Weekend events in Toronto include the arrival of a number of holiday markets, like the food and craft-filled Winter Village at the Brick Works. Besides seasonal affairs, music fans have LCD Soundsystem to look forward to and party-goers have their work cut out for them.
Events you might want to check out:
Sounds of the Season (December 1 @ Canadian Broadcasting Centre)
CBC's annual charity drive brings you live performances by Serena Ryder, Shawn Hook and Whitehorse, plus the chance to meet your favourite CBC broadcast personalities.
Evergreen's Winter Village (December 2-31 @ Evergreen Brick Works)
Experience the magic of winter at Evergreen’s Winter Village with campfires, nature walks, and other outdoor activities. There's also food truck eats and shopping ops at the Etsy market.
Toronto Art Crawl (December 3 @ Toronto Art Crawl)
Held once again at Toronto's iconic Great Hall, Toronto Art Crawl's 4th annual Christmas Market features 95 artists and designers, interactive activities, food vendors and more across four floors of shopping.
Indigenous Artisan Marketplace (December 1-3 @ Native Canadian Centre of Toronto)
Over 40 local vendors bring out traditional and contemporary Indigenous paintings, moccasins, beadwork, clothing, jewelery, and more.
150 Years of Canadian Christmas at Casa Loma (December 1 - January 7 @ Casa Loma)
Casa Loma is celebrating the tail end of Canada 150 with a wide range of activities and performances. Get lost in the castle's holiday decor and snap photos of its 40ft tall tree.
Body Percussion Festival (December 1-3 @ Harbourfront Centre Theatre)
Experience professional and community based groups exhibit a range of percussion forms created solely through the body, including throat singing, beatbox, sword dance, belly dance and more.
Light Up the Beach (December 1 @ Leuty Avenue)
More than 80,000 LED bulbs on 20,000 linear feet of wire are hung, making the boardwalk an incredible winter destination. Arrive before 7 p.m. to ensure you catch the lights come on!
Toronto Toy, Record & Video Game Show (December 3 @ Toronto Plaza Hotel)
Indulge your inner kid and explore 75 tables worth of new and vintage toys and video games. This year also marks the addition of vinyl records and tapes to the show.
Death From Above (December 1 @ The Phoenix Concert Theatre)
Canadian rock duo Death From Above had a major comeback this year, and are playing music from their 2017 release Outrage! Is Now.
Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy (December 2 @ Sony Centre for the Performing Arts)
Thirty years of iconic video game music come to life with an orchestra and chorus at this homage to the music of Final Fantasy. One of the game's original composers will even be in attendance!
LCD Soundsystem (December 3 @ Air Canada Centre)
The American rock and electronic legends LCD Soundsystem play a huge show at the Air Canada Centre in support of their 2017 album, American Dream.
The Elwins (December 3 @ Mod Club Theatre)
The Elwins celebrate the release of their career launching record Beauty Community at the Mod Club with special guests Jukebox the Ghost.
Toronto Loves Taylor Swift (December 3 @ Round Venue)
A live art and music tribute to the Queen of contemporary pop goes down this Sunday, involving a listening party for Reputation, as well as a ton of Toronto artists covering Swift hits.
Rave in the Cave (December 1 @ CineCycle)
Climb out of your cave and into theirs, where you'll find art installations, music, dancing, food and drinks. Psychedelic beats will be provided by DJ Soft Drink and DJ Maggy.
Body Love Ball (December 2 @ The 519)
Featuring live music, a pink carpet, a candy room and more, dance your heart out at this diverse and inclusive fundraiser in support of LGBTQ youth, families, and allies.
Goth Tub Time Machine (December 2 @ Nocturne)
This dark retro party is beach themed and even feature a real hot tub to soak in while DJs spin tunes from The Cure, Nine Inch Nails, Joy Divison, and the like.
Barcode Saturdays (December 2 @ Orchid Nightclub)
Two different floors with two entirely different sounds. This weekend Illegal Alien and DJ Griff take charge of DJ duty, spinning tons of hip hop, reggae, and trap.
The Bad Dog Holiday Party (December 2 @ Bad Dog Theatre Company)
The comedy theatre company is hosting a holiday spectacular, with a light hearted awards show at the beginning followed by a dance party stretching late into the night.
Hop Chow: Craft Beer & Food Pairing Festival (December 2 @ 99 Sudbury)
Not your average festival, Hop Chow will offer beer and food lovers artfully curated pairings from Toronto’s most innovative purveyors. A delicious menu of bites and brews awaits.
Christmas in the Valley (December 2 @ Miller Lash House)
Hosted in a historic house, watch Maple Taffy be made, sip warm apple cider, or check out the smoked meat food truck, all while 30 + local artists showcasing their works.
Tennessee Tavern Pierogi Eating Contest (December 3 @ Tennessee Tavern)
Witness some of Torontos biggest eaters take down a mountain of pierogies or join in on the all-you-can-eat fun for only $5.95!
December Really Really Free Market (December 2 @ Campbell Park)
Everything is free. No money, no swapping. Each attendee is allowed one large shopping bag, or two bags for families, and can take any items they please. After 3pm there's no limit!
Kensington Market Craft Fair (December 2 @ Saint Stephens in the Fields)
Kensington Market's first craft fair offers a curated indoor art and craft show focusing on unique products like ceramics, jewelry, furniture, paintings, and more.
Shop Local Holiday Market (December 2 @ STUDIO by the Nooks)
Join the Nooks in shopping local for handmade, artisan, one-of-a-kind and good-to-go gifts.
Black Owned Holiday Pop-Up Market (December 3 @ Wychwood Barns)
This pop-up market features unique products and services from business owners within the black community. Swing by for great music, food, performances, and giveaways.
The Bloody Mary Film Festival (November 30 - December 1 @ Imagine Carlton Cinema)
Putting a spotlight on female-identifying Canadian filmmakers in genre films, Bloody Mary is back for a second year of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy features.
Coming To America Screening with Kardinal Offishall (December 3 @ TIFF Bell Lightbox)
The laughs come thick and fast in Eddie Murphy's culture-clash comedy. Toronto hip hop legend Kardinal Offishall will even be introducing the film.
Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas (December 3 @ Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema)
The Toronto Premiere of Larry Weinstein's offbeat, fun, and intelligent film about how Jews redefined the Christmas season.
Holiday Fair in Nathan Phillips Square (December 1-23 @ Nathan Phillips Square)
Back for its second year, Holiday Fair in Nathan Phillips Square celebrates the season with an enchanting artisan market, food, live entertainment and more.
by Corey Van Den Hoogenband via blogTO