I. Live Music & Concerts
1. SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival
Celebrating the best in Acappella Music from around the world. Now heading into our 6th year, we bring a star-studded line-up of international headliners and industry experts for performances, workshops and free events! Details
2. 21 C Music Festival
This year’s festival marks Canada 150 with an array of our country’s most innovative and daring composers and musicians, and it will consist of nine concerts and 31 premieres. Artists: Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, Johannes Debus, Bang on a Can All-Stars, Emily D’Angelo, Unsuk Chin, Samy Moussa, Cecilia String Quartet, Alexina Louie, Soundstreams, John Oswald, Angèle Dubeau, La Pietà, Canadian Art Song Project, Matthew Aucoin, Ana Sokolović, Gabriel Prokofiev, Richard Reed Parry, Steve Reich, Ludovico Einaudi, Andrew Staniland, Nicole Lizée, Chris Paul Harman, Brian Current, Elmer Iseler Singers, Details
3. Beethoven Symphony 7
Mendelssohn’s joyful souvenir of a tour through Italy, and a playful operatic overture by a native Italian, Rossini, highlight this sunny program. Italian pianist Luca Buratto, the 2015 Honens Prize Laureate, brings all his “fiery imagination and finesse” (to quote Musical America) to a masterful Mozart concerto. Details
4. Norah Jones
9-time GRAMMY winner Norah Jones comes full circle with Day Breaks, her stunning sixth solo album which is a kindred spirit to the singer’s breakout debut Come Away With Me and finds Norah returning to the piano and her roots. Details
5. Toronto Bach Festival
Three concerts of sublime music by the incomparable Johann Sebastian Bach. Details
6. Jewish Music Week
Jewish Music Week in Toronto is an exciting week of concerts, recitals and musical events throughout the GTA. 2017 marks the seventh year of this festival that celebrates Jewish music, as well as the Jewish contribution to genres of music not generally thought of as Jewish. Details
7. TIN PAN NORTH Songwriters Festival
Presented by – The Toronto Chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). See performances by over 40 talented songwriters, sharing their stories behind the songs. Don’t miss this three night event of great music of songs in its raw and original form. Details
8. CBCMusic.ca Festival 2017
Now in its fifth year, the 2017 CBC Music Festival will feature an all-Canadian lineup including Serena Ryder, Walk Off The Earth, Keys N Krates, Ruth B, Scott Helman, Bobby Bazini, Austra, BROS, William Prince, Sarah Slean, Alx Veliz, IsKwé, RALPH, Valley and the 2017 CBC Searchlight winner. Details
9. Sing a New Song
ORIANA’s last concert of the season highlights new Canadian choral music for women. The choir will première four brand-new works created especially for them, including the winner of ORIANAs 2016-17 Choral Composition Competition. Details
II. Live Theatre & Related Events
Performing Arts Events
Performing Arts & Theatre in May
- The Jazz Singer @ Greenwin Theatre
- Tapestry Opera presents Oksana G. @ Imperial Oil Opera Theatre
- Midsummer @ Tarragon Theatre
- Strictly Ballroom The Musical @ Princess of Wales Theatre
- for colored girls… @ Young Centre for the Performing Arts
- The Boy in the Moon @ Streetcar Crowsnest
- Onegin @ The Berkeley Street Theatre
and more!
2. Under An Arctic Sky
Join acclaimed photographer and filmmaker Chris Burkard for a special night of celebration of cold water surfing and adventure under the Northern Lights. Setting sail along the frozen shores of Iceland, surfers face one of the largest storms to hit the country in 25 years, enduring constant darkness and brutal seas with one goal: find the perfect surf. Details
Thursday, May 25, 2017 | 7PM
3. CENSURED IN CANADA Film Festival
Censured In Canada is an underground film festival dedicated to surmounting the limits of expression in Canada by giving Canadian-based films and filmmakers marginalized by existing Canadian festivals and institutions a voice. Details
May 27 & 28, 2017
Toronto
4. COMBUSTION festival
Presented by Bad Dog Theatre. This week-long comedy party will bring together some of the most exciting, talented, boundary-pushing, genre-bending, industry-leading improvisers in North America and beyond – to showcase what they do best and to collaborate on festival-exclusive projects and shows. Details
5. SOULO Theatre Festival
The SOULO Theatre Festival is Toronto’s annual One-Person Show Festival that celebrates the best of Solo Theatre with top notch workshops and panels that teach people how to create their own solo show. Details
6. Inside Out LGBT Film Festival
It is the largest event of its kind in Canada, bringing audiences unforgettable queer cinematic experiences. For 11 days, the Festival draws crowds of more than 32,500 to screenings, artist talks, panel discussions, installations and parties that showcase more than 175 films from Canada and around the world. Details
May 25 to June 4, 2017
7. T.O. Webfest
T.O. Webfest celebrates the best of web content from Canada and around the world with a host of industry panels and workshops. Details
8. Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival
CONTACT is the largest photography event in the world, and a premiere cultural experience in Canada, with over 1500 artists in 200 exhibitions and happenings throughout the month of May in the Greater Toronto Area showcasing a range of Canadian artists in celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary of confederation. Internationally renowned photographers will exhibit their work throughout Toronto and across Canada during CONTACT, through numerous public installations and open exhibitions that will be free to the public. Details
May 1 to 31, 2017
III. Sports
3. Walk Of Life
Join the Cardiac Health Foundation of Canada’s 33rd Walk of Life 2017!
Walk, run, kids fun run, chair exercises and special appearance by the Paw Patrol. Details
May 27th, 2017 | 8:00 AM -12:00 PM
4. The Walk to Make Cystic Fibrosis History
Raise vital funds to support our mission to find a cure or control for cystic fibrosis. Details
Sunday, May 28 | 08:00 AM
IV. Exhibitions, Festivals & Other Events
1. Doors Open Toronto
Saturday, May 27 and Sunday, May 28, 2017 | 10:00 AM – 05:00 PM
2. Artfest Port Credit
Artfest Port Credit launches the summer celebrating over 100 of Canada’s top artists & artisans! Featuring pottery, glass, jewellery, paintings, wood turning, gourmet foods, live music and more. Artfest Port Credit offers children’s art classes. Details
May 26 to 28, 2017
3. People in Motion
Canada’s largest disability exhibition, presenting the latest in technology for persons with disabilities. Details
190 Princes’ Blvd, Toronto
4. Anime North 2017
Anime North is an anime convention that celebrates anime, manga, music, games and all other forms of Japanese Culture! Details
5. Beach Guild of Fine Art
This show will future small paintings by over 30 of the Guilds artists, and is a great opportunity to view and purchase affordable art (nothing over $350.00) by some of the most well-known Beach Artists. There will be the Artists note cards for sale. Details
6. Carassauga Festival
Carassauga Festival is a 3-day cultural event showcasing over 70 countries at different Pavilions throughout Mississauga. Travel the world without leaving the City! In each Pavilion you will find exotic foods, entertainment and culture of the country you are visiting. Details
7. Barbados on the Water Festival
Kick-start your summer with the largest festival of Barbadian culture in Canada! This year, Barbados on the Water celebrates Canada! The largest festival of Barbadian culture in Canada livens up the waterfront with tasty cuisine, music, fashion, literary events and children’s activities. Don’t miss the return of the Iron Chef competition, as well as rum tasting and plenty of music to dance the night away! Details
8. Design Forward 2017
Our quest to find the top Canadian fashion designer who has struck the perfect combination of style + ethics, has led us to select 10 semi-finalists who will each show 3 looks in a runway presentation. Mingle with fashion industry influencers, eco-conscious consumers, Canadian fashion designers, media and bloggers. Details
Toronto
V. Food Events
1. Brunch Fest
We’ve rounded up an all-star roster of the most iconic brunch spots in the city to bring you a one-of-a-kind social experience celebrating everyone’s favourite weekend ritual. Details
May 26 to 28, 2017
2. Rotary Rib ‘n’ Roll
Three days of ribs and rock and roll. The music is non- stop Friday through Saturday. Family day on Sunday with buskers, bouncy castles and face painters, balloon tiers, clowns, an animal and reptile show and even Zumba. Details
Friday, May 26 to Sunday, May 28, 2017
3. Rupaul’s Drag Race
Your favorite queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race are here to “WERQ your world”! Hosted by Bianca Del Rio with sickening performances by Alyssa Edwards, Alaska Thunderf**k, Detox, Shangela and a surprise guest from Season 9! Details
Friday, May 26, 2017 | 8:00 PM
4. Orson Whales Presents: Herman Vaudeville!
Featuring:
Definition Of Knowledge (slam poetry with talking and words)
Flo & Joan (clever English musical comedy artists)
Puppetmongers Theatre (exploring and advancing the theatrical possiblities of puppetry) Details
Sunday May 28, 2017 | 9:30 PM -10:30 PM
Toronto
FYI: SiriusXM’s Top Comic competition @ Various Venues from May 29 to 31, 2017
5. Roncesvalles Food Tour
Come enjoy the fresh air with us on a Food Nook Tour – a guided, walking food tour of Roncesvalles. We’ll take you to five distinct food shops and restaurants, where you will be treated to multiple, delicious food samples at each destination, all while learning about the neighborhood and the stories behind it. From melt in your mouth pastries to an exhilarating shot of ginger elixir, there are delectable bites and beverages for anyone’s tastebuds. Details
Sunday, May 28, 2017 l 02:30 PM – 04:30 PM