Toronto Game Plan for June 2022

The 10 best things to do in Toronto for June 2022.

The Free Label, Sat., June 18 Horseshoe

The Free Label, Sat., June 18 Horseshoe

NXNE Brings Back Massive Club Hopping Festival

North by Northeast Music Festival
Tue., June 14 – Sun., June 19
$10 single tickets, $20 pass
Various venues
nxne.com

The legendary North By North East festival finally returns to venues across the city. Known for its parties and expert music curation, this year, NXNE brings the best emerging artists from Canada and beyond to multiple clubs each night, six nights in a row. Performers include hip hop star Omega Mighty (Gladstone, Sat., June 18), country band The Holy Gamblers (Dakota, Fri., June 17), LA’s Balto (Horseshoe, Sat., June 18) and pop punk artist Luxe (Garrison, Wed., June 15) Venues include The Baby G, Handlebar, Clinton’s Tavern, El Mocambo, Horseshoe, Rivoli, Bovine Sex Club, Festival HQ the Gladstone House and over a dozen more. Hop between bars and see as many artists as possible with the full-access pass for only $20.

Lucy Dacus

Lucy Dacus

Frolic at Field Trip's Family-Friendly Fest

Field Trip
Sat., July 9
$114.50 (2 children 12 and under free with purchase)
Music festival
Fort York Garrison Common, 100 Garrison Rd.
fieldtriplife.com

Toronto’s beloved family-friendly music festival finally returns! Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats headline this one-day event, with support from Lucy Dacus, The Halluci Nation, Haviah Mighty and many others. A jam-packed day with a separate talent lineup just for kids, there will be local food vendors to keep everyone fuelled.

Savannah Ré

Savannah Ré

Festival offers more than all that jazz

Toronto Jazz Festival
Fri., June 24 – Sun., July 3
Free and ticketed events
Various locations
torontojazz.com

Free outdoor shows in the Yorkville area as well as ticketed gigs around town see the jazz festival feature veteran acts like Smokey Robinson and Michael Kaeshammer while new artists, like Savannah Ré and TOBi, also perform.

Collage of comic covers

Comic fest gets real

Toronto Comic Arts Festival
Fri., June 17 – Sun., June 19
Free
Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St.
torontocomics.com

After last year’s successful virtual festival, TCAF returns with a hybrid exhibition that combines in-person events with online programming for one massive celebration of comic book arts. Shop some of your favourite artists, attend readings and learn some new skills from industry professionals, like author and illustrator Kat Simmers.

Screenshot from Neighbours

Neighbours

TJFF Fest Offers Jewish Film Feast

Toronto Jewish Film Festival
Thurs., June 9 – Sun., June 26
$15 single, in person or online; $249 full online pass
Various locations in person; also online
tjff.com

The Toronto Jewish Film Festival (TJFF) celebrates 30 years with a rich offering of narrative and documentary films both in person and online. The world’s best, Jewish filmmakers are celebrated with premier screenings and Q&As, including upbeat comedies like One More Story (Sat., June 11) or touching closing night film Neighbours (Sun., June 26).

Screenshot from Story, Story, Die

What's the story?

Story, Story, Die
Tue., June 28 & Wed., June 29, 7:30 pm
$20 – $95
Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W.
nordicbridges.ca

The Nordic Bridges 12-month cultural exchange continues with Norwegian choreographer Alan Lucien Oyen and his beautiful, multidisciplinary art piece Story, story, die. Combining dance and theatre, seven extraordinary performers tell a tale of love and lies, and uncover the boundaries we abandon to be liked by others.

Stylized photo of Crown Lands.

Crown Lands

Canadian Music Week Returns

Canadian Music Week
Mon., June 6 – Sat., June 11
Individually ticketed shows; conference, $599
Various venues
cmw.net

CMW returns with a week of conferences, awards and concerts all centred around elevating and educating music professionals. Catch Crown Lands at the Phoenix Concert Theatre (Tue., June 7), Housewife at Rivoli (Wed., June 8) and the Indie Awards with Sate and Grae at El Mocambo (Sat., June 11).

Kadusné indigenous fashion

Indigenous Fashion Focus

Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival
Thurs., June 9 – Sun., July 12
$20 – $50
Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W.
indigenousfashionarts.com

June is National Indigenous History Month and one of the many ways to celebrate is through Indigenous art! Attend runway shows, workshops and panel discussions all focused on the intersection of fashion and Indigenous cultures. See and shop woven work by Kadusné and beaded pieces by Assinewe Jewelry, among countless others.

Iskwē

Iskwē

Luminato Lights Up

Luminato
Thurs., June 9 – Sun., June 19
Free and paid admission
Various venues
luminatofestival.com

One of Toronto’s most diverse festivals returns to unexpected corners across the city. Luminato programs music, theatre, dance and visual art in venues and public spaces, including Yonge-Dundas Square, Trillium Park and even GO trains. Performers include iskwē (Thurs., June 9, Yonge-Dundas Square), Wolf Saga (Sun., June 12, Yonge-Dundas Square) and Witch Prophet (Sat., June 18, Woodbine Park). Catch a performance of The Cave, a cabaret in English and Cree, at Theatre Passe Muraille; or see Black Ark, an interactive art installation, at Ashbridges Bay Park.

Priyanka

Priyanka

Pride powers back

Pride Toronto
Now – Thurs., June 30
Free
Festival
Various venues
pridetoronto.com

June is Pride Month in the city, celebrating all things LGBTQ+, and Pride Toronto has four weeks of exciting programming to keep you busy and celebrate . Events include The Queen In Me opera show (Sat., June 4, Canadian Opera Company), a headline performance from Canada’s Drag Race winner Priyanka (Sun., June 26, Yonge-Dundas Square), Pride Kickoff Showcase at NXNE (June 16, Drake Underground) and the annual parade (Sun., June 26, Yonge Street).

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