June 17 through September 5, 2005
Multiple venues at 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto
Info: 416-973-4000 or www.harbourfrontcentre.com
Every summer weekend, Harbourfront Centre presents top Canadian and International artists in music, dance, theatre, film, food, readings, visual arts and family activities at multiple venues, including the CIBC Stage. All events are free admission.
Audiences will experience the rich cultural diversity of each weekend's unique theme (see below) while enjoying a multitude of shopping and eating options at the International Marketplace and at The World Café nestled alongside a new waterfront boardwalk and new finger piers. Harbourfront Centre also features a wide array of weekday events and activities for all ages!
Artist details and additional events TBA.
Harbourfront Centre Summer Festivals 2005
include:
* All festivals are free admission *
Barbados on the Water (June 17 to
June 19)
Canada's largest celebration of Barbados and Barbadian culture is
presented by Harbourfront Centre in partnership with the Barbados
Tourism Authority, the Consulate General of Barbados and the National
Cultural Foundation of Barbados.
ALOUD: a Celebration for Young Readers (June
24 to June 26)
A new festival featuring three fun-filled days of readings and family
book-centered activities.
Labatt Blue Canada Day Extravaganza!
(July
1)
Celebrating Canada Day by paying
tribute to carnivals and festivals "Canadian Style" with
an extravagance of Canadian talent, floating venues, an opening parade,
children's carnival activities, Miss Canadiana and the Busker Canadiana
Idol Contest!
Extravaganza! A Feast for the
Senses
(July 1 to July 3)
Mardi Gras to Carnivale - this new festival embraces the energy
and spontaneity of the world's beloved festivals.
Beats, Breaks & Culture: Toronto Electronic Music Festival
(July 8 to July 10 - presented by NOW
magazine)
Exploring Electronic music and culture, as well as
its expanding influence in contemporary society.
All Over The Map: A Feast of Global Sounds
(July 15 to July 17)
This new festival reveals eclectic World
music and
culture while examining how geography influences its creation.
Dim Sum: Sampling Contemporary Chinese
Culture (July 22 to July 24)
Traditional and current Chinese culture has
changed the way
we see the world. Find out how East meets
West!
Stella Artois Hot & Spicy Food Festival:
The Island
Soul Edition (July 29 to August 1)
Caribbean vibes,
celebrity chefs, hot and cold delicacies and the famous Red Hot
Market.
Masala! Mhendi! Masti! - An Explosive
South
Asian Arts
Festival (August 4 to August 7)
Emerging and established South Asian performers showcase hot new
innovations and traditional
culture.
T.O. Twang: All Things Alt Country (August 12 to
August 13 - presented by NOW Magazine)
This new festival turns Rockabilly, Bluegrass, Country Rock
and more into Toronto=s only Alt-Country festival.
East Coast Rhythms:
An Exploration of Atlantic Canada's Culture
(August 19
to August 21)
This new festival explores and celebrates East
Coast culture .
Kick Up Your Heels: Your Chance to Dance!
(August 26 to
August
28)
This dance festival presents some of the most exciting and innovative
dance and music groups from Canada and beyond!
Ukrainian Zabava (September 2 to
September 5)
This new festival explores folkloric and contemporary Ukrainian
Canadian culture and Ukrainian culture worldwide!
Weekly free admission events at
Harbourfront
Centre this summer include:
Moviegoers of all ages can enjoy outdoor evenings of specially selected films by the lake.
Summer Music in the Garden concerts (every Thursday at 7 pm. and most Sunday's at 4 p.m. - June 23 to September 18)
The Toronto Music Garden is a City of Toronto park, located on the waterfront at 475 Queens Quay West, between Bathurst Street and Spadina Avenue. The Summer Music in the Garden series regales audiences with classical music from western and non-western traditions, along with new music and dance. Free Toronto Music Garden walking tours occur Wednesday's at 11 a.m. and Thursday's at 5:30 p.m. Self-guided audio tours are also available ($5 rental fee). This programme is presented by Harbourfront Centre in partnership with the City of Toronto's Department of Parks and Recreation.
Harbourfront Centre Visual Arts (open daily, some spaces closed Monday)
A vibrant variety of Canadian and International visual arts and crafts at six indoor exhibition spaces in York Quay Centre.
Artists Gardens (viewable daily beginning July, 2005)
This programme features more than 20 diverse gardens across the Harbourfront Centre site. Landscape architects, designers, craftspeople, performing artists and visual artists have all created living installations since the gardens began in 1990.
Daily ticketed activities at Harbourfront Centre this summer include:
The Power Plant (June 25 to September 5, $4 admission/$2 students and seniors)
Canada’s leading non-collecting contemporary art gallery hosts the North American premiere of a major touring exhibition featuring the work of American artist Glenn Ligon. This important exhibition surveys the breadth of Ligon’s oeuvre, including painting, sculpture, prints, video and installation work. The exhibition then travels to the U.S. and Europe through 2007.
Tours and Charter Boats (May through October, various prices / call for info)
Harbourfront Centre hosts many unique harbour tour and charter boats that provide informative hour-long trips around the Inner Harbour, musical or romantic dinner-dance cruises, corporate receptions and private parties.
Special free admission events at
Harbourfront
Centre this summer include:
Francofête (June 24 - CIBC
Stage)
A celebration of Québec’s official national holiday with a
special evening
concert featuring dance and music.
Altamira Summer Opera Concerts (August 30 to
September 1 - CIBC Stage)
The Canadian Opera Company Orchestra presents three free
evenings of arias and overtures.
Media Contact: Shane Gerard, 416-973-4655 or sgerard@harbourfrontcentre.com