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Hot Summer Guide: Festivals

July

Afrofest Music Africa’s outdoor music and culture festival featuring performances by Vieux Farka Touré, Afrofranto, Oumou Sangaré, Kemer Yusuf and others. Free. Queen’s Park. 416-469-5336, musicafrica.org. Jul 11 and 12

Beaches International Jazz Festival Outdoor stage and street-corner concerts with God Made Me Funky, Kellylee Evans, Shakura S’Aida and others. Free. Woodbine Park (Woodbine and Lake Shore), Kew Gardens (foot of Lee) and Queen E. beachesjazz.com. Jul 17 to 26

Beats, Breaks & Culture Festival of North American electronic music and urban dance with Styrofoam Ones, Canadian Turntablist Orchestra and others plus skateboarding demos and film screenings. Free. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com. Jul 10 to 12

Canadian Voices Emerging folk, hiphop and rock musicians. Free. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com. Jul 24 to 26

Caribana The annual Caribbean festival features calypso and pan music, a King & Queen competition, junior carnival, an art exhibition and the parade along the Lakeshore. Free, some ticketed events. Various venues. caribanatoronto.com. Jul 14 to Aug 2

Festival Of India Meditation, yoga, live entertainment, vegetarian cooking demos, a dosa-eating contest, bazaar and more. Free. Yonge-Dundas Square. feedyoursoul.to. Jul 18 and 19

Green Toronto Street Festival Green living celebration with entertainment, displays, activities and more. Free. Yonge-Dundas Square. ydsquare.ca. Jul 25 and 26

Inative Fest 09 Music performances, workshops and panels with native artists including Crystal Shawanda and Jimmy Wolf, and industry reps. Various prices and venues. inativefest.com. Jul 10 and 11

Indy Toronto Activities celebrate the Indy car races. Free. Yonge-Dundas Square. ydsquare.ca. To Jul 9

Irie Music Festival Performance by Byron Lee’s Dragonaires, concerts, a boat cruise, DJ dance parties and more. Free. Nathan Phillips Square (Queen and Bay), Queen’s Park and Lake Ontario. iriemusicfestival.com. Jul 30 to Aug 3

Island Soul Festival of Pan-Caribbean culture with reggae, Creole and calypso music from the Mighty Shadow and Tony Rebel, plus dance, food demos and more. Free. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com. Jul 31 to Aug 3

Just For Laughs Comedy festival with performances by Danny Bhoy, John Cleese, Jeremy Hotz, Sarah Silverman, Shaun Majumder and many others. Various venues and prices. hahaha.com. Jul 15 to 19

Mad Pride Festival celebrating psychiatric survivors, consumers and mad folk with performances, film, theatre and more. Metro Hall (55 John), PARC (1499 Queen W). madpridetoronto.blogspot.com. Jul 13 to 19

Mexico: Beyond Your Expectations Contemporary multidisciplinary showcase celebrating 100 years since the Mexican Revolution and 200 years of independence with Los de Abajo, Cafe Tacuba and others. Free. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com. Jul 17 to 19

Polaris 23 The annual festival of science fiction, fantasy and beyond features talks, celebrity visits, authors, fan awards and more. tcon.ca. Jul 10 to 12

Scream Literary Festival Literary festival on the theme of “the book is dead,” with indoor/outdoor readings, workshops, salons and the Scream In High Park. Various prices, some free events. thescream.ca. Jul 2 to 13

Summerlicious Restaurants throughout the city offer special 3-course prix-fixe menus. Lunch $14-$30, dinner $25-$45. toronto.ca/special_events. Jul 3 to 19

Fringe Theatre Festival Performances of short works by Lea Russell, Emma Hillier, Precious Chong and others. $10. Various venues. fringetoronto.com. To Jul 12

Sound Travels Fesival of sound art with indoor and outdoor performances, installations, sound walks, talks and workshops. 416-652-5115, naisa.ca. To Oct 1

Toronto Burlesque Festival Local and international performers. torontoburlesquefestival.com. Jul 23 to 26

Toronto Shakespearience Festival Performances of King Lear and The Comedy Of Errors, talks, costume exhibits, kids’ workshops and more. Todmorden Mills, 67 Pottery. 905-576-2396. Jul 11 and 12

Toronto Summer Music Festival 13 classical concerts with James Ehnes, Lawrence Dutton, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Leslie Kinton, Leipzig String Quartet and others. $20-$75, passes $120-$300. Carlu (444 Yonge), Edward Johnson Bldg (80 Queen’s Pk). 416-597-7840, torontosummermusic.com. Jul 21 to Aug 13

August

African Dance Festival Dancing, drumming, music and more. Free. Yonge-Dundas Square. ydsquare.ca. Aug 22 and 23

Buskerfest Performances by top international street acts. Free (donations to Epilepsy Toronto). St Lawrence Market neighbourhood, Front and Jarvis. torontobuskerfest.com. Aug 27 to 30

Filipinos Making Waves Filipino arts, cultural performances, food and more. Free. Yonge-Dundas Square. ydsquare.ca. Aug 15 and 16

Lakeshore Mardigras New Orleans-style outdoor family festival. Free. Humber College-Lakeshore, Kipling and Lake Shore. lakeshoremardigras.ca. Aug 8 to 10

Planet Indigenus Contemporary indigenous arts festival with music, film and performance art by Crystal Shawanda, Tanya Tagaq and others. Free. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com. Aug 14 to 23

Squiggfest Grassroots festival of music, theatre, dance, comedy, spoken word, film and art. $5, pass $8. Bread and Circus, 299 Augusta. 905-466-1635, torontounderground.ca. Aug 27 to 29

Summerworks Indie theatre and arts festival. $10-$12, passes $25-$60. summerworks.ca. Aug 6 to 16

Taiwanfest Music, visual arts, food and fashion featuring the Hsu-Nami. Free. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com. Aug 28 to 30

Taste Of The Danforth Greektown showcases the best in Hellenic food, culture and live music plus interactive games. Danforth W of Broadview. tasteofthedanforth.com. Aug 7 to 9

Toronto African Dance Festival Dance workshops and performances, exhibits, a marketplace and more. Free. Yonge-Dundas Square. africandancefestival.com. Aug 22 and 23

Toronto After Dark Film Festival Horror, sci-fi, action, animation and cult films. torontoafterdark.com. Aug 14 to 21

Toronto Bicycle Film Festival Celebration of bicycles through art, music and film. bicyclefilmfestival.com. Aug 19 to 22

Toronto Chinatown Festival Multicultural music and dance, kung-fu shows, food sampling, interactive games and more. Free. Spadina and Dundas. toronto.ca. Aug 22 and 23

Toronto Festival Of Beer Celebration of Canada’s rich craft brewing history with tastings, seminars and more. Bandhshell Park, Exhibition Place. beerfestival.ca. Aug 6 to 9

Toronto Turkish Festival Turkish arts, music, exhibits, food and more. Free. Yonge-Dundas Square. ydsquare.ca. Aug 1 and 2

Viva Cuba Festival of Cuban culture, music, dance, food and more. Free. Yonge-Dundas Square. ydsquare.ca. Sep 5 and 6

Woodstock Canadian Style, Eh! Performances by Tommy Gun, First Person Shooter, Descendants, Ape and others. $25-$75. Downsview Park, 35 Carl Hall. ticketscene.ca. Jul 31 to Aug 3

Yoga Festival Toronto Classes in a variety of yoga styles. National Ballet School, 400 Jarvis. yogafestivaltoronto.org. Aug 21 to 23

Zaika South Asian food festival with cuisine, song, dance and films. Free. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com. Aug 7 to 9

September

Hot And Spicy Food Festival Chefs dish up hot, sweet and spicy cuisine, with demos, an Iron Chef competition, music and more. Free. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com. Sep 4 to 7

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