What to know
- Toronto is hosting a packed lineup of festivals, concerts and sporting events from Aug. 14–16, including Taste of Manila, Taste of Tamil, Blue Jays games, and shows by Nate Bargatze, Alexisonfire and Kehlani.
- TTC Line 1 will have a major weekend closure, with no subway service between Sheppard West and St. Clair West from Friday at 11:59 p.m. through Sunday. Shuttle buses will replace trains.
- Several TTC routes will be diverted because of Panorama India Day, Taste of Manila and Wheels on Danforth.
- GO Transit will also be affected, with planned construction disrupting the Barrie and Kitchener lines throughout the weekend. GO buses will replace some train service.
- Drivers should expect road closures for Taste of Manila, including Bathurst Street between Laurelcrest Avenue and Wilson Avenue.
- Wheels on Danforth will also close portions of Danforth Avenue and Danforth Road on Saturday.
Between festivals, sports matches, and concerts for all tastes, it’s about to be a busy weekend in Toronto. Here’s all you need to know to get around the city during it.
Several events take over the weekend
Those looking to enjoy the rest of the summer won’t be disappointed, as there will certainly be no shortage of things to do this weekend.
Canada’s biggest Filipino street festival, the Taste of Manila, is taking over Toronto’s North York from Aug. 15–16, with delicious authentic bites, live music, and cultural performances.
This is not the only cultural festival taking over the weekend, as Taste of Tamil takes place between Friday and Sunday at Morningside and Finch avenues, bringing popular street bites and live performances that celebrate community heritage.
At Scotiabank Arena, American comedian Nate Bargatze presents his Big Dumb Eyes World Tour on Saturday and Sunday.
Canadian band Alexisonfire takes over RBC Amphitheatre on Friday and Saturday, bringing some of their greatest punk and rock melodies to the stage. On Sunday, the venue will also host American singer-songwriter and dancer Kehlani, for her newest World Tour.
Toronto Hip-Hop and R&B cover band Wing Night will head to the Harbourfront Centre on Saturday for a concert.
For the sports lovers, the Blue Jays will be taking on the New York Yankees on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Rogers Centre.
The weekend will also be packed at the BMO Field, as Toronto FC faces the New England Revolution on Saturday and AFC Toronto faces Roses de Montréal FC on Sunday.
The UpFRONT Festival of Indigenous Arts, Music and Culture is also taking place this weekend at Berczy Park, running from Friday afternoon to Sunday night.
One of the city’s most anticipated community events, the Wheels on Danforth, will also be happening this Saturday along Danforth Avenue and Danforth Road, bringing an iconic car show and live band concerts to the neighbourhood.
The fifth edition of the Afraspektion will take place on Saturday night at Riverside Common Park, with an energetic celebration to honour African Canadian culture.
Finally, the Panorama India Day will take over Nathan Phillips Square on Sunday, with a vibrant celebration of India’s 80th Independence Day.
TTC disruptions
Those planning to commute across the city this weekend should note there will be planned service disruptions.
There will be no subway service on the portion of Line 1 between Sheppard West and St. Clair West stations, with shuttle buses running instead from Friday at 11:59 p.m. to Sunday due to planned track work.
Commuters should note that the 506 Carlton streetcar, 19 Bay bus, and 97 C bus services will be modified on Sunday between 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. due to the Panorama India Day Festival.
The eastbound streetcar will divert south on Spadina Avenue and east on Dundas Street to then return to its regular route. Westbound, the streetcar will divert north on McCaul Street and west on College Street to its regular route.
The northbound 19 Bay bus will divert west on Richmond Street West, north on University Avenue, east on College Street and north on Bay Street to its regular route. Southbound, it will go west on College Street, south on University Avenue, east Adelaide Street West and south on Bay Street to its regular route.
The 97C bus will not be serving stops on Yonge Street between Wood Street and Adelaide Street East, King Street West and Bay Street between Wellington and King streets.
160 Bathurst North bus will divert both ways on Faywood Boulevard and Laurelcrest Avenue, and will not serve stops on Wilson Avenue between Faywood Boulevard and Bathurst Street, Bathurst Street between Wilson and Laurelcrest avenues from Friday at 10 p.m. to Monday at 2 a.m. due to Taste of Manila.
Finally, the 20 Cliffside and 113 Danforth bus routes will divert both ways on Warden Avenue, Clonmore Drive, Gerrard Street East and Victoria Park Avenue due to Wheels on Danforth.
GO disruptions
Those taking GO Transit should note the Barrie Line between Allendale Waterfront and Union Station will be down on Saturday and Sunday, as Metrolinx carries planned construction work. Commuters can take the GO bus service between Allandale Waterfront and Rutherford GO and transfer to the Highway 407 Bus Terminal.
The Kitchener Line will also be impacted by planned construction work, with no trains running from Stratford or Kitchener GO and Mount Pleasant, as well as between Mount Dennis and Union Station.
GO buses will be replacing trains between Stratford or Kitchener and Mount Pleasant GO, as well as between Mount Pleasant GO and Mount Dennis GO. Selected GO buses will also run between Stratford or Kitchener GO and Highway 407 Bus Terminal for those who need to transfer.
Road closures
Toronto Police Service is also warning drivers that roads will be closed for the Taste of Manila festival this weekend.
Bathurst Street will be closed between Laurelcrest Avenue and Wilson Avenue from Saturday at 12 a.m. to Monday at 2 a.m.
In light of Wheels on Danforth happening on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Danforth Avenue will also be closed between Warden Avenue and Byng Avenue, while Danforth Road will be closed from Leyton Avenue to Danforth Avenue.
