Tim Hortons GWN Dragon Boat Challenge

It's time for some Major League Dragon Boat racing along Toronto's inner harbour for the Tim Hortons GWN Dragon Boat Challenge from September 7-8, 2024.

From the GWN Dragon Boat website, "Marking the end of the season for many, this marquee event gives crews the chance to go out with a bang, celebrating with two days of racing in downtown Toronto. Running for over 25 years, this classic festival is the granddaddy event of the MLDB series and a highlight of the racing season, with teams coming from all over Canada and the US.  We are pleased to announce that the Tim Hortons GWN Dragon Boat Challenge is a DBC Race Series Event. 

The Tim Hortons GWN Dragon Boat Challenge is held on the Western Beaches Watercourse in downtown Toronto's Marilyn Bell Park. This venue has been a host to a number of elite dragon boat competitions, including the 2006 IDBF World Club Crew Championships, 2008 Dragon Boat Canada National Championships, and the 2011 ICF Club Crew Dragon Boat World Championships."

Dragon Boat racing is exploding in Toronto as teams gather for some intense exercise and fellowship, often raising money for charity. Toronto's waterfront has plenty of spots for Boat racing, protected by the harbour wall and away from wake boats.

Taste of the Kingsway 2024

Bloor Street on the east side of Toronto is hosting the 26th annual Taste of the Kingsway street festival from September 6-8, 2024. You can find amusement rides, entertainment and lots of vendors along 
Bloor Street West from Prince Edward Drive to Montgomery Street.

From the Kingsway BIA website, "Join us at South Etobicoke's largest street festival for a weekend of food, music and family entertainment. As the proud supporter of official charity partner Campfire Circle, we have an exciting lineup of activities and attractions that will delight visitors of all ages!

Indulge your taste buds with international cuisine and beverages at The Kingsway’s renowned restaurant scene, extended patios and street vendor market. For music lovers, the REMAX Professionals main stage will feature talented artists from all over Ontario including Saturday night headliner Elton Rohn and don’t forget to stop by the REMAX Professionals Feature Lounge on Thompson Ave!

Quench your thirst with #FreshGLB at the Great Lakes Brewery Main Stage Beverage Garden and take a stroll to check out the TD Humbervale Entertainment Zone for a variety of talented local performers. Don't forget to enjoy a beverage at the Humbervale Beverage garden brought to you by Nickle 9 Distillery."

Waiting for Mayor Olivia Chow to show up

Classic cars on Brentwood Road North

Main stage schedule for Saturday and Sunday

TIFF and the TIFF Festival Street 2024

TIFF is back in the Six and it also starts off with the street festival on King Street in the entertainment district. The popular movie festival runs September 5 to 15, 2024 while the 8th year of the street festival is only from September 5 to 8.

King Street West has already been closed down between University Ave and Peter St for the 4 day festival,  along with the adjacent streets connecting to King, as crews and food trucks set up for the festival 

A big celebration is planned on Thursday for 40 years of Tragically Hip including a free sing along with Choir! Choir! Choir!

From the TIFF website, "Kicking off the excitement on opening day is the World Premiere of The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal from producer-director Mike Downie — brother of Gord Downie, who alongside Rob Baker, Johnny Fay, Paul Langlois, and Gord Sinclair went on to make music that defined Canada to the world, and more importantly, Canada to Canadians. Following the screening of the four-part docu-series, Choir! Choir! Choir! will lead a giant outdoor sing-a-long from the Royal Alexandra Theatre onto Festival Street to celebrate 40 years of The Tragically Hip, presented by Prime Video. Fans are invited to join this unforgettable moment at the Amazon Music Bus on John St. (between King St. and Wellington St.) on Thursday, September 5, 4:30pm–5:45pm. Approximate start time is 5:00pm, exact timing is subject to change."

Besides the fun on King Street there is always a chance to meet a movie star in town for the movie festival. Some fans wait for this event all year so they can stake out celebrity hotspots, meet their friends and come away with photos or autographs of the stars. There will also be free movie screenings and activities in David Pecaut Square during the run of the movie festival.

Toronto Buskerfest 2024

It's a Buskerfest weekend at Woodbine Beach! "Fearless meets Funny" from August 30 to September 2, 2024. Entrance is free with a voluntary donation to Epilepsy Toronto.

More from the Buskerfest website, "It’s spontaneous, it’s outrageous; it’s fun, funny, and fabulous – there is something for everyone at the Toronto International BuskerFest for Epilepsy. Be prepared to witness something spectacular around every corner from circus artistry, to daredevils, feats of the impossible, and so much more at Ontario’s largest gathering of buskers from around the world."

Toronto Dragon Festival 2024

They managed to wrangle a rather large, golden Dragon and he looks peaceful for now, which is lucky for Toronto. The big guy is at City Hall's Nathan Phillips Square for the weekend Toronto Dragon Festival August 30 to September 1, 2024.

You can enjoy the annual cultural festival, which first started in 2018, and features live performances, food and beverages, a kids zone, art, martial arts, calligraphy, literature, and beautiful costumes all from the rich history and life in China.

https://dragonfestival.ca

Canadian International Air Show 2024

Toronto has been prepping for the end of summer Canadian National Exhibition and the associated Air Show beginning on Thursday when some of the aircraft were touching down at Pearson Airport. Friday was the practice and the big show in the sky starts Saturday, August 31 and continues until Monday, Sept 2, 2024 (daily from noon till 3:40pm).

This year the Canadian International Air Show, held in Toronto along the shoreline of  Lake Ontario as part of the CNE, hits a 75 year anniversary, just slightly under the 100 year anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The easiest way to see the show is stick to the Lake Shore, including the CIAS special event area in Marilyn Bell Park (tickets required) or along the parks lining the lake. Another great place to watch is from the Toronto Islands, specifically along the Hanlan Beach area (please note the whole beach is now clothing optional, so be prepared). Take a water taxi if the ferry boats are full.

RAF Red Arrows

Here is a list of the aircraft taking part in the show, note some planes are only making an appearance on specific days so check their schedule on the website. You can also find a link to the live audio of the air show commentary on the website (also here at this link: https://cias.org/2024-cias-commentary/ ).

CF18 Demo

USAF F22 Raptor

Aerial performers for 2024

Canadian Forces Snowbirds

Royal Air Force Red Arrows

P-51 Mustang Heritage Flight

U.S.A.F F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team

CF-18 Demonstration Team

Douglas C-47 Dakota (Aug. 31 only)

Avro Lancaster Mk. X with the B-25 Mitchell Mk III (Sept. 1 & 2 only)

Kyle Fowler & The Long EZ

Trevor Rafferty Pitts 12

Redline Airshow’s Van’s RV-8

CL-415 Waterbomber

RCAF Chinook helicopter

Harvard MK II

The Waterbomber takes a shot

Canadian Forces Snowbirds

Toronto's Sneaky Dee's

Finally stopped by the bar with the crazy graffiti signs called Sneaky Dee's at the corner of College and Bathurst streets. It is definitely not a glitzy Tex-Mex restaurant. Described as an unassuming bar that is also a concert venue with live music and DJs.

I just went for a couple of pints and the price of drinks was low and I had two draft amber beers for just a little over $10 dollars, sitting in the sun on the patio and watching the world go by. Apparently the site was to be demolished as part of a redevelopment but the plans are on hold now. This is one of the few old, iconic bars that helped shape entertainment in the city. Hopefully the food, beverages and music will flow for a while longer.

The eclectic establishment is full of wonky graffiti that continues downstairs and into the bathrooms.

They don't take reservations or debit cards so plan accordingly.

Toronto Mabuhay Philippines Festival 2024

Nathan Phillips Square is hosting the 2024 Mabuhay Philippines Festival from August 24 to 25 to celebrate Filipino culture and 75 years of Canadian Philippine friendship. You can find vendors and booths with food along with fashion and arts as well as entertainment on the main stage.

Battle at the Square Basketball tournament

The weekend festival will have beautiful Philippine dancing, music and fashion as Canadian diversity is celebrated during this, the 26th annual event brought to you by the Philippine Independence Day Council.

Yorkville Murals

The ritzy neighborhood of Yorkville was taken over by art for the August 24 to 25, 2024 weekend. Beautiful weather is back in the Six so why not enjoy something outdoors in Toronto. YVM, or Yorkville Murals promises no empty spaces as the event takes place along Yorkville Avenue between Bellair Street and Hazelton Avenue.

@jmhcet Deep underground in the dark lower Bay St #ttc #subwaystation for end-to-end #artinstallation as part of #YorkvilleMurals. #YorkvilleMurals2024 ♬ original sound - jmhcet

Also very cool is the art installation down deep in the mostly unused, post apocalyptic lower Bay ttc subway station. Believe it or not this is the first time I have been deep in the bowels of this particular station, often used in movies, because it is usually too busy during nuit blanche and other events.

@jmhcet #yorkvilleMurals art installation on top of the parking structure. #relax #artinstallation 2024. #yorkvillemurals2024 #inflatable ♬ original sound - jmhcet

When you look up at a certain parking structure you can see a purple inflatable spelling out RELAX. It is on the fourth floor and I think they are having an after party up there as well. Plus there is an additional installation of orange arches up there.

From YVM's website "Toronto’s most captivating art and muralism festival returns August 24-25th with a second iteration of the theme No Empty Spaces. Celebrating its sixth year of the festival, Yorkville Murals will transform the street into a cultural extravaganza, where visitors will be entertained with every step. Yorkville Murals will deliver participatory entertainment and play. Through captivating murals, inflatables, art installations, live painting, art talks, music, dance battles, pop-up shops and an evening block party, culture lovers will want to come back daily to experience the fun."