Now that the pressures and expectations of Thanksgiving are behind us, it’s time to soak up fall in Toronto in all of its event-filled glory.
From spooky installations designed to get you into the Halloween spirit -- and scare the hell out of you -- to a food-filled film festival, here’s what to do in Toronto this weekend (word of advice: you may want to walk or take transit, thanks to a handful of road closures).
Walk Through a Terrifying Zombie Apocalypse
In addition to its famous Legends of Horror haunted house, this year, Liberty Group has created an immersive experience in partnership with Secret City Adventures called Zombie Apocalypse. Taking over an abandoned facility south of Casa Loma, it invites patrons to enter the world of fictional pharmaceutical giant, Biolux and its new wonder drug: the Biolux Serum, a purported solution to aging and disease, which renders subjects into cannibalizing contagious zombies. This one isn’t for the faint of heart or the easily claustrophobic. Find more info here.
Catch a Concert
Tonight, everyone’s favourite cover band, Dwayne Gretzky, takes the stage at the recently renovated Massey Hall to offer an upbeat and nostalgia-packed performance, as they bring the greatest songs of all time to life. On Saturday night, popstar Demi Lovato takes over History, Toronto’s latest concert venue in the city’s Beaches neighbourhood. While the audience may be predominantly teens and early twenty-somethings, the talented performer promises to deliver a high-energy show. Find more info here for Dwayne Gretzky and here for Demi Lovato.
Discover a New Favourite Artist at Venus Fest
All weekend long (October 14 to 16), Venus Fest offers a showcase of some of the city’s best indie talent. The not-for-profit music festival features Indigenous, Canadian, and international artists and takes place in a new City-leased building at 468 Queen Street. The festival’s anticipated headliners include indie-pop performer Hannah Georgas, songwriter and recording engineer Austra, and producer Vagabon. Find more info here.
Explore an Art Installation in a ‘Hidden Room’ Under the Gardiner Expressway
From October 1 to 30, a ‘secret room’ under the Gardiner Expressway has been transformed into a large-scale immersive art commission, presented by The Bentway and Exhibition Place. Set in a rarely-seen space behind the highway’s concrete in a shortage chamber, Confluence is inspired by the water systems that have shaped Toronto and invites guests to flow through the convergence of natural and human-made forces -- with endless conformations of the picnic table front and centre. Find more info here.
Get a Taste of Nigeria
A celebration of all things Nigerian takes over the Royal Event Centre this Sunday (October 16) with the annual jam-packed A Taste of Nigeria Festival. Guests can expect a showcase of Nigeria's vibrant culture through traditional cuisine, art, music, dance, vendors, comedy performances, fashion shows, soccer, and more. Entry for children is free at this family-friendly event. Find more info here.
Catch a Flick About Food
Those with a soft spot for film, food, and films about food should take full advantage of the Toronto Food Film Fest from October 14 to 17. The festival features thought-provoking short films about food all kinds and about food culture. It will also feature impactful workshops, snacks and tasting menus, panels, and talks. For those who can't make it, virtual showings of all films will be available. Find more info here.
Finally, a handful of ongoing events we mentioned last week are worth checking out in the city this weekend, like Legends of Horror, Fall N Leaves TO, PumpkinFest Toronto, and the Mirvish production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
