Here’s what’s happening online and around Toronto this week.
Akin Virtual Holiday Market
Support your neighborhood artists through the Akin Virtual Holiday Market! From now through December 20th, local arts programming organization Akin Projects will be showcasing a group of artists who make unique, handmade works including fine art, jewelry, textile work, ceramics, and custom pieces ready to sell.
The Eco Lifestyle Market: Holiday Virtual Market
Add more green in with the red this holiday season! From now through December 21st, the Eco Lifestyle Market will share Toronto’s most noteworthy small businesses, makers, crafters, and artists that you can shop from online.
Holiday Night of Lights
The people behind the sold-out Halloween Nights of Lights are bringing another socially-distanced drive-thru experience for the holiday season! Holiday Night of Lights is an immersive display featuring more than 1,000,000 LED lights animated and synchronized to everyone’s favorite holiday tunes. It runs from 5:40-10:30 p.m. daily until January 7th at Revel Park (80 Interchange Way, Vaughan). Tickets start at $25 per car.
The Junction’s Window Wonderland
From now until January 31, 2021 the Junction BIA will be showcasing local businesses and artists through 10 interactive painted windows accessed through the AR app, Augle. Window Wonderland is Toronto’s first large-scale display of AR and offers an accessible, expressive, and immersive artistic experience for locals and visitors.
Flamingo Market
Flamingo Market, Toronto’s only independent bi-monthly market for LGBTQ2SIA+ entrepreneurs and makers, is now virtual! Shop the diverse small business and artisan talent that the LGBTQ2SIA+ community has to offer at their online marketplace, featuring clothing, home decor, eco-friendly goods, skincare, zines, services, and lots more.
MOCA’s Shift Key
In an effort to continue connecting people through art and experimentation, the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto has created an online platform called Shift Key featuring video and new media works by artists. This week’s feature is “Still” by Erin Shirreff, who knits together a series of tableaus of graphite-colored, poured plaster forms into a seamless, unending scroll.
Virtual Paradise Theatre
Paradise may be closed, but they’re still bringing you movies! The theatre has teamed up with some of their favourite boutique film distributors to stream movies through their affiliate links, with proceeds going to both the distributors and Paradise. The films include Kedi, Caro Diario, and Whose Streets?
Toronto Mendelssohn Choir’s Festival of Carols
Join the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir on Wednesday at 8 p.m. for a program that brings together virtual performances of new works, sing-along favourites, and some Christmas stories and memories.
Wavelength Holiday Special
Pour yourself a big glass of eggnog and tune into the Wavelength Holiday Special, airing Thursday at 7 p.m. on Wavelength’s YouTube channel! It’s a Torontoish, localish, variety show hosted by comedian Arianne Tong and featuring performances by Maylee Todd, Keysha Freshh, Morgan Doctor, TRP.P, Frosty Valentine, Doc Pickles, Caldeira+Driftnote, Babyshades, Kristian Noel Pederson, and more.
’90s Trivia Hour with DJ Lazarus
DJ Lazarus hosts a fun and interactive hour of trivia and music Thursday at 8 p.m. on Mixcloud. Test your knowledge of ’90s music, pop culture, movies, technology, and more – then stick around as he plays your song requests.
90s Nostalgia Holiday Extravaganza
The 90s Nostalgia concert series presents this a free, fun-filled evening featuring amazing emcees, live performances, DJs, dancing, and some good old fashion ’90s fun! Start a watch party for you and your friends for a chance to win tickets to various events across Canada. The fun kicks off Friday at 7:15 p.m.
Elf at the Drive-In
The Ontario Place Drive-In (955 Lake Shore Blvd W.) presents a screening of the holiday classic Elf this Friday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person.
Coral Caroling
Get into the Fish-mas spirit at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada’s Coral Caroling, a Christmas concert under the sea happening Friday at 7:30 p.m. The evening will feature a virtual performance by The Vince Guaraldi Trio-bute Band, playing all your favourite Christmas classics live from Rainbow Reef. Tickets are $10 + HST.
’Twas The Night Before CRAFTmas
Toronto’s CRAFT Beer Market hosts a virtual four-course CRAFT Brewmaster’s Dinner this Friday from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Order your dinner then tune into Zoom for a virtual tasting session.
Club Quarantine
Club Quarantine is a virtual queer dance party happening Friday on Zoom. The party was started by four Toronto-based artists – Mingus New, Casey MQ, Andres Sierra, and Brad Allen – and has featured both local and international DJs.
Winter Skating at The Bentway
The Bentway’s skate trail under the Gardiner returns Saturday at noon for the winter season. Pre-registration for timed entries will be required and the trail will have a fixed capacity of 25 people. Skating is free, but The Bentway is asking for help supporting those in need by donating a small amount ($5 suggested) to the creation of Winter Care Kits for individuals experiencing poverty and homelessness.
Love Actually at the Drive-In
Catch the 2003 Christmas-themed romantic comedy Love Actually at the Ontario Place Drive-In (955 Lake Shore Blvd W.) this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person.
Andy Kim Christmas Special
Andy Kim presents his annual Christmas Special in support of Crew Nation, CAMH Gifts of Light, and Food Banks Canada, airing Saturday at 8 p.m. on CityTV. Featuring performances by Andy Kim, Barenaked Ladies, Broken Social Scene, Buffy Sainte-Marie, City and Colour, Glass Tiger & Roch Voisine, Jully Black, Ron Sexsmith, Sam Roberts, Sarah McLachlan, Serena Ryder, and William Prince.
80s Mixtape Dance Party
All ’80s all night! Join DJ Blush as she broadcasts live Saturday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Mixcloud, playing a mix of pop, rock, synthpop, ska, and new wave from the decade.