EVENT LISTING

Sept. 15th (and every Friday evening after): In honour of our Disco issue, I would be remiss if I didn’t share the spotlight, or rather, the mirrorball, of some-disco themed events across the city. If you’ve got disco fever, Toronto is the perfect place to find some amazing dance parties. The Piston on Bloor West is known for its weekly Wax Candy Disco Night. Drop in every Friday for some Boogie, Disco and House music on the upper dance floor of this bar. This is a 19+ event and the cover is between $10-$15. 

 

Sept. 7th-17th: The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is back and for the first time in its history, an animated film will be opening the festival! But it’s not just any film, it’s Hayao Miyazaki’s final (and yes, this is definitely his final) masterpiece before he enters retirement. Be sure to check out The Boy and the Heron at Roy Thomson Hall. While the festival will be running for 10 days, Torontonians have the extra advantage of being able to check out the TIFF Lightbox year-round, especially if you’re young! Did you know TIFF offers an Under-25 pass like the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) does? While you may not get free entrance every time, you do get two complimentary tickets for Cinematheque films and other discounts at the Lightbox! 

 

Sept. 15th: Cannabis enthusiasts can have a good night of laughs at the Green Merchant Cannabis boutique for the Stoner Series, a comedy and karaoke show for those who want to make their visit a little bit more special - though it’s safe to say the details might be hazy. If you want to make cannabis comedy a weekly thing, you can also check out The Cannabis Comedy Festival, a weekly event on Saturdays called “Lit Comedy”, one of the few consistent cannabis-friendly comedy shows in Toronto on 361 Yonge Street.

 

Sept. 16th: Contemporary rock and disco were some of the most progressive and prominent genres of the 1970s. If you’re an ABBA enthusiast and a fan of Queen then this dance party is the perfect place for you! The Opera House is hosting an ABBA x Queen dance party on September 16th. Come join for an evening where rock marries disco with two of the most influential bands of the decade. 

 

Sept. 23rd: September is Bisexual Visibility Month, and the brains behind Something Creative are bringing back their fourth Bi Bi Baby event for Bi Visibility Day, an interactive exhibit featuring Bisexual artists and performers from across the city. Bi Bi Baby has been a hit ever since its first presentation during Pride 2022. There is always something new, from drag and burlesque performances to interactive art installations; last year’s event had local tattoo artists present their work. 

 

Until Sept 23rd: Museum of Toronto is a relatively new museum space that focuses solely on the city of Toronto. This special exhibit focuses on the history of Canadian children’s television and how Toronto was a global leader for children’s entertainment! If you want to relive your youth, be sure to check out their latest exhibit From Mr Dressup to Degrassi before it closes on Sept. 23rd. 

 

Until Sept. 24th: TUSARNITUT! Music Born of the Cold Exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) will also be closing this month, and it is definitely worth the visit! TUSARNITUT! translates to “sounds that please the ear” and is an exhibit that showcases two genres of Inuit music: throat singing and drum dancing. The exhibition brings together musical expression and visual arts, with hundreds of prints, installations and other mediums dating back to the 1950s, all while highlighting the different musical styles of Inuit artists across different regions.

 

Opening Sept. 27th: Brooklyn-born artist KAWS makes his Canadian Debut at the AGO this month, and is definitely an exhibit worth visiting if you’re looking for 1960s-inspired collectible toys KAWS grew up with. Visitors can expect to see a selection of designs made of steel, wood, bronze, and designs that will fill you with childlike wonder and nostalgia. 

 

Sept. 28th - Sept. 29th: What if you didn’t read your news from your Twitter feed (Or is it X feed?) but instead saw it unfold on the stage? In its second year of running, the International Live Journalism Festival will be held in Toronto for the first time at the end of September. If you are a part of the journalism industry in some way or another, you should definitely sign-up for this event to hear discussions about the latest research and live projects from students in journalism and other media programs across Canada. 

 

Until Oct. 1st: The Wolfgang Tilmans: Look without Fear photography exhibition will be closing at the end of the month. From the earliest days of Tilmans career to his iconic portrait shot (and the album cover) of Frank Ocean, you can view his entire photography collection of experimental works going back to 1988. If you’re under the age of 25 you get free entrance with the AGO annual pass, a great way to visit some important exhibitions and to have fun on a budget. 

 

Oct. 3rd: Afrobeats singer and songwriter Adekunle Gold, also known as AG Baby, will be performing at Rebel Nightclub for his Tequila Ever After tour. You might know him from his song Sade, which is a highlife cover from One Direction’s Story of My Life. Floor tickets are still available for $50 and there are some pricier options if you want access to the bar and mezzanine areas. This event is 19+ only.

 

Oct. 13 and Oct. 14th: If your TikTok For You Page (FYP)  is still flooded with songs like The Blonde and Lover’s Rock then now is your chance to check out the band behind these sounds! TV Girl is performing at The Danforth Music Hall on October 13th, but due to high demand will be having a second show at HISTORY on Queen St. East! 

 

Oct. 18th: Looking to get into the spooky vibe? Get into the Halloween spirit by registering for a Halloween-themed trivia night with some friends at Glad Day Bookshop. Glad Day is the oldest queer bookstore in the world and has evolved into a community hub for the Toronto 2SLGBTQIA+ community. It is an event space, bar, cafe and restaurant that is home to several cool events year-round. Glad Day is renowned for their Sunday Drag Brunches, the brunch is hosted by Erin Brokobic and other Toronto queens! 

 

Oct. 19th: Never have I ever been to a death café, nor have I ever heard of one until now, but I promise it is not meant to be as gloomy as it sounds! The Home Hospice Association is a host partner with Glad Day bookshop for their death café event in mid-October. Death cafés are meant to provide a safe and welcoming space for people to discuss death. These discussions are group-directed and allow people to navigate what death means on a personal and spiritual level. 

 

Oct. 31st: Halloween is a pretty big deal in Toronto, especially in the Village. Since 1992, Halloween has consisted of a huge bash on the weekend of All Hallows’ Eve, with events partaking on October 31st no matter the day of the week. Bars and clubs are filled to the brim with costumed people and you can catch drag performances along the street and in different pubs. It’s a great place to get in a final dance! 

 

Year-round Events

If Toronto is your home, here are some cool year-round events that you and your friends can check out when planning your next group outing! 

 

Every Sunday: Have you ever met Tommy’s sister Tammy? This Parkdale wine bar is the sister location to Tommy’s Wine Bar on Queen St East and is home to a weekly queer pop-up event called Everybody Flirts. This is a karaoke event where you and your friends can sing to your heart's content, also a great place for some weekend fun outside of happy hours after work.

First Tuesday of every month: During the pandemic, some of Toronto’s most iconic queer-bars like The Beaver shut down due to financial struggle. From this loss, Queer Wine Night was born. This October marks the two year anniversary of Queer Wine Night and it has become a staple for the Toronto queer community. Paradise Grapevine on Bloor Street West has been the home to Queer Wine Night, which has now grown into a bi-weekly event! You should definitely come for good conversation, meeting new friends, and impromptu dancing! Check their Instagram page for the upcoming dates.