October arrives this weekend with Nuit Blanche, Oktoberfest, cancer run

By Patricia D'Cunha and Samantha Knight

Oktoberfest, vibrant fall foliage, Thanksgiving and Halloween: that’s just a few of the things in store for October.

The first weekend of this month will be a busy one with a dusk-to-dawn art festival, a charity run for cancer, poutine at Yonge-Dundas Square, a CUPE rally at Queen’s Park, and more. Thankfully, there are no subway closures to deal with this weekend.


Nuit Blanche

The all-night arts festival transforms the city this weekend with nearly 90 contemporary art projects curated by more than 300 artists.

From 6:58 p.m. on Saturday until sunrise on Sunday, art lovers and outdoor festival enthusiasts will roam the streets with a coffee in one hand and an event map in the other, checking out as many exhibits as they can.

The event, which is in its 11th year, will feature 33 exhibits produced by the City of Toronto, 55 independent projects by the arts community, and event-inspired talks. Some of the exhibits will run until Oct. 11. Click here to search by artist, project or venue.

If you need help navigating the festival, view an interactive map online or print a handy guide here.

 

TTC/GO Transit
Line 1 (Yonge-University-Spadina) will run all night from Downsview to Finch stations and on Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth) from Kipling to Kennedy stations. Trains will run every 10 minutes from 1:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Sunday.

Streetcar service will also be increased on the following routes: 509 Harbourfront, 510 Spadina, 307 Bathurst, 29 Dufferin, and 196 York University Rocket. The 501 Queen streetcar will be diverted onto King Street between Spadina Avenue and Church Street.

The GO Transit is also running extra trains to and from Union Station, while GO buses will run late into the night on most routes from Union. Click here for details and click here to find your schedule on GOTransit.com.

CIBC Run for the Cure

Twenty-four years ago, around 1,500 people gathered in High Park to raise awareness and research money for breast cancer. Today, the annual event brings together more than 100,000 people across the country, as they run and walk for a cure.

 

The event raises money for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, a charitable organization that funds money towards research, prevention, treatment, and patient support. There are several runs talking place across Canada, including at the Toronto Zoo and the University of Toronto’s downtown campus.

CUPE Rally at Queen’s Park

Members of CUPE 4207 will be rallying at Queen’s Park this Saturday, fighting for decent work for all.

The Rally for Decent Work will call for safe working conditions, decent hours, paid sick days and vacation, access to a union, $15-an-hour minimum wage and an end to the gender/racialized wage gap. Organizers say they want the Ontario government to implement strong labour laws for more than seven million working people across the province.

The rally is family-friendly and there will be music, activities and special guests. Organizers expect 10,000 people to attend.

World Poutine Eating Championship

People will be stuffing their faces this weekend at the seventh annual Smoke’s Poutinerie World Poutine Eating Championship. The event takes place at Yonge-Dundas Square from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Members of ‘Plaid Nation’ (anyone at the event) can enjoy free poutine all day.

 

There will be three eating competitions: one for amateurs, one for professionals and the first-ever Friends of We Care Charity Eat Off Challenge.

A KISS tribute band will be performing, and there will be interactive games and giveaways throughout the day. All ages are welcome.

Toronto Vintage Clothing Show

Vintage lovers, rejoice. Canada’s largest sale of vintage clothing returns to Exhibition Place this weekend.

The Toronto Vintage Clothing Show has everything from streetwear to Chanel. Guests will find a vast inventory of classic styles, designs and fabrics. You can try on retro clothing, model accessories and handbags and lust after designer vintages and jewelry.

 

Organizers also encourage everyone to check out the Toronto Antique and Vintage Market while they are at the show – it’s included with admission. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Camp Spooky

It’s the 50th anniversary of ‘It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown’ and Canada’s Wonderland is celebrating with what they like to call ‘Camp Spooky.’

The ultimate fall festival kicks off this weekend and is held every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the month of October. The event is family-friendly and includes Halloween-themed entertainment, three mazes and of course, trick-or-treating.

Your favourite Canada’s Wonderland rides will be open during the day, including KidZville and Planet Snoopy kids’ areas. Entrance is included with park admission.

Oktoberfest at Ontario Place

Celebrate the arrival of autumn and October at Ontario Place this weekend.

Put on your dirndls and lederhosen and join around 5,000 others at the Bavarian festival, which is being held inside a huge Festhalle tent and at an outdoor village. There will be lots of regional food and beer on hand as well as polka music and dancing.

Road closures for events

Nuit Blanche

  • John Street will be closed between Stephanie Street and Wellington Avenue from 5 p.m. on Saturday to 9 a.m. on Sunday
  • Queen Street West from Yonge Street to Spadina Avenue will be closed from 5 p.m. on Saturday until 8 a.m. on Sunday
  • Bay Street between Dundas Street West and Queens Quay West will be closed from noon on Saturday to 10 a.m. on Sunday
  • Southbound lanes of McCaul Street from Dundas Street West to Queen Street West will be closed from 6 p.m. on Saturday until 8 a.m. on Sunday

 

CIBC Run for the Cure

  • Wellesley Street West from Queen’s Park Crescent East to Queen’s Park Crescent West will be closed as of 6 a.m. on Sunday
  • Hoskin Avenue from Queen’s Park Crescent West to St. George Street will be closed at 7 a.m.
  • There will also be other road closures bounded by University Avenue/Queen’s Park Circle, Bloor Street West, St. George Street and College Street starting at 6 a.m.

 

The closures are expected to end around 12:30 p.m. Streetcar and bus routes will be diverting in the area.

Ontario Fire Fighters Memorial

The northbound lanes of Queen’s Park/Queen’s Park Crescent East will be closed from College to Wellesley streets from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

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