You must have heard by now that TIFF is officially in town. The celebs are unleashing themselves across the city, King Street is shut down, and the glitzy parties have commenced. 

If that’s not your scene, don’t avoid the city altogether this weekend. There’s a slew of other events taking place in the shadow of our annual film festival. 

Far from the champagne-popping and cocktail-sipping crowds at the Roy Thompson, you’ll find a more casual atmosphere at the Toronto Craft Brew Cruise that is a preview-meets-kickoff for Toronto Beer Week from September 18 – 26. 

Yes, we not only have a festival dedicated to beer, we also set aside over a week to focus on all things beer. 

The second annual cruise takes place this weekend and you can sail over lovely Lake Ontario with a pint from your favourite craft brewery. Participating breweries include some local favourites such as Mill St., Granite and Junction Craft Brewing. 

If you’d rather stay on land, head over to Trinity Bellwoods for the Queen West Art Crawl. Featuring some of the province’s best artists and artisans, you can view and purchase artwork and handmade goods all weekend long. 

There will also be musical performances by Shak Shak, a Calypso and Caribbean acoustic band, Starfires and Richard Underhill. 

Saturday is also the day of the Toronto Bicycle Music Festival. Travelling from Allan Gardens to Grange Park and Christie Pits, the festival is a series of three free outdoor pedal-powered concerts. 

Bring your bike and pedal through the city with a pack of music lovers. In past years, performers have included The Strumbellas, Maylee Todd and Charlotte Cornfield.