Wondering what to do in Toronto this weekend? We’ve got you covered.
It's the first weekend in March and Toronto has packed it full of events. From a glamorous charity gala to a nostalgic arcade, there are options for those looking to break free of their homes this weekend and get out and enjoy the city.
Here’s what you have to look forward to…
Get Glammed Up for a Good Cause
Swap the hibernation season sweats for a fabulous cocktail dress, gown, or tux and hit the sprawling Liberty Grand on Friday night for the annual hot-ticket motionball Toronto Gala. The young professional-packed affair features live music, flowing cocktails, DJs, and a silent auction filled with luxury items. Find more info here.
See an Interactive Installation Transform Yonge-Dundas Square
Optik is an interactive installation that incorporates sound, light, and touch to create a multi-sensory experience in the heart of Yonge-Dundas Square. The installation features 10 gyroscope-like displays that produce various rhythmic sounds and cascades of colour when manipulated in a spinning motion. Find more info here.
Get Nostalgic at a Retro Arcade
Revisit the days of the old-school arcade at Toronto’s beloved Hotel X. All weekend long, the hotel will house the family-friendly Retro Arcade, where guests will have the chance to relive some of their favourite childhood games. Expect classic '80s and '90s arcade games, as well as air hockey, foosball, and pinball. Find more info here.
Watch Jurassic Park in a Whole New Way
The talented TO Live Orchestra brings “Jurassic Park in Concert” back to Meridian Hall. Offering a memorable experience for the whole family, the TO Live Orchestra performs John Williams’ iconic score, while the action-packed adventure that changed cinema forever is projected on screen in HD. Find more info here.
Rock Your Most Over-the-Top Outfit and hit Aga Khan Museum
Spice up your Sunday night with an over-the-top gala filled with no shortage of fashionable eye candy. The annual CAFTCAD Awards celebrates the best in Canadian costume design and arts. With a dress code that calls for creative evening gala, if there was ever a time to bust out that look that’s a bit “too much,” this is it. Find more info here.
Swipe Right at Second City
If you could use some LOLs, hit the new home of The Second City for their new show The Second City Swipes Right: An Incomplete Guide to the Ultimate Date Night. Making the audience feel better about their romantic lives, the show features a cast of comedians who will get into everything that turns us on -- and off -- about love, dating, and relationships. Find more info here.
Take in a Dreamy Candlelit Concert at a Castle
The beloved Twilight at the Symphony program returns to the iconic Casa Loma. The series of intimate candlelit concerts features the Casa Loma Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the renowned Paolo Busato, in the castle’s historic stables. Find more info here.
Test Your Zombie Apocalypse Survival Skills
The Toronto Zombie Scavenger Game leads participants through the city, where they’ll have 60 minutes to collect supplies to survive during the interactive, smart-phone-driven scavenger game. Teams will be tasked with scavenging the city for food, supplies, weapons, and shelter to do all that they can to survive. Find more info here.
Elevate Your Sunday with a Drag Brunch
If you want to get your Sunday started on a high -- and potentially boozy -- note, book a table at Glad Day Book Shop. The vivacious Erin Brockobić will serve up an energetic performance full of talent and laughs to accompany the spot’s all-you-can-eat brunch. Find more info here.
Immerse Yourself in a World of Disney
Step inside an immersive world of all things Disney at the just-opened Disney Animation: Immersive Experience. The memorable experience showcases Disney Animation Studios’ rich and nostalgic history, as guests relive everything from a magic carpet ride to going under the sea. Find more info here.
Enjoy the Next Best thing to U2
U2 fans can take in a dose of the band’s famed hits this Saturday night at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern. Offering no shortage of nostalgia, the evening will celebrate the 40th (!) anniversary of the band’s War album. Guests can expect Elevation The International U2 Show, featuring the entire War tour setlist. Find more info here.
Bundle Up and Check Out Art at the Beach
The annual Winter Stations Design Competition is back to fill the beach with temporary public art installations from international and Canadian winners that celebrate the city’s waterfront landscape through a theme of “radiance.” The interactive pieces incorporate the existing lifeguard towers along Woodbine and Kew Beaches. Find more info here.
Catch a Poignant Play Before the Curtain Closes
It’s the last weekend you can hit the Tarragon Theatre to catch a cast of local talent in Redbone Coonhound. When out for a walk, interracial couple Mike and Marissa meet a dog with an unfortunate breed name: Redbone Coonhound. This small detail unleashes a cascading debate between them about race and their relationship. Find more info here.
