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The 10 Best Free Events Happening in Toronto this September

There are lots of fun free events planned for the month of September that are well worth the few dollars you’d have to spend on TTC fare to get there.

By Jasmine Williams

By Jasmine WilliamsView Author PostsSep 5th 2017

Let’s face it: Toronto is an expensive city. From housing to nightlife, it can be hard to live well in this city without going completely broke.

But that doesn’t mean you need to resign yourself to a fate of weekends spent binge-watching Netflix. There are lots of fun free events planned for the month of September that are well worth the few dollars you’d have to spend on TTC fare to get there.

Here’s our round-up of the top 10 free events you need to check out in Toronto this month.

TIFF Festival Street (September 7-10)

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) will be shutting down King Street from Spadina to University for their annual Festival Street event. Unlike one of their many film screenings, TIFF Festival Street event is totally free to attend Enjoy live music, food and drink samples, photo booths, and an immersive VR experience.

23rd Annual GWN Dragon Boat Challenge (September 9-10)

Head to Toronto’s Marilyn Bell Park to catch over 100 dragon boat crews from across North America race head-to-head in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Dragon boats see twenty paddlers move in unison, a form of boating that originates from ancient China. Admission is free and throughout the day, you can watch races and live performances, or take part in one of the many free activities happening in the area. Bring a couple extra bucks for food trucks, a beer garden or shopping at the Artisan Village and Vendor Marketplace.

Liberty Village Market (September 9)

For one day, this open-air market will be taking over Liberty Village. Vendors will be offering a variety of handmade and locally produced products, ranging from art and apparel to body care and food. Browsing and mingling is free.

Toronto Beaches Festival (September 16)

Why should Labour Day mark the end of beach season? At the Toronto Beaches Festival, you can keep the summer vibes going well into fall. This event promises plenty of delicious food and drinks, as well as a beachside artisan market and a retro 80s and 90s soundtrack.

Etsy: Made in Canada (September 23)

Canada is ripe with talented crafters and artisans and this event will give some amazing online vendors the chance to exhibit their products IRL. For Etsy: Made in Canada, the MaRS Discovery District atrium will be transformed into an indoor market filled with unique goods.

Queen West Art Crawl (September 23-24)

An art festival held in one of the trendiest neighbourhoods in the city? Sign us up! The Queen West Art crawl will feature a juried selection of Ontario’s best artists and artisans, but will also have a Kids Zone, Performance Zone, and food vendors.

Word on the Street Festival (September 24)

Toronto’s premier book and magazine festival rarely disappoints. This year’s version will feature “wordshops” (workshops for aspiring authors), a children’s literature tent and appearances by celebrated Canadian authors and public figures like Emma Donoghue, David Suzuki and Ron Sexsmith.

Third Annual Canadian Ginger Walk (September 24)

What do you get when hundreds of red heads gather in a popular Toronto Park? The third annual Canadian Ginger Walk! On September 24 from 1pm to 3pm , gingers will gather in Trinity Bellwoods to celebrate the uniqueness of red hair, stand up to bullying and gather the most gingers in one place in Canada.

Nuit Blanche (September 30-October 1)

While Nuit Blanche’s reputation has been somewhat tarnished in the past few years, the annual art festival is still one of the more unique events Toronto has to offer. This year, event attendees will find art-filled shipping containers at Nathan Phillips Square, video projections on Old City Hall and 3D graffiti installations on various city streets.