Toronto Outdoor Art Fair TOAF 2024

It's a busy weekend in Toronto and the TOAF returns to Nathan Phillips Square for the 63rd annual, three-day art event July 12-14, rain or shine. There are also a number of sculpture installations near the stage including ‘Journey Through Geometry’ by Safoura Zahedi previously show as part of DesignTO, pictured above as I am reflected in the steel plates, polished to a mirror finish.

Journey through Geometry

From TOAF's website, "The 63rd Toronto Outdoor Art Fair is a multi-faceted and multi-layered event. More than 165,000 visitors join us each year at Nathan Phillips Square. Visit us this year July 12 to 14 for a great weekend of art collecting and artist discovery, installations, guided tours, soulful kids programs, live painting, and site-specific dance."

Rows and rows of individual white canopy tents fill the square at City Hall, each full of some type of art. There are over 350 artists taking part in the art festival and you can sign up for free tours to check out some of the collections.

Festival hours
Friday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Saturday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

A volunteer holds up an Art Tour sign

Downtown Toronto Ribfest 2024

Ribs slathered with thick layers of barbecue sauce and cooked over large grills could taste good, but how can you be sure the food is tasty? Because of all the trophies piled up in front of the booths, plus all the banners stacked high above the mobile kitchens! This is a weekend made for meat and you can find it at the Northern Heat Rib Series Downtown Toronto Ribfest. 

Yonge-Dundas is easily accessible from public transit and just across from the Toronto Eaton Centre

Yonge-Dundas Square is fenced in and the food festival is open from Friday, July 12 to Sunday, July 14 and is free to attend, but bring some money because ribs ain't cheap. And they say "Get ready for…
MOUTH WATERIN’, FINGER LICKIN’, BELLY RUBBIN’ GOOD BBQ!" There is a Friday only coupon for two free sides available on their website.

The tight quarters in the square mean that there won't be a beer tent or live music at this festival.

Ribfest hours
FRIDAY: 12pm – 10pm
SATURDAY: 12pm – 10pm
SUNDAY: 12pm – 9pm

One Week till Fan Friday at Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto 2024

July 19 is coming fast and Free Fan Friday in support of Make-A-Wish® Canada opens the exciting 2024 race weekend at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto. Friday is free with a voluntary donation to the charity, otherwise single day or weekend tickets are available for the rest of the 36th edition of the race festival in Toronto. Seats in the Grandstands will be on a first come, first served basis for Fan Friday.

From the media release, "To kick off the exciting festival weekend set for July 19-21, in lieu of paid admission, spectators can make a voluntary donation to Make-A-Wish® Canada and receive complimentary gate admission on Friday, July 19. More than $1 million has been raised for children with critical illnesses to grant their wishes through these efforts over the past 12 years. Honda Canada Foundation will match donations dollar-for-dollar made by generous race fans up to a total of $50,000 during the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto weekend."

You can donate at the entrance or within Enercare Centre where a Make-A-Wish® Canada Zone is set up. There will be activities, prizes and photos with the charity's mascot Roary. There will also be a 50-50 raffle contest with the draw to be held on the Monday after the race weekend.

Gates will open at 8:30am on Friday and on track action starts at 9am with a Radicals Cup practice session. All five race series will be taking part in the first day, including the NTT IndyCar Series practice at 3pm, with the first race of the weekend by the Radicals Cup starting at 5:05pm.

There are four driver autograph sessions planned for Friday; 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Autograph Session (Heritage Court in Enercare Centre), 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM Sports Car Championship Canada Autograph Session (Heritage Court in Enercare Centre), 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM Radicals Cup Autograph Session (Heritage Court in Enercare Centre) and 3:15 PM - 3:45 PM USF2000 & USF Pro 2000 Autograph Session (Heritage Court in Enercare Centre).

A charity running event, the Rev and Run 5000, will begin after the cars have left the track for the day beginning at 6:25pm.

There will a food truck section along with beer gardens and vendors in Thunder Alley and you can also view the supporting series paddocks, no ticket required. For entrance into the IndyCar Paddock or the Pit area additional tickets are required.

Check out the full 2024 race weekend coverage at the following links.

NTT IndyCar Sunday Race Day

Saturday at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto

Free Fan Friday at Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto

Getting Ready for Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto

Track Build for the 2024 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto

Evanescent now in Brookfield Place

The long hall in Brookfield Place is now the temporary home to the Evanescent art installation. The big, shiny balls are nestled in the Allen Lambert Galleria, on display as part of the Luminato Art Festival.

Putting the installation together

Previously installed in the garden outside of Brookfield Place, it fits in nicely in the long, glass and steel arched space home to many large scale art pieces in the past. Evanescent should probably be on site until the end of July 2024.

From Brookfield Properties website, "Atelier Sisu is a Sydney based design studio led by award winning artists Renzo B. Larriviere and Zara Pasfield. The pair work with a multi-disciplinary team to create experiential environments, installations and sculptures. Their direction of work sits between the fields of art and architecture (art-chitecture), with particular focus in the realm of public art. Their work endeavours to be visually engaging and intellectually elegant in nature. This immersive piece of ‘art-chitecture’ appeals to our universal playfulness and childlike wonder. Evanescent is about living fully in the moment and not taking life, in all its beauty, for granted. This large-scale public artwork is Instagram-worthy, yet its magical message might just encourage you to put your phone aside."

Reflektor art installation at Soho and Queen St West

It's been locked up behind a metal fence for too long, now it is free to mirror the cityscape around it. The shiny, metal art sculpture designed by Jyhling Lee Landscape sits at the corner of Soho Street and Queen Street West in downtown Toronto, sitting beside the MEC store.

The semi-circular, muti-faceted artwork is named Reflektor and really catches the eye as you pass by. I was drawn to the piece and walked up into the circle, taking photos and reflected back into the camera. It's kind of like a giant, metal orange, spread apart in one piece and created in the cyber orange factory.

From behind it looks just like a ball

Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto 2024 race schedule

Track preparations are underway in Exhibition Place for the 2024 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto race weekend and the schedule for the high octane event has been posted. Fan Friday on July 19 gets the party started and the Radical Cup Race is highlighting the free admission Friday with a voluntary donation to Make-A-Wish® Canada foundation (seating is on a first come, first served basis and is a great way to check out racing in Toronto).

Five racing series are taking part in the 2024 Toronto race weekend; the headliners being the NTT INDYCAR SERIES with the race on Sunday, the USF Pro 2000 Presented by Continental Tire, the USF Pro Championships Presented by Continental Tire, the Sports Car Championship Canada presented by Michelin and the Emzone Radical Cup Canada presented by Michelin.

IndyCar is North America's premier auto racing series utilizing open-wheeled beasts that compete on both ovals and street circuits. NTT IndyCar has also introduced a "first-of-its-kind hybrid unit. The 2.2-liter, twin-turbocharged V-6 engine". July 19-21, 2024 will feature plenty of on track action for IndyCar including practices, qualifications and the Sunday race with driver introductions starting at 12:40pm followed by the 85 lap race.

2023 winner Christian Lundgaard during driver introductions

The 2023 IndyCar winners during podium presentations. Alex Palou (2nd), Christian Lundgaard (1st) and Colton Herta (3rd)

IndyCar drivers Scott Dixon and Will Power, both multiple winners of past Toronto races

Christian Lundgaard 45 Danish driver Christian Lundgaard is returning for his third season with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

Here is the schedule right off Toronto's website.

Fan Friday, July 19
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Radicals Cup Practice
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM USF2000 Practice
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM USF Pro 2000 Practice
11:45 AM - 12:25 PM Sports Car Championship Canada Practice
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Autograph Session (Heritage Court in Enercare Centre)
1:00 PM - 1:25 PM Radicals Cup Qualifying
1:40 PM - 2:00 PM USF2000 Qualifying
2:15 PM - 2:35 PM USF Pro 2000 Qualifying
3:00 PM - 4:15 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 1
4:30 PM - 4:50 PM Sports Car Championship Canada Qualifying
5:05 PM - 5:40 PM Radicals Cup Race 1
6:25 PM Rev & Run 5000 Charity Running Event

See 2023 Friday highlights here.

Saturday, July 20
9:10 AM - 9:30 AM USF2000 Qualifying 2
9:45 AM - 10:05 AM USF Pro 2000 Qualifying 2
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 2
11:45 AM - 12:25 PM Sports Car Championship Canada Race 1
12:40 PM - 1:25 PM USF2000 Race 1
1:40 PM - 2:15 PM Radicals Cup Race 2
2:45 PM - 4:15 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying
4:30 PM - 5:15 PM USF Pro 2000 Race 1
7:00 PM The Children's Breakfast Clubs Ride Toronto Indy Charity Cycling Event

See 2023 Saturday highlights here.

Sunday, July 21
8:00 AM - 8:40 AM USF2000 Race 2
8:55 AM - 9:35 AM USF Pro 2000 Race 2
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warm-up
10:45 AM - 11:25 AM Sports Car Championship Canada Race 2
11:40 AM - 12:15 PM Radicals Cup Race 3
12:40 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Driver Introductions
1:30 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto (85 Laps)

See 2023 Sunday highlights here.

Remember, with road closures required for the street course through Exhibition Place and onto Lake Shore Boulevard, take public transit when ever possible, because otherwise you won't be driving as fast as the cars on the track.

Check out the full 2024 race weekend coverage at the following links.

NTT IndyCar Sunday Race Day

Saturday at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto

Free Fan Friday at Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto

Getting Ready for Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto

Track Build for the 2024 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto

RCAF100 at Hamilton Warplane Museum

Several active military aviation planes were on display at the Hamilton Warplane Heritage Museum July 6-7, 2024 to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The museum's usual roster of static and flying aircraft were temporarily buoyed by the influx of Canadian warbirds.

The anniversary of the RCAF occurred on April 1, 2024 and recognizes the inception of the separate and distinct part of the Canadian Armed Forces. To showcase the anniversary the RCAF is participating in a number of airshows and displays around the country including the fly in to the Hamilton museum for the weekend event.

Included in the centennial display were several fighters like the CF18 Demo Team, a helicopter, a search and rescue plane, a couple of transports and a helicopter. You could also meet the crews and take tours of the aircraft.

See more of the warplanes after the jump.

Dancing in the Streets for Salsa on St Clair

It was spicy in Hillcrest Village as Toronto's annual Salsa on St Clair brought the Latin tempo to the street festival Saturday and Sunday, July 6-7, 2024. Closing St Clair West between Winona and Christie, making it pedestrian friendly and dance central for the weekend.

Salsa dancers and a bunny rabbit

This year's free street party celebrates 20 years of Salsa in Toronto with the award-winning, Latin-themed fiesta. Vendors shared space with several stages providing live entertainment and intersections became hubs for dance lessons and group dancing. The stages have over 350 performances lined up with bands, singers, dancers and other performances.

Take in the Fiesta Parade Saturday and Sunday at 12:30pm. Also on tap was the Political Salsa Showdown with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow making an appearance and who also hung out with her constituents.

Mayor Olivia Chow

See more of the street party after the jump.

Children's Breakfast Clubs Ride Toronto Indy July 20

You can soon ride your bike around a race track designed for high performance NTT IndyCars during the upcoming inaugural 2024 Children's Breakfast Clubs Ride Toronto Indy. Hosted by Exhibition Place and the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto during race weekend in Exhibition Place and on-track Saturday, July 20, 2024 from 6pm to 9:30pm.

This is a brand new cycling event dedicated to a great cause. From the media release, "On Saturday, July 20, the local community is invited too for a leisure ride on the legendary Toronto Indy track for a charitable donation. The public will have the rare chance to cycle on the race course after-hours with all proceeds going directly to support The Children's Breakfast Clubs. It's a unique bike ride for children with a charity component engaging the community to raise money for The Children's Breakfast Clubs by also cycling the track. This event aims to inspire young people to embrace cycling, promote a healthy lifestyle through exercise and good nutrition."

Tickets are $25 and you can register and get tickets at this link here.

Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto track build 2024

Update July 13, 2024: Most of the internal blocks and fencing has been installed and Turn 10 Grandstand is now done and the pedestrian bridge is now over the track section, just waiting for the stairs. Work on the external road track installation will start during off-peak times on the 15th.

Tires at Turn 8 runoff section

Grandstand 10 getting finished

Princes' Boulevard trackside suite

The pedestrian bridge is up

The pitlane trackside suite, pit lane and the pedestrian bridge

Update July 12, 2024: work on internal block walls and fencing inside Exhibition Place continues. Turn 11 Grandstands are almost finished, Turn 10 Grandstand is now underway. The Suites are getting finished now as well.

Ticket booths in front of Enercare Centre

Tires and fencing at Princes' Gates

Main track fence and internal barrier fence is installed in many areas

The Pedestrian bridge into the infield is under construction

Turn 10 Grandstand

The Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto start/finish line is being painted now

Back to the original post.

The heavy work of setting up the 2.874-kilometre, 11-turn temporary race track for the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto is currently underway in Exhibition Station. The weekend race is less than two weeks away from taking over the streets of Toronto July 19-21, 2024 with the first day is the 13th FREE Fan Friday courtesy of the Ontario Honda Dealers which offers general admission courtesy of the Ontario Honda Dealers Association with a voluntary donation. The 90 degree bend at Turn 5 is pictured above.

City Road closures of Lake Shore Boulevard West for track preparation will begin July 14, with the track and race festival ready by July 18. The road will remain closed until July 22.

See more of the track build after the jump.