20 Things You Should Do In Toronto This Summer

The beautiful weather has finally dawned upon us. Here are 20 fun things you should try out this summer. Written by Jessica Lam on behalf of RU Student Life.

Written by Jessica Lam on behalf of RU Student Life

After weeks and weeks of horrible rain and gloomy weather, warm weather has sprouted at last! As of last weekend, it is officially summer, and we can finally enjoy the sun. Or at least enjoy doing fun things with that summery vibe. Of course there are tons of awesome things to do in the summer, but here are the top 20 that made it to our list.

1. Canada Day Fireworks

Canada Day, already? Whaaaat? If you haven’t done anything superbly interesting since your last exam in April, here’s your chance. Take a visit to Richmond Green, Canada’s Wonderland, or Woodbine Beach to watch some fireworks for free. Or, you can purchase fireworks and light them (in a safe place) with your friends.

2. Visit Canada's Wonderland

Sledge Hammer and Behemoth are my personal favourites. If you're feeling brave enough, give the Xtreme Skyflyer a try. Not a ride warrior? Don't you worry. Check out the Dinosaurs Alive! park (which is totally worth the $5, by the way) or grab yourself a red velvet funnel cake (because everyone loves red velvet.)

3. See A Drive-In Movie

Looking for a cute place to go on a date with your bae? Or just looking for a unique place to hang out with your BFFs? Take a drive down to the Polson Pier and check out the drive-in theatre. Just remember not to drain your car battery.

4. Go To A Blue Jays Game

Not a baseball fan? Doesn't mean you can't go to a game and cheer on your home team! Don't forget to take some selfies with your friends in your Jays merch. Let's go Blue Jays!

5. Take A Nature Walk

May showers bring June flowers! We had an unusually long winter, but warm weather is here at last. Take advantage of the beautiful weather and pay a visit to mother nature! There may not be many places in the city, but you can always venture out to the Scarborough Bluffs, various lakes, or even your local park. Maybe you can take nice enough photos to post on Instagram.

6. Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition

Are you a lover of contemporary art and a regular Nuit Blanche attendee? Since Nuit Blanche isn't until the fall, why not check out the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition? From July 4th to the 6th at Nathan Phillips Square, hundreds of artists will be showcasing their artwork for you to enjoy. Don't stress yourself out too much trying to understand the meaning behind everything.

7. Summerlicious

Sick of being indecisive when it comes to deciding on what to eat? Try something new at Summerlicious. The discounted prices are a pretty sweet deal – perfect for discovering new restaurants and not spending your entire paycheck on one meal. It runs from July 4th to the 20th, so be sure to book your reservations before they're all full!

8. Night It Up!

Do you have what it takes to win street festival games? Do you enjoy Asian food? Want to try a variety of different foods? Night It Up! is an outdoor night market in Markham, and it runs from July 11th to the 13th. Warning, though: heavy stench of stinky tofu. If you can handle the smell, I praise you.

9. Try A New Restaurant

Being a foodie myself, I always love trying new restaurants and ethnic foods. Go out of your food zone and try new things! You can dine in the dark at O.Noir, experience the amazingly friendly environment of Guu Izakaya, or even enjoy some juicy fresh oysters at Diana's Seafood.

10. Start A New TV Show

Sometimes, there are days you just want to laze around at home. If all you're planning on doing is sleeping the entire time, you might as well be somewhat productive and binge watch a new show instead (Orange is the New Black, yeeeesssss.) At least you'll have something to talk about with your fellow classmates in September. And maybe you'll learn a few new funny insults.

11. Get Patio Drinks

Woohoo, nice, cold cocktails on the patio... Need I say more? There are numerous stunning patios around the city you can check out. For those of you who have yet to turn 19, this one is unfortunately not for you – but don't worry, there's always next summer... or pop and juice.

12. Indie Fridays

July through August, every Friday, Dundas Square. Discover new bands and enjoy the free concerts.

13. Caribana

As you probably already know, Caribana is a huge Caribbean street festival. This year it's running from July 31st to August 3rd. Filled with dancing, music, food, and colourful costumes, you won't wanna miss out. You can even try dancing as well as all the fabulous dancers, but you might end up looking like this.

14. Take A Road Trip

Compile a summer playlist, gather a few friends, and take a road trip somewhere!

15. Taste of Danforth

From August 8th to the 10th, check out Taste of Danforth in Greektown! There are entertainment shows AND yummy food, so you can watch and eat at the same time.

16. Attend A Car Racing Event

Love cars? Want to see a Fast and Furious-esque event in action? Canadian Sport Compact Series hosts the biggest racing events in Canada, two of which are this summer. Grab a few friends and take a road trip to Cayuga on July 20th or Bowmanville on August 10th – tickets are only $20 each.

17. Attend A Music Festival

Music festivals are possibly the best summer events to attend. Whether you're into EDM, rap, rock, or any other type of music, there are tons of music festivals and concerts happening this summer. Veld, OVO Fest, Osheaga, and Warped Tour are just a few of them.

18. Go To Fan Expo

For all you Walking Dead fans, Michonne, Maggie, Merle, and The Governor are attending this year. For those of us who appreciate beautiful men, Ian Somerhalder is also going to be there. There are tons of other cool guests as well. And yes, you do have to pay a fee to get autographs or photos from the celebrity guests, so it won't be an easy task deciding who you love the most. It runs from August 28th to 31st, so be sure to grab your tickets!

19. Go To the Beach

What better way to spend a gorgeous, sunny day than on the beach? If you're willing to travel a bit, take the trip to Wasaga. If you're feelin' more local, head to Woodbine Beach. If you're not a fan of bees, refrain from bringing food with you. Guys, if you're going in the water, remember not to leave your phone in your trunks, otherwise you might not have a very pleasant outcome...

20. Visit Ripley's Aquarium

If you haven't done so yet, pay a visit Ripley's Aquarium. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need to have a boyfriend/girlfriend to visit. It'll be a fun experience whoever you're with. Also, a trip to the aquarium isn't a trip if you don't Instagram a photo of the jellyfish!