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Toronto's Yonge-Dundas Square bubbles over with people dancing to contemporary and traditional live music as desiFEST celebrates South Asian music and culture every year. Join the 12-hour whirlwind of professional stage dancers, lip-smacking South Asian food and infectious rhythms.  

The Inside Out Toronto Lesbian and Gay Film and Video Festival features screenings throughout the city. Inside Out aims to show the full diversity of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual film and video and presents awards in different categories.

Let neighbouring New York get all the fashionistas' attention and head to The Clothing Show at Toronto's Exhibition Place instead for some truly unique fashion. Held twice yearly, the fair features over 300 independent designers, retailers and artisans from across Ontario.

Over 200 venues take part in Contact - Toronto Photography Festival throughout the month of May every year. There are high-profile public installations and exhibitions in commercial and public galleries, artist-run centres and public spaces. Look out for emerging talent.

The Roy Thomson Hall stages the Toronto branch of the annual lecture series for women, Unique Lives & Experiences. Hear inspirational messages from top figures in politics, media and the arts, who have previously included Sir Sidney Poitier and Laura Bush.

Soak up stories, colours and sounds from far-flung pockets across the globe at the immensely popular Worldwide Short Film Festival every year. Toronto's cinemas are packed with film fans watching shorts in a range of programmes from over 30 countries.    

Calling all pooches and their owners, Toronto's Woofstock in St Lawrence Market is one hell of a dog party. Watch dog fashion shows, dog-trick contests and Wooftstock's Ugliest Dog Contest. There are stalls selling canine products and on-site doggie daycare.

One of the biggest bands in the world, British quintet Radiohead tour on the back of latest album, The King of Limbs. This date is at Toronto's Downsview Park. Tickets are sure to sell out fast.

Toronto's stages, streets and public spaces are lit up with diverse theatre, dance, music, film and fashion at the yearly Luminato Festival. Catch night-time circus outdoors or whisk yourself off to a splendid opera. There are different themes every year.

Up to 200 international teams skilfully race their dragon boats at the annual Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival. The race celebrates the sacrifice of the Chinese poet and philosopher, Qu Yuan. Traditional Chinese performances and concerts surround the race.

Toronto's gay, lesbian, transsexual and queer community turn out in style for Toronto Pride in an atmosphere of tolerance and freedom. Around a million people descend on the lakeside city for fantastic parties and awareness events culminating in the Pride Parade.

The Toronto Jazz Festival attracts a worthy array of star performers each year. The 1000-seater main stage marquee erected in Metro Square hosts the big names. There are other shows, free lunchtime performances, afterwork concerts and workshops across Toronto.

Toronto's colourful Corso Italia neighbourhood comes alive every year during the Corso Italia Festival. Live bands perform classical, salsa and other music on street corners and balconies. Eat Italian food, watch street performers and splash out in the 'sidewalk sale'.

International world-class drivers rev their engines at Toronto's Exhibition Place in preparation for the Honda Indy Toronto every July. There are practice, warm-up and qualifying sessions and a number of thrilling and ear-splitting races to watch.

Celebrate Mother Earth and all things organic at the annual Live Green Toronto Festival. Held on and around Yonge-Dundas Square, there is food, music, family activities and green products and services to encourage a more sustainable lifestyle.

Audiences of over 50,000 people put the Toronto Fringe Festival firmly onto the North American fringe circuit map. Drama, comedy, stand-up, dance, improvisation and musical performances by theatre companies from Ontario, Canada and beyond take place across Toronto.

Coldplay are on tour to support latest album,Mylo Xyloto. This date brings them to the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. Fans can look forward to classic Coldplay songs as well as new treats.

Tapping into an increasingly popular revival, Toronto's Burlesque Festival brings this cheeky art to the venues across the city. Shows feature top-notch performers from Canada and abroad and there's even a Burlesque University to perfect your nipple tassel rotation.

The Virgin Festival takes place in the green surroundings of Toronto Island Park and features a line-up topped by international artists. Nine Inch Nails, Franz Ferdinand, the Pet Shop Boys and Paolo Nutini have graced the stage in previous years.

Chill out to the beat of reggae and music from the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa in Toronto's Queen's Park, Nathan Phillips Square and Yonge Dundas Square each summer. The Irie Music Festival also has dance, art and spoken word.

Toronto explodes into a party of multi-coloured carnival costumes, contagious steel-drum beats and shimmying street parades at the annual Caribana. This feast of music and culture celebrates Caribbean-Canadian heritage, with the Caribana Parade carrying pounding soca rhythms down Lakeshore Boulevard.

Florence and the Machine takes her soulful indie rock on the road once again in support of the latest album, Ceremonials. This tour date is at Toronto's Molson Amphitheater and tickets are sure to sell out fast.

Toronto's Greek community closes off its streets as foodies pour into the district. The annual Taste of the Danforth trumpets Mediterranean gastronomy, music and entertainment. Restaurants, cafes and bars offer typical and delicious dishes for a few dollars on Danforth Avenue.

Toronto's Rexall Centre hosts the Canadian leg of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament, the Rogers Cup. The world's tennis elite vie to be world number one in this high-ranking annual competition, which first began back in 1881.

Producers of Canada's largest leather events, Toronto Leather Pride host four days of fetish-related fun. Toronto's hottest leathermen strut their stuff in front of a panel of judges and there are cocktail parties, a Leather Mart, S&M seminars and more.

With piercing, flogging and bed-of-nails demonstrations on one stage and burlesque performers, drag queens, and live music on others, Church Wellesley Village's annual Church Street Fetish Fair in Toronto is riotous fun. Join in celebrating freedom of expression and sexuality.

Nathan Phillips Square and Downtown Toronto falls under Africa's enchanting spell at the annual Toronto African Dance Festival. Let loose and join in with workshops, live music and dance shows. The African Safari Marketplace has tasty food and handicrafts.

Toronto's St Lawrence Market comes alive during its annual Buskerfest. The vibrant event is Ontario's largest street performers' festival and features comedians, magicians, acrobats, mime artists and more, from home and abroad. There is also a special area for kids.

A huge variety of fairground attractions and activities entertain the whole family at the Canadian National Exhibition. Check out the horse shows, tempt fate at the casino, or get close to nature at the petting zoo inside Toronto's Exhibition Place.

The undisputed queen of pop and worldwide superstar Madonna continues her extensive world tour. This date is at Toronto's Air Canada Centre. Expect to hear songs from her latest album, MDNA, and to be wowed by the sheer spectacle of the show.

Toronto International Film Festival ranks alongside Cannes and other top film festivals. Film buffs explore contemporary world cinema, Canadian cinema by film-makers making their festival debut and unusual picks in Midnight Madness. Catch hundreds of screenings at cinemas across Toronto.

On the last Sunday in September, Toronto's Queen's Park is transformed into a booklover's paradise at The Word on the Street annual literary festival. There are book stalls, magazine and literacy exhibits, readings by reputed authors and workshops for aspiring ones.

Let neighbouring New York get all the fashionistas' attention and head to The Clothing Show at Toronto's Exhibition Place instead for some truly unique fashion. Held twice yearly, the fair features over 300 independent designers, retailers and artisans from across Ontario.

The world's most famous circus troupe, Cirque du Soleil, brings its new show Amaluna to the Grand Chapiteua at the Port Lands, Toronto. Inhabiting a magical world of illusion, the multinational cast has once again made circus a magnet for the masses. 

There's no time to sleep during Toronto's Nuit Blanche. More than 150 venues, from bridges to warehouses, tunnels to stadiums are transformed by means of installations, temporary art or performances. Regular museums and galleries stay open all night.

The Toronto Bluejays Major League Baseball team play regularly at the Rogers Centre every year from April to October. Grab a soda and a hotdog and watch them compete in the tough American League East.

Kids aged 5 to 12 years old are encouraged to explore a 'Big Idea' through music, theatre, workshops and hands-on activities at HarbourKIDS, an annual weekend at Toronto's Harbourfront Centre. There is story-telling, races and more free events.

The annual Mahautsav Festival, known as Diwali, lights up Toronto's Rogers Centre with fireworks, live Indian music, a bazaar and food stalls serving exotic Indian treats. Get ready for 30 hours of non-stop Bhangra and Dandiya music and dance.

The Toronto Waterfront Marathon starts and finishes at City Hall, where participants are seen off by the mayor himself. Runners and power-walkers skirt the lakeshore, encouraged by cheerleaders and supporters. There's also a half marathon and a 5km course.

New York or Paris it ain't, but Toronto Fashion Week deserves a visit for a glimpse into the next season's collections that fashionistas eagerly snap up. It is held twice a year at Heritage Court, Exhibition Place.

Held at venues across Toronto, the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival presents works by indigenous artists and directors in video, radio, new media and film. The festival illustrates the vitality of indigenous communities through panel discussions, installations and performances.

Established in 2006 by the Armenian community of Toronto, the Pomegranate Film Festival showcases films directed by Armenian filmmakers or others with ties to the country. Head to the Armenian Youth Centre for screenings of thrilling independent films.

The International Festival of Authors invites many of the world's best writers to Toronto's Harbourfront Centre. Novelists, poets, biographers and playwrights read from their latest works, participate in onstage interviews, give lectures, autograph books and mingle with visitors.

Around 50 top booksellers from all corners of the globe gather at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre at the annual Toronto International Antiquarian Book Fair. Spend the weekend shuffling through and snapping up rare finds to read.

The International Home and Garden Show at Toronto's International Centre provides visitors with a wealth of inspiration for all aspects of home and garden improvements. Browse options for patios, pools and spas, kitchens and bathrooms.

Toronto International Art Fair welcomes high-flying artists and nurtures young talent at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. More than 100 galleries exhibit their work, while the young galleries showcasing emerging national and international artists sell artwork at under the C$5000 mark.

Embark on a wicked week of fun at Halloween on Church Street, the heart of Toronto's Queer Village. A devilicious culinary restaurant tour, carved pumpkin contest, ghoulish block party and plenty of children's activities make up the annual LGBTQ celebrations.

Know your single malt from your blended and your Scotch from your Irish during Whisky Live at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Visitors can attend masterclasses or learn how to pair the mighty tipple with food. Experts and distillers also attend.

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair at Toronto's Direct Energy Centre showcases the finest in agricultural products, from sheep to home-made jam. There are vegetable and cheese competitions, livestock classes and a rodeo. The Royal Horse Show selects international show-jumping competitors.

Competition is stiff at the annual Rock Paper Scissors World Championships at Toronto's Steam Whistle Brewing. Referees in striped shirts direct the game we all know and played as kids, as an inebriated crowd howl their support for their favourite contestants.