonboat regattas are contested by divisions. This means that most races are hotly contested among crews of similar skills, so it’s usually a fight to the finish.

Details for the Sept. 2012 Dragon Boat Races

The venue is Marilyn Bell Park, just west of the CNE and Ontario Place, and south of Lake Shore Blvd West and the Gardiner Expressway. Jameson Avenue’s sidewalk is the safe way to walk or bike south.

The dates are Sept. 8-9, 2012. Races begin at 8:30am each day.

I’m sure that spectators may cheer politely at no cost or obligation.

The Great White North official web site offers more details, especially for the competitors.

2012 Vegetarian Food Festival at Harbourfront

Since you’re near Lake Ontario anyway, head to Harbourfront on Queen’s Quay for the Vegetarian Food Festival on Sept. 7-9, 2012. There will be cooking demonstrations as well as vendors. Admission is free.

Hungarian Visual Artists of Canada

"Map of Todmorden Mills, Toronto" image by Mike DeHaan
“Map of Todmorden Mills, Toronto” image by Mike DeHaan

An exhibition of works by “Hungarian Visual Artists of Canada” has been running from Aug. 29 but wraps Sept. 9 at Todmorden Mills Museum on Pottery Road, in the Papermill Art Gallery.

The exhibit is available on Tuesday, Thursday & Friday from 10 a.m.to 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday & Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. Parking is free and admission is well under $10/person including tax.

The 2012 Beach Celtic Festival in Toronto

(Updated Sept. 2, 2013): Please refer to my “The 2013 Beach Celtic Festival in Toronto” for up to date information on the dates and times.

I’d written about this event last year, in “Beach Celtic Festival 2012 (and 2011) in Kew Gardens of Toronto“. In brief, head to Kew Gardens on Queen Street East on Sept. 8-9, 2012 for Irish music and culture in the park.

Toronto’s “only outdoor ceildh” is free to enjoy from 9am through 7pm.

The official Toronto Beach Celtic Festival web site provides the most up-to-date list of performers.

Toronto’s Taste of the Kingsway Festival 2012

Centred at 3029 Bloor St. West from Sept. 7-9, the Taste of the Kingsway returns between Prince Edward Drive and Montgomery Road with staged entertainment, food and yet more entertainment.

Support the “Out of the Cold” charity by buying a pancake breakfast.

The 2012 Toronto Chinatown Festival

Spadina Avenue from Dundas to College is the street for the 2012 Toronto Chinatown Festival. Naturally it’s free to stroll down the street for the entertainment and cultural environment on Sept. 8-9. You also have the opportunity to buy food to maintain your strength.

The Fiera Street Festival, or Tarantella Toronto 2012

Little Italy hosts the 2012 Tarantella Festival on College Street between Shaw and Bathhurst on Sept. 8-9, 2012. Taranta bands are featured, along with street vendors, a singing festival and the Tarantella Dance competition.

The 2012 Cabbagetown Festival of the Arts in Toronto

Head for Parliament Street between Wellesley and Gerrard on Sept. 8-9, 2012 between 11am and 8:30pm for the 2012 Toronto Cabbagetown Festival of the Arts. (Updated Sept. 5, 2013: This link is not longer valid; please see their link in the top section of this article). Musicians, dancers and buskers will entertain; food will be on sale.

Expect to find vendors with wares or not-for-profits explaining their programs.

Looking for More Annual Toronto Events?

Check the “annual events” or “Toronto events” categories toward the end of the left-hand menu.

I really must give props to “Festivals Toronto” who cover this beat very well. I found a couple of Toronto street festivals there, and hope to goodness that we’ve covered the bases.

Disclaimer: DeHaan Services has no relationship to the organizer(s); I am not reimbursed for writing this article.

Annual Events, Toronto Events

The Two-Weekend 2012 Beaches Jazz Festival Toronto

The Beaches International Jazz Festival 2012 edition runs across two extended weekends. The official site has more details than anyone would “shake a stick at”, but here are some highlights about the dates and venues. Please go to the official site to plan your visit; I’m just sharing the broad picture about one of the premier Toronto events every summer.

(Updated June 29, 2013): While this article has some valuable background, you should read the “Workshops of the 2013 Beaches Jazz Festival in Toronto” too.

Free workshops comprise the hidden crown jewels of the Beaches Toronto Jazz Festival 2012; check below for the list.

The Big Picture for the Beaches Jazz Festival 2012 in Toronto

"Beaches International Jazz Festival Toronto 2007" image by beyond20khz (Josh Tidsbury)
“Beaches International Jazz Festival Toronto 2007” image by beyond20khz (Josh Tidsbury)

A long-running tradition in the eastern Beach community, the Beaches 2012 International Jazz Festival in Toronto hosts a large number of open-air performances at different venues.

These are free events, but BYOG for events in the parks. Bring your own gear, including folding chairs or a blanket upon which to sit; sunscreen; and a refillable water bottle so you won’t litter. Chairs and blankets won’t help you navigate Streetfest, but sunscreen and water are always useful.

  • From July 20-22, head for Woodbine Park’s three stages.
  • On July 26-28, Queen Street East hosts the Streetfest.
  • From July 27-29, three additional venues pop up along the Boardwalk: Latin Square, Big Band Stage and World Stage.
  • Finally, the Kew Gardens main stage hosts performances on July 28-29.

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Beaches Jazz on July 20 to 22, 2012 at Woodbine Park

The opening weekend’s venue for the 2012 Toronto Beaches International Jazz Festival is at Woodbine Park, nestled among Lake Shore Blvd. East, Coxwell Ave., Eastern Ave. and Northern Dancer Blvd. It’s west of Woodbine Ave.; Lake Shore Blvd separates Woodbine Park from the sandy beaches and parkland, including the Martin Goodman Trail.

The very earliest start times, across all the stages, are 6pm on Friday, noon on Saturday and 1pm on Sunday. Performers will be on three different stages: the “Main Stage”; the “New Generation” stage; and the “Youth” stage.

Beaches Jazz on July 26-28, 2012 as Streetfest on Queen Street East

Almost a week after opening at Woodbine Park, the Toronto 2012 Beaches International Jazz Festival resumes by turning a mile of Queen Street East into a series of jazz venues. Some fifty bands will play anywhere from Queen at Woodbine, east to Beech Ave. That’s a distance of about 1.5Km, filled with jazz and pedestrians.

Does it bear mentioning that cars will be forbidden from 6pm until nearly midnight on July 26-28? Take the Woodbine bus south from the subway. Based on the above photograph, it could be pretty crowded even for cyclists.

Despite what I’d written about BYOG, above, it’s unlikely you would have room to set up chairs since the Streetfest is more about strolling, listening, and sometimes ducking into a pub or restaurant on Queen Street.

Beaches Jazz on July 27-29, 2012 on the Eastern Toronto Boardwalk

From July 27 through 29, three venues will host jazz performances along the Boardwalk.

Latin Square will be on the boardwalk near the Leuty Lifeguard Station. The shows start on Friday from 3-6pm; on Saturday from noon-6pm; and on Sunday from noon-4pm.

The Big Band Stage will be west of Lee Ave., with shows starting on Friday from 3-6pm; on Saturday from noon-5:30pm; and on Sunday from noon-3:15pm.

The World Beat Stage arrives east of the Boardwalk Cafe, the restaurant on Woodbine Beach south of Woodbine Park. These shows start on Friday from noon-8pm; on Saturday from noon-8pm; and on Sunday from noon-7:30pm.

Remember that Queen St. will be closed to cars from 6-11:30pm on July 27-28, 2012. I would expect a very slow drive along Lake Shore Blvd. east from the Gardiner Expressway, and very few open parking spots anywhere in the vicinity. Use the TTC to go south from the Bloor-Danforth subway, or bike on the Martin Goodman Trail.

Beaches Jazz on July 28-29, 2012 at the Kew Gardens Main Stage

The final venue for the 2012 Toronto Beaches International Jazz Festival is Kew Gardens. The performances start from 11am-5pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

Kew Gardens is the park between Queen Street and Lake Ontario. Both Bellefair Ave. and Wheeler Ave. end at Queen St.; Lee Ave. continues south as a boundary of Kew Gardens.

With Queen St. closed to cars on June 26-28 (6-11:30pm), it’s unlikely you should drive into the Beach neighbourhood for this event. Bicycle on the Martin Goodman Trail or take either the Woodbine or Main bus south from the subway, and plan on a bit of a walk.

Free Workshops are the Hidden Gems of the Beaches International Jazz Festival 2012

TD Bank sponsors a series of workshops during the Beaches International Jazz Festival. The topics are:

  • Vocal Jazz, led by Heather Bambrick on July 23.
  • Social Networking for Bands and Musicians, with Phat Al, also on July 23.
  • Digital Concert Photography with Kris King on July 24
  • Improv Comedy with Kevin Frank (of the Second City Training Centre), also on July 24
  • Ukelele, led by Steve McNie on July 25
  • Songwriting, facilitated by Amy Sky, also on July 25
  • Zumba, Hip-Hop and Latin/Salsa dance workshops.

The venue for the dance workshops is the Alyona Dance Studio on 2215 Queen St. East, with the entrance on Wineva.

The other workshops will be held in the Mennonite New Life Centre in the Toronto United Mennonite Church on 1774 Queen St. East at Lark.

The official site has far more details about these free workshops and lectures.

Link to the Official Site of the Toronto Beaches International Jazz Festival

The Beaches International Jazz Festival of Toronto’s official site lists the schedule of performers at each venue.

Looking for More Annual Toronto Events?

Check the “annual events” or “Toronto events” categories toward the end of the left-hand menu for other fascinating, free or frugal annual events in Toronto.

Disclaimer: DeHaan Services has no relationship to the organizer(s); I am not reimbursed for writing this article.

Toronto Events

Toronto Afrofest 2012 at Woodbine Park

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(Updated July 4, 2015): I’ve written a new article, “A PanAm Touch for Afrofest 2015 in Toronto“. By the way, my older links to the previous years of Afrofest might not work.

(Updated June 11, 2014): Here’s the link to Afrofest 2014, running July 5-6 in Woodbine Park.

(Updated June 1, 2013): The 2013 Afrofest in Toronto returns to Woodbine Park for July 6 and 7, 2013 for more free African music. As of June 1st, they still seek volunteers to work at this event. (Updated July 6, 2013): “Five Free Toronto Events for July 6-7, 2013” includes Afrofest as one of the six free festivals, so check that for the current information. This 2012 article has more of the background. (I added the “Taste of Lawrence” after the article had  been published, and I refused to change the title from “Five” to “Six”).

Toronto Afrofest 2012 moves away from its former venue at Queen’s Park. The new location is Woodbine Park, at Lake Shore Blvd. East at Coxwell Ave.

The Basics for Afrofest 2012 in Toronto

"King George IV Approved Afrofest in Queen's Park" by PinkMoose (Anthony Easton)
“King George IV Approved Afrofest in Queen’s Park” by PinkMoose (Anthony Easton)

Celebrate Afrofest 2012 on the July 7-8 weekend from noon to 10pm, with free admission to enjoy nearly two dozen bands.

The Afrofest Toronto festivities include children’s and youth activities, the sale of African crafts, and about 30 purveyors of African cuisine.

Those new to these cuisines might find excuses to patronize African restaurants in Toronto in the coming months.

Music and dance feature prominently. For example, the main stage starts Saturday with the Joy Lapps Trio at 1pm, and closes with the African Guitar Summit starting at 8:50. On Sunday, the Samba Squad leads off at one; the final performance features Sam Fan Thomas at 8:50pm.

Afrofest 2012’s second stage, the Baobab, includes dance and fashion shows.

How to Find Afrofest 2012 at Woodbine Park in Toronto

It’s easy to find Woodbine Park for Afrofest 2012. Take the 22 Coxwell bus south from the Danforth subway line, and exit either at Queen Street or on Eastern Avenue. I’m not sure whether the Queen streetcar service will have recovered from road work by the weekend. Parking your car would be a real pain in the driver’s rear end, but the Martin Goodman Trail provides bicycle access right to Coxwell at Lake Shore. Be sure to press the traffic light button to get a “walk” signal across Lake Shore Blvd!

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Woodbine Park is bounded by Eastern Avenue on the north (just south of Queen Street); Northern Dancer on the east; Lake Shore Blvd. East on the south; and Coxwell Ave. on the west.

Once you’re anywhere near Woodbine Park, Afrofest will be impossible to miss.

Special Notes about Afrofest 2012 at Woodbine Park

"Map of Woodbine Park, Toronto" by Mike DeHaan
“Map of Woodbine Park, Toronto” by Mike DeHaan

The Afrofest 2012 organizers ask that you bring your own (plastic) water bottles, since the city does not want them to distribute such containers.

Keep track of your small children; there are a couple of open ponds in Woodbine Park. It’s also a pretty large venue!

More Details about Afrofest 2012 in Toronto

Officials decided that Afrofest had outgrown the space and facilities available at Queen’s Park. The downtown core’s loss should be the gain of Toronto’s Beach community with Afrofest 2012 finding a home at Woodbine Park.

Find more details at the official Toronto Music Africa site. (updated 2012-07-10).

Looking for More Annual Toronto Events?

Click the “Toronto Events” category at the bottom of the left-hand column for recent articles in this category. Thanks!

Disclaimer: DeHaan Services has no relationship to the organizer(s); I am not reimbursed for writing this article.