Culture enthusiasts and music lovers, like myself, can partake in PANAMANIA, presented by CIBC, the 35-day Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games arts and culture festival. Unprecedented in scale, PANAMANIA will feature more than 1,300 artists in 250 performances and exhibitions across Toronto now until August 15. 

The festival will showcase the diverse cultures and artistic excellence of Ontario, Canada and the Americas through music, theatre, dance and more, with free and ticketed events.

I have taken a careful look at PANAMANIA’s four programs, along with other related events, and have compiled this list for you. Some of these events will require tickets, so please be sure to check listings for full details.

CIBC Pan Am Park (July 11–25, FREE)
Sunday, July 12, 9:00pm: A Tribe Called Red
Tuesday, July 14, 5:30pm: Cirque Inspirall + Les Vitaminés
Saturday, July 18, 3:30pm: Ron Davis’ Symphronica with The Lombard Twins
Wednesday, July 22, 3:30pm: Charles Bradley & his Extraordinaires
Friday, July 24, 2:15pm: Tanika Charles

PANAMANIA Live @ The Distillery District (July 11–25, FREE)
Wednesday, July 15, 8:45pm: Quique Escamilla
Thursday, July 16, 6:30pm: Amanda Martinez
Sunday, July 19, 8:30pm: David Rudder
Friday, July 24, 9:45pm: Shakura S’Aida
Saturday, July 25, 3:00pm: Choir! Choir! Choir!

PANAMANIA Live @ Nathan Phillips Square (July 10–26 and August 7–12, FREE)
Monday, July 13, 9:45pm: Ondatrópica
Wednesday, July 15, 7:30pm: Lila Downs
Wednesday, July 15, 9:45pm: Marianas Trench
Tuesday, July 21, 12:30pm: David Buchbinder’s Odessa/Havana
Saturday, August 8, 9:30pm: The Roots
Sunday, August 9, 9:30pm: Janelle Monáe
As well: Victory Celebrations, presented by CIBC, will honour medal-winning athletes nightly at 7 pm.

Other PANAMANIA presentations of note:

Gimme Shelter – Young Centre for the Performing Arts at The Distillery District
Inspired by ancient texts, award-winning director/actor/writer Ravi Jain tells an epic story of man’s battle with ego and our relationship to the casualties of climate change. A new production by critically acclaimed international theatre company Why Not Theatre, created in association with Soulpepper Theatre. July 13-18. Ticketed.

InterNations/InterSections – Aboriginal Pavilion at Fort York National Historic Site
An assemblage of large-scale installations commissioned for Planet IndigenUS, InterNations/InterSections explores the adaptability and ingenuity of travel and transportation for First Nations people in a post-colonial world. First Nations artists Kent Monkman, Kevin Lamure, Douglas Smarch Jr., and Kelly Greene were asked to explore the concept of transportation. InterNations/InterSections was commissioned by the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games arts and culture festival, PANAMANIA presented by CIBC. July 13 – August 9. FREE.

It Comes In Waves
Embark by canoe on a deeply personal journey through loss and a joyful celebration of what it means to be alive. This immersive and site-specific piece, created by bluemouth inc. in collaboration with Necessary Angel artistic director Jennifer Tarver and playwright Jordan Tannahill, incorporates contemporary dance, theatre, multimedia, and orienteering. July 15-19. Ticketed.

North Sur Photo Exchange Project – Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography
This collaborative cyber-photographic project, featuring artists from Toronto’s Gallery 44 and ph15 from Buenos Aires, explores themes of local culture(s). This work is being exhibited at outdoor installations, billboards and galleries in both Canada and Argentina. July 17-August 1. FREE.

Obeah Opera – Young Centre for the Performing Arts at The Distillery District
This a hand clapping, foot-stomping, spirit-lifting, musical sensation. Steeped in black music and sung entirely a cappella by a powerful all-female cast, Obeah Opera is a retelling of the legendary Salem witch trials from the fascinating perspective of Caribbean slave women. Produced by Culchahworks Arts Collective in association with Nightwood Theatre and b current. August 4-8. Ticketed.

These are but a limited few events taking part in PANAMANIA throughout Toronto. For full event listings, description, venues, and ticketing information, please visit the PANAMANIA website.