Films, festivals and food: What’s happening this weekend in Toronto | CBC News

There’s something for everyone in Toronto this weekend, from catching an international film premiere to exploring a delicious food festival.

Here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening across the city this packed weekend.

Toronto International Film Festival

The 49th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) kicked off on Thursday with the premiere of The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal, a docuseries about the beloved Canadian band. 

Several films are playing throughout this weekend, from shorts to red-carpet premieres. You can view the full schedule and try snagging a ticket online. 

If you’re hoping to catch a screening that’s already off-sale, rush tickets will be available for all festival screenings on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Audience members are recommended to start queuing for a rush line an hour before the screening. 

Vegandale 

Vegandale is returning to Toronto this weekend, giving everyone a chance to check out vegan comfort foods, immersive art installations and nearly 120 vendors from around the world. 

The festival, which first arrived in the city in 2015, will be held in Woodbine Park on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Most attendees are not vegan but are curious about the lifestyle, said Jenna Lindsay, the festival’s vice-president of communications and entertainment. 

Lindsay said you can look forward to trying vegan dumplings, donuts, grilled cheeses, burgers, ice cream and an assortment of baked goods. Other vendors will be selling lifestyle products. 

“We’re trying to show that a vegan world doesn’t look a lot different,” she said. 

A DJ will be spinning all day, and local artist Connor Price will also perform at the festival. Lindsay said by the end of the festival, everyone is usually dancing together on stage.

“It’s truly a party,” she said.  

Tickets can be purchased online for $15. Some will be available at the door for an increased price, Lindsay said. 

Taste of the Kingsway 

South Etobicoke will see the return of Taste of the Kingsway from Sept. 6 to 8, a packed street festival featuring performances, international cuisine and vendors. 

Entering its 26th year, Taste of the Kingsway has expanded from what was first a collection of local businesses hosting sidewalk sales and barbecues, said Michael Chomentowski, the festival’s director of operations. 

Some 300,000 people are expected to attend over the three-day festival, he said. The festival runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. 

Taste of the Kingsway includes a community dance stage featuring performances from South Etobicoke dance schools and troupes. 

Several tribute bands will also perform, including Saturday’s headliner Elton Rohn, an Elton John tribute band. 

Chomentowski said the festival is like a “homecoming” for many locals who went away for the summer. 

“It’s truly an opportunity for families and students to reconnect with… their friends and neighbours,” he said. 

The festival is located in the Kingsway’s Business Improvement Area, along Bloor Street W. between Prince Edward Drive and Mimico Creek.

Trinbago Toronto

Another festival returning to the city this weekend is Trinbago Toronto, a celebration of Trinidad and Tobago that’s intended for everybody, said Jean Paul, the festival’s MC. 

The festival, which is free to attend, will include vendors serving up cultural delicacies, such as doubles and roti. 

Performances will include several acts from Trinidad and Tobago. 

“It’s going to be music, it’s going to be vibes, it’s going to be energy,” Paul said. “It’s going to be all Trini love, all weekend long.” 

Trinbago takes place at Nathan Phillips Square on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Asialicious Carnival 

In Scarborough, Asialicious Carnival is taking over Woodside Square this weekend. 

The carnival picks a different Asian country to feature every year, said Benny Cheung, president of the Federation of Asian Canadians Toronto, which hosts the festival. 

This year, Korea will be in the spotlight. Attendees can taste traditional Korean foods and rent hanbok, a traditional Korean clothing, for a photo booth, Cheung said. 

There will also be performances showcasing traditional and contemporary Korean music, including K-pop. 

Vendors will also sell foods from other Asian countries. 

A highlight of the show will be a 12-minute firework display, Cheung said. The spectacle will take place Saturday at 10 p.m. 

Asialicious Carnival takes place Friday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free.