Hot off the heels of the NHL All-Star Weekend, February in Toronto will leave everyone spoiled for choice.
The month is choc-a-bloc with noteworthy events occurring only once a year, from Valentine’s Day to Family Day, Black History Month and the Lunar New Year, and Toronto is ready and raring to go.
Perhaps you’re bringing the family into town for the long weekend, in that case, the Aga Khan Museum’s special programming has you covered. Maybe you’re planning to catch dinner and a show, so why not laugh late into the night at Book of Mormon? Or, whisk your significant other away this Valentine’s Day with a romantic stay at a downtown hotel.
Keep reading for a breakdown of versatile and inclusive activities on offer this month in Toronto.
Art
KUUMBA is Toronto’s biggest and longest-standing black futures festival.
The month-long event taps into and celebrates the city’s rich cultural makeup through music, theatre, dance and visual arts.
KUUMBA strives to cultivate an atmosphere that highlights the infinite potential of Black creatives, cultures and societies and will feature an array of exhibitions, a keynote speech from New York Times best-selling author Angie Thomas, film screenings and spoken word readings.
The event runs from Feb. 1-29 at the Harbourfront Centre, click here for a comprehensive list of programming and to grab tickets.
Vivid City: A Toronto-Themed Art Show by Kate Land
Check out a brilliant one-woman art show by Toronto-born artist Kate Land.
Vivid City celebrates Land’s hometown with a collection of stunning cityscape paintings.
Land works mainly in acrylic and on canvas and pays homage to the city with eye-catching colour palettes and uneven playful composition.
As an artist with facial differences, Land hopes to shed light on the way she perceives and experiences Toronto and expose the beauty in imperfection.
Visit any day between 9:00-5:00 p.m until Feb, 15, at Assembly Hall, in Etobicoke.
BLACK & WHITE Members Exhibition
Immerse yourself in a unique experience defined by the omission of colour.
The BLACK & WHITE Members Exhibition explores how the absence of colour enhances expression and can be utilized as an emotive tool.
The exhibit is free to attend and open to the public.
It will be on display until Feb 17, at the Dignam Gallery hosted by the Women’s Art Association of Canada.
Family Day Weekend Activities and Performances at the Aga Khan Museum
This coming Family Day weekend the Aga Khan Museum will host a variety of free programming including performances in partnership with the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto.
Enjoy pop-up shows, and educational demonstrations, try your hand at calligraphy in the Atrium, and channel your creativity with hands-on fun geared towards the whole family.
Family Day weekend activities will be available from Feb. 17 to Feb. 19 between 10:00 a.m. and 05:30 p.m at the Aga Khan Museum.
Music
There’s nothing quite like the transformative power of music.
The Art of Time Ensemble has been dedicated to lifting spirits through the fusion of theatre, dance, film literature and performance for over 20 years.
To mark its 25th anniversary and announce its final concert season it will host an illustrious program of live concerts and special projects that span 18 months, including Dance To The Abyss: Music From The Weimar Republic, from Feb. 23-25 and Both Sides Now, A Tribute To Joni Mitchell, from May. 9-11 at the Harbourfront Centre Theatre.
Tickets start at $39. For a full list of dates and showtimes and to purchase tickets to its final season shows, click here.
Festivals & Special Events
DJ Skate Nights at Evergreen Brick Works
Lace-up your skates and head down to Evergreen Brick Works for DJ Skate Nights.
This is a free, family-friendly activity that lets guests skate among the trees while a DJ plays chart-topping tracks.
Dig into a post-skate snack, from Wuba Easts, Birdy’s Daughter, Rudy’s Restaurant or The Sipping Container.
Or, play lawn games, make s’mores by the fire pits, and warm up after skating at the Apres Skate Lounge in the Young Centre.
Visitors are encouraged to bring their own skates though there will be rentals available for a suggested fee of $5.
DJ Skate Nights are taking place on Feb. 10 and Feb. 17, from 6:00 p.m – 10:00 p.m. at Evergreen Brickworks.
Toronto Chinatown Lunar New Year Celebration
It’s almost time to ring in the Chinese New Year!
The turn of the lunar year marks the end of the year of the rabbit and the beginning of the year of the dragon, which symbolizes authority and good fortune in Chinese culture.
Toronto’s Chinatown will host two days of festivities on Feb. 10 and 11 with traditional performances, delicious food and cultural celebrations.
Participate in a Mahjong competition, get your fortune told, enter into a lucky draw, listen to a classical Chinese orchestra and enjoy Chinese folk dancing.
Festivities are set to take place at the Chinatown Centre and Dragon City Mall on Saturday, Feb. 10 and Sunday, Feb. 11 between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
The Dancing Queen Dining Experience: ABBA tribute
If you love ABBA, then this one’s for you!
A tribute night honouring the iconic pop group that includes a scrumptious two-course dinner and lively disco featuring a playlist of the band’s countless hits is happening in Toronto.
Order from a selection of appetizers and mains including an assorted Mediterranean Mezze Platter and an arrival drink of either beer or wine, and channel your inner dancing queen.
This event caters perfectly to group nights out and is running until Feb. 18 at MADO on 144 Yonge St.
Tickets cost $99 and can be purchased here.
Stage
Laugh until it hurts at the Book of Mormon.
The nine-time Tony Award-winning musical comedy follows a group of young American missionaries from the Church of the Latter-Day Saints as they attempt to convert a community of Ugandan locals to their religion.
The hit show is playing at the Princess of Wales Theatre until Feb. 11.
Don’t miss out on what the New York Times called “the best musical of this century.”
Tickets are available starting at $119 and can be purchased here.
Hasan Minhaj: Off With His Head
Hasan Minhaj is bringing his brand-new stand-up show to Toronto!
Minhaj will take the stage at Meridian Hall, promising a combination of belly laughs, insight, sharp comedic observations and of course his signature wit.
The shows will take place on Feb. 23 and 24, tickets start at $111 and can be purchased here.
For more events like this, check out the events calendar, powered by Now Playing Toronto.
To list your event, click here.
