Once the warm weather hits, the city is in full swing. There are so many amazing events coming up it’s hard to choose what to go to. We’ve rounded up the MUST-attend events for this May:
1. Operanation
Operanation blends party and performance, making it a perfect night out for arts enthusiasts and the opera-curious. This year’s theme is “Into the Stars”, which will transform Toronto’s Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts into an Ancient Roman celebration inspired by the upcoming world premiere of Rufus Wainwright’s Hadrian.
Date: May 17
Location: The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
2. TasteMaker Toronto
The historic Kiln Building in the Evergreen Brick Works is transformed into a foodie wonderland for two days of dining, drinking, and entertainment.
Date: May 18 – May 19th
Location: Evergreen Brick Works
3. RIB FEST at Yonge & Dundas Square
Free entry to check out the BEST RIB TEAMS IN CANADA! Wash it all down at our Craft Beer Market featuring the top brewers from across Ontario! With over 35 different beers on tap you won’t leave thirsty.
Date: May 18
Location: Yonge & Dundas Square
4. Spring Sessions of Toronto’s Festival of Beer
It’s the same people behind Toronto’s Festival of Beer! Enjoy beer, rood and #cottageVibes on the May Two Four Long Weekend. 19+
Date: May 19-20
Location: Fort York
5. Electric Island
Toronto’s underground summer electric music festival at Hanlan’s Point, with previous artists like Maceo Plex, Sven Vath, Nina Kravitz, Ben Klock, Sasha, and more.
Date: May 22 – September 4
Location: Toronto Islands
6. Outside Looking In
Cheer on Indigenous youth performers from across Canada, as they perform the latest dance moves to the hippest music!
Date: May 26
Location: Sony Centre for the Performing Arts
7. Wavelength at Doors Open Toronto
Three Free Concerts in Heritage Buildings + Bike Tour between venues led by Bike Pirates starting 10:30AM from Corktown Common (south of Adelaide/Eastern & Bayview)
Date: May 27
Location: 2701 Queen Street East
Featured Image: Instagram/@electricislandto
What other exciting events are going on this May? Let us know in the comments.
There Is a Lantern Festival Coming This Summer
A Massive Floating Waterpark Is Going To Be Open This Summer
There’s a Brewery Coming To The Toronto Islands This Summer
Multi-Vendor Food Concept Set To Open On Queen West
Massive Outdoor Space Coming To The Royal Ontario Museum
Every so often, we all need to rock that perfectly tailored James Bond-esque suit or conversation-starting cocktail dress, bring our A-game, and join a sea of other Toronto movers and shakers for the love of a good party and a good cause.
With the warm spring breeze comes fundraiser season in Toronto – and this year, you should definitely take full advantage of it.
From art installation-filled wonderlands to a fundraiser packed with inspirational professional athletes, the spring in Toronto is full of memorable events that are totally worth dropping precious dollars on (tickets don’t come cheap).
These are the best parties this spring in Toronto…
AGO Massive
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The Art Gallery of Ontario’s (AGO) annual Massive Party is never one to miss – if you can get a ticket before they sell out. Full of costume-clad guests, interactive art (and, naturally, no shortage of Instagram material), air kisses, late-night dance-offs, and flowing drinks, Massive: Illusion is one of the hottest parties for Toronto’s art world magic-makers and social scene regulars. As an added perk, guests get Yayoi Kusama’s remarkable Narcissus Garden (NOT Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors, but a quality consolation). It goes down on Thursday, April 19 at the AGO.
Operanation
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The Canadian Opera Company’s (COC) annual Operanation fundraiser combines art, culture, music, food, and fashion for one crazy night, taking a modern spin on the historically stuffy genre of opera with special mash-up performances, flowing cocktails, and a high-energy late-night dance party. On Thursday, May 17, you can expect a mega bash that invites guests to get as glammed out as their hearts desire and hit the Four Seasons Centre in celebration of the upcoming world premiere of Rufus Wainwright’s Hadrian.
Power Ball
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The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery’s annual Power Ball is probably my all-time favourite event of the year. Each of the rooms of the sprawling Power Plant offers a new sense of discovery upon entry, as you’re transported into an ultimate adult playground of interactive art installations, cocktails, gourmet food stations, and lakeside conversations on the breezy patio. This year’s event, Power Ball XX: Carousal, will be held on Thursday, May 31.
Mad Hot Ballet
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This year’s Mad Hot Ballet event invites users to get into that 70s groove, with a funky celebration of music, performances, editorial-worthy fashion, disco dancing, eating, drinking, and being merry, all in support of The National Ballet of Canada. The uber glam (and uber pricey) black tie affair goes down at the stunning Four Seasons Centre (complete with its stunning photo-worthy staircase to complement your outfit) on Wednesday, June 13.
All-Star Gala
If you’ve ever wanted to celebrate like a pro athlete, the All-Star Gala, held on Friday, June 15, will offer a chance to do just that – the event will be full of them. The young professional-filled event promises to be one of the most high profile Toronto galas of 2018, with all proceeds benefiting the Hospital for Sick Children. You can expect some of Toronto’s hottest DJs, live performances, an all-star worthy silent and live auction, and no shortage of networking ops.
Scrubs in the City
On Thursday, June 7, Scrubs 2018 will take over the sprawling Evergreen Brick Works, filling it with society page staples for a hot-ticket charity event of over-the-top proportions (last year, there were camels to greet the guests), with live music, gourmet food stations to gram about, Roman-inspired fashion, interactive installations, and mixing and mingling overflowing cocktails with some of the city’s finest.
Cover Me Urban
Through the evening of Wednesday, April 11, Maison Mercer will be hosting the 5th annual street- inspired, Cover Me Urban. This celebrates the sights, sounds and flavours of our city as Toronto’s diverse neighbourhoods come to life under one roof. Expect incredible food, drinks, live music and entertainment experiences. The event aims to raise over $100,000 to support the Life Skills, Employment, Housing and After-Care programs at Youth Without Shelter (YWS), an Etobicoke-based emergency shelter and support house serving more than 1,000 homeless youth every year. Tickets are $125 per person, available here.
Did we miss any great parties you need to put on your calendar this spring?
Featured image: Instagram/ @canadianopera_events
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