June is the official start of summer and with that typically comes big outdoor celebrations, cultural festivals and plenty of patio time. While things are a little different this year, there are still plenty of great ways to get outdoors. Whether you’re attending a farmer’s market or simply enjoying a virtual event on your balcony, the experiences we’ve shared below are bound to give you that summer feeling you’ve been craving all year.
June is Pride Month and Pride Toronto has a stellar line-up of virtual events planned for their 40th annual festival kicking off June 1st. Explore their online Pride Guide to find events for the whole community ranging from educational to entertaining. In conjunction with their digital events you can experience a number of Pride-themed art installations throughout the city, as well as a virtual Street Fair and pop-up community connect programs. Grab an iced coffee from Pilot and take an art walk through the city to enjoy the weather and reflect on 40 years of Pride.
Bloor-Yorkville’s Summer Music in the Park is going virtual again this year with #BYLiveEdition. This year the music series will feature performances every other Thursday at 12:30pm (weather permitting), streamed from select venues throughout the Yorkville neighbourhood. The inaugural 2021 concert will feature the Chris Platt trio and will take place June 17th at 12:30 PM, streamed live via Bloor-Yorkville’s Instagram account from Eataly at Manulife Centre. Make it a complete experience by grabbing a quick lunch from Eataly via your favourite delivery service and dine al fresco on your balcony while enjoying the livestream for a picture-perfect lunch break.
Farmer’s Markets bring the best of local produce to the city and they are one of the best ways to get out and enjoy the weather and support local during the current lockdown. One of our favourite Yorkville-adjacent markets is the Evergreen Brickworks Farmer’s Market which takes place every Saturday from 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Once you’ve stocked up on incredible local produce, finish off the rest of your grocery list at Independent CityMarket. Don’t forget to bring your receipt to Guest Services to redeem your complimentary parking with a purchase of $50 or more.
The Yorkville Exotic Car Show has taken to the streets of Yorkville every Father’s Day Sunday for the last 11 years and the tradition continues this year with a virtual event streamed live on Facebook on June 20th from 12-5 PM. We can’t think of a better way to spend Father’s Day than an afternoon spent in the backyard with some beers, a barbecue and the stream playing in the background – it’s the best of both worlds! If you want to enhance the experience be sure to check out Bay Bloor Radio‘s incredible selection of outdoor audio-visual equipment – from outdoor TVs to outdoor speakers that fit perfectly into your garden, you’ll find everything you need to make your backyard a techie oasis.
June 21st is the first day of summer and there’s no better way to make the most of the longest day of the year by engaging in activities to help you connect with the earth. Start your day with an outdoor meditation, ease your way through the afternoon by settling into a hammock with a good book, tend to your garden or make the longest day last even longer with a backyard campfire under the stars. Whatever you choose, Indigo has an incredible selection of wellness products, books, garden tools and homewares to add a touch of style to your summer activities.
Is there anything more summer than sipping a glass of wine on your balcony or backyard patio? Luckily Eataly makes achieving this idyllic scene easy and educational with their monthly Wine Club subscription. A subscription will give you three hand-picked bottles of wine each month and an invitation to a monthly virtual tasting event with Eataly’s on-site experts. June’s subscription theme is Island Wines the tasting event is on June 25th, leaving you plenty of time to sign up for a subscription.
While retail stores remain closed per government regulations, many of our retailers are open for curbside pickup or delivery via their online stores. For more information please visit our Directory.
