Doors Open Toronto is back on May 27th and 28th and promises to be bigger and better than ever before.
The annual festival celebrates Toronto’s architecture and public spaces, offering visitors access to more than 150 sites across the city, a talk series, guided tours, and special music and sound programming.
The theme for this year’s festival is “City of Sound,” which explores the impact of music and sound on the city’s development. Visitors can enjoy a range of musical performances, including Persian classical duo Padideh Ahrarnejad and Ali Massoudi, Brazilian percussionist Mari Palhares, and community jam sessions with musical director Donny Milwalkee. Toronto City Hall will also be hosting family-friendly programming, including guided tours, exhibitions, and live music.
Additionally, there will be a range of workshops and film screenings taking place throughout the weekend. To kick off the festivities, there will be a keynote panel discussion entitled “The Women Who Built Toronto’s Music Scene” on May 25th at the El Mocambo. The discussion will be followed by a musical performance by Polky.
Visitors can also take part in ten free, guided walking tours of various neighbourhoods throughout the city. Those interested in attending should register in advance on the Doors Open Website.
Doors Open Toronto is part of Doors Open Ontario, and you can explore unique attractions and sites in more than 19 cities in Ontario for free.
Doors Open Toronto – May 27 & 28
Explore some of Toronto’s most architectural, cultural and socially significant sites for free during Doors Open weekend. Examine how music and sound have helped shape the city with a program of exciting performances, engaging tours and insightful talks.
Pre-Doors Open kick-off event
Keynote Panel: The Women Who Built Toronto’s Music Scene
Date: Thursday, May 25, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Location: El Mocambo, 464 Spadina Ave.
Special music and sound programming:
- South Asian instruments and dance practices by the Tawoos Initiative at R.C Harris Water Filtration Plant, 2701 Queen St. E.
- Performances in partnership with Small World Music at Fort York National Historic Site at 250 Fort York Blvd. including:
- Padideh Ahrarnejad and Ali Massoudi, a Persian classical duo, bringing together mastery of the tar and percussion
- Brazilian percussionist Mari Palhares, who brings the rhythms and movement of Afro Brazilian drumming to the Fort
- It’s OK* Studios Community Jam Sessions led by musical director Donny Milwalkee featuring a curated repertoire of contemporary takes on hip hop, soca and jazz classics
Programming at City Hall
- Sounds like Toronto: Highlights from the Toronto Star Photo Archive
showcasing a selection of Toronto Star archival photographs detailing the city’s rich musical past and present. - Labyrinth Modal Music Library and Workshops: Short instrumental demonstrations and opportunities for guests to play, test and learn about frame drums, including: Tombak, Bağlama, Greek Lyra, Tár, Getar and more.
- Mural Routes Chalk Mural Activity: Residents can leave their mark on a large temporary public artwork at Nathan Phillips Square and work alongside professional artists, Andinas Collective, to make the sounds of music visible in this community mural. Presented in partnership with Mural Routes.
- NFB Film Screenings: The National Film Board of Canada presents a rotating selection of films inside Council Chamber. Drop in and enjoy documentaries, animated films and fictional shorts focused on the sites and sounds of the city.
Neighbourhood Walking Tours
Ten free, guided walking tours will take place throughout the weekend, delving deep into the history and architecture of a variety of neighbourhoods.
Since its inception in 2000, Doors Open Toronto has attracted more than two million visits to over 800 locations across the city. The festival is presented by Great Gulf and produced by the City in partnership with the community, and this year’s sponsors include Great Gulf, City Hall Hub, and Schlage.