The weekend is upon us, and with evenings from yoga classes to a basketball game, a food drive, and the Indonesian Food Festival, the schedule of events is teeming in Toronto.
Summers in Toronto are precious, with warm weather, sunny days, and seemingly endless things to do. We’re now well into the season, and the rundown for the next few days features lots of performances, yoga lessons, and more. Here’s the scoop:
Friday July 17
The Beaches Jazz Fest
Where: Woodbine Park
When: July 17-19
The month-long Beaches International Jazz Festival continues with the TD Weekend, which takes over Woodbine Park from July 17-19, for three days of free live music, food and family-friendly activities in the east end.
The festival’s main stage will feature a diverse lineup of artists spanning jazz, funk, soul, R&B, pop and world music, with performances running throughout the weekend. Beyond the music, festival-goers can look forward to a collection of food trucks, local vendors, a licensed beer garden and activities for all ages.
The event is free to attend, welcoming 1,000,000 visitors over the month, making it one of the city’s biggest outdoor summer celebrations and a chance to experience both established performers and emerging talent.
Toronto Tempo v. Atlanta Dream
Where: Coca-Cola Coliseum
When: 7:30 p.m.
Toronto’s WNBA team is kicking off the weekend with a home game that will see them take on Atlanta at home.
The two teams have gone head-to-head on two prior occasions, both last month. The Dream defeated the Tempo 102-77 on June 14, while Atlanta secured a tighter win on June 22, winning 94-87.
Both verified resale seats starting at $55 and standing-room-only tickets starting at $70 are available on Ticketmaster.
Louis Tomlinson: How Did We Get Here Tour
Where: Scotiabank Arena
When:
Those who once said “One Direction forever!” and those who have gone on to support the member’s solo careers following their 2015 split – there’s a concert coming to Toronto you may want to check out. Former British sweetheart turned solo icon Louis Tomlinson is bringing his How Did We Get Here Tour to Toronto this weekend.
Doors open at 7:00 p.m. with The Aces and Picture Parlour opening for Tomlinson. Tickets are still available, starting at around $90.
Saturday, July 18
Yoga in the Park
Where: Trillium Park
When: 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Head to Trillium Park Saturday or Sunday for their free outdoor yoga sessions. The classes are suitable for yogis of all levels, combining hatha with vinyasa to bring deep connection with breath, body and spirit while strengthening the physical body.
The classes run every Saturday and Sunday in the park from June 6 to Sept. 27, 10–11 a.m. and are organized in collaboration with NÜLOVE. The series features various special experiences, including Acro Yoga Fusions, yoga dance parties with Dance Alchemy, and yoga/fitness fusion Awaken from Jungle Toronto. Find out more on the Ontario Place website.
No registration required; attendees just have to bring a yoga mat and water bottle and enjoy the practice.
Indonesian Food Festival
Where: Sankofa Square
When: 12:00-8:00 p.m.
Experience the flavours of Indonesia with a celebration of the country’s cuisine and culture at Sankofa Square.
The event welcomes attendees to enjoy a day of food, culture, and friendship between Indonesia and Canada through a cultural celebration showcasing Indonesia’s rich flavours, traditions, and diversity.
Featuring authentic Indonesian cuisine, cultural performances, live music, and traditional dances, festival visitors will have the opportunity to experience Indonesia’s unique culinary heritage and dynamic culture while connecting with local Indonesian businesses.
The Junior Carnival Parade
Where: Malvern Community Centre, 30 Sewells Rd., Scarborough
When: 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Head to the east end to check out the cutest Caribbean Carnival event this Saturday with an all-day affair in Scarborough. The Junior Carnival Parade is an annual, family-friendly event that gives young masqueraders the chance to revel in Caribbean culture while sharing their heritage with the Toronto community.
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This parade is free to attend, and similar to the annual Grand Parade, set for Aug. 2, just with much smaller participants. Child masqueraders take to the street, showing off hand-crafted costumes, while band leaders will show off this year’s dazzling youth designs to a panel of judges.
People of all ages are encouraged to attend and show their support for young Toronto Caribbean people. Featuring vibrant sounds of soca, reggae, and calypso, the parade kicks off at the Malvern Community Centre and wraps at Neilson Park.
Free Chicken at Nando’s
Where: Nando’s Canada
When: All day during operating hours
Head to your local Nando’s to donate and score a free chicken dinner. Nando’s Canada is celebrating Mandela Day with a campaign encouraging Canadians to raid their pantries for 67 seconds in honour of Nelson Mandela’s 67 years of service, then bring a non-perishable food item to their local Nando’s to receive a ¼ Chicken with a side of their popular Peri Fries.
In addition to celebrating Nelson Mandela’s legacy and paying homage to the company’s South African roots, the collected food items will be donated to local food banks.
Nando’s has a downtown Toronto location at 832 Bay St., Scarborough has a Nando’s at 15 William Kitchen Rd., Etobicoke’s Nando’s is at 150 N. Queen St., and Mississauga’s is at 5101 Dixie Rd.
Sunday, July 19
Indigenous Sounds Now
Where: Trillium Park
When: 3:00-9:00 p.m.
Celebrate Indigenous culture, stories, and songs with a free event taking over Trillium Park as part of the venue’s Summer Series. The concert seeks to amplify the culture, stories and songs of Indigenous People with an incredible range of artists.
Hosted by veteran journalist Donna Sound, attendees can look forward to an event that blends the heartfelt beats of traditional Pow Wow drums, Electronica fused with Indigenous rhythms, soulful blues and slick alt-rock grooves. The lineup features Nadjiwan, DJ Kimiwvn, The Healers, Classic Roots, and Eagle Heart Drummers. Find out more about what to expect on Ontario Place’s website.
Devon Rex Kitten Yoga
Where: 539 A Mount Pleasant Rd.
When: 11:30-12:30 a.m.
Enjoy an Insta-worthy, adorable yoga lesson at Devon Rex Kitten Yoga. The class runs for 60 minutes, featuring a 35-minute yoga lesson that is geared towards beginners, followed by 20 minutes of playtime with the kittens and five minutes to regroup before reemerging into the real world.
Described by organizers as “a lot”, Devon Rex kittens are curious, fast, and love to climb and rest all over yogis. Often called the pixies of the cat world, this beautiful breed has big ears, wide eyes, and a coat that looks like it went through a gentle wash cycle. The young felines will be free-roaming throughout the studio during your class.
Organizers say that spending time with the sociable, curly-coated Devon Rex kittens paired with their gentle yoga class is the perfect cure for the Sunday scaries in Toronto. Tickets are $61.68, and mats are provided. This class is family-friendly, with kids aged 5 and older welcome. Anyone under 18 must attend with a parent or guardian who also participates in the class.
World Cup Finals Rooftop Party
Where: Aera, 8 Spadina Ave.
When: 1:00-10:00 p.m.
Enjoy the final game and celebrate victory, or mourn defeat, at a rooftop World Cup viewing party at Aera. Head to the venue before kickoff at…. To enjoy the match on the big screen with cold drinks, delicious bites and a great view.
Then after the match, stay for the afterparty celebrations that take over the roof for a soiree featuring a wicked lineup of DJs, including Matt Pridgyn, Grayson Repp, Seba, Y2A and more!
