Summer has officially arrived with the solstice this past weekend.
As we lead into this season, here are some local events I have curated for you. There are films, live performances, and more to entertain us solo or with family and friends.
Film
Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World
Thursday, June 25, 6:30 PM
Hot Docs Cinema
Filmmakers Stevie Salas, Catherine Bainbridge and Alfonso Maiorana examine the musical contribution and bring to light the profound and overlooked influence of Indigenous people on popular music and the groundbreaking musicians who helped shape the soundtracks of our lives. Focusing on music icons like Link Wray, Jimi Hendrix, Taboo (The Black Eyed Peas), Charley Patton, Mildred Bailey, Jesse Ed Davis, Robbie Robertson, and Randy Castillo, Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World gives attention to this missing chapter in the history of American music.
King Arthur’s Night
Friday, June 26, 7:00 PM
Hot Docs Cinema
Directed by John Bolton and inspired by Neworld Theatre’s King Arthur’s Night, the film is rooted in a medieval musical play created by an exceptional company of artists with and without Down syndrome. Bolton’s film moves between the world of the play and the lives of the artists who made it, following what happens when a company built on trust, risk and imagination comes back together years later.
CAMP
Saturday, June 26, 7:00 PM
Revue Cinema
Written and directed by Avalon Fast, the film follows Emily, a young woman burdened by guilt after being at the centre of two devastating tragedies early in her life. Hoping to ease her pain, Emily’s father encourages her to become a counsellor at a camp for troubled youth. Welcomed by a close-knit community that embraces forgiveness and acceptance, Emily begins to imagine a different future for herself. But when a mysterious voice from the surrounding woods begins calling her home, she finds herself pulled toward an unsettling darkness she cannot escape.
Baracoa at Lavazza Inclucity Festival
Sunday, June 28, 8:15 PM
Outdoors at the Distillery District
Felipe, an aging Italian revolutionary living in Havana, spends his final days reflecting on a Cuba that has drifted far from the ideals he once fought for, while his son Pepe dreams of escaping to Canada in search of comfort and distance from his father’s world.
Live Performance
Medusa
By Erin Shields
Until July 12, 2026
Medusa is a Soulpepper production in collaboration with Outside the March, this performance is a raw dive into female fury, with the titular character haunted by the voices of the snakes in her head.
Drag Me To The Opera
Thursday, June 25, 7:30 PM
Opera and Drag have gone hand in hand since the art form began, and now it’s official – Opera Revue meets Toronto’s finest drag performers in a match up that will leave you cackling!
Around Town
Together on Geary
Saturday, June 27, All Day
This is a one-day neighbourhood celebration presented by Uma Nota Culture and Geary Art Crawl. Expect performances and activations happening throughout the day and evening across some of Geary Avenue’s favourite local spaces.
Gilda’s Birthday Movie Night
Sunday, June 28, 5:00 PM
The Second City
Celebrate the life of legendary comedian, Gilda Radner, with a very special screening of Love, Gilda at the Second City. There is no charge to reserve, but a $20 donation to Gilda’s Toronto, to help people live while living with cancer, is suggested for all attendees. Reserve your seats here.
