September 18, 2026 | 9 Free Events in Toronto Today

A late start for Friday (with links), sorry about that. The newsletter has events from today until next Thursday if you want to see that. Here are today's picks:

Park(ing) Day
Parking Spaces in the city | All weekend

The coolest event most people will skip past. All day, check out the different ways people have transformed parking lots. There's a pollinator garden, an interactive playground made of discarded materials, a love letter to Toronto, and even a poetry desk. There's parties and mini parks and art installations. Check the map and find one near you over the weekend

Public Pier
Marina Quay West | 6p-11p

Public Pier transforms Toronto's waterfront into a free day-to-night waterfront experience. In the day, there's DJ sets, dance workshops, and interactive public art. The showstopper is at night where the Canada Malting Silos become a canvas for immersive projections and sound.

Ukrainian Festival
Bloor West Village | 5p-11p

Every year this and the Roncy Polish festival happen on the same weekend. Two interesting cultures battling it out for your weekend hours. The biggest difference are the stage performances where Ukraine really showcases their culture and obviously the food.

UV Night Foraging Walk
Kingsmill Off-Leash Dog Park | 8p-10p

You get to use UV light to see which mushrooms luminesce on this walk to learn more about them.

Kensington Market Jazz Festival
Trinity Common | 6p-10p

3 days of jazz all around Kensington Market, with two spots with free options all day. Supermarket and Bellevue Square Park. Trinity Common has a street party with The Shuffle Demons performing at 6:30p tonight

Evening Photowalk
Humber Bay Park East | 6p-7:30p

The newly reopened Humber Bay Park East is a genuinely great spot for photos right now, and this 90-minute evening walk gets you time to focus on that with photographer Taku

ArtWalk in the Square
Shops At Don Mills | 3p-8p

One hundred Canadian artists bring original paintings, photography, and sculpture to the outdoor square. Running across the weekend, you get to meet the artists directly and take your time browsing.

Open Mic: Peace Concert
Muse Arts Creative Lab| 6p-8:30p

An open mic Peace Concert, open to musicians, poets, and anyone with a live talent to share. Registration gets you on the stage; the evening is centred on creativity and community.

Kick'd Up 5K Night Run
Humber Bay Arch Bridge | 9p-10:30p

A night run for everyone, built on community, not so much competition.

Ongoing Events
Table Tennis | 6:30p-7:30p, Albion Library
Mahjong Social | 1p-3p, City Hall Library
Knitting and Crochet Circle | 2p-3p, Victoria Village Library

Art Exhibits
11a-5p | Assembly Hall Gallery | Threads
11a-5p | Museum Of Toronto | The T.O. You Don't Know
8a-6p | Ascent Gallery | Ritual / Still
10a-6p | Craft Ontario Gallery | Hitoko Okada

Outdoor Movies
David Pecaut Sq | 9:30p-12a | TIFF: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Farmers' Markets
Scadding Court Community Centre | 2:30p-8p | Thorncliffe Community Market