This sounds like a good weekend to go out and enjoy yourself in the many great parks the city has to offer. Indulge a variety of cravings at CraveTO, or party it up in Trinity Bellwoods after riding around at Bikefest. Yonge-Dundas Square will be packed with a bill of acts representing South Asia, and there's even a big clown festival. If all that isn't reason to start the weekend out with some sake sipping, then what is?
Desifest
When: May 31, 11 am to 11 pm
Where: Yonge – Dundas Square
Details: Desifest is Canada's premier South Asian music festival and it's taking over Yonge – Dundas Square on Sunday. Expect acts like Destiny, Gunjan and Culture Shock to charm the crowd at this free event.
Kampai Toronto
When: May 29, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Where: Distillery District (55 Mill St.)
Details: Hands up if you knew there was a Sake Institute of Ontario. Well, there is, and it looks like we should be glad for it because this Thursday is the third annual Kampai Toronto in the Distillery District. It's a sake fans' dreamscape featuring over 120 Japanese and North American brands to sip and ponder to your heart's content. There will even be a (blind tasting) judging panel and awards handed out for the cream of the crop.
Toronto Festival of Clowns
When: May 28 to June 1
Where: Pia Bouman School (6 Noble St.) and Brockton Collective (442 Dufferin St. Studio A)
Details: Any excuse to dress up, right? Start dabbing on some maquillage de clown and head down to Parkdale for a weekend's worth of round red noses. Nine years running, the Toronto Festival of Clowns is going to offer eight different full-length shows ranging from your typical clown to the more niche bouffon-style. If that isn't your bag, there's also caberet and puppetry offerings, as well as my personal favourite, the classic vaudevillians. Tickets for all the main shows are $15 and you can reserve them here.
Bellwoods Block Party
When: June 1
Where: Trinity Bellwoods Park
Details: Rain or shine, this Sunday marks the first block party of the summer at Trinity Bellwoods. Much like last year, the event is expected to become a monthly thing with a focus on the many possibilities that arrive when melding Toronto's forces of creativity. There's going to be a market element as well as art and design, and best of all a big, fun party.
MEC Bikefest
When: May 31, 11 am to 4 pm
Where: Trinity Bellwoods Park
Details: If you're in the mood for a trip to Trinity Bellwoods, but a block party isn't quite your speed, you can always gear up for Bikefest. The festival is designed to celebrate the start of the cycling season, and will feature guided group rides for $10 as well as skill clinics for $5. Bring the two-wheeler with you for a completementary tune-up, but if you're not bringing your ride along then you can enjoy a variety of bike demos, as well as a marketplace and events for kids.
CraveTO
When: May 30
Where: Wychwood Barns (601 Christie St.)
Details: Also in park-related activities is Friday's CraveTO at Wychwood Barns. It's a glorious melange of the things we all crave most: food, beer and music. The craft beer list is a local who's who with Mill St., Hogtown, Nickel Brook, and Amsterdam breweries all offering up different selections. On the grub side, there are offerings from Food Dudes, Sweet Sammies, Mango Pinton and We Got Balls to sate your appetite. There are going to be local DJs setting the ambiance to a fun kick-off for a weekend outdoors. GA is $16.75 but you can save 5% by broadcasting your attendance on Facebook.
