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Things to do in Toronto this long weekend: July 29-Aug 1

Caribbean Carnival is one of the things to do in Toronto this weekend
Caribbean Carnival is one of the things to do in Toronto this weekend
Photo by Nick Lachance

Toronto Caribbean Carnival

It’s finally here! Carnival weekend is back… in person… on the road. The King & Queen Showcase takes place Thursday evening, while the Ontario Steel Pan Association’s Pan Alive concert is on Friday, both at Lamport Stadium. Saturday’s festivities start at 8 am at Exhibition Place and continue for the rest of the day, as the parade makes its way along Lake Shore Blvd West. Read our July issue cover story about the revellers and mas bands who have been waiting for this weekend for three years.

July 28-31. Various prices, free to watch the parade along Lake Shore Blvd West. torontocarnival.ca

Dream in High Park: As You Like It

Canadian Stage presents the romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, staged outdoors with original music by Canadian songwriters Serena Ryder, Kiran Ahluwalia and Maryem Toller, design by Shadowland Theatre and directed by Anand Rajaram.

July 28-Sep 4. Pwyc-$30. High Park Amphitheatre, 1837 Bloor West. canadianstage.com

Island Soul

Harbourfront presents its annual Caribbean festival that always dovetails nicely with Carnival weekend. Enjoy live music by Exco Levi, the Arsenals, Elaine Shepherd, OCPA Calypso Stars and others plus comedy, dance workshops and more. All events are free except Comedy Night with Trixx & Friends and Trey Anthony’s solo stage show, A Black Girl In Love (With Herself).

July 29-Aug 1. Free-$95. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West. harbourfrontcentre.com

But Then Again part of things to do in Toronto this weekend
Courtesy of DanceWorks

But Then Again

DanceWorks’ Moving Online presents a new documentary about the journey of a dance project – Dora Award-winning choreographer Hanna Kiel’s new piece – through the pandemic. It’s about adapting to change, dealing with grief and acceptance. The intergenerational cast of dancers is impressive: Ryan Lee, Bonnie Kim, Darryl C. Tracy, Susie Burpee, Pulga Muchochoma, Oriah Wiersma, Kendra Epik and 11-year-old dancer Eva Teece-Soter. And the work features an original score by Pouya Hamidi and Frances Miller.

Available to stream from July 28 at 7:30 pm to July 31 at 11:59 pm. $10-$15. eventbrite.ca

VELD Music Festival

The all-ages outdoor electronic dance music and hip-hop festival takes over North York with Alesso, Armin Van Buuren, the Chainsmokers, Marshmello, Martin Garrex, Porter Robinson, Coi Leray, DVBBS, Gunna and many others. Bring sunscreen and stay hydrated.

July 29-31. $125 and up. Downsview Park, 70 Canuck. veldmusicfestival.com

Stranger By The Lake shimmers seductively.

Stranger By The Lake

“Stark and seductive, serene and unnerving, lucid and mysterious…” – that is how NOW’s reviewer described this 2013 erotic thriller by French director Alain Guiraudie. Queer Cinema Club has picked the perfect time to host a screening of the film, which is a perfect mid-summer mix of sex, swimming and murder. Dylan Glynn’s short film Thot Or Not, which won the award for best short film at the 2022 Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival, will open the evening.

July 28 at 8 pm. $15-$20. Paradise Theatre, 1006 Bloor West. eventbrite.ca

God Is A Scottish Drag Queen

Canadian comedian/actor Mike Delamont has taken his solo show to Fringe festivals in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Orlando and, back in 2013, Toronto. Now he’s bringing the two-act comedy that skewers human nature and pop culture to a bigger stage.

July 28-31. $32-$49. CAA Theatre, 651 Yonge. mirvish.com

Food festivals this weekend

Don’t let the diet industry ruin your summer. Forget about staying in beach-body shape (round is a shape) and go food-festival hopping this long weekend. The Toronto Food Truck Festival is at Woodbine Park (July 29-Aug 1, 1695 Lake Shore East); Scarborough Rotary’s Ribfest is at Thomson Park (July 29-Aug 1, 1005 Brimley), and Taste Of India (July 31-Aug 1, 100 Queen West) is at Nathan Phillips Square. Admission is free for all three events.

Want even more events? Check out our Hot Summer Guide list of 50 things to do this summer and our Carnival guide to events related to this month’s Toronto Caribbean Carnival.

@glennsumi

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