October is here and it’s the perfect time to explore new activities and events before the end of the year!
This month, there are endless events to let your imagination run free. Whether you’re trying a new hobby at a province-wide festival or immersing in an environmental film festival, there are several thrilling and chill events available throughout Toronto this month (and many of them are FREE!)
Keep reading for more on the most creative events to explore in Toronto this month.
FESTIVALS
October Community Weekend
Date: October 5-6, 2024
Location: Museum of Contemporary Art
Admission: $0-$14.
Practice your hand-crafting skills at October Community Weekend, a jam-packed two days of contemporary art workshops, storytelling, and kid-friendly tours in a culturally-rich community hub!
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) will host the weekend-long, all-ages art affair! On Saturday, youth and adults can look forward to a three-hour beading class led by artist Katie Longboat. Not only will participants focus on skill-building and hands-on art-making, but they’ll also create a small beaded piece to take home!
On the TD Community Sunday, families with younger children can gather for a storytime circle in the museum! MOCA’s Art Educators will read a series of children’s books, taking inspiration from the playful and colourful artworks in Alex Da Corte’s exhibition, Ear Worm.
After the reading, participants will be invited to a workshop to draw using prompts inspired by the art, and to explore the other exhibitions through kid-friendly museum tours at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
For more information, click here.
ON Culture Days Arts Festival
Date: Until October 13, 2024
Location: Various Locations
Admission: Free
Bring your innovations past city borders, as Ontario Culture Days is offering free public programs across the entire province, including in Toronto!
The festival gives participants of all ages and cultures the freedom to unleash their creativity through crafting, games, dance, and more!
The events Ontario Culture Days offers are limitless, catering to a number of activities for anyone to enjoy. Some of these awesome events include a Mimico ravine guided nature walk on Oct. 5, an in-studio behind-the-scenes ballet rehearsal on Oct. 9, a children’s book live reading on Oct. 10, and many more!
Ontario Culture Days also offers to connect people to a wide range of venues rooted in the city’s culture, such as the Soulpepper Theatre and Crow’s Theatre, through their ON Culture Guide.
For more information on the tons of programs being offered, click here.
Planet in Focus International Environmental Film Festival
Date: October 15-20, 2024
Location: Paradise Theatre
Admission: $15-$50
Calling all environmentalists, film fanatics and future filmmakers!
Canada’s largest environmental film festival, Planet in Focus International Environmental Film Festival, is celebrating its 25th anniversary! There will be more than 40 Canadian and international films screening, highlighting current issues beyond the traditional scope of ecology, including social justice and solution-based films engaging audiences of all ages.
Attendees can also look forward to a free Family Day that includes an interactive exhibit, panels and filmmaker Q&As!
For more information, click here.
Spooktacular COCQ Queer Market
Date: October 25, 2024
Location: The 519
Admission: Free
Making your Halloween costume by hand this year?
Visit the Spooktacular COCQ Queer Market at The 519, a Queer Artisan market available to fulfill all your spooky, goth & witchy needs!
Hosted by the Collective of Creative Queers (COCQ), the free market features queer and ally artisans, makers and service providers celebrating everything queer, weird and wonderful. Whether you’d like to get a tattoo, enjoy a psychic tarot card reading, or just overall support local queer artisans, the market is yours to explore!
For more information, click here.
Trick or Treat at the Bata Shoe Museum
Date: October 27, 2024
Location: Bata Shoe Museum
Admission: Free
Show off your fabulous costume at Trick or Treat, a Halloween event held at the Bata Shoe Museum.
Celebrating in fabulous costumes, there will be a free museum-wide trick-or-treat-inspired scavenger hunt, family-friendly crafts, as well as a chance to strut on the Halloween runway to show off your extraordinary costumes!
Attendees who would like to take part in the runway must sign up at the redemption table beforehand. This event will also be held during a “Free Sunday,” and attendees can check in with the front desk to acquire an admission ticket, or reserve in advance online.
For more information, click here.
MUSIC
Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert
Date: October 18-19, 2024
Location: Roy Thomson Hall
Admission: $59 – $161
Be immersed in the frighteningly dreamy sounds of Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert, held at Roy Thomson Hall!
Tim Burton’s cult classic comes to life like never before, performed live by the outstanding Toronto Symphony Orchestra and projected on the big screen with Danny Elfman’s delightfully quirky score. The story follows the misadventures of Jack Skellington, the king of Halloweentown, who stumbles upon “Christmas Town” and schemes to take over the holiday.
For more information, click here.
Music & Truffles KIDS host Benedetto Lupo
Date: October 20, 2024
Location: University of Toronto – Walter Hall
Admission: $25
Indulge your children in their first taste of classical music at Music & Truffles KIDS!
Held at University of Toronto’s Walter Hall, the one-hour concert hosted by Benedetto Lupo is designed for young people aged 6-11 and their parents, grandparents, and friends. The relaxed and fun atmosphere explores music by professional musicians.
And the sweetest part is, everyone receives a Lindt chocolate truffle at the end!
For more information, click here.
ART
Halloween OCAD Artist Alley
Date: October 12, 2024
Location: OCAD University – Great Hall and Lobby
Admission: Free
Looking to support and connect with local artists?
Look no further than the OCAD Artist Alley. The free bi-annual art market is making its return this month, featuring local emerging artists and small businesses owned by OCAD University students and alumni.
At the OCAD Artist Alley, you’ll find a wide variety of artist-made posters, prints, zines, stickers, greeting cards, ceramics, fashion, jewellery, and more from local creators.
More than 50 OCAD students and alumni will set up shop from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Great Hall (2nd Floor), and Lobby (Main Entrance).
Visitors are encouraged to bring cash, as most artists do not have card readers. There will also be ATMs available in the building.
For more information, click here.
Art Toronto
Date: October 24-27, 2024
Location: Metro Toronto Convention Centre – North Building
Admission: $15-$380
Canada’s largest international art fair is making its annual return to the city.
Art Toronto is taking over the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, attracting esteemed galleries, artists, and art lovers from across the globe!
This year, the fair will feature more than 100 galleries representing Canada and beyond across an elevated floor design filled with open-air installations and more.
Don’t miss the highly anticipated Opening Night of Art Toronto, where guests will not only get an exclusive look at the extraordinary artwork, but can also enjoy tasty drinks and light bites.
For more information, click here.
STAGE
GOBLIN:MACBETH
Date: October 3-27, 2024
Location: Tarragon Theatre
Admission: $10-$72
This production headed to the Tarragon Theatre is not your typical Shakespeare play!
The theatre is putting on GOBLIN:MACBETH, a fantastic fusion that includes three goblins in the reimagining of the Shakespearean classic Macbeth.
Through a unique blend of comedy and tragedy, with a spatter of improvisation, GOBLIN:MACBETH is a ghastly take on a Shakespearean classic.
Students can grab tickets for $10 through hipTIX exclusively, to learn about hipTIX click here.
For more information about Goblin Macbeth, click here.
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