When the summer weather hits, it’s easy to get excited about all the potential the next few months away from school hold. With everything from music festivals to trips to the cottage, there’s never a shortage of fun things to do during the summer break. But when you’re trying to save for the coming school year and are already on a student budget, some of these activities can feel a little out of reach and leave you wondering what you can *actually* do this summer. Lucky for you, Toronto has a ton of exciting cheap (and free!) events happening throughout the warmer season so you can have fun while saving some of that coin. Read on for our picks of most exciting events on a student budget this summer!
Get inspired at the AGO – Free (25 & under)
You might have visited the Art Gallery of Ontario on a field-trip or with your family, but now that they’ve made tickets free for anyone 25 years old and younger, it’s time for another visit! There are tons of exhibits to stroll through, and this weekend the infamous Infinity Mirrored Room will be back – for good. If you missed it as a limited time exhibit before, nows your chance to get that infinity mirror selfie for free!
Catch a movie under the stars – Free
Grab a blanket, some snacks, and a friend, and watch some of this year’s most popular movies outside! You can catch movies at Christie Pits Film Festival and at Union Station’s festival, Union Summer, from June to August, all for free! The theme for Christie Pits’ movies this year is Dynamic Duos, featuring films with a focus on friendship and partnership, and at Union Summer you can catch Oscar winners like A Star is Born and Bohemian Rhapsody. Get there early to get a good spot – and you might even get free popcorn!
Test your knowledge at trivia – $2
Know a little about a lot? Put your fun facts to the test with trivia nights on Wednesdays at
The Drake Hotel! The topic changes every week, and it’s known to be one of the more challenging trivia nights in the city, so do your research! If you want something a little more casual, check out the Junction Craft Trivia nights where it’s pay-what-you-can. They both fill up fast, so grab your team and get a spot when the doors open!
Hunt for a good find at the vintage crawl – Free (+ any purchases)
There’s nothing more satisfying than the thrill of the find. The Vintage Crawl Toronto is back this year on June 13th for you to discover new shops and make a night of it! Participating vintage stores are open late, have special sales, and some even have drinks and live music! The crawl itself is free to attend, so it’s up to you how much you spend on shopping. Might as well take advantage of the sales and find a new vintage treasure!
Discover a new country at Harbourfront’s cultural festivals – Free
Wishing you were globe-trotting this summer? Harbourfront Centre has the next best thing. Weekends at the end of July and throughout August feature a new country and culture in the form of food, music, and art at this outdoor space by the lake. Check out the free concerts, wander through the artisan markets, and take a look at the art exhibits inside, before grabbing a bite to eat from the many vendors showcasing the flavours of their country. Some of the countries on the calendar this year include Iran, Barbados and Vietnam, so you can explore cultures from all over the world.
Stretch it out at lake-front yoga – Free
If you want to get active with a great view, check out weekend yoga at Ontario Place! Every Saturday and Sunday morning from June to September you can join in on a free yoga class at Trillium Park overlooking the lake, for absolutely free! They also host monthly sunset yoga, so make sure to check back on their site for dates. All you need to bring to their classes is your mat and a water bottle, and you can get zen on a budget!
Catch some unique performers at Buskerfest – $5
Buskerfest is an annual event happening at Woodbine Beach in the East end – but for the price and the entertainment, it’s worth the trek. Here you can see everything from comedians to fire jugglers, for only a suggested donation of $5! All proceeds from admission go towards Epilepsy Toronto, and anything you pay the performers goes right into their pockets to support their act. This year Buskerfest is also hosting the Mac N Cheese Festival, where you can grab a bite of your favourite comfort food from Toronto’s top chefs – including our Soupbar’s very own Chef Jagger Gordon!