June 29th-July 1st Redpath Waterfront Festival @ HTO Park, 339 Queens Quay W. The Redpath Waterfront Festival, presented by Billy Bishop Airport, sails back into the city with a fleet of tall ships. Tour and snap selfies with the magnificent vessels, go overboard on delicious maritime eats, and enjoy live entertainment all weekend.
WEDNESDAY
7 pm Open Roof Festival: The Beach Bum @ The Lower Junction, 181 Sterling Rd. Open Roof presents a screening of Harmony Korine’s The Beach Bum, starring Matthew McConaughey as the pot-fueled poet Moondog, who stumbles through Florida in search of inspiration for his literary works + a live musical performance from Joyia. $15.75 advance tickets available online.
7 pm Music Bingo @ The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. A FREE weekly event combining the love of music with the traditional bingo format. Each player receives a Music Bingo card which consists of an assortment of songs. Instead of calling out numbers, they play the music! Singing along encouraged.
8 pm Drake Trivia @ The Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St. W. Teams of four or less put their random knowledge to the test as hosts Megan Griffith-Greene and Jeromy Lloyd fire off questions ranging from sporting records and celebrity scandals to geographic discoveries and culinary lingo. $2 to participate. Email host@thedrakehotel.ca or show up early to reserve a spot.
8 pm SMASH: Nourish @ Gardiner Museum, 111 Queen’s Park. A night of bold artwork, delicious cuisine, and invigorating experiences. This annual art party hosted by the Gardiner Museum Young Patron Circle brings together leading Canadian contemporary artists for a vibrant party dripping with creativity. This year’s event explores nourishment in different forms: immersive art, food and drink, and good company, all of which provide sustenance. Featuring art by Ness Lee, Diana Lynn VanderMeulen, and Jon Sasaki + music by DJ Dre Ngozi, an activation by MINDSET Brain Gym, and more! $150 tickets available online.
THURSDAY
9 pm ChoppedXtra: The Moulin Rouge Edition @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. Toronto’s ballroom scene is taking over the Drake Underground to bring you a special night of glamour, couture and entertainment. It’s Toronto’s Vogue Night with a Club Kid twist. $10 advance tickets available online.
10 pm Fuzzed & Buzzed @ Swan Dive, 1631 Dundas St. W. Get buzzed and enjoy some fuzzed-out rock ‘n’ roll tunes hand-picked by the Fuzzed & Buzzed crew!
FRIDAY
5 pm Annex Summer Night Market @ The Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Ave. A neighbourhood celebration and fundraiser for essential programs at CAMH and Workman Arts. The market brings together local artisans, artists, crafters, musicians, and makers. Swag Bags (worth $60 to $100) to the first 150 visitors! Until 10 pm.
7 pm Friday Night Live: O Canada @ Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park. Show off your Canadian pride and start your long weekend at the season finale of #FNLROM. $19.21 tickets available online; limited amount available at the door.
7:30 pm Neon Dreams Cinema Club: The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai @ The Royal Cinema, 608 College St. This summer, Neon Dreams has perfected the “oscillation overthruster” and wants to send you hurtling through a mountain at light speed. Come along for an outrageous ride through space and time led by physicist/neurosurgeon/test pilot/musician Buckaroo Banzai (Peter Weller) and his rock band of gun-toting scientists. $13.19 advance tickets available online.
10 pm Ultra-Boogaloo @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. Catch the fever in the front room of The Garrison. DJs Classy and Chico will take you on a sonic journey to the planets of soul, garage, funk, punk, and then back again!
10 pm Knockout @ Handlebar, 159 Augusta Ave. A night of featuring the best of rare soul and vintage reggae on original 45s.
10 pm Jamz @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. DJs Slater and Ty mashin’ heavy tunes from the ’90s to the ’00s, including DMX, J-Lo, Britney, Ludacris, Missy, Spice Girls, Mariah, Backstreet Boys, Ashanti, Destiny’s Child, and more. $10.
10 pm DJ Teenage Werewolf @ Swan Dive, 1631 Dundas St. W. Friday night freak out with DJ Teenage Werewolf! Rock ‘n’ roll, soul, psych, and more.
10 pm On My Way! Presents: Russell E. L. Butler @ Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St. W. Set by Oakland-based producer and DJ Russell E. L. Butler, with support from Toronto’s Ciel and Ceremonies. 4 AM LAST CALL. $8 in advance, $10 at the door.
10 pm Wax Candy Disco Party @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. DJ Efsharp and Cyclist serve up platters of the sweetest soulful, refreshing, and uplifting disco in one of the best sounding rooms in the city. $10.
10 pm Beam Me Up Disco @ The Drake Lounge, 1150 Queen St. W. Beam Me Up is a disco jam that celebrates the underrated and the obscure of funk, jazz, soul, boogie, rare groove, reggae, gospel, proto-house! It’s an evening of tuneful transcendence, supplied by residents Patchouli Brothers. $10.
11 pm Get Good @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. Diggy The DJ plays all your favourite bangers. $10.
SATURDAY
11 am Kensington Flea @ 214 Augusta Ave. Kensington Flea features a diversity of independent artisans and vendors from across the city and beyond! Wares on offer include handmade crafts, jewelry, and other artisanal goods. Until 6 pm. Runs every Saturday through September 7th.
5 pm Sunnyside 21: Episode 04 @ Sunnyside Pavilion & Cafe, 1755 Lake Shore Blvd. W. Sunnyside celebrates its 21st season of summer music events under the sun, moon, and stars! This edition features the Sunnyside debut of the king of Chicago House, Derrick Carter, with support from Richard Brooks, Sean Roman, Miz Megs, and Strange City & Telep. $49.10-55.10 advance tickets available online.
8 pm BBC Night Market @ 15 Saskatchewan Rd. Spend your Saturday evenings on 40,000 square feet of stunning outdoor patio space with a full 360-degree view of Toronto’s skyline. The BBC Night Market will bring together a rotating list of top food vendors from across Toronto and the GTA along with a rotating list of food trucks from Food Truck’n Friday. Guests can grab a spot at one of the many tables throughout the space or pre-book a poolside private cabana to enjoy starry nights with friends.
10 pm Sound Directions @ The Red Light, 1185 Dundas St. W. “To the left, take it back now y’all / One hop this time, right foot let’s stomp / Left foot let’s stomp.” If you can guess these lyrics, you’ll get a hint of a belter that won’t be played at this party. DJs Johnny Lopez and Aleksandar Kojic on the turntables.
10 pm Take A Chance @ Farside, 600 Gerrard St. E. DJ JD spins all-vinyl Euro disco and the sweetest tunes to make you feel good.
10 pm Juicebox @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. DJs Babs and Jorge spinning the indie, retro, and Britpop you need! You will hear: The Strokes, David Bowie, Pulp, The Stooges, LCD Soundsystem, Bloc Party, The Human League, Joy Division, Holy Ghost, Glass Candy, and lots more! $10.
10 pm Saturday Night Jukebox Dance Party @ Stones Place, 1255 Queen St. W. Sweat it out to the sweet sounds of the golden age of rock ‘n’ roll and soul music! DJ Blush plays pop, rock, and soul from the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s. $10.
10 pm Shake A Tail @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. Shake A Tail returns to sweat up the front room of The Garrison with the finest pop, garage, psych, and soul sounds from the ’60s.
10 pm DJ Cheff @ Swan Dive, 1631 Dundas St. W. DJ Cheff cooks up a rock ‘n’ roll sound track not to be missed!
10 pm Worst Behavior @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. This Saturday, be on your worst behavior. Bangs & Blush play past and present bangers all night long from Drake, The Weeknd, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G., Nelly, TLC, Missy Elliott, and more! $10.
11 pm Itzsoweezee @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. A feel-good house party atmosphere! DJs Tom Wrecks, DeMiggs, and ΛV play music to make you dance, smile, and holler. For line bypass before midnight, submit names here (right side of the page). $10.
SUNDAY
9 am Sunnyside Sunday Market @ Great Lakes Brewery, 30 Queen Elizabeth Blvd. A new farmers market is coming to Etobicoke this summer! Each Sunday, enjoy the sunshine and brews while you shop local Ontario farmer stands and crafty booths. Until 2 pm.
12 pm Pedestrian Sundays @ Kensington Market. Kensington Market’s car-free celebration, featuring live music, games, performances, art, food, and more! The streets are yours until 7 pm.
1 pm Flamingo Market @ Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St. The launch of Flamingo Market, a new bi-monthly market featuring, promoting, and fostering the diverse small business and artisan talent that the LGBTQ2SIA+ community has to offer. Admission is free and all are welcome! Until 7 pm.
6 pm Christie Pits Film Festival Opening Night: Rafiki @ Christie Pits Park, Bloor St. W. Toronto Outdoor Picture Show kicks off its “Dynamic Duos” series at Christie Pits Film Festival with Rafiki, a barrier-breaking tale of forbidden love in more than one way, in celebration of Pride Month! It will screen with I Like Girls, an animated short documentary about first queer loves, and Erin’s Guide to Kissing Girls, a playful high school romantic drama between best friends. Film at sundown (9:15 pm); eats and treats from 6 pm onwards by Feasto Dumpling Food Truck, The Pop Stand, and popcorn at the festival canteen. BYOBlanket. Free/PWYC ($10 suggested).
7 pm Brass Facts Trivia @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. Test your knowledge and win prizes! Hosted by Famous Kirk Hero. Until 10 pm.
10 pm Sinful Sundays Burlesque: PeepShow T.O. @ Cherry Cola’s, 200 Bathurst St. Come be entertained at this weekly “temple of tease.” This week, Peepshow T.O. brings their high calibre brand of Nerdlesque to the Cherry’s stage in an intimate showcase of fan favourite, geek-tastic acts! Free entry; tipping encouraged.
10 pm No Problem @ The Shop, 1566 Queen St. W. Join Alister Johnson and Adam Bronstorph for some dance floor explorations on a Sunday night that they promise you’ll remember.
10 pm Love Shack @ Swan Dive, 1631 Dundas St. W. DJ DangerCat playing all the best rock and roll, indie, surf, garage, and new wave hits all night!
~ For event submissions, email Caitlyn Holroyd at caitlyn_holroyd@hotmail.com