What to do this long weekend in Toronto

Even though it’s the last week of July, Toronto’s got lots of things to explore and eat around the city. With one more month left of summer, festivals, food trucks and exhibits are making sure to extend that summer feeling for as long as possible. Usually in August CNE rolls around to end the season with a bang, but next month we sadly won’t be returning until 2022. Luckily, it’s only just the beginning and the city’s got everything covered for what to do this long weekend in Toronto.

Visit Artwalk

Make your way to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre for a one-of-a-kind food and movie experience. Inside a 100 acre lot, SmartCentres in partnership with Street Eats unveiled this massive 30,000 sq feet mural from artists such as Jerry Rugg aka birdO, Montreal-based Jeremy Shantz, typographic genius Ben Johnston, and Ricardo Cavolo who you may recognize on the cover art of Canadian music producer Kaytranada’s 2016 album.
Bi-Weekly, every Thursday and Saturday until September, you can catch classic movies in their drive-in theatre for free. They also have a plethora of food from Mexican to irresistible mac and cheese open everyday from 12pm-8pm and until 10pm on movie nights.

Address: 101 Edgeley Blvd, Vaughan
Cost: Free
When: July 8 to September 30

Stay at the Soho Hotel

A staycation and indoor dining has never felt as good as it does now that Stage 3 has opened up Toronto again. There is no better way to celebrate the mini weekend vacay than to grab hold of 25% off your stay at Toronto’s luxury hotel boutique, The Soho. Pretend to be a true tourist for the weekend being amidst top tourist hot spots like the Metro Convention Centre, Berczy Park, St. Lawrence Market and of course, The CN Tower.

Address:  318 Wellington St W, Toronto
Cost: 25% off your stay
When: for a limited time!

Watch an outdoor movie the TOPS Film Festival

If you want to sit out under the stars (hopefully without accompanying the rain), then maybe you should take a visit to the TOPS Film Festival and watch movies for free! In the dreamy lawn of several Toronto parks, this local event will go on for 5 weeks and screen classics along with independent and international short films. With the accompaniment of hundreds of movie lovers, you can catch some shorts from great Canadian filmmakers at the Historic Fort York site.

Address: 250 Fort York Blvd, Toronto
Cost: Free (tickets first-come-first-serve)
When: July 31 to September 5

Here are the movies that are playing this weekend:

Saturday, July 31 
Full length feature: The Birdcage (1996) 
Short films: Plus One Directed by Peter Knegt (2017) & Nouvel An Directed by Marie-Ève Juste (2015)

Saturday, July 31 
Full length feature: The Birdcage (1996) 
Short films: Plus One Directed by Peter Knegt (2017) & Nouvel An Directed by Marie-Ève Juste (2015)

Monday, August 2 
Full length feature: Booksmart (2019) 
Short films: The Tragic Fall of Valerie Mallory Finkerstein Directed by Martina Monro (2019)

Go paddle boarding

Paddle Pirates at the centre of The Beaches are not letting the wet weather get in the way of a good time. This weekend, why not try stand-up paddle boarding around the cool waters and bird life Kew Beach. If you’re out with your friends and family, they’ve got a giant 8-person paddle board that you can split for $200 for a 2 hour ride. What’s great about Paddle Pirates is that they are fully accessible and include accommodations for blind, deaf, and individuals with autism on board.

Address: 2 Glen Manor Drive, Toronto
Cost: 
$60 for 2 hour-single paddle board
$200 for 2 hour-8 person paddle board
When: all-year round (July to September for the best water temperatures)

Go to an Contemporary Art Exhibit

In art hubs Montreal, New York, now Toronto, you can go see incredible contemporary pieces at Arsenal Contemporary’s independent exhibits. Until August 14, you can see two thought-provoking shows with mind-bending paintings and immersive audio-visual experiences.
At the Junction, one of the exhibits titled Suspended Disbelief features 6 global artists capturing the theme of myths, horror, anxiety and the supernatural. The other features installations by Torontonian artist Tasman Richardson which skew viewers perceptions of the visual senses with varying digital projections and sound. His exhibit titled “Kali Yuga” can be translated to “The Age of Vice” and is taken from a Hindu story of the sinful, present we live in.

Address: 45 Ernest Ave, Toronto
Cost: Free
When: 
Suspended Disbelief – June 15 to August 14
Kali Yuga – March 9 to August 14

Eat at a summer pop-up

For an all around good vibe, stop for a bite at the Let’s Do Summer pop-up now extended to August 16! Chill at the backyard garden party by fairy light and the fireside at the corner of Bathurst and Richmond St! They’ve got all the summertime eats with some fresh barbeque, roasted Turkey legs and a refreshing cocktail menu with drinks like a Spicy Watermelon Margarita or Spiked Strawberry Lemonade. You can also tune into some of their date night activities, including Friday night flower pot painting under $30.

Address: 621 Richmond St W, Toronto
Cost: Varies
When: July 16 to August 16

Snap a pic at Immersive Van Gogh

Back by extremely popular demand, the Immersive Van Gogh experience is making its way back to Toronto and you can make your visit this weekend before Monday! It’s a breathtaking, walk through experience that lets you truly place yourself in a living painting by the late, great Dutch post-impressionist. Sit and ponder at the moving works or go beyond and take a yoga class amidst the vast scenery! This is the spot for your Instagram summer pics for sure.
And that’s it for some fun-filled events this weekend folks! If you make it to any of these incredible experiences, don’t forget to tag us in your photos with #Torontoblogsca! Tune into our Instagram page to find out more on the best things to do, explore, and dine at in Toronto.

Address: 1 Yonge St, Toronto
Cost: $34.99 (off-peak times) & $44.99 (peak times)
When: July 28 to September 19 (closed Mondays and Tuesdays)

You might also like...

Toronto Blogs - Toronto Local News

Business Listings

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

Sitemap