883. Affordable Events August 30-September 8 in Multicultural Toronto – 2019.

The Ethiopian Festival in Christie Park is obviously very popular.  I’ve received many recent requests for information about it. But many other ethnic events are going on too this week, such as those inspired by Egypt, Nepal, Macedonia, and Vietnam.  These also are  opportunities to sample exotic  performances and arts.  You can experience the world in most of the following for free.  For a few dollars, you can sample the food too. How fortunate we are!

Africa. Djely Tapa. August 30. 9:30-11pm. Free. Concert Stage, Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West. Part of Labour Day Weekend events.

“Just named 2019-2020 Radio-Canada Revelation in world music, Djely Tapa clearly has the makings of a great singer and is destined to become known far beyond Canada. This Montréal-based griot has a magnificent and powerful voice and her recent album, which tackles the themes of women’s place in society and Africanity, has received critical acclaim and reveals the true essence of Mandinka Africa, with kora, guitar riffs and Malian percussions.”

https://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/labourdayweekend/events/index.cfm?id=10634&festival_id=321 image from Harbourfront Centre website.

Image from Harbourfront Centre website.

 

Brazil. Raising of Flag of the Federative Republic of Brazil. Independence Day. September 7. Ceremony at 12pm. Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West

Image from Wikipedia

 

Buddhist. Tibet. Public Meditation in High Park. September 2. 10am. Free.

We will have a meditation with short teaching with Buddhist Monks Lama Samten and Tenzin Gawa. Come with your friends and family, it is open to everybody!!”

https://www.buddhistmeditationtoronto.org/meditation-outside?utm_campaign=eed5cc66-f05a-43a1-92a5-cc7f0ae27e15&utm_source=so

Image from www.buddhistmeditationtoronto.org

 

Caribbean. One Love Festival.TO. August 30 – September 2. Day 1-4 Tickets | VIP Passes | 0-$300. 50 Canuck Avenue/35 Carl Hall Road, Downsview Park.

… North America’s largest four-day Caribbean Music Festival… will showcase some of the biggest names in the Reggae, Dance Hall and Soca music industry all while promoting and contributing to the economic growth of the city and local business.

Schedule and prices: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/one-love-festivalto-tickets-62901455948.

China. Tim Horton’s Great White North (GWN) Dragon Boat Challenge. September 7 and 8. Free for spectators. Marilyn Bell Park, 1059 Lake Shore Boulevard West just south of Exhibition Place.

Many countries have adopted these races that originated in ancient China. Toronto has two major venues. The course at Marilyn Bell Park is a lot easier to access than that at Centre Island. Dragon boating is one of my favourite events because many of the teams are mixed racially, with both men and women. Very diverse, those. Go to enjoy the waterfront and the lively competition.

Festival grounds offer a variety of activities for all participants and spectators. Families can bring their children to play at the interactive Kids Zone, while entertainment on the main stage will feature live bands. The Health and Wellness Zone features vendors providing products and services to assist in leading a healthy lifestyle, and the Tiger Den Beer Garden will keep the party going, located right by the finish line and main entertainment stage!” https://www.gwndragonboat.com/default.asp?id=challenge&l=1

Image from Great White North website

 

China. Toronto Dragon Festival. September 6-8. Free. Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen Street West.

Dragons, drums, acrobatics, Kong Fu and much more. Canadian Association of Chinese Performing Arts is very excited to announce the 2nd Toronto Dragon Festival…

The inaugural Toronto Dragon Festival wowed thousands of Torontonians and travellers last summer. Dazzling shows of Chinese traditional culture brought people from different communities. The whole day non-stop live performances welcomed more than 40 Chinese and Canadian performing arts groups. There were about 80 food and ethnical booths that interacted with more than 20,000 visitors. Our show has presented world-famous Sichuan Face Mask Changing and Chinese martial arts, not to mention inspiring Chinese traditional folk arts such as sugar paintings, paper-cutting, and mouth-watering Chinese and Asian specialty foods.” Hosted by the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/toronto-dragon-festival-tickets-66923049643..

 

Christian. Jesus in the City Parade. September 7. 12-5pm. Free entry. Queen’s Park.

… the City Parade will take place… starting at Queen’s Park Circle South… with a kick-off rally and then proceeding along Bloor & Yonge Street and returning to Queen’s Park.

The Jesus in the City Parade is a lively musical street pageant, illustrating scenes/themes from the Bible through music, the arts and worship.

… Sponsored by Festival of Praise International along with local churches, businesses, charities and organizations, this annual event attracts over 15,000 to 25,000 in attendance as floats, marching bands, choirs and churches walk the streets of downtown Toronto carrying banners and flags raised high in celebration, singing and dancing spreading the message of hope, love, peace and the joy of salvation.

Bring the entire family as we lift up the name of Jesus in the City and celebrate love for God and love for people…” www.jesusinthecity.com or call 416-770-8699.

 

Egypt. 19th St. Mark’s Canadian Coptic Festival. September 6-8. Free. St. Mark’s Cathedral, 455 Ferrier Street, Markham.

Egyptian and Coptic entertainment (stage and street performances); Showcases of local Toronto talent through arts and culture; Varieties of traditional Egyptian cuisine; Interactive educational youth and children’s exhibitions; Workshops for youth and children.” http://stmarkstoronto.ca/forms/2019-coptic-canadian-cultural-festival

 

 

England. English Country Dancing in the Park. Sunday afternoons. 4 until 6.30pm. No charge but contributions welcome. In the middle of High Park, “facilities nearby and a lovely, breezy spot under the trees, just outside the Shakespeare site…”

… If the forecast looks iffy, we’ll make a decision two hours before the dance and post it on our website and Facebook. We will also set up a recorded message that you can phone to find out what the update is  (please wait until 2.05pm to call)… For detailed directions and a map showing our site, please see our website, www.TorontoEnglishDance.ca

English Country Dance. High Park. Image Copyright ©2016 Ruth Lor Malloy

 

England. Morris Dancers. Morris Dancers and related friends will be touring around Toronto streets and parks. Saturday, September 1 starting from 10:30am. This is the group of dancers who perform in High Park every May Day dawn. They are a friendly, lively and talented lot.  

Morris Dancers. High Park. Toronto. Copyright © 2013 Ruth Lor Malloy.

 

Ethiopia. The Ethiopia Day will be celebrated on September 7. 11am-12am. Christie Park. Near Christie subway station.

 

Himalaya. Nepal. Himalayan Festival. August 31. 2-8pm. Free. Nathan Phillips Square. 100 Queen Street West.

Nepalese art and crafts, Live performance and entertainment of Nepalese Cultural music by famous artists from GTA and beyond, the diversy of Nepalese foods, info about the Nepalese world traditions, etc. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/himalayan-festival-tickets-66739003155?aff=erelexpmlt https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/himalayan-festival-tickets-66739003155?aff=erelexpmlt

Poster from Eventbrite website.

 

Hindu. Ganesha Chaturthi. September 2. Free. Birthday of Hindu god. Good time to visit Hindu temples to learn about this beloved elephant-headed god.

Copyright ©2012 Ruth Lor Malloy

 

Hungary. Christian. Feast of St. Clare. September 8. 11am-8pm. Free entry. ​St. Clare’s Church, 1118 St. Clair Avenue West.

A fun-filled day celebrating our patron saint. Live music, face painting, international food and many more…” https://stclaresto.archtoronto.org/News-Events/Parish%20Events 

 

Iran. Top on Yonge Iranian Parade. August 31. 3-6pm. Free. Beecroft Road. (West of Mel Lastman Square.)

For more information: Tel. 416-419-3901 or 647-773-7742. https://www.iran.ca/en/events/ontario/toronto/festivals/top-on-yonge-persian-parade/

For this and other Iranian/Persian events in Toronto, click on: https://www.iran.ca/en/events/ontario/toronto/


Japan. Japonica. Fund-raising bazaar. September 7. 10am-3:30pm. Free entry. Momiji Senior Centre, 555 Kingston Road, Scarborough.

“Momiji’s Community Bazaar is our largest annual fundraising event and is a much-loved community tradition.  Each year, the Bazaar offers something for the entire family to enjoy:  valuable bargains, delicious Japanese cuisine (including manju and sushi), a bake table with a vast assortment of goodies to enjoy, a large silent auction and a Collectibles (definitely Vintage … and possibly Antique) Corner where you are sure to find a treasure or two.  Proceeds from the Bazaar support Momiji’s Programs and Services.” http://momiji.on.ca/en/participate/events/momiji-community-bazaar/

For more Japanese events, see: Japan Foundation, Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, Toronto Buddhist Church, etc.

Macedonia. Macedonian Festival.  September 6. 5:30pm-12am; September 7 12:30pm-12am; September 8. 12:30-9pm. Dimitrija Solunski Macedonian Orthodox Church, 201 Main St. Markham. At Markham GO station. Tel. 905-471-5555.

 

Morocco. Raising of Flag of the Kingdom of Morocco. To celebrate the birthday of the King of Morocco – Mohammed VI. August 31. Ceremony at 1pm. Mel Lastman Square (North York Civic Centre), 5100 Yonge Street.

Flag from wikipedia.org.

 

Multicultural. 20th Anniversary Toronto International BuskerFest. Labour Day weekend, August 30- September 2. 11am. Admission by donation to Epilepsy Toronto. $5 per person; $10 per family. Woodbine Park, 1590 Lake Shore Blvd. East.

100 Street Performers from all over the world, Group Benefit Shows, Beer Garden, Food Trucks and Vendors, Hula Hoop Dance Party, etc.

https://www.todocanada.ca/city/toronto/event/buskerfest/

Schedule: http://torontobuskerfest.com/whatsup_schedule.php

 

Vietnam. Tet Trung Thu: Vietnamese Children Mid-autumn Lantern Festival.  September 14. 2-6pm.Oakdale Community Centre, 350 Grandravine Drive. Vietnamese Association: 416-636-8887.

Zimbabwe. ZimSculp. 100 hand-crafted stone sculptures each seven feet tall on display (and for sale). Well worth a visit. Now to September 8, 2019. 10am-5pm. Free admission. Toronto Botanical Garden, 777 Lawrence Avenue East. https://torontobotanicalgarden.ca/events/zimsculpt-2019-06-29/

Image from Toronto Botanical Garden website.

 

Ruth’s Note: TorontoMulticulturalCalendar.com chooses to promote events that encourage a feeling of community in our culturally-diverse city. Mention doesn’t mean endorsement as we try to include events we think readers will find stimulating in the cultures of other groups. If you go to any of our mentioned events, please send us corrections or an account of your impressions. 

Let us know the kind of events that interest you. Please continue to send posters to ruthlormalloy@gmail.com. We don’t charge to include them and we don’t accept paid advertising. We are privately financed. Please post comments on “Leave a Reply” below.

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