Doors Open Toronto
The 19th annual Doors Open Toronto presented by Great Gulf is a city-wide celebration offering free, rare access to more than 150 architecturally, historically, culturally and socially significant buildings across Toronto.
Location: Downtown Toronto
www.doorsopenontario.on.ca

May 27 – 28

Woofstock – A festival For Dogs
Woofstock is the largest outdoor festival for dogs in North America. It’s growninto a festive tour de force, ow drawings tens of thousands of dogs in the know, their faithful humans in tow, from acrossthe country and the U.S.
Location: Woodbine Park in the Toronto Beahces
www.woofstock.ca

JUNE

June 9 – 10
The Ride to Conquer Cancer

Riding throughout Ontario’s picturesque countryside in two days. Sure, it sounds like a lot — and it’s meant to be. But make no mistake, this event isn’t just for athletes or cycling enthusiasts. The Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer® is for anyone who wants to challenge themselves for a great cause. All you need is motivation, a bike and a helmet. Location: Toronto to Niagara Falls
www.to17.conquercancer.ca/

June 6 – 24
Luminato
The Luminato Festival was born out of the cultural and creative energy of the city of Toronto. Luminato Festival has become one of the preeminent arts festivals in North America, having commissioned over 66 new works of art, and featured 7,500 artists from 40 countries.
Location: Downtown Toronto
www.luminato.com

June 15 – 17

Taste of Little Italy
Home to Toronto’s Original Italian community, today Little Italy is home to a diverse multicultural population. Taste of Italy is the chance to sample food from over 45 restaurants. The festival will also include live music, street performers and fun children’s activities.
Location: Little Italy
www.tasteoflittleitaly.ca

JULY

July 6 – 29

Beaches International Jazz Festival
The Festival’s mission is to introduce its large and loyal audience to good, primarily Canadian jazz, in a non-exclusionary and culturally inclusive fashion. The Festival intends to continue its tradition of being a free, open-air event committed to presenting quality jazz to all.
Location: The Beach
www.beachesjazz.com

July 6 – 8

Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition
The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition/TOAE, is an annual juried showcase taking place at Nathan Phillips Square each July. TOAE is a non-profit organization administered by a volunteer Board of Directors. TOAE is a fresh-air alternative to conventional art shows and galleries. Up to 400 artists participate, in 14 categories, offering hand made originals to 100,000 visitors attending the exhibition every year.
Location: Nathan Phillips Square
www.torontooutdoorart.org

July 7 – 8

TD Salsa on St Clair Street Festival
One of the largest Latino-themed cultural celebrations in Canada is celebrating its fourteenth year. This two day event includes thousands of Salsa lovers, numerous performers as well as flavours from over 15 countries.
Location: St Clair West
www.fringetoronto.com

July 12 – August 4

Toronto Summer Music Festival
An international classical music festival and academy that is celebrating it’s thirteenth year, Toronto Summer Music Festival (TSMF) brings world-renowned performing artists to Toronto for an unparalleled combination of concerts, guest lectures and Masterclasses.
Location: Various Venues
www.torontosummermusic.com

July 13 – 15

Honda Indy Toronto
The Honda Indy Toronto features a 2.84km (1.755 mile), 11-turn temporarystreet course located in downtown Toronto, Ontario. The track is constructed throughout and around Exhibition Place grounds and utilizes Lake Shore Boulevard as the backstretch
Location: Exhibition Place
www.hondaindytoronto.com

July 26- 29

Toronto Burlesque Festival
Come learn the tricks of the trade and tease with star faculty at our Burlesque University. Witness the mind-blowing performances of world-renowned artists and local favourites. Toronto now boasts an incredible diversity of burlesque artistry to delight and inspire audiences all year long.
Location: The Mod Club and others
www.torontoburlesquefestival.com

July 4 – 15

The Fringe: Toronto’s Theatre Festival
The Toronto Fringe provides creative opportunities for artists and audiences by producing two important festivals –the Toronto Fringe Festival and the NextStage Theatre Festival – and by running outreach activities that benefit youth, artists and the theatre community at large.
Location: Various Venues, Downtown Toronto
www.fringetoronto.com

July 8 – 22

Summerlicious
For two mouthwatering weeks in July, savour delicious three-course prix fixe menus served at close to 200 of Toronto’s top restaurants.
Location: Various Restaurants
www.toronto.ca/special_events

July 11 – August 29

Tasty Thursdays
A combination of live world music and food hot off the grill makes for the perfect summer lunch hour escape. Each week a variety of Toronto restaurants bring international cuisine to Nathan Phillips Square at great prices. Past featured dishes have included everything from burgers and chicken kabobs to Pad Thai, shrimp and fresh mango salad. Delicious!
Location: Nathan Philips Square
www.toronto.ca/special_events/thursdays 

July 26 – 29

Toronto’s Festival of Beer
Featuring over 200 brands of beer, this is a celebration of Canada’s rich brewing history. The event is hosted by experts of the brewing craft from all around the world. This year everyone attending will receive a new commemorative Toronto’s Festival of Beer glass stein! This year also marks the first annual “World of Beer” pavilion. This is a 19+ event!
Location: Exhibition Place
www.beerfestival.ca

July – August

Sunday Serenades
This summer spend Sunday evenings at Mel Lastman Square dancing to some of Ontario’s very best live swing, big band and jazz acts.
Location: Mel Lastman Square
www.toronto.ca/special_events/serenades

AUGUST

Aug 2 – 6

Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival (formerly Caribana)
Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival is an exciting three-week cultural explosion of Caribbean music, cuisine, revelry as well as visual and performing arts. In its 50th year it has become a major international event and the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America. As Carnival is an international cultural phenomenon, the great metropolis of Toronto and its environs will come alive as the city explodes with the pulsating rhythms and melodies of Calypso, Soca, Reggae, Hip Hop, Chutney, Steel Pan and Brass Bands.
Location: Exhibition Place & throughout the city
www.torontocarnival.ca

August 4 – 12

The Rogers Cup
The Rogers Cup is an annual tennis tournament which offers more than $2 million in prize money and attracts the biggest stars of women’s tennis year after year. Centre court can hold up to 10,300 spectators and the Rogers Cup is a televised event on ESPN2.
Location: Aviva Centre at York University
www.rogerscup.com 

Aug  17 – Sept 3

Canadian National Exhibition (CNE)
The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) is Canada’s largest annual community event. The CNE includes parades, the air show, concerts, rides, beer gardens, food vendors, discount shopping, entertainers, and a working farm. The CNE attracts 1.3 million people annually and has been in operation since 1879.
Location: Exhibition Place
www.TheEx.com

Aug 31 – Sept 3

Toronto Buskerfest
The largest international street performance festival of its kind in North America returns in support of Epilepsy Toronto. Experience slapstick and silent comedy,magicians, daredevils, contortionists, clowns, music, puppets and even aerialists! Scotiabank BuskerPlay for kids willfeature face painting, balloon twisting, puppets, music and workshops.
Location: Woodbine
www.torontobuskerfest.com

Aug 31 – Sept 3

Hispanic Fiesta
The 37th. Anniversary of Hispanic Fiesta in 2018 is ready to fill Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge Street. with the splendid sounds, tempting treats and colourful culture that the Hispanic heritage is famous for. Hispanic Fiesta will feature the best known local & International Hispanic performers covering 20 different countries, that speak Spanish.
Location: Mel Lastman Square
www.hispanicfiesta.com

SEPTEMBER

Sept 6- 16

Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival is the leading public film festival in the world, screening more than 300 films from 60+ countries every September.
Location: Various Venues, Downtown Toronto
www.tiff.net

Sept 7 – 9

Veg Food Fest
We are a festival that reflects the vibrant community around us. Our goal? The same as our parent organization‘s mission – to inspire people to choose a healthier, greener, and more compassionate lifestyle. Between meals, we program the weekend full of workshops, lectures, fitness classes, music, panel discussions, and other special events.
Location: Harbourfront Centre
www.festival.veg.ca

Sept 23

Word on the Street Book & Magazine Festival
Each year, The Word On The Street provides 20 literacy organizations with free exhibit space in the Marketplace. Make sure to visit Literacy Lane this year to visit with the many different and wonderful literacy organizations that Toronto is home to, and learn how you can support their work.
Location: Harbourfront Centre
www.thewordonthestreet.ca

Sept 29

Nuit Blanche Toronto
One night only and all night long, Nuit Blanche transforms Toronto into a city of exploration. Nuit Blanche celebrates art of all kinds including photography, music, painting, drawing, live art, sculptures, literature, architecture and technology.
Location: Various Locations, Downtown Toronto
www.nbto.com

OCTOBER

Oct 18 – 28

International Festival of Authors
The International Festival of Authors (IFOA) will bring the best writers of contemporary world literature for reading, interviews, lectures as well as book signings.
Location: Harbourfront Centre
www.readings.org

NOVEMBER 

Nov 2 – 11

Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
Known as The Royal, it is the largest combined indoor agricultural fair and international equestrian competition in the world. Highlights include the Pizza Pizza petting farm, the royal horse show, celebrity chefs, butter sculpting, mixology competition, riding techniques, demonstrations and shopping.
Location: Exhibition Place
www.royalfair.org

Nov 9 – 12

Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Weekend
Be a part of the excitement as the Hockey Hall of Fame welcomes the Class of 2018.  Tributes include special guest appearances, Q&A fan forums, and the annual Legends Classic. The weekend’s events culminate with the Induction Celebration Gala.
Location: Hockey Hall of Fame
www.hhof.com

Nov 22 – 25

Toronto Gourmet Food and Wine Expo
Don’t miss your chance to sample over 1,500 fine wines, spirits and beers from all over the world. Have your culinary questions answered by professioWnals, watch demonstrations, and enjoy music at this year’s Toronto Gourmet Food and Wine Expo.
Location: Metro Toronto Convention Centre
www.foodandwineexpo.ca

Nov 18

Santa Claus Parade
Since 1905, the Santa Claus Parade has been a Toronto tradition. Watch Santa, reindeer, marching bands and so much more!
Location: Throughout the city
www.thesantaclausparade.ca 

Nov 15 – Dec 23

Toronto Christmas Market
A Christmas market is a street market which celebrates the traditional sights, sounds and scents of Christmas and is staged during the weeks leading up to Christmas. These markets originated in Germany, beginning in the early 1400’s, and are now being held in countries all over the world.
Location: Distillery District
www.torontochristmasmarket.com

Nov 24

Cavalcade of Lights
This festive event, a Toronto holiday tradition for nearly 50 years, features the illumination of Toronto’s official Christmas tree, performances by some of Canada’s top musical talent, a brilliant fireworks show and a skating party at Nathan Phillips Square.
Location: Nathan Phillips Square
www.toronto.ca/special_events/cavalcade_lights/

JANUARY  2019

Jan 17 – 20

Interior Design Show
The Interior Design Show is Canada’s design fair. Since the doors first opened in 1999, IDS has been visited by over 700,000 design professionals, design-savvy consumers and media; it has served as a design industry hub providing a unique and unrivalled business opportunity for thousands of design-driven businesses.
Location: Metro Toronto Convention Centre
www.interiordesignshow.com

 Jan 18 – 27

Toronto International Boat Show
Designed specifically to offer the consumer everything possible to do with boats, boating and the associated lifestyles, consumers are guaranteed to find their boating dreams met here. Seminars designed for the whole family include wakeboarding, free boat rides and fishing tutorials on the world’s largest indoor lake.
Location: Direct Energy Centre,Exhibition Place
www.torontoboatshow.com

Jan – Feb  TBA

Winterlicious
A highlight of winter in Toronto! Winterlicious offers TWO popular programs for you to savour. Foodies will enjoy the delicious CULINARY EVENT SERIES and the incredible value and exclusive PRIX FIXE MENUS offered at 150 of Toronto’s top restaurants.
Location: Various Restaurants
www.toronto.ca/winterlicious

FEBRUARY  2019

Feb 15 – 24

Canadian International Auto Show
Improve your ride by getting the absolute latest gadgets for your vehicle from the manufacturers themselves. With hundreds of exhibitors filling the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, you are sure to be dazzled by an array of vehicles from the most functional to the absolute superfluous of automobiles.
Location: Metro Toronto Convention Centre
www.autoshow.ca

MARCH  2019

March (TBA)

Canada Blooms: The Toronto Flower & Garden Show
With over four stages dedicated to showcasing the latest and most innovative in the gardening world through seminars, workshops and gardening demonstrations; admission to this event is well worthwhile for any horticultural enthusiast. Whether you are looking to stroll six acres of gardens in full bloom or shop for the hottest gardening gadgets, you are sure to find all your gardening needs here!
Location: Direct Energy Centre
www.canadablooms.com

APRIL  2019

April 25  – May 5

Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival is North America’s largest documentary festival, conference and market. Each year, the Festival presents a selection of more than 180 cutting-edge documentaries from Canada and around the globe. Through its industry programs, Hot Docs also provides a full range of professional development, market and networking opportunities for documentary professionals.
Location: Various Venues
www.hotdocs.ca

The post Calendar of Events appeared first on Toronto City Guide.

Canada is proud to have two official languages, English and French.

Although it is customary in Canada to leave a tip of 15% of the total cost of the service before taxes, tipping is discretionary and should reflect the quality of service you receive. The following are examples of personnel to whom it is customary to provide gratuity to:

• servers and bartenders in restaurants, bars, clubs and lounges;
• hotel staff such as bellhops, doormen and cleaning staff;
• tour guides and taxi drivers;
• porters at airports and train stations.

The following information applies to the province of Ontario and is not necessarily consistent with the rest of Canada.

Last call for alcohol in the City of Toronto is at 2:00 a.m. Certain bars and lounges may choose to remain open afterwards, but industry standard time of closing is at 3:00 a.m.

Smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products is prohibited in any enclosed public space or workplace.

Spirits, wine and beer for private consumption can only be purchased at The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (The L.C.B.O. or “The Liquor Store”) or at The Beer Store (The Beer Store sells only beer and some coolers). Both stores have various locations throughout the G.T.A. (Greater Toronto Area)

In Toronto we take pride in the cleanliness of our city. Please help us keep our city clean, by placing your garbage and recycling in the ppropriate receptacles.

Toronto is one of the safest cities in the world. Like all large metropolitan areas, petty crime is not unheard of in Toronto, but is relatively rare. Rest assured you can feel safe on the streets of Toronto during the day or night. ShopDineTour Toronto and the Toronto City Guide would like to thank the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, as well as the Province of Ontario for the following information, obtained from: https://www.2ontario.com/

As a visitor you will be charged:

The federal Goods and Services Tax of 5 %. This is a value-added consumption tax that applies to most goods, purchased gifts, food/beverages, and services, including most hotel and motel accommodation.

The Ontario provincial sales tax of 8% to any goods purchased, but not on services or accommodation.

In restaurants, 5% GST and 8% PST to the food portion of your final bill.

A provincial tax on alcoholic beverages (10% in addition to 7% GST).

For information on taxes paid on gas, please refer to the information charts provided on all gas pumps in Ontario.

For Visitors to Canada:
As a non-resident of Canada visiting Ontario, you may bring in any reasonable amount of personal effects, food and a full tank of gas. Special restrictions or quotas apply to certain specialty goods, and especially to plant, agricultural and animal-related materials.

Driving Tips

• drive on the right side of the road;
• the right of way is always given to pedestrians and cyclists;
• all passengers in a motor vehicle must be wearing seatbelts;
• you may turn right at red lights only after you have made a complete stop and check that the turn can be made safely, unless signage indicates otherwise;
• if traveling in a car pool lane, make sure the minimum number of required passengers are in the vehicle;
• vehicles are prohibited from idling for more than three minutes;
• vehicles are strictly prohibited from passing on the right side of a street car, while doors are open.

Metered parking is available at marked locations throughout the city. Underground and aboveground parking lots are plentiful and easily accessible throughout the city. Depending on the lot, you will pay either a parking attendant or at a parking ticket machine. Just look for the green .

Conversions

Winter -3.3 °C (26.1 °F)
Spring +7.4 °C (45.3 °F)
Summer +20.7 °C (69.3 °F)
Autumn +10.8 °C (51.4 °F)

• Celsius to Fahrenheit: °C = .555 x (°F – 32)
• Fahrenheit to Celsius: °F = (1.8 x °C) + 32

• 1 Kilometer = 0.62 Miles
• 1 Mile = 1.61 Kilometers

• 1 Meter = 3.3 Feet
• 1 Feet = 0.3 Meter

In case you are unfamiliar with Canadian currency, the following is a short list of terms used to refer to its various types:

	1 Cent Coin = Penny
	5 Cent Coin = Nickel
	10 Cent Coin = Dime
	25 Cent Coin = Quarter
	1 Dollar Coin = Loonie
	2 Dollar Coin = Toonie

The post Toronto Tips appeared first on Toronto City Guide.

Located in the heart of the city at the intersection of Yonge and Dundas streets, Toronto’s prime visitor destination, Yonge-Dundas Square is designated as a public piazza and used for a wide range of activities. These include concerts, community festivals, theatrical events, receptions, and promotions – events that appeal to residents and tourists alike and highlight our great local businesses. On days with no scheduled events we simply turn on the fountains, put out the umbrellas and invite our wonderful street performers to entertain our patrons.

Below is a brief sampling of some of the free events you can catch in the heart of the city at Yonge-Dundas Square. Please check our website for more details and more events.
Some highlights of the upcoming season:

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