Revised Listing of Some Summer Festivals and More

TD Toronto Jazz Festival, June 23-July 2, 2017. Torontojazz.com/festival

The TD Toronto Jazz Festival will be moving to Yorkville when it kicks off this summer from June 23 - July 2. There will be more than 100 free concerts being presented throughout stages in Yorkville. Shows start daily at noon and finish at 10 p.m.

Toronto Fringe, July 5-16. Fringefestival.com

Ontario’s largest theatre festival, showcasing 160 plays at 35 venues and over 50 free events at the Fringe Club at Scadding Court.

Inspired by the worldwide fringe movement, Toronto Fringe was founded by a cluster of local indie artists in 1989 to offer the “fringes” of the performing arts community a platform to create art at a grassroots level. It’s theatre by the people, for the people.

Since then, the Toronto Fringe Festival has become the largest theatre festival in Ontario, showcasing 150+ productions every July at 30+ venues around downtown Toronto. But throughout its three decades of growth, Fringe has kept the indie, grassroots spirit alive. Fringe keeps ticket prices lower than any other arts festival in the city, at $12, because we believe everyone should be able to afford to see theatre.

Afrofest 2017 – July 8 & 9 at Woodbine Park, Toronto. www.afrofest.ca/afrofest-2017

This is Music Africa’s main event and the largest free African festival in North America. It brings the African community in Toronto together and showcases the beauty and diversity of African music and culture. Afrofest 2017 features “over 35 musical performances from various regions in Africa, about 70 food and merchandise vendors, an African creative village for children and creative adults, an interactive drum zone, 2 musical stages, and the most amazing audience in all of Toronto!” notes its website.

Toronto Caribbean Carnival, July 7 to Aug. 6 https://torontocaribbeancarnival.com

The Toronto Caribbean Carnival is the official Caribbean festival overseen by the Festival Management Committee recognized as a major international event. It’s the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America. Carnival is a celebrated phenomenon in the great, multi-cultural city of Toronto. People travel from all over the world to see it come alive as the city explodes with the fun-filled rhythms and melodies of Calypso, Soca, Reggae, Chutney, Steel Pan and Brass Bands.

2017 Under the Stars: Movies in the Park, a free outdoor summer screening hosted by Regent Park Film Festival every Wednesday from July 12 to Aug. 16. at Regent Park (the Big Park), 620 Dundas St. E., Toronto. 

TTCODA presents Celebration: Laughter & Dance with the hilarious Paul Keens-Douglas aka Mr. Tim Tim & Dance Caribe Performing Company on Saturday, July 15, 3pm & 8pm at Riverdale Collegiate Institute, 1094 Gerrard St. E., Toronto. Admission: $40. This is under the patronage of the acting consul general of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Toronto. Contact Louise Noel-Ambrose 905-865-1027

Soccerfest ’17 takes place on Sunday, July 16, at Fletchers Field, 2743 19^th Ave., Markham. Kick-off at 9:00am. Admission: $5. Free parking. Hosted by Jamaica National. Teams: Cornwall College, Calabar, Meadowbrook, Rusea’s, Edwin Allen, Mannings, Kingston College, Charley Smith, Holmwood, Lennon, St. Elizabeth Tech, St. Jago, Wolmers, Jamaica College, Ferncourt, and Excelsior. 

SummerWorks Performance Festival, Aug. 3-13, Canada's largest curated performance festival. summerworks.ca

Island Soul, Aug. 4-7, at the Harbourfront Centre, Toronto. www.harbourfrontcentre.com

Jamaican Canadian Association will hold its Jamaica 55 Independence Gala under the patronage of the High Commissioner for Jamaica to Canada, Janice Miller, on Saturday, Aug. 5, 6:30 p.m. at 995 Arrow Rd., Toronto. Keynote speaker: Justice Donald McLeod, Ontario Court of Justice. Call 416-746-5772. communications@jcaontario.org

Justice Donald McLeod, Ontario Court of Justice

 

The Consulate General of Jamaica in partnership with the Jamaican Canadian Association presents Jamaica’s 55^th anniversary of Independence Flag Raising Ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 6, 12:30 p.m. at The Podium Roof, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen St. W. A reception follows at the Council Chambers-Members Lounge.

This will be followed by the Independence Church Service at Revivaltime Tabernacle, 4340 Dufferin ST., Toronto. RSVP at info@jcgtoronto.org/416-598-2064

Jambana One World Festival will be held on Aug. 6&7 at Markham Fairgrounds, 10801 McCowan Rd., Markham. 1pm-9:30pm. www.jambana.com 

Five-time JUNO-Award winner, Exco Levi, will perform at JAMBANA

Jerkfest, Thursday, Aug. 10 to Sunday, Aug. 13 starring Freddie Jackson, Brian McKnight, Ikaya, Pinchers and Maxi Priest at Centennial Park, Etobicoke. jerkfestival.ca

17th annual Rastafest Reggae Festival, Canada's largest  Rastafari festival, Thursday, Aug. 17 to Sunday, Aug. 20. Rastafest in The Village, Aug. 19&20 at the historic Black Creek Pioneer Village's north property, 7060 Jane St., Toronto.

Canadian National Exhibition, Aug. 18-Sept. 4. theex.com

The Heritage Singers celebrate their 40^th anniversary “Reflections” on Saturday, Oct. 21, matinee at 2pm, evening show at 7:30pm at Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge St., Toronto. See attached flyer.