As we gear up to prepare for the holiday season, Toronto still has a few tricks up its sleeve with the Eras Tour, Reel Asian Film Festival and Toronto Fashion Week. But for those looking to get a head start on their holiday shopping, the city has tons to offer by way of book sales, Christmas shows and a final art hive!

Paolo Villanueva, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Taylor Swift Events

As the city prepares for the Eras Tour’s 6-sold out show run, the streets are abuzz with activity for Swifties to celebrate the occasion. From sing-alongs to dance parties, friendship bracelet workshops, trivia, cake decorating classes and everything in between, Toronto is going all out to make sure Taylor knows she belongs with us! More Info

When: Various dates

Where: Various locations

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Baram & Snieckus (@baramsnieckus)


Big Stuff

Award-winning improvisers, actors, writers and real-life married couple Matt Baram and Naomi Snieckus invite you to participate in the unpacking of some big stuff. In this hilarious two character play, directed by Kat Sandler, Matt and Naomi work through all the stuff (physical and emotional) that gets left behind when we lose someone. More Info

When: November 12-December 8

Where: Crow’s Theatre

 


Reel Asian Film Festival

The 28th edition of the Reel Asian Film Festival is here and with it comes another year to watch Asian cinema and enjoy events featuring pan-Asian filmmakers and media artists. With over 40 short films, 17 features, installations, artist talks and more, audiences are in for a real treat, while celebrating the future of diverse storytelling. The festival kicks off with CAN I GET A WITNESS?, directed by Ann Marie Fleming and starring Sandra Oh. More Info

When: November 13-24

Where: Various locations

 


In Defence of Democracy: Connie Walker in Conversation with Nahlah Ayed

Connie Walker, Pulitzer Prize recipient, Peabody Award-winning investigative journalist and host of the acclaimed podcast Stolen: Surviving St. Michael’s joins Nahlah Ayed, host of CBC Radio’s IDEAS, to discuss the importance of storytelling in advancing reconciliation, justice and democratic renewal. For those wondering how to organize and move forward through these challenging political times, this is a great place to consider how we inspire renewed civic purpose in Canada. More Info

When: November 14

Where: The Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre

Photo by Pixaby

Christmas Book Sale

For anyone looking to shop for the booklovers in their lives, the Friends of Toronto Public Library are hosting a Christmas book sale. Visitors can shop bargain deals on fiction, non-fiction, art books, cookbooks, children’s books, magazines, DVDs, CDs & classical CD sets for their loved ones, or for themselves (we won’t tell!). Entry is free on November 15 & 16. More Info

When: November 14-16

Where: Toronto Reference Library

 


Fashion Art Toronto Fall/Winter Fashion Week

Toronto’s longest-running Fashion Week returns, featuring runway shows and presentations from 45 designers and style-inspired art installations from Canadian artists. Check out designs by artists like Lindsay King, Phoenix Ba, and Anna Pazhava, to name a few. This year also features a Fashion & Beauty Retail Boutique with goods from local artisans and brands, and more. More Info

When: November 14-17

Where: T3 Bayside

Photo by Pixaby

T.O. Poets Department

Toronto is offering dynamic, free poetry events inspired by one of the biggest singer-songwriters of our time, Taylor Swift, featuring creative works by more than 20 talented Toronto poets. Curated by the city’s Poet Laureate Lillian Allen, visitors are invited to take part in Street Talk Stencils, a project transforming Toronto’s sidewalks into a literary journey, with powerful verses painted along the path to the concert venue. There is also Roaming Pop-Up Poets, a series of live performances before each concert, where poets will recite powerful original works inspired by the concert buzz. More Info

When: November 14-23

Where: Various locations

 


Seasons Christmas Show

Kick off your holiday season with the Seasons Christmas show! Looking for Christmas decorations, stocking stuffers, handmade gifts or to sample some hot cocoa? This is the place for it all! Including make-and-take workshops like cookie decorating and wreath making, visits with Santa and a Polar Bar, after a visit to the Season Christmas show, the gift-giving season will feel a little easier. More Info

When: November 15-17

Where: The International Centre

 


The Bees Knees

Art is meant to be a reflection of the times we are in and The Bees Knees, written and directed by Judy Reynolds, is certainly doing that. Through the story of Dolores and Bernie, a pair of sisters with political ambitions in the 1920s, audiences are invited to reflect on how much (and certainly how little) has changed in the landscape of modern leadership. More Info

When: November 15-24

Where: Theatre Centre

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by MOCA Toronto (@mocatoronto)


Art Hive at MOCA

The Museum of Contemporary Art is hosting their final Art Hive of the year! This free event invites visitors to create multiple mini artworks inspired by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas’ unique Haida Manga style and his work Daalkaatlii Diaries, and encourages us to participate in a ‘take one, leave one’ art card swap as a way to pass down our stories among our communities. From painting and drawing to collage, and guided by three visiting art therapy students who will facilitate creative expression, this is the perfect way to decompress, get creative and meet new people. More Info

When: November 18

Where: Museum of Contemporary Art