Election day is Monday in this city and however you lean, go vote if you haven't already. It matters, and not necessarily because your vote could change the results, but you're doing the very basic part of showing up. Yeah, the leaders are always going to be disappointing. I think there's a difference between disappointing and expanding the corruption that's become normalized.
Before that though, this weekend is full of beautiful celebrations for Día de los Muertos and Diwali. One celebrating the duality of light, the other for mourning and celebration. That plus Halloween markets, book talks, and you can even rent-a-rake at High Park.
1. Diwali: Festival of Lights
Sat-Sun, Oct 24-25 · Fri 12p-10p Sat 12p-9p | Nathan Phillips Square | Free
Canada's largest Diwali festival with music, culture, dance, and on Sunday only, fireworks. A couple more events around the city:
Diwali Mela | Mayil Coffee House | Oct 24, 1p-8p Festive celebration featuring festive games, local vendors, chaat, sweets and more. Diwali Fest | Mel Lastman Square | Oct 23-25, Fri 5p-10p Sat-Sun 12p-10p A cultural celebration with Bollywood dance workshops, live music, and fireworks.
Sat-Sun, Oct 24-25 10a-3p | Evergreen Brick Works | Free
Exploring the universal themes of grief, death, and mourning at Brickworks in a family friendly way. October 24: Together in Grief Community gathering to honour lost loved ones October 25: Día de los Muertos The Mexican tradition celebrating lives and memories of loved ones who have passed, with live music, sugar skull decorating, face painting, artisan market, and ofrendas.
Sat-Sun, Oct 24-25 · 12:00p-9:00p | College Park | Free
The largest gathering of Catrinas in Canada, a celebration rooted in the Day of the Dead tradition. Features Mexican food, local artisans, beautiful altars, live music, the Catrinas Parade, and more. Free admission.
it's funny that we all take same shot to feel like we're unique.
5. Torontohenge
Sun, Oct 25 · 5:45p-6:30p | Multiple locations downtown Toronto | Free
The sunset is expected to line up perfectly with the city's east-west streets, creating that dramatic golden glow between the buildings...if the weather holds. The alignment is set to peak around 6:18p. Try King, Wellington, Adelaide, Richmond, or Bloor & Yonge. You're not gonna be alone, and that's kind of how these things go.
Garden Harvest Festival with free native trees and shrubs. You can also try the garden fresh fare, goldenrod tea & jelly. And if you want to plant trees in a park instead of taking them, check out this event:
After 42 years Daniel is shutting down his art shop. Daniel needs help selling his collection of rare and vintage art supplies. If you need something, it's worth checking out one of the last remnants of a previous era in the city.
Home Movie Day | Sat, Oct 24 · 6p-9p | TIFF Learning Studios, 3rd Floor Screenings of home movies from the public. Bring your 16mm/8mm/Super 8 films and VHS to be inspected and projected at TIFF.
Pop-Up Cinematheque | Mon, Oct 26 · 8:30p-9:30p | Innis Town Hall A series highlighting rare films. Today, The Devil and Daniel Mouse on 35mm
Early Halloween events are popping up everywhere, here are just a few the week before the main event
Riverside Halloween Fest | Sun, Oct 25 · 11a | Joel Weeks Park | Pumpkin decorating, treats, DJ tunes, face painting, and more October Funfest | Sat, Oct 24 · 1p-3p | Big Park (Bake Oven area) | Pumpkin carving, face painting, apple crisp, cookie decorating, & music Haul-O-Ween Market | Sun, Oct 25 · 11a-4p | The Parkdale Hall
A week of great books, with author's talking about their works around the city. Pick one and get inspired to pick up that book you've been meaning to get to.
Rent a rake and make leaf piles in High Park. Be a kid again and jump in leaves you just piled together. Remember when we could live in houses with backyards?
Sun, Oct 25 · 10a-4p | Toronto Reference Library, 2nd floor | Free
The pen show is literally a show about pens at the reference library. Make time to see the art exhibit if you go. To coincide with this, just outside there's the annual sketching event in the Yorkville. You can sketch various locations including the Toronto Reference Library interior, Yorkville Library, old Firehall, and local coffee shops. Meet at Yonge/Collier corner at 11am for intros and again at 1pm for a sketch throwdown and group photo.
A watch party hosted by two great independent media outlets, The Breach and The Grind. They'll analyze and celebrate (or mourn) Toronto election results. Features guest speakers providing insights on key city issues. RSVP here.
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