BRIAN'S BLOG
Toronto Events For July 2021: Virtual and IRL!
June 25, 2021
Lavazza Drive In International Film Festival (June 27th – July 17th)
A selection of films celebrating Canada’s multiculturalism and the best of Italian cinema!
Presenting a thoughtfully-curated selection of International movies representing Canada’s cultural mosaic from variety of communities with a special ‘Focus Italia’ series. The ICFF will celebrate its 10th Anniversary with the best of Italian contemporary cinema along with the Canada-wide online platform. The Festivals offer Canadians an opportunity to reintegrate into the social society we once enjoyed, while remaining physically distanced.
Dream In High Park (June 29th – September)
For the first full summer of live performance in High Park since the pandemic began, Canadian Stage plans to present a diverse menu of core programming produced by the company, complemented by a robust line-up of partner presentations offering everything from theatre and dance to contemporary and classical music, comedy, family programming and more. Extending the summer High Park season from June through to the end of September, this year the beloved High Park Amphitheatre will feature months of non-stop performance offerings to a culture starved city.
Returning to the inaugural moniker of the company’s summer programming – Dream in High Park – Artistic Director Brendan Healy and Executive Director Monica Esteves sought to expand a beloved Toronto cultural program to be collaborative, multi-disciplinary and one that meaningfully reflects and welcomes Toronto’s multiplicity of communities.
Toronto Carnival Eats Festival Festival ( July 1st – August 1st)
Enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of Toronto Caribbean Carnival, while supporting local businesses and artists. Register for a digital passport and gain rewards as you try different eats around the city.
How it works?
Participates can choose from a variety of restaurants in the program. Once at the restaurant participates can scan a QR code and gain points that go towards prizes. The more restaurants participates visit the more chances they’ll have to win.
As part of the Carnival Eats program, participates can vote online for their favorite Caribbean restaurant and dish in a variety of categories.
Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (July 2nd-11th)
TOAF started as a humble and small gathering at the parking lot of the Four Seasons Motor Hotel on Jarvis Street, to bring artists and art lovers together in a public space. This year, we are going back to our roots with a small selection of TOAF60 artists at stackt market from July 2-11. Small, distanced, fitting for our times!
Our main showcase of 400+ artists from Toronto, across Canada and beyond, will be online. Artworks will be available for purchase starting on July 2, 2021 at 11:00 AM at TOAF.ca.
Beaches Jazz Festival Drive In (July 2nd – 24th)
The festival began in 1989, when local jazz artists were booked to perform at the Kew Gardens Bandshell in the beach area of Toronto. Now celebrating her 32nd anniversary, the festival has blossomed into a month long mid-summer event that attracts thousands of fans and makes a major contribution to promoting Canadian jazz excellence locally and on the world stage.
Toronto Fringe Festival (July 21st-31st)
Digital Toronto Fringe runs July 21 – 31 and features on-demand Fringe content, live digital events, watch parties, digital lobby gatherings, a virtual patio and more!
During the festival, Fringe companies will present pre-recorded video and audio pieces for audiences to enjoy as part the Fringe On-Demand series. Audiences will access content on fringetoronto.com with the purchase of an affordable and accessible membership pass. An additional Fringe Primetime series will offer audiences a chance to experience the thrill of a live and interactive Fringe show online.
Illusionarium ( Opens July 29th)
You and your Magic Circle (of wizards you live with) will explore a labyrinth of mysterious rooms transporting you to different eras of illusion.
Using 3D projections, life-like holograms, and live magicians, this is the first time audiences can marvel at the greatest illusions up close – all in a socially-distanced setting.
Conceived by British high-tech magician, Jamie Allan (iMagician), this experiential exhibit blends Jamie’s encyclopedic knowledge on the history of magic with state-of-the-art-technology to bring illusions of the past into the 21st century.
Toronto Outdoor Picture Show (Late July)
Are you aching for cinema under the stars? We have good news!
From late July through Labour Day, Toronto Outdoor Picture Show will present a summer season called TOPS & Friends, a celebration of outdoor cinema and community. The multi-week film programme will feature both TOPS-curated films AND special screenings presented by some of our favourite Toronto festivals! Look forward to film selections from Inside Out, Vector Festival, Toronto Palestine Film Festival, Regent Park Film Festival, Breakthroughs Film Festival, Goethe-Institut Toronto, Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, and more! This is made possible by a supportive partnership with Toronto History Museums.
City View Drive In Outdoor Concert Series ( All Summer Long)
Toronto’s culture thrives on live experiences, music, arts and entertainment. As a city, we’ve bred world class talent and attracted some of the biggest names in entertainment. Since March, we’ve missed out on the beauty of live performance and we’re ready to have this aspect of our lives back…introducing CityView Drive-In. Presenting concerts, movie nights, corporate events and more, CityView is an entirely contactless experience in the parking lot of 20 Polson Street.
From the safety of your own vehicle, capture world class talent on a massive 238-foot stage with the Toronto skyline in the background. You can bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages, or you can order through us and we’ll deliver your order right to your vehicle, so there’s virtually no need to step outside.
Retro Rolla Popup At The Bentway (All Summer Long)
Retro Rolla’s mission is to create a safe space for the roller skate community to come together. With inclusivity and transparency at our core, we want to provide an opportunity for you to make meaningful connections, start something new, and get outside and move your body.
It may be your first skate or 100th skate. You might fall down, but you will get back up. Our community casts no judgement. We all need to start somewhere, and making mistakes is making progress. This is YOUR skate journey.
People and movement are essential for happiness. And for us, music is key in connecting communities and motivating movement. We encourage you to listen to the tunes that lift you up.