You remember our Ultimate Pride Guide? Well, we’re back with another guide to give you the inside scoop on how to have a fabulous long weekend! Yes, you probably have that one friend who drove up to their gorgeous Muskoka cottage and is posting pictures galore that have you totally green with envy, but they’re missing out on this great opportunity to be a tourist in your own city. So put down the Doritos, get off your couch, and get out and explore The 6ix.
Here is Vv Magazine‘s ultimate guide to your August long weekend.
Free Outdoor Movies
Who doesn’t want to enjoy a movie under the stars? Bring a blanket and some snackage to one of these Toronto parks and bask in the glory of a warm summer evening that’s totally free.
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- Song of the Sea @ Earl Bales Park, 4169 Bathurst Street—Thursday July 30 | 9pm
- Big Hero 6 @ St. James Park, 120 King Street East—Thursday July 30 | Sunset
- The Good Life @ Moss Park Apartments Green Space, 275 Shuter Street—Friday July 31 | 9pm
- Mean Girls @ Christie Pits Park, 779 Crawford Street—Sunday August 2| Sunset
Free Concerts
Looking for a more exciting date idea than going out for drinks or coffee? Try taking that hipster cutie you’ve been dying to ask out to a free Toronto concert! It’s an easy way to do something fun yet cultured and explore the talent of the city.
- Play the Parks Concert @ Trinity Park—Thursday July 30 |12pm – 1pm
- Play the Parks Concert @ McGill Parkette, 415 Yonge Street—Thursday July 30 | 5pm
- Classic Albums Live Band @ Roy Thomson Hall Patio—Thursday July 30 and Friday July 31 | 5pm
- Impressions @ Toronto Music Garden, 475 Queens Quay West–Thursday July 30 | 7pm
- Lemon Bucket Orchestra @ Toronto Botanical Gardens—Thursday July 30 | 7pm
- Irene Torres & the Sugar Devils @ Village of Yorkville Park—Friday July 31 | 11:30am – 2:30pm
- Tre Maison @ Yonge-Dundas Square—Friday July 31 | 8:30pm
- Cascabel Duo @ Village of Yorkville Park—Saturday August 1 | 1:30pm – 4:30pm
- Phillips Westin Orchestra @ Mel Lastman Square—Sunday August 2 | 7:30pm
- Sean Dowhanick Trio @ Village of Yorkville Park—Monday August 3 | 1:30pm – 4:30pm
VELD Music Festival
Saturday August 1 and Sunday August 2
Downsview Park, Toronto
Looking to get your EDM on? You’re in luck! There are still tickets available for VELD this weekend, ranging from $280.00 for general admission to $364.00 for VIP. See the likes of Steve Aoki, deadmau5, A$AP ROCKY, and 30 more internationally acclaimed EDM acts at this dance festival that’s sure to rock your weekend. Don’t forget to make some hella cool rave costumes.
OVO Fest
Sunday August 2 and Monday August 3, 7pm
Molson Canadian Amphitheatre, Toronto
Sadly, Drake’s annual festival is sold out on Ticketmaster, but there’s still both single and weekend passes available on Stubhub, ranging from $90.00 – $265.00, so you may still be able to see Big Sean and J. Cole party it up in the Tdot.
Summer Classical Musical Festival
Thursday July 30 and Monday August 3
Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave, Toronto
This year, the festival is inspired by the Pan Am games, drawing influences from the rise of American culture in the 20th century. The tickets are $35.00 and up for each concert. The festival extends all the way until August 9, covering a variety of genres, but this weekend it will feature an array of classical musicians ready to serenade you right into holiday mode. Bring that classy person you’re trying to impress to this event.
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Electric Island
Monday August 3, 1pm
Hanlan’s Point, Toronto Islands
If you want a cheaper option than VELD but still want all the same EDM fun and excitement, you should head over to Electric Island! Come dance to Art Department, DJ Three, The Junkies, and many more in the sun with a perfect view of the Toronto skyline. Tickets range from $39.00 for general admission to $73 for VIP admission.
Lucky enough to be going to cottage country?
Electric Mud BBQ pops up in Muskoka
August 1, 2015
Technically outside the city proper (but featuring one of its best-loved BBQ joints), Electric Mud BBQ will be popping up at Frankie’s Surf Club in Port Carling, Muskoka this long weekend. They’ll be hauling their barrel smoker up north and serving up brews, as part of a live music event that will feature a Muskoka band during the day, and The Mercenaries taking the stage in the evening in partnership with Fat City Blues (another most excellent Toronto bar).
Performance Art Events & Theatre
Maybe you’re not in the mood to dance the day away and you’d rather sit back and watch some Toronto talent. There’s a variety of performances happening over the weekend with something in store for everyone.
Dusk Dances
Monday August 3, 6:45pm
Withrow Park
The opening band and salsa class starts at 6:45pm with dance performances starting at 7:30pm. This is a pay what you can event with a suggested donation of $10.00 per person
The Comedy of Errors + Julius Caesar
Thursday July 30 – Sunday August 2, 8pm
High Park Amphitheatre
Come and enjoy some classic Shakespeare in the Park. Tickets are $25 and children get in for free!
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Salsa Days
Saturday August 1 and Sunday August 2, 12pm – 2pm
Casa Loma
Another Pan Am inspired event, this dance show at Casa Loma is included in the admission to the castle itself. Why not stop by for some free salsa lessons then? Get your groove on this weekend and try something new!
Kevin Hart
Saturday August 1 and Sunday August 2, 7pm
Air Canada Centre
Superstar entertainer, actor, and comedian, Kevin Hart, will be stopping by Toronto on his WHAT NOW? Tour. Come out and see one of comedy’s biggest stars and have a good, much needed, long-weekend laugh. Tickets range in price from $45.00 – $139.50.
The Toronto Blue Jays
Friday July 31 – Monday August 3, 1:07pm
Rogers Centre
What better way to enjoy the sun than to kick back at a Jays game with some pals and some brews? Make sure you pack your standard Blue Jays hat so that you’re ready for game day. For the schedule, check out their website. Tickets range in price from $19.50 – $281.25 so you can definitely do this on the cheap if you want.
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Exhibitions, Festivals, and Other Miscellaneous Things
Maybe nothing we’ve mentioned so far has tickled your fancy, or maybe you’re just in the mood to try something daring and different. If so, one of these Toronto events is bound to get you excited for the long weekend.
Pan American Food Festival
Thursday July 30 to Monday August 3, 12pm – 5pm
Daniels Spectrum
This festival will showcase the best food products, celebrating the cultural diversity of North, Central, and South America. This year the featured country is Mexico, and over the long weekend, the event is totally free!
Scarborough Rib Fest
Friday July 31 – Monday August 3, 11am – 11pm
Thompson Memorial Park
Enjoy delicious ribs, hot dogs, French fries, corn on the cob, midway rides, karaoke, crafters and vendors, an all-day beer garden, and basically everything your heart desires. Oh, did we mention admission is free?
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Lakeshore Mardi Gras
Friday July 31 – Monday August 3
Colonel Sam Smith Park, Etobicoke
If you couldn’t make it to New Orleans this year, this is the next best thing to their Mardi Gras. Taking place over the 4-day long weekend, this free community-based event is perfect for people of all ages. And of course, you’ll get to spend the day along the beautiful lakeshore.
Island Soul
Friday July 31 – Monday August 3
Harbourfront Centre
Explore the rhythms, mythologies, histories, and delicacies of the island with a diverse lineup of artists striving to leave their mark on Caribbean culture. This free event is presented in partnership with Festival Kompa Zouk Ontario, the largest gathering of international French Caribbean performers.
Toronto Food Truck Festival
Saturday August 1 to Sunday August 2, 12pm – 9pm
Head to Woodbine Park for great food, cold beer, and live music–what more do you really need to enjoy an Ontario summer day? There’s also a Children’s Zone so you can make it an afternoon for the whole family.
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Ontario’s Celebration Zone
All weekend, 10am – 10pm
Harbourfront Centre
Right up until August 16, the Harbourfront Centre will be bumping with free things to do to celebrate the Pan Am and ParaPan Am Games. The event includes game coverage, nightly concerts, a 40 ft. rock climbing wall, a weekly farmer’s market, culinary experiences, Ontario craft beers, award-winning wines, and more!
Cobourg Sand Castle Festival
Saturday August 1, 8am – 10:30pm
Cobourg Beach
Ok, this one’s a bit of a hike, but come on. A sand castle festival? Come see giant sand sculptures by the pros (or make some yourself), enter their sandcastle building competition, enjoy a plethora of bouncy castles, and dance to their live DJ. Bring your pails, shovels, and swimsuits for a glorious day at the beach, complete with fireworks.
Toronto Caribbean Carnival
Friday July 31 – Sunday August 2
Multiple Venues, Toronto
This festival is an exciting explosion of Caribbean music, cuisine, as well as visual and performing arts. Come and celebrate their 48th. For the complete list of events, check out their website.
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Toronto Tours
Maybe it’s your weekend away in the Tdot, or maybe you’re a local who wants to get to know the city a little better. Either way, check out these tours to introduce yourself to The 6ix in whatever way excites you most.
Tasty Tours
Various Locations, Toronto. Times vary.
This is a walking tour dedicated to sweets – chocolates, cupcakes, pastries you name it! The tour guides introduce you to a variety of sweets and their histories, one bite at a time, as they take you on a tour of Toronto’s most historic neighbourhoods.
Toronto Photo Tours
Various Locations, Toronto. Times vary.
Looking for that perfect new profile picture that’s more exciting than just your bathroom shower curtain background? From historic architecture to colourful and eclectic markets, these tours ensure that you capture the beauty of this city. The guides even advise you how to improve your photo-taking skills and give feedback.
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Toronto Ghost Walks
Times vary
700 University Avenue
Are you a fan of all things spooky? Spend an evening walking around the University of Toronto’s St. George campus as the guides tell the stories of who haunts the halls of some of Toronto’s oldest buildings. Join them if you dare.
Club Events + Nightlife
After a long day walking around in the sun, you probably just want to kick those heels off and stomp around the dance floor like crazy. Here’s a cluster of events going down in Toronto this weekend that are definitely going to let you get your party on.
Dancing on the Pier
Thursday July 30, 7pm – 10pm
Harbourfront Centre
Come out and experience this high-energy music and outdoor dancing event that happens every weekend on the shores of Lake Ontario. Get ready to jump, jive, and wail with Toronto All-Star Band that will take you back to the golden age of the big bands.
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DJ Deep Fridays
Friday July 31, 7pm – 8:30pm
Harbourfront Centre
At DJ Deep Fridays, they set the table and lay down the dance floor as the DJs and chefs take you through a journey of the senses. They spin the finest soca and calypso music, all while La Jamaican serves up their best cuisine.
George Ezra & James Bay
Saturday August 1, 5pm
Sherbourne Common, 61 Dockside Drive
If you’ve spent the day at Sugar Beach, Sherbourne Common is right next door, so this could be the perfect way to wind down the day. Catch these two great acts for $56!
VELD After Parties
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VELD After Party DAY ONE @ Uniun Nightclub, 473 Adelaide Street West. Saturday August 1, 10pm
VELD After Party DAY TWO @ The Sound Academy, 11 Polson Street. Sunday August 2, 10pm
Maybe VELD didn’t have enough party for you and you’re still hungry for more. In any case, check out these two after parties that ensure you’re dancing the whole weekend long. Don’t forget to follow up with our Post-Party Detox Guide so that you’re ready to go the next day.
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Whatever you choose, make sure you pack on the sunscreen because it’s going to be a hot one this weekend and the lobster red look is never going to be in.
Related Link: Top 10 Toronto events: July Edition
Did we miss any of the best August long weekend events? Let Vv Magazine know in the comments below, or tweet us @ViewtheVibe.
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