There's no shortage of things to do in Toronto during the summer, and here's a selection of events occurring downtown and midtown over the next week (Thursday, Aug. 18 to Aug. 25).
Most of these events are all listed on the city's special events website, so for more information or for a complete list in our area and throughout the city, please visit http://wx.toronto.ca/festevents.nsf/ (a variety of event links are available) or visit the website for Yonge-Dundas Square at www.ydsquare.caTHE EXCanadian National Exhibition and Air Show, Aug. 19 to Sept. 5. Canada's largest annual community event. Taking place over the 18 days leading up to and including Labour Day, the CNE offers a wide variety of entertainment and events, midway rides and games, a working farm, parades and sports, international food and shopping, Kids' World, and a three-day air show. Over the course of its late summer run, the CNE attracts approximately 1.3 million people each year. Visit www.TheEx.comMUSIC MONDAYSMusic Mondays takes place at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Trinity Square (beside the Eaton Centre). All concerts start at 12:15 p.m. Suggested donation $5 or more. Aug. 22, Choral Ensemble; Aug. 29, Dr. Patricia Wright, organ. Visit www.musicmondays.caFRESH WEDNESDAYSEvery Wednesday in the summer at Nathan Phillips Square, enjoy shopping for locally grown fresh produce, flowers and baked goods at the city's famous weekly farmers market while listening to great Canadian music at free noon-hour concerts that run from noon to 2 p.m. The farmers market runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until Oct. 19 (except Sept. 28).Upcoming: Aug. 17, Mel M'rabet; Aug. 24, David Celia; Aug. 31, b current's youth of summer aRtsVisit www.toronto.ca/special_events/wednesdays/2011/index.htmTASTY THURSDAYSTasty Thursdays at Nathan Phillips Square, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., is the perfect lunch hour getaway this summer. Enjoy freshly grilled meals from a variety of Toronto restaurants along with live concerts from noon to 2 p.m., featuring music from around the world including roots, blues, reggae and Latin sounds.Upcoming: Aug. 18, Annual Toronto Blues Society Talent Search; Aug. 25, Jayme Stone; Sept. 1, Roxanne PotvinVisit www.toronto.ca/special_events/thursdays/2011/index.htmINDIE FRIDAYSIndie Fridays at Yonge-Dundas Square runs through to Sept. 9. Upcoming shows from 8 to 10 p.m. include: Aug. 19, Miles Jones; Aug. 26, Run with the Kittens. Visit www.ydsquare.caFRIDAY NIGHT MARKETFriday Night Market, Scadding Court Community Centre, 707 Dundas St. W. (Dundas and Bathurst), throughout the summer, 5 to 10 p.m. The Friday Night Market is about taking advantage of and supporting all that downtown has to offer, including local talent, up and coming businesses, and trendy urban spaces. Aug. 19, Street Talk (Cycling in the City);Aug. 26, performances include Alannah Bergin and Frailfragment.Visit www.scaddingcourt.org/live_local_marketplaceMASALA! MEHNDI! MASTI!Masala! Mehndi! Masti! (M!M!M!), North America's largest free South Asian festival, will fire up Toronto's Harbourfront Centre from Aug. 19 to 21, for a jam-packed weekend of lively entertainment, vibrant colours, savoury dishes, majestic art, and star-studded performances. M!M!M! aims to introduce a cultural explosion to Canadians and celebrate the many talented artists that exist globally. This multi-generational presentation fuses traditional and contemporary artistic expression through music, dance, film, theatre, literature and poetry, natural health practices, social issues, cuisine, arts and crafts and much more. Visit www.masalamehndimasti.com/2011CHRISTIAN MUSIC DAYA Christian music day is being presented at Yonge-Dundas Square by Voices of the Nation on Sunday, Aug. 21, 1 to 9 p.m. Multicultural Christian music and dance will be featured. Visit www.voicesofthenations.com/WILD BLUEBERRY FESTIVALWild Blueberry Festival, presented by Evergreen Brick Works, Saturday, Aug. 20, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A full day of free family activities, including live music, blueberry tasting, face-painting, tie-dyeing, hands-on baking workshops and tips on making blueberry jam and chutney. Plus, a blueberry pie competition. Register your pie to participate by email to wildblueberryfestival@evergreen.caBring a shirt for tie-dyeing; the wild blueberries and everything else will be provided. Visit www.ebw.evergreen.caSAIL-IN CINEMASail-In Cinema, Toronto Port Authority, Aug. 18 to 20. Doors open at 7 p.m. to give viewers time to find a spot. Movies will start at dusk (approximately 8:45 p.m.). To celebrate its 100th Anniversary, the Toronto Port Authority will be holding Canada's first-ever floating movie experience, Sail-In Cinema. For three nights, Canada's Sugar Beach, 25 Dockside Dr. (Jarvis and Queen's Quay) will play host to the festival, which will feature water-themed movies shown under the open skies. Projected onto a two-sided screen in Toronto's harbour, movies can be watched from Sugar Beach on the one side or from boats in the harbour on the other.HAVANA CULTURA A four-day cultural festival showcasing the arts and culture of Havana, Cuba through food, music, dance, film and art runs Aug. 18 to 21, various locations on Ossington between Queen and Dundas for visitors aged 19 and older. Visit www.havana-cultura.caFAIRBANK VILLAGE BIA SUMMER FESTFairbank Village BIA Summer Fest 2011 Aug. 20 and 21, closing Eglinton Ave., from Dufferin Street, west to Chamberlain Avenue. Artists such as Dr. Draw, Low Level Flight (Ryan Malcolm, Winner of Canadian Idol), Sambacanna and much more. There will also be Midway rides and games for the kids. Come out for a weekend of fun and games. Also the shops will be hosting their annual back to school extravaganza. Visit www.fairbankvillagebia.caCLASSICAL MUSIC FUNDRAISERA classical music concert to raise funds for Oxfam Canada is set for Sunday, Aug. 21, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Victoria College Chapel (second floor), 91 Charles St. W. (at Bloor Street West and Queen's Park). Features two exceptional pianists - Leonard Gilbert and Ricker Choi. Visit www.rickerchoi.com