As usual, there are a lot of free or nearly-free ethno-cultural events happening in Toronto this weekend. If you plan carefully, study schedules and programs, you should be able to take in much of what the city has to offer.
The biggest festival of course is Taste of the Danforth (above), which is actually a multicultural festival in Greek Town. One of the public stages will feature Greek culture but the entertainment and food will be a mix of many cultures. In past years, there have been Kangaroo Burgers, Chinese and Lebanese food, too. Food is only one of the attractions; the Toronto Symphony and Second City will be performing this year.
I like the Taste of the Danforth because you can take out-of-town guests there and say, “Look at the faces of the people here. This is multi-racial Toronto in one venue. We’re all having fun together. This is what we love about Toronto.”
On Friday evening, Harbourfront Centre celebrates the passionate Argentinian Tango with classes and demonstrations, part of the What’s Classical festival. Cultura at Mel Lastman Square has Persian music and international food vendors.
On Saturday and Sunday, Filipinos will be Making Waves with a festival in Yonge-Dundas Square. There’s a parade on Sunday and the stage will feature some of the many colourful cultures of the Philippines. We used to live in the Philippines and loved the people. How can I miss this festival?
On Saturday and Sunday also, a Jerkfest will take place at Centennial Park, with jazz and reggae, dances and giveaways. It’s a hard place to get to unless you have a car. But for lovers of genuine Jamaican food and music like me, it should be a winner.
For more serious-minded people, Saturday is also Hiroshima Day. The campaign against nuclear weapons is especially apt this year because of the Japanese tsunami in March. The Church of the Holy Trinity is hosting a No Nuclear Weapons, No Nuclear Power, Hiroshima/Nagasaki commemoration. This church is on the west side of Eaton Centre, between Dundas and Queen Streets. This is an important event too.
On Sunday afternoon, there’s a Japanese Garden Club flower show and bonsai demo. It’s in Scarborough and costs $5, but Japanese gardens are famous and shouldn’t be missed.
This week is also the first week of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting from dawn to dusk. It is a good time to learn why our Muslim neighbours observe this tradition.
Harbourfront will have an hour of Music from the Middle East with Sufi devotional love songs.
Have I missed anything? Can I see it all?
Ruth Malloy is the founder of Toronto Multicultural Calendar Blog, the original source of this post
Photos by Ruth Lor Malloy, © 2011
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