The Toronto Comic Arts Festival 2016 will take over the Bloor/Yonge neighbourhood today, Saturday May 14th and tomorrow, Sunday May 15th, and it’s totally FREE to attend!
This is the festival’s biggest year yet, with over 500 comic artists, writers, authors, and professionals attending and exhibiting at the festival and surrounding events. Guests are coming from over 20 countries around the world. TCAF kicks off today at its main venue Toronto Reference Library.
What’s new for 2016?
The festival has added an additional venue: Readers and fans should make their way 3 minutes north of Toronto Reference Library to The Masonic Temple, which will be filled all day with exhibiting creators, live-drawing, and more. The Masonic Temple opens to the public at 10am.
Saturday, May 14th is TCAF Kids Day: If you’ve got kids who love the graphic novels of Alex A., Kate Beaton, Faith Erin Hicks, Kazu Kibuishi, or Dana Simpson, stop by St. Paul’s on Bloor, from 10am-5pm. There will be activities, presentations, and signings all day. You can meet your favourite kids and YA graphic novel creators.
TCAF will have over 100 hours of programming mostly taking place at Programming Venue Marriott Bloor Yorkville, starting at 10am. Are you new to comics? Check out the Comics 101 stream of programming in The Summerhill Room. Looking for the biggest presentations? Head to to The Forest Hill Ballroom for featured guests. For those of you who are aspiring creators, you can get your artistic portfolios reviewed in the Portfolio Review Area at Toronto Reference Library. The complete program is now online.
So whatever kind of comics you’re into, from memoir to zany adventure, personal, political, hand-crafted or slick, there’s a book for you at TCAF. And of course, do not forget to thank the people behind your favourite or new-favourite comics! TCAF is certainly one of my favourite events in Toronto… lots to see and lots of talented people to meet. Make your way there today!
