Events in Toronto July 24 – 26, 2015

1. Pan Am Games

Close to 7,000 athletes from across Latin America, South America, the Caribbean and North America will put their years of intense training, perseverance and sacrifice to the test in world-class competition in 36 Pan Am sports and 15 Parapan Am sports at the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am / Parapan Am Games.

2. Panamania

PANAMANIA, presented by CIBC, is a 35-day TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games arts and culture festival. Unprecedented in scale, PANAMANIA will feature more than 1,300 artists in 250 performances and exhibitions across Toronto from July 10 to August 15. The festival will showcase the diverse cultures and artistic excellence of Ontario, Canada and the Americas through music, theatre, dance and more!

3. Ontario’s Celebration Zone

Experience 38 days of the BEST of Ontario during the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games. The Best of Ontario. All in One Place. One Epic Celebration. Events include 38 nightly concerts,live Games coverage, 40 ft. rock climbing wall and adrenaline jump, weekly farmer’s market,culinary experiences, Ontario craft beers and award winning wines and more.

4. Aborginal Pavilion

The Aboriginal Pavilion is a 19 day Indigenous arts, culture, and sports festival concurrent to the Toronto 2015 Pan Am / Parapan Am Games. The Pavilion will bring together Indigenous peoples from across the Americas to celebrate, share and learn through our exciting programming. From Main Stage musical performances to dance, theatre, and family programming on our Small Stage; from visual arts and traditional crafts workshops to artist talks, film screenings, a curated exhibition, there will be much to see and much to do!

1. Free Concerts across GTA

Sunday Serenades at Mel Lastman Square

Free concerts ( everyday by famous artists) as part of Panamania & Ontario Celebration Zone are not listed below

Megacity Big Band @ Barry Zukerman Amphitheatre in Earl Bales Park, Toronto on Tuesday, July 21 | 07:00 PM (Earl Bales Summer Entertainment Series).

Concert @ College Park Courtyard, 777 Bay Street, Toronto on Wednesday, July 22 | 12:00 PM (Play the Parks).

Elevation – Tribute to U2 @ Sonoma Heights Community Park, Woodbridge, Wednesday, July 22 | 07:30 PM (Vaughan Celebrates Concerts in the Park).

Concert @ Mackenzie House, Toronto on Thursday, July 23 | 01:00 PM (Play the Parks).

Tamikrest @ Roy Thomson Hall Patio, Toronto on Thursday, July 23 | 05:00 PM (Live on the Patio).

Absolute Journey Tribute Band @ Mill Pond Park Gazebo, Richmond Hill on Thursday, July 23 | 07:00 PM (Concert in the Park).

Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project, Part II @ Toronto Music Garden, 475 Queens Quay West on Thursday, July 23 | 07:00 PM (Music in the Garden).

Michael Lalonde Quartet @ Toronto Botanical Garden on Thursday, July 23 | 07:00 PM (The Edwards Summer Music Series).

Earl La Pierre (Steel Drums) @ Millennium Square, Beachfront Park, Pickering on on Thursday, July 23| 7:00 PM – 09:00 PM (Waterfront Concert Series).

Fleetwood Mix – Fleetwood Mac Tribute @ Unionville’s Millennium Bandstand, Markham on Thursday, July 23 | 7:30 PM – 09:00 PM (Thursday Nights at the Bandstand).

Lula All Stars @ St James Park, Toronto on July 24 | 07:00 PM (Music in St. James Park).

Lester Mclean Trio @ Village of Yorkville Park on Friday, July 24 | 11:30 AM – 02:30 PM (Bloor Yorkville Summer Music).

Hanggai @ Roy Thomson Hall Patio, Toronto on Friday, July 24 | 05:00 PM (Live on the Patio).

Unbuttoned @ Garden Square, Brampton on Friday, July 24 | 07:00 PM (Friday Night Artist Spotlight).

Johnson Chung Trio @ Village of Yorkville Park on Saturday, July 25 | 1:30 PM – 04:30 PM (Bloor Yorkville Summer Music).

GWood (Rock n’ Roll) @ Esplanade Park, Pickering on Sunday, July 26 | 02:00 PM – 04:00 PM (Esplanade Concert Series).

JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band @ Mel Lastman Square, Toronto on Sunday, July 26 | 07:30 PM (Sunday Serenades).

See Free Summer concerts in GTA

2. Guild Alive with Culture

Arts & Music Festival.

3. Franco-Fête

Connect with French Culture with the 33rd edition of Franco-Fête. Spanning over two weeks, Franco-Fête de is a massive music festival representing the most important cultural Francophone event, taking place during the Pan American Games. The 2015 edition of Franco-Fête will offer exceptional programming and feature some of the biggest names in Francophone music today.Details

4. UNITY Festival 2015

The 7th Annual UNITY Festival, presented by Tangerine, is ready to get down, with some of the best hip-hop acts in the biz, with a stellar line-up of break dancers, MCs/spoken word artists, beatboxers and musicians including GZA, Babeli, Marlon from Havikoro and d’bi .young.

5. Beaches International Jazz Festival

A 3-week music super-fest with blow-out concerts, over 150 bands and close to 1000 hours of live music.

6. Summer Music Festival

Classical Music Festival. This year we pay homage to the PanAm Games and explore the rise to pre-eminence of American culture in the 20th century. The amalgam of traditions brought by successive waves of Europeans and Africans, fused with indigenous Amerindian heritage, produced a dizzying multitude of genres and styles of music across North and South America.

7. Rob Tardik

A multi award-winning guitarist and Billboard Top-10 charting artist, Rob’s virtuoso ability allows him to play virtually any musical style including Latin, World, Pop, and Jazz.

1. Performing Arts Events

Performing Arts & Theatre in July

Events this weekend include

HAMLET – The Bard’s Bus Tour

Tuesday, July 21, 2015 – Sunday, July 26, 2015 | Withrow Park, Toronto

Panamania Theatre Events

The Big “What Now?” @ Young Centre for the Performing Arts

Timber! @ Harbourfront Centre, Fleck Dance Theatre

NIiagara~ A Pan-American Story @ Daniels Spectrum, Artscape

Best of Second City @ The Second City Theatre

Micetro & Theatresports @ The Bad Dog Comedy Theatre

Kinky Boots @ Royal Alexandra Theatre

Newsies @ Ed Mirvish Theatre

The Comedy of Errors & Julius Caesar. – Shakespeare in High Park @ High Park Amphitheatre

Humber River Shakespeare Tour

July 21, 22, & 23 – Thornlodge Park, Mississauga; July 24 – McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Kleinburg; July 25 & 26 – Montgomery’s Inn, Etobicoke

Children’s Peace Theatre’s 15th Annual Gala: Raising Revolution @ Children’s Peace Theatre, 305 Dawes Road, Toronto

Best of Fringe @ Toronto Centre for the Arts

Shakespeare in the Square @ Ken Whillans Square, Brampton

The Vaudevillians @Rose Studio Theatre, Brampton

Romeo & Juliet @ Greek Theatre, Guild Park, Scarborough

Chinese Acrobats @ Canada’s Wonderland

Betroffenheit @ Bluma Appel Theatre

Bard in Berczy: Love’s Labour Lost @ Berczy Park, Toronto

J’ouvert Performance & Carnival on the Pathway

A parade and performance of Pan American dance and music led by Ballet Creole. Details

July 25, 2015, 1:00 PM-4:00 PM @ Scarborough Museum/ Thomson Memorial Park, 1007 Brimley Rd., Toronto

2. Free Movies

Jaws @ Garden Square, Brampton on Tuesday, July 21 | 09:00 PM ( Throwback Flicks).

Young Frankenstein @ WestJet Stage, 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto on Wednesday, July 22 | 09:00 PM (Free Flicks Harbourfront Centre)

Annie Hall @ David Pecaut Square, 215 King St W, Toronto on Wednesday, July 22 | 09:15 PM (TIFF in the Park)

Hugo @ Union Station, 65 Front St W, Toronto on Thursday, July 23 | 9:15 PM – (TIFF in your Park).

Lester Mclean Trio @ Village of Yorkville Park on Friday, July 24 | 11:30 AM – 02:30 PM (Bloor Yorkville Summer Music

Big Hero 6 @ Mississauga Celebration Square on Thursday, July 23, 2015 | 08:00 PM (Movie Nights).

Breakup Buddies @ Chester Le Park, 255 Chester Le Blvd, Scarborough on Friday July 24, 2015 | 9:15 PM – (TIFF in your Park)

Movie (TBA)@ Riverdale Park East, 550 Broadview Avenue, Toronto on Saturday, July 25, 2015 (Movies in the Park)

Penguins of Madagascar @ Garden Square, Brampton on Saturday, July 25 | 09:00 PM ( Movies Under the Stars)

Edwin Boyd: Citizen Gangster @ Christie Pitts Park, 779 Crawford St, Toronto on Sunday, July 26 (Christie Pits Film Festival – PWYC – Suggested $10)

See more Free Summer Movies in GTA

3. Ivan Amodei

No. 1 Magic Show in Los Angeles Comes to Toronto! Filled with world-class magic, fantastic story-telling, audience participation and incredible live music by Celine Dion’s concert cellist, this intimate performance weaves original, thought-provoking illusions, wit, humor, and dazzling live music together with an entertaining theatrical twist. Details

4. Paint – A – Thon

Each year, Paint-A-Thon brings a unique art marathon. This year we are going to be bringing social painting to this outdoor event. During these workshops you can follow a professional art instructor that will teach you how to draw the chosen paintings or you can feel free to draw anything you like.

5. Salsa Days at CasaLoma

Join us at Casa Loma for a Latin American dance celebration in honour of the Pan Am Games. Over five weekends in July and August we are welcoming ten of the GTA’s best Latin dance schools to showcase their talents and offer introductory lessons to our visitors.

1. RBC Canadian Open – Golf

1. Toronto’s Festival of Beer

The Festival boasts over 60 brewers featuring more than 300 brands from all over the globe. From lagers to stouts, fruit beer to ales, we have something for everyone! The Festival features more than just beer; there are several non-malt based beverages available including cider and ready-to-drink beverages! Details

2. Night it Up!

Night It Up! is a outdoor night market styled in the vein of night markets from Taiwan and Hong Kong and many others from across Asia. There will be over 120 food and merchandise vendors selling street cuisine and trinkets similar to what you would find at an authentic night market in Asia. Night It Up!

3. Bizarre Bazaar – BizBaz

This is not a craft fair. BizBaz is a complete experience with immersive activities. Try your hand at archery with hand made bows and arrows, power a drone or take part in a kite fight. Unique to the event are social areas that welcome visitors to stay awhile, sit and enjoy each other, the great food and drink all while supporting artists and businesses from the region and beyond. Details

4. The Gem Expo

The Gem Expo is Canada’s Premier show for Beads, Jewellery, Minerals, Amber, Pearls, Glass and Lampwork artisans. The show features handmade jewellery from talented artisans and features a large variety of Precious and Semi-Precious stones such as Diamonds, Rubies, Sapphires, Emeralds, Pearls, and many others. Whether you’re looking for strands to make your own jewellery, beautifully faceted stones for setting or wire wrapping, or finished pieces with exquisite gems, exquisite mineral samples or interested in the healing properties of Minerals, The Gem Expo has it all.

5. Summerlicious

Taste some of the diverse cuisine Toronto has to offer. Summerlicious features more than 210 top restaurants offering three-course prix fixe lunch and dinner menus at exceptional price points. Details

6. Rib Fest – Richmond Hill

Ribfest is a three-day outdoor event that features professional rib teams travelling to Richmond Hill from across North America. Ribbers cook and compete for various Best titles. And, in addition to the many delicious food options, there is also live entertainment, a beer garden, children’s and toddler’s fun zone with inflatables and an indoor children’s activity area to enjoy!

7. Pride Week in Peel Festival

The Pride Week in Peel Festival features entertainment, a march, a buzzing Community Fair and more!

8. Mississauga Latin Festival

Come celebrate and enjoy Latin American arts, colours, flavours and rhythms. You can learn how to dance Salsa, Bachata, Zumba, Cumbia, practice your Spanish with the friendly and cheerful LATIN people, and enjoy delicious Latin American food at this fun-filled fiesta for the entire family!

9. Matsuri Japanese Summer Festival

With live music and dance performances ranging from the contemporary to the latest in Japanese modern, and a market featuring the best of Toronto’s Japanese cuisine, we are excited to present the 3rd Toronto Japanese Summer Festival.

10. Cultura Festival

Weekly Friday night Summer festival. Festival showcases musicians, dancers, buskers, art installations and international food vendors. Each evening closes with a featured film under the stars, displayed on a large screen in the square. Main stage performers: Danny Michel and the Garifuna Collective

10. Flaunt

From wearable art or fashion, cabaret or circus, revue or variety, vaudeville or mime, Flaunt delves into the world of elaborate and spectacular extravaganza. Let’s push the boundaries of performance and create an immersive space where the boundaries of mainstream and underground are reversed.

11. Toronto Caribbean Carnival

Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival is an exciting three-week cultural explosion of Caribbean music, cuisine, revelry as well as visual and performing arts. Join us as we celebrate our 48th anniversary. We’re bigger and better than ever!

12. Pride House TO PanAm Street Fest

Outdoor licensed Games viewing, parties and live entertainment!

13. Toronto Tours

Explore Toronto through speciality guided tours!

1. Tasty Tours: Tasty Tours offers a variety of Sweets Tours along Toronto’s eclectic multicultural neighbourhoods.

2. Toronto Photo Tours : Capture the beauty of Toronto – From historic architecture to colourful and eclectic markets.

3. Toronto Ghost Walks: Join for an evening walk on and around the University of Toronto’s St. George campus and hear the stories, myths and legends surrounding those who haunt the halls of some of Toronto’s oldest buildings.

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