Now that the CNE has rolled into town and the Labour Day Weekend plans are made, it’s safe to say that the sweltering (but pretty amazing) summer of 2018 is wrapping up.
But there are still two weeks to make the most out of every last second of it in Toronto. Here’s how…
LOL at a Castle
You can get your live comedy fix in a castle each Wednesday night for the rest of August. Toronto’s famed Casa Loma has partnered with Just for Laughs for ‘Comedy at the Castle,’ featuring live comedy acts from some of the best in the business, with a side of gourmet bites and a stunning backdrop. The shows take place every Wednesday at 7:30 pm until August 29.
Catch a Concert
You’re not going to be too happy with yourself if you let the summer slip away without enjoying a lakeside, outdoor concert at the breezy Budweiser Stage. Live Nation has brought some notable artists to grace the stage in the remainder of the season, including Miranda Lambert and Little Big Town on August 23, 311 & The Offspring on August 28, Counting Crows on August 29 (oh, the nostalgia), and Ozzy Osbourne on September 4.
Party Under the Gardiner
If you have yet to check out The Bentway – an impressive public space initiative underneath the forever-controversial Gardiner Expressway – the best time to do so is this coming weekend. To celebrate the completion of Phase One of the project, The Bentway will host ‘The Bentway Block Party’ on Saturday (August 25), an all-day celebration featuring live music, performances, food, and no shortage of photo ops.
Reserve a Spot at a New Restaurant
Some notable new, talking point-filled restaurants have opened up shop in Toronto this summer. Places like Yorkville’s art-filled new Italian spot Sofia Restaurant, as well as Michelin Star-Awarded Don Alfonso’s new Toronto location (the former Rosewater), have become quick favourites among Toronto’s in-the-know set. Changing up the clean eating game in the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood is the brand new, completely elevated Fresh Restaurants location, which features Instagram-worthy interiors, a refined dining experience, and all the Fresh goodness (including their new craft cocktails) you know and love.
Sip Cider at an Apple Orchard
Take a mini country getaway to round out your weekend, and head to Chudleigh’s Apple Farm. While traditionally reserved for the fall, the farm continues to host their Summer Cider Nights on Friday and Saturday nights until the end of August. The event – which would make for a cute date night – features live music, food, wagon rides, a new bar and restaurant area, no shortage of the new Chudleigh’s Hard Cider, and more.
Shake Off Summer at a Spa
Let’s face it; the Tuesday after Labour Day is the real start to the New Year, so you may as well start fresh. Scrub away that dead summer skin, soothe your summer workout routine muscles, or rejuvenate your pores as you kiss the summer goodbye with a spa day. This doesn’t have to break the bank either; longtime Toronto wellness staple Elmwood Spa has all kinds of specials to take advantage of before the fall rolls around.
Have a Sunday Funday in Kensington Market
Hit Kensington Market on August 26 for their last official Pedestrian Sundays of the summer. Helping your post-brunch Sunday Funday cause, the streets in hippie haven Kensington Market are closed to cars and filled with musicians, performers, local vendors, and artists on the last Sunday of each month.
Eat (and Snap) Creative Creations at the CNE
If you don’t hit the Canadian National Exhibition for the rides and midway games, do so for the link-worthy, over-the-top culinary creations, like gold-coated burgers and ice cream, a very Canadian Donut Poutine from Tim Horton’s, colourful and candy-packed Fran’s milkshakes, and Farm to Flyer’s Korean Fried Frogs Legs.
Featured image: Instagram/ @holmes_pr
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