Partying on the Danforth and running with unicorns among weekend events

By Patricia D'Cunha and Samantha Knight

Charity events, food, music, unicorns, and re-living the 80s: the upcoming weekend has something to offer everyone. With so many things to do in the city and beyond, the list is too long to post, so we have selected a few to make your planning a little easier.

As you make your plans, keep in mind that a portion of Line 1 (Yonge-University-Spadina) is closed for TTC work.


Events

Taste of the Danforth
The party on the Danforth is back for its 24th year. The country’s largest street festival, which runs from Friday to Sunday, not only celebrates Greek culture and heritage but also multiculturalism in Canada. Those attending the event will be able to feast on tasty treats and restaurants on Danforth will be offering tasting menus for around $6. There will also be live music and entertainment, as well as kids, sports, ‘Canada 150 experience’ and ‘Hollywood on the Danforth’ zones. Proceeds from the festival will go to several charities.

Ride for Karen
Hundreds of cyclists will be hitting the streets this Sunday for the 16th annual Ride for Karen. The event, which began in 2002, is held as a tribute to the life and legacy of Karen Tobias, who passed away after a battle with breast cancer. Ride for Karen has raised more than $2.4 million to date, to help build and furnish new cancer care facilities, provide resources for cancer support centres and send kids with cancer to camp. The event kicks off at Markham District High School at 8:30 a.m. It features a 200km, 160km and 100km route. There will be a barbecue and prizes handed out after the ride.

Paws in the Park
Unleash your inner pup at the Toronto Humane Society’s largest fundraiser, Paws in the Park. The event runs this Saturday at Woodbine Park and helps support the animals cared for by the Humane Society. For the first time ever, guests will be able to adopt dogs right from the event. Aside from all the canine cuteness, there will be food, primping for your pooch, a pet photo booth, celebrity guests, entertainment, vendors and face painting. Paws in the Park helps fund a significant portion of the Toronto Humane Society’s annual operating costs.

 

Sweetery Toronto

Indulge your sweet tooth at Canada’s largest sweets festival this weekend. Sweetery will be making its third appearance at David Pecaut Square. The two-day event celebrates local chefs, students and artists. Post-grad students of George Brown’s Advance French Patisserie class will be on hand, along with celebrity chef Christopher Siu, who was on season two of MasterChef Canada. Guests can also enjoy live music, a taste bud challenge, interactive games and a Lego Batman movie night on Saturday.

 

Colour Run Dream Tour

Imagine a world where unicorns exists and clouds carry you away. That world awaits you at the colourful run – dubbed the “happiest 5K on the planet” – at Woodbine Entertainment Centre on Saturday. During the run, participants will be surrounded by vibrant foam or “clouds” as well as lively music and giant unicorns. Runners will also be able to spray-paint their dreams on a wall. The dream continues after the run with a party and massive burst of colour thrown every so often. The run gets is at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

 

Boots and Hearts
If you love country music, then head on down to Oro-Medonte, about 15 minutes north of Barrie, for the largest camping and country music festival in Canada. It is being held at Burl’s Creek Event Grounds from Thursday to Sunday. More than 35 country artists are slated to perform, including Keith Urban, Jessica Mitchell, Eli Young Band, and Keifer Sutherland. Admission is free for children under 12. Festival-goers can also camp out under the stars with other country music fans.

John Hughes documentary
If you grew up in the 1980s, you know all of John Hughes’ movies like “The Breakfast Club” and “Sixteen Candles” by heart. The 2009 documentary, “Don’t You Forget About Me,” tells the story of Hughes and his films from the vantage point of his hometown. It will be showing at 3:15 p.m. on Saturday at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema.

TTC and road closures

Partial Line 1 shutdown
Subway riders, take note: Part of the TTC’s Yonge-University Line will be shut down this weekend for signal upgrades. There will be no service between Sheppard West and St. George stations on Saturday and Sunday. Shuttle buses will only be running between Sheppard West and Lawrence West stations during the closure. Additional service is being added to bus and streetcar routes to help customers access other parts of Line 1. Regular service is scheduled to resume at 6 a.m. on Monday.

Road closures
The following roads will be closed for Taste of the Danforth:

  • Danforth Avenue, from Broadview to Jones avenues, will be closed from 10 a.m. on Friday to 3 a.m. on Monday
  • Pape Avenue, from Lipton to Hazelwood avenues, will be closed from 6 p.m. on Friday to 3 a.m. on Monday
  • Logan Avenue will be closed from Garnock Avenue to the north side of the laneway north of Danforth Avenue from 3 p.m. on Thursday to 3 a.m. on Monday

 

Feast of St. Lawrence: Front Street East, from Scott to Church streets, will be closed from 9 a.m. on Friday to 2 a.m. on Saturday, and Market Street, from Front Street to Wilton Street, will be closed from 5 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Saturday. TTC buses will be on diversion.

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