BRIAN'S BLOG
Toronto Virtual Events October 2020
October 1, 2020
Halloween Night of Lights – October 1st-November 1st
An immersive experience like none other, featuring more than 700,000 LED lights animated and synchronized to your favourite Halloween tunes. Nights of Lights is the must-see drive-through event of the Fall season for all ages. Turn up the volume and roll down the windows because this dazzling light display only happens once a year.
Inside Out Film Festival – October 1st-11th
Inside Out is a not-for-profit registered charity that exists to challenge attitudes and change lives through the promotion, production and exhibition of film made by and about lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people of all ages, races and abilities.
For nearly three decades, Inside Out has brought Toronto’s LGBT community together in celebration of the best queer film from Canada and around the world. Through our annual Festivals in Toronto and Ottawa, our filmmaker initiatives, our youth engagement and our year-round events and screenings, Inside Out is engaged every day in challenging attitudes and changing lives.
Legends of Horror – October 2nd-21st
An immersive theatrical interpretation of all of the classic horror figures as we lead our audience through a one hour, 2 km self-guided walking tour commencing in the lower gardens of Casa Loma and winding its way through the castles tunnels and darkest spaces never before open to the public. The crescendo of the experience is a dramatic 3D imagery projection on the exterior of the castle, designed to excite even the most skeptical of guests this Halloween season.
New this year, Family Hours from 5pm-7pm daily, earlier in the evening when its still light out, so its less scary for kids and families. Legends of Horror 2020 will also feature newly designed safety protocols — including adjusted timing and capacity – to meet 2020 protocols and ensure distancing and safety, while maximizing the experience for all guests.
Nuit Blanche – October 3rd-13th
The 15th annual Nuit Blanche Toronto is reimagined to deliver a special online edition to ensure the safety of attendees and artists during the COVID-19 pandemic. The virtual event presents five streams of programming including talks, podcasts, live streams, Nuit History and augmented and virtual reality artworks. Artistic Director Julie Nagam’s curatorial theme – The Space Between Us – focuses on the connections across urban, polar and pacific landscapes revealing the space between us as a potential site for sharing knowledge.
TSO At The Drive In – October 7th-17th
Experience the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in an entirely new way — live from the comfort of your own car — with the TSO at the Drive-In!
This October, enjoy THREE, hour-long, crowd-pleasing, and contactless programs, performed live by smaller ensembles at CityView Drive-In, located at 20 Polson St. in Toronto.
Rev your engines to ragtime favourites, see how your all-weather tires handle The Four Seasons, and slide open that sunroof to soak in the sounds of the legendary divas of soul.
ImagineNative Films and Arts Festival – October 20th-25th
The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival will move online from October 20 – 25, 2020. imagineNATIVE will gather community for an online Festival to celebrate Indigenous storytelling in film, video, audio, digital and interactive art. This six-day online gathering will feature over 100 Indigenous artists from all over the world with an offering of live screenings, featured discussions, interactive engagements, live pitches, performances, virtual exhibitions, and other special events.
In addition to artistic and industry offerings, imagineNATIVE will be ‘gifting from the spirit and for the spirit’. Items and goods will be gifted through physical and digital giveaways throughout the Festival highlighting Indigenous artists and companies. Grounded in expressions of generosity, the giveaways will acknowledge the continued support and work from our communities. This year will mark an opportunity for imagineNATIVE to mobilize and connect in new, creative and exciting ways!
Toronto International Festival of Authors – October 22nd-November 1st
The Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA), Canada’s largest and longest-running festival of words and ideas, returns for its 41st edition in a brand new virtual format that will be primarily free and accessible from around the world. The Festival has expanded its programming this year, introducing new events and initiatives including a weekend of family-friendly activities with TIFA Kids!, a range of multilingual events, innovative digital apps and activities, and newly commissioned works that respond to our current experiences with COVID-19 and explore the unique character of the city of Toronto.
From October 22 to November 1, 2020, TIFA will bring together over 200 authors alongside musicians, artists and performers through live-streamed conversations, readings, performances, workshops and more, connecting communities and diving into important discussions relevant to these unprecedented times.
The Great Pumpkin Trail – October 22nd-24th
It’s a magical evening on the Pumpkin Trail! Follow the candlelit glow of hundreds of jack-o-lanterns guiding your way through Hendrie Park, and along the South Bridle Trail. Encounter roaming entertainment and other special guests who are ready to share some cool facts about bats, spiders, and of course PUMPKINS! Don’t miss the unique opportunity to take part in this family-friendly event celebrating the fall season. Don’t forget your costume!
The world today is something we’ve never experienced before, and these uncharted waters are making us ask some big questions. How can we see the larger picture, find sources of hope and realize the power each of us has to chart a better course?
Uncharted spans four thoughtfully curated evenings where you’ll encounter critical new ideas and perspectives, be inspired to think differently, and engage in meaningful dialogue with fellow curious souls.
Art Toronto 2020 – October 28th-November 8th
This year, Art Toronto will truly be Canada’s art fair. Looking beyond the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Art Toronto 2020 will feature a strong online presence including virtual exhibitions, curated collections, talks, tours and more. This will be complemented by programming in galleries and museums across Canada, focused in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal. In expanding the fair’s virtual and physical footprint, we aim to bring the art community together to celebrate visual culture at the national level. Canada’s art fair will take place October 28 through November 8, we look forward to welcoming you.