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
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
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
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
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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