7 of the best events to check out in Toronto this weekend

As is usually the case, there’s a whole lot happening in Toronto over the weekend. There’s no denying that no matter the season, the city is awash with worthwhile events year round. From film to food to an 80s-themed dance party, here are some of the best things to do in Toronto this weekend.

Browse and buy from local artists

 

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This Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. Liberty Village will be hosting Urban Exhibit, a one-day artisan marketplace featuring everything from photography and fashion, sculpture, home décor and more. Pick up something totally unique for yourself or get a head start on your holiday shopping. Dogs on leashes are also welcome at the market and there will be several vendors catering just to pups.

Watch something scary

Back for its 15th edition, Toronto After Dark Film Festival is here to provide you with some pre-Halloween scares in the form of new horror, sci-fi and action movies. But this year’s event will be a little different (while no less entertaining). In light of the ongoing pandemic,  the festival will forego in-person screenings and run exclusively as a virtual event. This means that while the fest runs (through October 17), you can access 12 movie screenings which can be enjoyed in an on-demand format and will include filmmaker intros and other bonus features on the films.

Enjoy some vegan eats

Whether the vegan lifestyle is something near and dear to your heart or you’re just curious about it, this Saturday sees the Toronto Vegandale Festival set up camp at Fort York Garrison Common from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. In addition to over 100 vendors offering creative vegan dishes both savoury and sweet, as well as craft beer and wine, there will also be live music, contests, art installations and vegan clothing to check out.

Check out Her Words Festival

Theater fans take note. Running from October 14 to 24 is Her Words, a hybrid in-person and virtual festival of new works-in-progress from some of Canada’s most exciting female playwrights. The festival puts the focus firmly on the female perspective and will also feature candid community conversations with industry leaders.

Go on an art heist

Rediscover the downtown core, see some art and solve some mysteries in the process with Toronto Art Heist, an art-themed scavenger hunt across downtown Toronto. The event, happening this Saturday and Sunday, will take participants to 16 locations across the heart of the city where they will need to decipher clues in order find pieces of art hidden in plain sight. It’s a great way to get outdoors while the weather is still fairly pleasant, while also discovering pieces of art and historical sites that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.

Dance (and game) the night away

 

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Flashdance at Freeplay, happening Saturday and Sunday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. lets you dance the night away at an 80s themed party and play all the classic arcade and console video games of your dreams. The retro themed bar is the perfect place to let loose (in your best 80s garb) while also testing your luck on the many games on offer.

Learn all about Denis Villeneuve

 

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If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about Oscar-winner Denis Villeneuve, now’s your chance. TIFF Cinematheque will be presenting The Uncanny Vision of Denis Villeneuve, a look back on the career of the French-Canadian filmmaker. Starting Oct. 15 at TIFF Bell Lightbox, the in-cinema program of the filmmaker’s earlier works runs until Saturday, Oct. 23. Explore a selection of past works from the director along with three films hand-picked by Villeneuve that influenced his latest work, Dune.

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