June Heats up with Festivals for Yonge Eglinton Residents

June is one of our favourite months in the Yonge Eglinton neighbourhood. Special events abound to bring sun and excitement into life in the city. Don’t allow the talk about G-20 security measures stop you from getting about town and taking in the best that Toronto has to offer. Here’s a sample.


Luminato: Now in its fourth year, Luminato  is a celebration that fills Toronto's stages, streets, and public spaces with arts and creativity. June 11 – 20 you will experience theatre, dance, classical and contemporary music, film, literature, visual arts, design and more. Luminato's hallmarks include free widely accessible events, and "accidental encounters with art." Festival-goers are invited to participate, explore, and celebrate their own creative spirit.

Toronto Jazz Festival: Late June signals not only the start of summer, but also the arrival of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival (www.torontojazz.com ) as it takes over the city for 10 days, June 25 -July 4. Local clubs, restaurants, venues and even a church or two will be playing host, creating a Festival network that includes over 40 participating stages all over the city. Most are within a ten minute subway ride from Yonge and Eglinton. Jazz fans will also want to check out the selection of today’s leading jazz artists at HMV Yonge Eglinton Centre.

Woofstock: When Woofstock  launched in 2003, the Toronto Star called it “the summer of canine love”. What else can you call thousands of dog lovers and their four-footed friends gathering each year for this popular doggie love-in! Watch dog fashion shows, dog-trick contests and Wooftstock's Ugliest Dog Contest. This year the event will take place June 12 – 13 at St Lawrence Market. Admission is free.

The 22nd Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival promises a two-day fun-filled event that brings sports, team spirit and community spirit to Toronto Centre Island on June 19-20, 2010.

The Festival, organized by the Toronto Chinese Business Association and the Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival, expects 180 to 200 teams with 5,000 athletes. Paddlers from all over the world will take part in the ancient Chinese tradition and friendly competition.

Last year, the Festival registered 8 teams of youth with physical and developmental challenges. The Festival also welcomed the cancer survivor teams from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – Ontario Region. After all, it’s not always about winning the cup. The team spirit, the message of hope and inclusiveness prevails throughout this event!

Don’t forget Dad! June 20th is Father's day, and The Source at Yonge Eglinton Centre  has Something for Every Dad -- from GPS, digital cameras, home theatre and cell phones, to Bell TV, HDTV, iPods and gaming, plus batteries to keep everything powered up and ready to go.