The short-lived Canadian summer is upon us, bringing with it that desperate, frenetic energy aimed at getting outside and doing things. It’s time for patio beers, backyard barbecues, and cheering on the Jays under an open dome (bring on those Loonie Dogs!).
Toronto is a wonderfully diverse city with plenty to do all summer for every age and budget. So what if, like me, you happen to be on a particularly tight budget this summer but you don’t want to miss the chance to get out and take advantage of all the city has to offer?
There is quite a bit to do throughout the summer that is completely free. That’s right, it won’t cost you a single penny. Here are some of the things I’m planning to take advantage of.
1. Toronto History Museums
There are ten historic sites managed by the City of Toronto. They were never very expensive (under $10), but as of May 2022, admission is now free.
As a history lover, I am ashamed to say that I know relatively little about the city I’ve been living in for the past five years. In part that’s because the younger a place is, the less interest I naturally take in it. And compared to the Romans I studied, Toronto is just an infant. But still, how can you really know a place without knowing its past?
So I’ve made it my mission to visit every single one of these sites over the course of the summer. Even the Scarborough Museum – which will be a bit of a TTC adventure.
2. Museum + Arts Passes
This service seems to be one of Toronto’s best kept secrets. Every week, the Toronto Public Library hands out free passes to various local attractions, including the ROM, the Science Centre, and the Zoo. All you need is a valid adult library card (available to anyone who lives or works in Toronto).
The service will be moving online beginning June 14, but until then, you will need to visit a branch to take advantage of this program. Availability of passes and the terms (like how many people can enter on one pass) vary according to attraction and library branch. New passes arrive on Saturday mornings. You can check out all the details at the Toronto Public Library’s website. (Tip: If the passes at your local branch “sell out” quickly, try a different branch where the demand might be less.)
3. Street festivals
One of my favourite things about Toronto in the summer is the street festivals. Which is weird because I hate crowds. But I am so enamoured of the idea of a street festival that I am willing to brave the inevitable masses of humanity and incredibly long lines in the sun for sustenance.
I think there is something very medieval (and “medieval” for me is a positive term) about shutting down part of a busy city thoroughfare for an entire weekend for an event whose main purpose is to promote local business on the one hand and, on the other, to have a really good time eating, drinking, buying, and whatever else may be on offer.
The festivals themselves are free, meaning you can wander to your heart’s content and take in all of the entertainment (the schedules are usually posted online, if you’re looking for a particular act). However, the best part, in my opinion, is the food – and as we know, there’s no such thing as a free lunch! But it really is a wonderful way to explore our city’s diverse neighbourhoods and support local businesses.
Tip: Although more and more vendors are able to take card payments, you’d be well advised to take a bit of cash with you – especially if you want to limit your spending. Plus, those card readers run off WiFi, and connectivity can be spotty out there in the street.
With full acknowledgement of my obvious Eastern European bias, here are three of my favourites:
Taste of the Danforth (Aug 11-13)
Possibly Toronto’s most famous street festival, it is Canada’s largest, according to Wikipedia, stretching over a kilometre and a half through Toronto’s Greektown and bringing in well over a million visitors each year. Get ready for all the gyros, souvlaki, and loukoumades your heart can desire. But as with all of Toronto, the neighbourhood has grown more diverse over time (though without losing the Greek character at its core), so you can also find plenty of other world flavours on offer. Since last year’s festival was cancelled due to a conflict between the organizers and the city, this will be the festival’s first post-pandemic appearance, and I can hardly wait!
Toronto Ukrainian Festival (Sept 15-17)
It’s all pierogis all weekend long! Yes, I do know that in Ukrainian they’re called varenyky, but most people know them by their Polish name, so that’s how they get marketed at the festival. And it’s not just pierogis/varenyky on offer. There are plenty of cabbage rolls, sausages, doughnuts, and cookies to be found, too. And while you’re stuffing your face with good homemade cooking, be sure to take in the entertainment. Musicians and dancers come from across Canada to participate in North America’s largest Ukrainian street festival.
Roncesvalles Polish Festival (Sept 16-17)
Last year, the organizers announced that as the Roncesvalles area now represents a growing diversity and the festival is a neighbourhood celebration, the festival would be dropping “Polish” from its name. The citizenry of Toronto rose up in protest, and bowing to public opinion, the organizers quickly reinstated the festival’s Polishness.
Now, there is a part of me that wishes they could spread the pierogi love a little bit and not have the Polish Festival on the exact same weekend as the Ukrainian Festival. On the other hand, if you want to run a contest for the best pierogis in town, you’re better off tasting them all at the same time. And don’t forget the paczki! (To those who might be new: Roncesvalles is not pronounced like the place in Spain that it’s named after. The Toronto pronunciation is RON-sis-vaylz.)
4. Doors Open weekend (May 27-28)
This is the time of year when we get the opportunity to see inside some of the buildings we walk past every day wondering what imponderables lie hidden within. Well, perhaps not that, but it is an opportunity to get to know some of our city’s iconic landmarks and lesser known gems.
Every year I mean to go and every year something comes up so that I’ve still never been to a single Doors Open event. Fingers crossed I can make it happen this year. Maybe I’ll take a peek inside Osgoode Hall, wander around Queen’s Park, or tag along on a behind-the-scenes tour of TIFF Bell Lightbox. Unfortunately, the legendary abandoned subway platform under Bay Station (now used as a film set) doesn’t seem to be open this time around.
5. Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (July 7-9)
“Canada’s largest and longest-running annual contemporary art fair” takes place every July in Nathan Phillips Square next to City Hall, showcasing over 400 artists representing a wide range of media and art styles. There’s definitely something for every taste if not for every budget, but it’s completely free to walk around, explore the art, and talk to the artists and fellow art-lovers (for you extroverts out there).
It’s a wonderful annual event that’s now coming into its 62nd iteration. Be warned, though. As with anything taking place in Toronto in July, it can get pretty stinking hot, and that corner of town doesn’t seem to get very good airflow, so it can be pretty stifling. Plus, it’s a wide open space with very little shade. Bring something to stay hydrated and/or dip in and out of the fair, taking the art a section at a time. Luckily, being right down in the heart of the city, there are plenty of options around for eating and drinking to recover and ponder your purchases.
6. Public parks and trails
Summer is naturally a popular time to head out of the city for weekends at the cottage or camping, hiking, and portaging in Canada’s national parks. But for those of us unable to get away, there are some great spots in the city to soak up nature.
Ravines
You wouldn’t know it as you walk along Toronto’s busy streets surrounded by steel, concrete, glass, and asphalt, but our city has hidden within it the world’s largest urban ravine system. Formed by retreating glaciers at the end of the Ice Age, this network of mostly wooded valleys runs throughout the city. There’s probably a ravine trail closer to you than you think!
High Park
In the 1870s, Toronto architect John Howard and his wife gave their rather large estate, which they called High Park, to the city of Toronto along with their house, Colborne Lodge (which is free to visit as one of Toronto’s History Museums). The park now encompasses 400 acres, and best of all for pedestrians like me, it is easily accessible by subway.
Tommy Thompson Park (a.k.a. the Leslie Street Spit)
This manmade bit of land jutting out into Lake Ontario began life as an expansion of the port facilities for the Toronto Harbour. In the end, the facilities were not needed and the land was turned into a nature preserve. Open to the public on holidays, weekends, and weekday evenings, it is apparently a prime spot to catch a glimpse of migratory birds passing through the area twice a year. It’s not particularly accessible via public transit, but it’s worth the trek.
Rouge Park
And if you really want to get to one of Canada’s national parks, it is possible without even leaving the city! Rouge Park in Scarborough is the “largest urban park in North America,” according to its website. I’m hoping to get out there this summer and check out some of their free guided walks.
Honourable mentions
AGO Annual Pass
Technically, this is not free unless you are under 26, but it’s such a good deal I thought it worth an honourable mention. For those 25 and under, the AGO offers a free annual pass which lets you in to the main collection and all special exhibits. For everyone else, the cost is $35, but then you have access to the AGO for the entire year. When you consider that the cost of a single entry is $30, it’s easy to see the value.
Cultural events in Nathan Phillips Square
As with the street festivals, there’s a lot happening by City Hall throughout the summer. Taste of India (Aug 4-5) and Taste of the Middle East (July 14-16), for example, are good ones to check out. But to me, they don’t have quite the impact of a street festival. There is a certain element of sameness that I find takes away from the potential excitement. The vendors change, but the location is always the same. They are missing that character that a unique place can give.
Outdoor concerts, plays, and movies
Personally, I’m not a huge fan of these kind of outdoor events. I think it’s partly because the sound often sucks and partly because I always seem to get cold. Also, the seating is usually pretty uncomfortable if you’re meant to be still for long periods. However, there are plenty of opportunities for that sort of thing throughout the summer, and some of them are free (like the Toronto Outdoor Picture Show and Summer Music in the Garden), so keep an eye out.
‘Spread the perogi love’ .. cracked me up! Love it!