Every Friday is something different – drag performances, cabarets, strip spelling bees and everything in between. On Saturdays the DJs at Tallulah’s spin your favourite top 40, house, pop and hip hop. All proceeds from the bar go directly to the theatre, which makes a night at Buddies the most fun you’ve ever had supporting the arts.
Weekly Fridays 7pm-8pm at Steps Dance Studio, 1 Gloucester St, 2nd floor, SE corner Yonge/Gloucester. Role neutral Salsa classes; great for higher level students who want to learn opposite roles. Everyone rotates partners throughout the class. Classes LGBTQ+ friendly --each student decides if they want to learn to lead or to follow. info@stepsdancestudio.com
First or second Saturdays, 10pm-5am. Toronto's hottest dance party w/ DJ NOKU on the dance floor + refreshment tables stocked with all your favourite treats, so you can really pig out in every way possible. The dress code is simple, get into WHATEVER makes you feel sexy and comfortable. EVERYONE with positive energy is welcome! Club 120 has closed permanently.
Every 4th Saturday night, 1-6pm at Steamworks, with DJ Danny White, music, food and hot hunky men ~ The Official Bathhouse of the Men of Toronto Leather Pride. Next: October 24th. See more events such as Thursday Lights Out, Sunday Spin Cycle, CumUnion (2nd Mon + 4th Fri), and First Fridays D.I.L.F. at their website. Sreamworks is closed for the duration of the emergency.
SWEETASS SATURDAY NIGHT AT Woody’s/Sailor Toronto, Sofonda Cox and Mahogany J Browne with the Squirt.org Men’s ASS Contest with $300 cash prizes, DJ Chris Steinbach and Toronto’s hottest staff.
Saturday mornings 10-11:30am + Tuesday & Thursday evenings 8-9:30pm at Awaken Studio. Join a group of whole hearted men gathering to share asana-focused yoga practice while naked to focus on gentle/ safe exploration through posture and alignment-based practice. All 19+ men are welcome to this quiet, warm and private space. See details:
Second Thursdays each month, 10pm-2am. The Black Eagle welcomes leather folk, rubber lovers and kinksters of all stripes No cover. All 19+ welcome. Fetish gear highly encouraged but not mandatory. Black Eagle’s patio is open daily 2-10pm with social-distancing guidelines.
Third Thursdays each month, 10pm. No cover. Black Eagle’s well established Naked Night continues to draw out fresh faces each month. A diverse group of men mix, mingle and get to know each other in the buff. Clothes check: $2 Separate Area for clothed folks. Black Eagle’s patio is open daily 2-10pm with social-distancing guidelines.
Fridays, 8pm. TNTMEN Members can present their Membership Card at check-in and receive a FREE 8 hour locker between 8pm and 4am to enjoy this Spa Excess event. Some blackout dates apply, such as Pride Weekend and some Holidays. Check with Spa Excess for details. There is no discount on rooms for members on weekends.
Sundays 11am. DRAG BRUNCH! Delirious performances from Erin Brockobić and her rotating cast of drag guest stars ensure you spend your Sundays with good company, great food, and amid a vibrant, welcoming community in a queer, accessible, and affirming space!
To return in 2021: A Curated Flea Market in Toronto Selling Vintage and Handcrafted Goods at Stackt Market, 28 Bathurst St. An awesome mix of items at over 30 vendors selling the BEST Vintage and Handcrafted goods. PLUS! Brewery, shops and restaurants.
Ongoing through December 23, 2020 at Royal George Theatre. Ebenezer Scrooge is back! Nestled in the heart of the ultimate Christmas village, the charming holiday favourite A Christmas Carol returns to the Shaw Festival’s Royal George Theatre. It’s the perfect annual reminder of what Christmas is all about. The rest of the 2020 Season was annulled. See details and updates:
December 11, 2020, 9pm. Hybrid stage workshop/ documentary TV series follows 8 drag artists in an intensive 10-day workshop to build their own show. Guest coaches join Tracey Erin Smith to explore required techniques, talents and skills. Cast includes: Cyril Cinder, Lady Kunterpunt, Juwanna Dewitt, Spectra Vaganza, Rose Dior, Dank Sinatra, Sasha Me, and Ocean Giovanni.
December 12, 2020, 7pm, Zoom. Fantasy adventure/ coming of age tale/ romance between two very different young men. Gay, Asian/Scandinavian Canadian high schooler Crispin Haugen has a complicated identity. Told he carries dragon blood in his veins, and outed at school, he runs away to visit the world of his dragon heritage.
December 12, 2020, 7pm. Christmas as calamity virtual vaudeville cabaret music, film, burlesque, and random acts of fabulousness. The most subversive/ cathartic event of the season reimagines songs you love and holidays you hate. With more to the holidays than rampant capitalism, creativity and imagination are their own spirituality. A livestream event, followed by livestream afterparty.
December 13, 2020, 8:30pm. Post L word Generation Q viewings, we tried a good bad movie screening for an absolute blast! Gathering in pyjamas for comedy and twister, we adapted to a virtual format, joined by Sapphics and friends from across the globe. So celebrate with us as we reminisce on the good, the bad, and the straight up bizarre. Dress up for the queer prom you maybe never had!
December 20-31, 2020. SUN 1pm SEX and the PURSUIT OF QUEER VALIDATION. MON 8;30pm Reading: SMUT PEDDLERS. TUE Panel: INSTABILITY, INSECURITY, INSANITY. WED Reading: WHAT IS? EVENING OF MEMOIR + NONFICTION. SAT 3pm DANNY RAMADAN IN-CONVERSATION. SUN 3:30pm Panel: QUEER PASTS, QUEER FUTURES; 7pm Reading: SALVE+BALM. TUE 7pm Panel: BEHIND THE MUSIC; 8:30pm Reading: RACIALIZED IS A VERB.
December 21, 2020, 8:30pm. The longest night. Perfect time to celebrate smut peddlin'! Whipped into shape by Kel Hardy, MJ Lyons and Tianna, we met in person only twice, but dream of getting intimate together again. Producer/ reader Kel Hardy + hosts Tianna and MJ, and Smut Peddlers mainstays Kel Hardy, Seán Carson Kinsella, laura q, Taylah, and Ursh celebrate a year together.
December 26, 2020, 1-4pm. See the webstore ahead of time - because if there is a long line, you will have only 5 minutes max to make your choices and haggle. For 5-7pm online shopping, once the price has been agreed on, you will be sent a email explaining how to pay for these purchases with your unique price. Sale only applies to what is in stock, not special orders.
December 27, 2020, 8:30pm on Zoom. A hot night of Latinx dance and words w/ Agave Lamour + Jojo Soul, Augusto Bitter, Black Mamba, El Toro, Castro, Creme Brulée Rangel, Gay Jesus, Georgia Cuttie Pie, Lolita Blanca, Miami Minx, Monica Garrido, and Salty Margarita. Password: 1970 - FREE!
December 30-31, 2020 on Zoom. WED 5:30pm, Workshop: PERFORMING ONLINE: How to feel less naked (unless you want to) w/ Johnny D Trinh. THU 7pm, Reading: BLAZING FEMMES An Evening That Will Flame and Burn - w/ Alex Cafarelli, Jennifer Aja Fernandes, Kirthan Aujlay, Lauren Strapagiel, and Sica Siccone.
January 1 - December 31, 2021. Loud, Proud, and Online 24/7/365 with incredible artists, makers, small businesses, and community organizations! Shop local/ support the community from home! LGBTQ2SIA+ Makers, Artists, Entrepreneurs, and Service Providers from across Canada and beyond - visit + shop!
January 1, 2021, 9:45pm. Let’s say goodbye to 2020 together like we’ve done for the past 2 years - only physically distanced! 2020 has been A YEAR for all of us - even harder for those lacking access to basic resources. All proceeds will go to the Encampment Support Network of Toronto! DJs: Jams, Pogi, and Sofia Fly. PERFORMANCES by: Gay Jesus + Manny Dingo!
January 11, 2020, 8:15pm. Stephanie (quirky hot girl Anna Kendrick) is a mommy vlogger obsessed (in a gay way) with her new best friend Emily (too-hot-too-believe Blake Lively). When Emily disappears, Stephanie becomes determined to figure out what happened. Was there foul play? Is she in love with her? Can straight actresses carry off convincingly queer chemistry? Who’s to say.
January 12, 2021, 8-9pm at Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor St. W. Toronto's finest queer comedians! Monthly showcase for gay male and queer comedians. Ft: Alex Miguel, Keegan Charles, Matthew Martineau / Messy Margaret, Mikael Melo, Peter Knegt and Gay AF's Best Girlfriend TAMARA SHEVON. Gay AF is unapologetically gay and unapologetically funny. Normally every second Tuesday/ each month.
January 21-24, 2021. A four-day event to boost energy, ideas, creativity, and friendship for those enduring an isolated pandemic winter.
Featuring digital performances from acclaimed indie artists, livestreamed conversations on urgent topics, online workshops on mental health and self-care, and (if the situation permits) socially distanced outdoor gatherings for small groups.
January 24, 2021, 8:15pm. Aspiring music journalist Jenny (Gina Rodriguez), landing her dream job at an iconic magazine, is about to move to San Francisco. Her boyfriend of 9 years (Lakeith Stanfield) won't do long distance, so he calls it quits. Heartbroken, Jenny gathers her best friends Erin (DeWanda Wise) and Blair (Brittany Snow) for one outrageous last NYC adventure.
April 10, 2021, 8pm-1am at Daniel's Spectrum, 585 Dundas St E. Dress in red or wear a red dress - a celebration fund-raiser for HIV/AIDS awareness! A night full of great ways to contribute, starting at the bar! All proceeds, including drink sales will go directly to the bike rally. Also a silent auction, featuring amazing items from partners across the city!
June - December, 2021 (TBC). Located in Stratford, Ontario, the Stratford Festival is North America’s largest classical repertory theatre company. Presenting each season a dozen or more productions in four distinctive venues; classics, contemporary dramas and musicals, with special emphasis on the plays of Shakespeare. Cancelled in 2020. See the 2021 updates at their website:
Late June, 2021 (TBC). Prism Pride Festival. Past year (cancelled) was to feature: THU Bootcamp. FRI Aqua. SAT 10pm Revival at Rebel. SUN 10pm LA LECHE at Toybox, 473 Adelaide St. W.
Late June, 2021 (TBC). Five-day festival events. Past year: Starry Night opening event at Meridian Hall. Barbara Hall Park is Green Space Festival’s true home, with events: THU Disco Disco; FRI One World; SAT Lipstick Jungle; and SUN TreeHouse. Fundraising for The 519 Church Street Community Centre hub of LGBTQ community life. Cancelled for 2020 - see 2021 updates at:
Late June, 2021 (TBC). More than 200 groups typically march in Pride Toronto’s Pride Parade, one of the largest in North America. Performances, floats and thousands of marchers from 2pm at the corner of Church and Bloor St. down Yonge Street to the Dundas Square stage. See FB updates.
Early July, 2021 (TBC). Toronto Fringe. Featuring 50+ companies slated to present works - in 2019: 151 shows at 37 venues. In 2020 a virtual festival took place online. See updates at:
September, 2021. Eleven days, screening 300+ films from 60+ countries each year - a diverse array of films; Hollywood galas; red carpet glamour; international cinema; homegrown comedies… and everything in between. Ongoing film series throughout the year. Both drive-in and Bell Digital Cinema online screenings - see schedule, venues and links at:
September 23 - October 3, 2021. Hilarious, riveting and relevant comedians; headliners plus 42 other amazing comedy acts to experience. Previous events: Carol Burnett; Margaret Trudeau. Headliners: John Mulaney + Pete Davidson, John Mulaney, Abbi Jacobson + Ilana Glazer, Jonathan Van Ness, Nick Kroll, Marc Maron, Eric Andre, Paul Scheer, Jason Mantzoukas and June Diane Raphael.
October, 2021 (TBC), 11-day festival, the largest event of its kind in Canada and one of the top five LGBT film festivals in the world. Screenings, artist talks, panel discussions, installations and parties to highlight more than 200 films and videos from Canada and around the world. See dates and programming online.
Early November, 2021 (TBC). Four days. Past year screenings included: A Splendid Frame; In the Shadows of Fences; Migration + Diaspora; Samra Habib: We Have Always Been Here; So Pretty; Porn is So Boring; Being Other Elsewhere; Surfacing; Don’t Believe the ‘69 Hype!; Reaching Toward the Horizon; Queer Rebels; Pier Kids + TQFF After Party.
October 31, 2021. Annual event during which three blocks of Church Street close 6-11pm for five hours of costumed revelry and buckets of eye-candy. Though temperature don’t always go with more daring outfit choices, the street is soon packed with thousands of scantily attired locals and visitors, making this Canada’s largest Halloween event.
Mid-February, 2022 (TBC). Canada’s longest-running new works festival transforms Buddies into a hotbed of experimentation. Artists explore new possibilities in theatre/ dance/ music/ performance art. Rhubarb is the place to see the most adventurous ideas in performance and to catch your favourite artists venturing into uncharted territory. No two nights of Rhubarb are ever alike.