Fun is officially back in Toronto! Here are 20 things (many of them free) to put on your summer bucket list

Summer is finally here, and the GTA is hot with places to go, people to see and things to do.

Whether you’re seeking thrills or prefer a more relaxed environment, the Star has put together a list of 20 things to experience this season for every age and budget.

1. Enjoy outdoor theatre

Dream in High Park returns for its 40th anniversary with two productions this summer. From July 6 to 8, the immersive dance experience “Young, Gifted and Jazz” is set to electrify the High Park Amphitheatre with jazz culture and music. Shakespeare’s romantic comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will run from July 21 to Sept. 3. Regular tickets for both shows are $29 and can be purchased online or at the gate beginning two hours before showtime. More info

2. Attend a concert at Budweiser Stage

There’s something magical about hearing live music outdoors. With Budweiser Stage’s diverse lineup, there are concerts for everyone. Feeling some country rock? Zac Brown Band headlines on July 14. Ready to rock out? Fall Out Boy hits the stage July 30. Want some 2000s hip-hop nostalgia? 50 Cent tops a bill with Busta Rhymes and Jeremih on July 31. More info

3. Fete and sweat at the Toronto Caribbean Carnival Grand Parade

Expect to see colourful, feathery costumes, hear Caribbean music and taste delicious food on Aug. 5 as the 56th annual parade takes over a portion of Lake Shore Boulevard West. The celebration runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is free, although there are fees for those who want to catch the parade from the beginning at the Exhibition Place grounds. More info

4. Get animated at Fan Expo Canada

Comics, anime, gaming, film and TV fandom, and cosplay take over the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from Aug. 24 to 27. Whether you’re a superhero or a samurai, there are many events to experience, including celebrity Q&As, workshops and over 400,000 square feet of shopping. Single-day tickets and four-day passes are available at special prices until Aug. 9. More info

5. Watch a film at the Toronto Outdoor Picture Show

This summer TOPS takes you to “Another World,” screening such fantastical flicks as “The Matrix,” “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” and “Jumanji” at Corktown Common, Bell Manor Park or the Christie Pits Film Festival on various dates. All shows begin at sundown and are free. Remember to bring your own chairs and blankets. More info

6. Feel the rhythm at Toronto Zoo

The sound of drums will roar on July 8 and 9 for Zoo Beats, a high energy drumming and comedy show presented by Rhythm Works. The four shows, featuring Broadway performers, will take place in the main courtyard from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are free with zoo admission. Ticket are typically priced between $11.19 and $31.95. More info

7. Visit the Royal Ontario Museum

On July 1, a new exhibition opens at the ROM. Titled “Being and Belonging: Contemporary Women Artists from the Islamic World and Beyond,” it features work by 25 emerging and established artists, touching on themes of identity, power, sexuality and home. Among the other shows currently on view is “T. rex: The Ultimate Predator,” which leaves Sept. 4. Museum admission ranges from $16 to $39. More info

8. Appreciate art at the Artist Mentorship Showcase

This showcase is the product of a 12-month mentorship program led by acclaimed curator and creative director Ashley McKenzie-Barnes. Each project, created by local emerging and mid-career artists who identify as Black, Indigenous and people of colour, highlights the perspectives and experiences of the LGBTQ community. All events are free and take place on different dates across 10 historic museum sites throughout Toronto, such as Diana Contreras Cabanas’s “Pride Calavera” at Colborne Lodge. More info

9. Go under the big top at the Royal Canadian International Circus

Clowns, high-flying acrobats, contortionists and death-defying tricks are all coming with the Royal Canadian International Circus. The travelling show will appear in several cities across the GTA until Aug. 27, including Scarborough in Toronto, Brampton and Pickering. Tickets range from $35 to $60. More info

10. Observe thought-provoking imagery at the 15th annual Doc Now Festival

This documentary festival, which runs until Aug. 5, showcases innovative work from students in Toronto Metropolitan University’s Master of Fine Arts in Documentary Media program. Through film, photography, installation and new media, these international storytellers touch on a range of personal, political and timely topics, such as Katrin Faridani’s “Interconnected,” a visual exploration of Toronto’s stormwater system and its effects on our drinking water and Lake Ontario. Admission is free. More info

11. Put on your thinking caps for Drag Trivia at Cafe Paradise

Wednesday evenings at Cafe Paradise on Bloor West means Drag Trivia, hosted by drag queen Weird Alice. Enjoy comfort foods like grilled cheese sandwiches or burgers and fries while racing to answer questions about pop culture’s best and brightest celebs, TV, movies, music and so much more. It’s free to participate, but Cafe Paradise recommends reserving a table. More info

12. Get creative at Eglinton West in Poetry

Every Wednesday until Sept. 6, young people will learn elements of poetry to help write, edit and perform self-made works about the Little Jamaica community, culminating in a public performance and their poetry being published in an anthology. The program is free; registration is required. More info

13. Enjoy a Storybook Orchard Walk

Every Friday until Sept. 24, visitors can walk throughout the historic apple orchards at the Spadina Museum for free while reading panels featuring poetry accompanied by illustrations from Métis artist Leah Dorian’s book “Poems to Honour Mother Earth.” More info

14. Feel electrified at a music festival

It’s music festival season across the GTA, with sounds for nearly every music taste. Veld celebrates its 10th anniversary as Canada’s largest electronic dance music festival from Aug. 4 to 6 at Downsview Park and features superstars like Zedd and Tiësto. Manifesto, on Aug. 11, showcases 14 artists across two stages at RBC Echo Beach; rappers Aminé and Saukrates headline. Boots and Hearts Music Festival will return to Burl’s Creek Event Grounds Aug. 10 to 13, where you can see country legends Tim McGraw and Keith Urban. More info

15. Take a load off at TD Union Summer

Live entertainment awaits outside Union Station. Until Aug. 27, visitors can expect movie nights as well as local talent singing everything from salsa to Motown. There will also be rotating food vendors offering delicious food, such as authentic Cuban cuisine from Tropical South and street-style sandwiches from Tut’s Egyptian Street Food. More info

16. Roam through the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair

From July 7 to 9, Nathan Phillips Square will be transformed into a gallery. The free public event will showcase 2D and 3D artwork, photography, paintings and more on display and for sale. The weekend will also feature guided tours, kids’ programming and live painting demonstrations. More info

17. Immerse yourself in a new culture at a street festival

Take a trip around the world without having to board a plane at a street festival offering a range of multicultural food, music and activities. Put your dancing shoes on for Salsa on St. Clair from July 8 to 9, where you can fiesta to the sounds of Latin artists and indulge in favourites like pupusas and tamales. At Taste of the Middle East, at Nathan Phillips Square from July 14 to 16, there’ll be music, delicacies like baba ghanoush and baklawa, and shopping-till-you-drop at the bazaar. Greektown’s Taste of the Danforth returns from Aug. 11 to 13, offering dozens of free activities and a wide variety of delicious street foods, like souvlaki and gyros. More info

18. See a show at the Fringe Festival

The 35th Toronto Fringe Festival will take over venues across the city from July 5 to July 16. With 100 dance, storytelling, drama and comedy performances — even a kids’ fest — there’s an endless variety for all ages to enjoy, including “Caezus,” a 45-minute hip-hop adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” and “All of Our Parents Are Asian,” a 75-minute improv show about the joys and challenges of growing up in an Asian household. Ticket prices for kids’ shows are $6, teens are $9 and adult tickets vary. More info

19. Ex-plore the CNE

Get ready for another two weeks of carnival rides and wacky food as the Canadian National Exhibition returns to Exhibition Place from Aug. 18 to Sept. 4. Fan favourite attractions like the Canadian International Air Show, Outdoor Marketplace and the CNE Farm, featuring more than 100 animals, will return with many more sights to see. Advance tickets and ride-all-day passes are available now, starting at $20. More info

20. Smell the roses at Royal Botanical Gardens

Get in tune with nature all summer long, with loads of blooming events to satisfy your inner green thumb. Royal Botanical Gardens offers gardening workshops for all ages and 27 kilometres of trails to explore. Special summer events include music performances, a nighttime rock garden stroll, Shakespeare in the Garden and a movie night. More info

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