26 Things You Need To Do This Summer In Toronto

1. Cabana Pool Bar

A summertime ritual for every summer loving Torontonian. Cabana is the place to be on those steamy hot summer weekends when all you want to do is drink and dance.

2. Toronto Zoo

The zoo is a classic way to spend a summers day with friends and loved ones. With over 460 species of animals, there is no shortage of entertainment to be had.

3. Pride

Whether it's the Parade, the Greenspace parties, the concerts, or the street fair, grab your friends, get a little gay, and embrace and celebrate everything the LGBT community has to offer.

4. Spa Day

In need of some R&R? Try a customized massage and facial at Bella Donna or a spa package at Sapphire Health.

5. Concerts

Dixie Chicks - June 21 & 22

Ellie Goulding - June 19th

City and Colour - June 17th

Halsey - August 3rd

Kanye West - August 30th & 31st

Just to name a few.

6. Shakespeare in High Park (June 30th - September 4th)

Shakespeare in the Park is the perfect way to spend a sunny afternoon. Billed as an "indispensable summer fixture" by Now Magazine, for its 34th Season in Toronto's High Park, Canadian Stage presents Shakespeare's greatest tragedy Hamlet and bold and brilliant romance All's Well That Ends Well on alternating evenings throughout the summer. Pack a picnic, bring your friends and come enjoy this indispensable outdoor theatre tradition.

7. Patio Drinks

Whether it's martini's at Hey Lucy on a Wednesday evening or Milestones at Yonge and Dundas, grab some friends, find a patio and let the day drinks begin.

8. Second City

An alternative to a night out clubbing, head down to Second City, buy a pitcher and laugh the night away at the best improv & sketch comedy in Town.

9. Toronto Fringe Festival (June 29th - July 10th)

Toronto's annual indie theatre festival always has something to offer. It’s a festival where anyone can put on any show, without having to pass through a jury – where theatre students can mount their first production outside of school, where emerging artists can get their big break, and where established artists can test out new work. It’s a festival where audiences come for the adventure and the community as much as for the plays themselves.

10. Kensington Market

Whether you're thrifting at one of the many vintage shops, or enjoying some Churro Cones at Pancho's Bakery, there's always something to keep you and your friends entertained in Kensington.

11. Free Yoga (June 26th - July 9th)

United Athletics

This new gym located at Dufferin and Bloor has a refreshing community vibe going on. Primarily a boxing studio, a number of times a week this no-frills gym transforms into a chilled out yoga studio.

The classes are free or pay-what-you-can, making it a great place to go for a "cheap and cheerful" yoga fix. Both Yin and Yang practices are available! Check their schedule HERE

Yoga In High Park

Every Sunday morning in Toronto's beautiful High Park, Flow-active hosts a free yoga class. Each week a different studio in Toronto donates their teachers to lead a class under the sunny sky.

The classes start up again in June, so be sure to check back for exact dates. You can find the information HERE.

Karma Teachers

Leading the Free or pay-what-you-can movement, Karma teachers offer loads of classes open to the public.

From Vinyasa to Kundalini, this studio has something for just about everyone. Join the tribe HERE.

Yoga Village

Located on the hip and happenin' Roncesvalles ave, Yoga Village offers a fantastic pay-what-you-choose program. The perfect location to practice before strolling the streets in the summer.

This is not a free class, but rather a class of choice. Pay as little as $5 to ensure you are receiving the best instruction. For a fantastic explanation of how this program works, check out their website HERE.

12. High Tea

Take an afternoon to relax and gossip with your girlfriends over tea and crumpets. The King Edward Hotel, Shangri-La, and Library Bar at Royal York offer the best high tea in town.

13. Cherry Beach

What better way to celebrate summer than Cherry Beach with a bunch of friends? Grab some sunscreen, towels, some speakers and relax the day away. Go on Sundays and follow the sounds of music for a perfect end to a perfect day.

14. Brunch

Brunch is like a religion in Toronto. So this summer, do it right. Grab the squad and hit up Bonjour Brioche, Petit Dejeuner or Old School to cure that hangover.

15. Digital Dreams (July 2nd & 3rd)

Set on the shoreline of Toronto with one of North America’s most iconic skylines in the background, Bud Light Digital Dreams Music Festival and the Flats at Ontario Place offer party goers a sophisticated festival experience, unlike any other in the Canadian music landscape. With artists like Above & Beyond, Armin Van Buuren, Knife Party and more, this year looks to be one of the best yet.

16. Veld (July 30th & 31st)

The fifth annual VELD Music Festival, will heat up the summer music lineup on July 30 and 31st at Downsview Park in Toronto. Featuring artists like The Chainsmokers, Deadmau5, DVBBS, and Flume.

17. Way Home (July 22nd - 24th)

Ontario's very own Bonnaroo. This year's acts include Major Lazer, M83, The Killers, Haim, Metric, Chvrches and Arcade Fire.

18. Caribana (July 28th - 31st)

Formerly Caribana, the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival hits the streets and stages of Toronto this summer for its 46th year, featuring events that celebrate the music, cuisine and arts of the Caribbean region.

This popular event features some of the biggest highlights of the summer including the Caribana Grand Parade, Annual Gala and the tent villages. Known for drawing close to a million spectators in past years, the Caribbean Carnival is the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America.

19. OVO Fest (July 29th - August 1st)

Including Drakes Summer Sixteen Tour with Future, this year's OVO features Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg, Roy Woods & DVSN.

20.Electric Island

This concert & picnic series runs on long weekends all summer long featuring your favourite electronic music artists.

21. Picnic at Trinity Bellwoods

Looking for an easy, relaxing fun way to spend a scorching lazy Sunday? Pack a lunch, bring a blanket, grab some friends and relax at Trinity Bellwoods or Christie Pitts, it's the perfect way to unwind after a crazy weekend.

22. Hanlan's Point

Feeling frisky? If you're not into tan lines or you just enjoy public nudity and gorgeous sandy beaches, head over to Hanlan's Point, Toronto's only clothing optional beach.

23. Summerlicious (July 8th - 24th)

Looking for cute summer date ideas? Or a cheap fancy night out with friends? Summerlicious features affordable dishes at some of Toronto's ritziest restaurants. Perfect for foodies and friends alike.

24. Taste of the Danforth (August 5th - 7th)

Get to Krinos Taste of the Danforth and celebrate the fun flavours of Greece and summer in the city! Every year in August, the city of Toronto flocks to GreekTown on the Danforth. Everyone who comes to the Danforth gets to be Greek for the day. There are a number of exhibitors offering contests, prizes and free samples and, of course, dozens and dozens of tasty food stations from Danforth’s amazing array of multi-ethnic restaurants.

25. BuskerFest (September 2nd- 5th)

The Toronto International BuskerFest for Epilepsy is the largest epilepsy event in the world! The last of the major festivals in the Toronto summer entertainment season, the festival is spontaneous, colourful and bursting with the unexpected. Featuring silent comedy and slapstick, daredevils and magicians, high-skill circus acts and a wide variety of music, clowns, contortionists, acrobats, aerialists, and fire, you're sure to be dazzled.

26. CNE

The end of summer ritual for just about every Torontonian. From August 19th to September 5th, indulge in deep fried concoctions, live shows, fair rides, and exhibitions galore.