Hark! Do ye hear what I hear? Is…is…is that the call of another long weekend? Tis indeed, my pets. While some of y’all are still slated to work Monday – it is only a Civic Holiday after all, not a Stat – Kim (the little intern that could) and I decided to scour the world-wide-web to find some of the awesomeness that shall descend upon the city this three-day break…
Friday
Island Soul
Walking hand-in-hand with the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival, the Harbourfront Centre’s Island Soul festival celebrates the independence and culture of Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago. Be sure to check out performances by roots-reggae singer Duane Stephenson and the Afro-Caribbean Performing Arts Company. Not to mention, there will be plenty of Caribbean food vendors dishing out some fiery meals.
Lakeshore Mardi Gras
Feel like getting your N’awlins groove on this weekend? Starting Friday and going through Monday, the 9th Annual Lakeshore Mardi Gras festival will be held at Colonel Samuel Smith Park. Bring the whole family and enjoy live music along with buskers who will perform throughout the festival, shopping, food vendors, a midway, kid zone (barf!), and interactive games.
Indie Fridays
Virgin Mobile’s Indie Fridays continues at Yonge/Dundas Square this August long weekend. A free concert series featuring top Canadian Indie musicians, this week will see Manitoba-based Magnificent 7’s taking the stage – a five piece, 100 per cent acoustic band that plays traditional bluegrass.
Saturday
Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival Grand Parade
The festival formerly known as Caribana hits fever pitch this weekend with Saturday’s Grand Parade. From bootylicious moves to gyration-inducing music, more colours of the rainbow than you’ll ever witness at Pride to masqueraders of all shapes and sizes, the Grand Parade is a spectacle of Island proportions that should not be missed.
Speaking of the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival, there are, obviously, a sh*t-ton of events going on in conjunction/on-the-sidelines/not-even-remotely-close-to-being-sanctioned by the fest. Here are five we think might be pretty stellar: Soul Kitchen – Carnival Edition at Ame, Shine – The Breakfast Fete at Sound Academy, Big Primpin’ The Gold Drank Edition at Wrongbar (for the ‘mos), Official Def Jam Party at KoolHaus, and the Hot 97/BET Party.
Rogers Cup
Starting on Saturday and going until August 12th, the Rogers Cup presented by the National Bank will be serving up the best tennis players competing for this year’s grand title. (I actually have no clue what the prestigious winner gets, but I’m assuming if you’re a tennis-lover you’ll understand the Cup’s allure.) If you have a family – my sincerest condolences – but at least this long weekend is free for ya.
VELD Music Festival
EDM lovers unite: the VELD Music Festival is taking over Downsview Park both Saturday and Sunday for a weekend of electronic music glory featuring world-renowned DJs and talent. The good news? You’ll have Monday to recoup in full. (Don’t pretend we don’t know what some of you pots-n-pans-music lovers are doing…)
PAY DAY: Old School Hip Hop and RnB
Parts and Labour’s tossing it way back with old school urban beats with DJs Stew Innes and Isosceles. If you’re anything like my gal-pal Zulla, this’ll be a hip joint for you.
Sunday
The Long Weekend at Bloke & 4th
While we’re not really club-heads here at VTV, there’s no reason for those of you out there to pack it in on Sunday night. Check out Bloke & 4th for Ketel One vodka specials (at least it’s better than Smirnoff!), and music by Sam Haze.
Movies in the Park
Head back to the good ol’ days of drive-thrus (sort of) and enjoy Back to the Future under the stars in Riverdale Park. This free screening starts around dusk. All you have to do is pack blankie and maybe some sangria and enjoy a flick under the cover of night.
Monday
Artisans at the Distillery
This edition of Artisans at the Distillery runs Saturday through Monday at…well…read the name of the event again. From craftsmen to painters, welders to whittlers, there’s beautiful artisan arts and crafts to be found for all.
EYES on Queen West
Gladstone bartender Stephen Eyes is back at it, with guests Ennis Esmer and Joe Dinicol, comedians Debra DiGiovanni and Trevor Boris, music by Vag Halen and JAT, and burlesque by Mena von Fleisch. Sounds like a trendy way to end your Monday.