Mashup Pon Di Road
With the return of Toronto Caribbean Carnival on the horizon, actor/storyteller Bahia Watson and comedian/storyteller Liza Paul are bringing an outdoor Caribbean musical to the streets. The long-time collaborators poke fun at the patriarchy, the ruling class and the end of the world as we know it through a lively series of vignettes and songs.
July 21-23 in Little Jamaica at the Green P Lot, 1531 Eglinton West; and July 27 at the Bentway, 250 Fort York. Free. welcometodicircus.com
Beaches Jazz Festival final weekend
The festival wraps up with its signature event: Streetfest. Queen Street will be closed to traffic from Woodbine to Beech Avenue from 6 pm to midnight July 21 to 23 so that blues, jazz and fusion musicians can take over the streets. Need a break from the crowded street? You can chill out at nearby Woodbine Park with NuFunk’s Groovin’ In The Park party on Friday and Saturday nights, featuring local DJs Iced Misto, Paul E Lopes, Jason Palma and others. The park will host more jazz fest musicians for a final mainstage showcase on Sunday.
July 21-24. Free. Queen East from Woodbine to Beech and Woodbine Park (1695 Queen East). beachesjazz.com
King Henry Five
For over 25 years, Driftwood Theatre has brought The Bard’s Bus Tour – an outdoor staging of a Shakespeare play – to various towns and cities in Ontario. In its post-pandemic return, the company has adapted three Shakespeare plays (Henry IV pts 1 & 2 and Henry V) into a story about community, family and the legacies we leave behind.
July 21-23 at 7:30 pm. Pwyc $5-$75. Withrow Park, 725 Logan. driftwoodtheatre.com
Toronto’s Festival of Beer
The annual festival presented by the Beer Store features hundreds of brewers, food vendors (Burger’s Priest, Heirloom, Oyster Boy) and live music by hip-hop legend Nas on Friday. Canrock acts will headline the weekend, with Sam Roberts Band and the Strumbellas on Saturday and Matt Mays and the Revivalists on Sunday.
July 22-24. From $65. Bandshell Park at Exhibition Place, 100 Prince Edward Island Cres. beerfestival.ca
Rage Against the Machine + Run the Jewels
Rage Against the Machine shook up Ottawa Bluesfest last week. Despite a recent leg injury that kept him off his feet, singer Zack de la Rocha and the band went hard while screens behind the stage called for Land Back and listed facts about the violence experienced by Indigenous peoples in Canada. If you’ve been missing this kind of energy on stage, the band is here for two shows this week.
July 21 & 23 at 8 pm. From $125. Scotiabank Arena, 40 Bay. ticketmaster.ca
Fun Philippines Toronto Street Festival
Never been to Toronto’s Little Manila? This weekend would be a good time to get acquainted via this North York street fest. Live music and comedy performances and an open mic, games, cultural installations and tons of street food will fill a kilometre of Bathurst Street north of Wilson.
July 23-24. Free. Bathurst north of Wilson. funphilippinestoronto.com
Gay Garbage
Canadian Comedy Award winner Tom Hearn kicks off the tour of his solo sketch show – directed by Second City’s Carly Heffernan – before heading to the Edmonton & Fundy Fringe in August. Also on the bill are Sanjina and Ajahnis Charley.
July 24 at 9 pm. $15-$20. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor West. comedybar.ca
All Day I Dream Of Terrific Toronto
This dance music festival started out in 2011 as a series of rooftop parties in Brooklyn by UK house/techno DJ Lee Burridge. This year, the Toronto edition will feature Burridge, Buenos Aires DJ/producer Facundo Mohrr, Double Touch and Pippi Ciez.
July 23 from 2-10 pm. All ages. $85. Fort York, 250 Fort York. alldayidream.com
Leel Fair
Good News, Toronto is a high-energy news parody show – but given the current state of the world, parody might not be enough to pull us out of despair. So instead, they are presenting a musical comedy festival. Performers include Ally Medeiros, Rebecca McDonald, Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll and, fresh off his Fringe solo show, Anesti Danelis.
July 22 at 8:30 pm. $23. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor West. comedybar.ca
The Guild Alive with Culture Arts Festival
This east-end arts festival in a gorgeous waterfront park will feature live performances by guitar virtuoso Johannes Linstead, classical Indian dance group Shivanjali Arts and many more, plus community info booths, a kids’ zone with interactive art, a beer garden and a market featuring artisans and local vendors.
July 23-24, 10 am-5 pm. Free admission. Guild Park & Gardens, 201 Guildwood Pkwy. guildalivewithculture.ca
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.
