Weekend need to know: Salsa on St. Clair and more events, COVID vaccine clinics, TTC/road closures

Some of Toronto’s favourite street festivals like Salsa on St. Clair and Taste of Lawrence are back this weekend.

CityNews is also updating you on what you need to know regarding summer COVID-19 vaccine clinics located at Toronto schools.

Weekend road and TTC closures are expected as well. Scroll below for details.

Here’s what’s happening this weekend:

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Need to know: COVID vaccine clinics

Ontario’s chief medical officer of health says the province is well into the seventh wave of COVID-19, second booster shots are expected to be made available for everyone aged 18 to 59 as early as next week.

Dr. Kieran Moore tells CityNews the second booster dose would not preclude Ontarians from another follow-up shot three months later, as it would be re-formulated to add additional layers of protection.

Currently, third doses are available to people 12 and older, and fourth doses are available for people who are 60 and older or First Nation, Inuit and Metis adults as well as their adult household members. Immunocompromised people – such as transplant recipients – aged 60 and older and long-term care residents can get the fifth dose.

In the meantime, Toronto Public Health is offering approximately 400 COVID-19 vaccination clinics at Toronto schools throughout the summer. The clinics will also offer vaccines for hepatitis B, meningococcal and the human papilloma virus.

Clinic information is available on the TPH Appointment Booking System website under “School Immunization Program Clinics.”

Toronto Public Health says a health card is not required and people can receive a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as, or any time before or after, the other vaccines.

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Top events

Salsa on St. Clair

You can dance on the streets at Salsa on St. Clair this weekend as the free festival returns in-person with Latino music, visual arts, Latin foods and salsa dance parties.

The street festival takes over Midtown on the stretch of St. Clair Avenue West from Winona Drive to Christie Street.

The event is happening Saturday from 12 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

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Transit riders can take the subway to St. Clair Avenue West Subway Station. When exiting the station walk 800 metres west on St. Clair Avenue West to reach the festival’s Christie Street entrance.

Taste of Lawrence

Taste of Lawrence is Scarborough’s largest three-day food and culture festival and takes place along Lawrence Avenue East between Warden and Birchmount avenues. The festival will include tons of food vendors, midway rides and music.

The event kicks off on Friday at 6 p.m. and runs through Sunday until 11 p.m. Admission is free.

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Transit riders can take Line 2 to Warden Station, then transfer onto the 68 Warden Bus or the 17 Birchmount bus. Riders can take either bus north to Lawrence Avenue.

Bob Marley One Love Experience

The Bob Marley One Love Experience made its North American debut at Lighthouse ArtSpace earlier this month.

The late musician’s daughter Cedella Marley told CityNews the experience will have never-before-seen photos of Bob and memorabilia on display to focus on her father’s legacy.

Tickets are available for the exhibit all weekend, which runs until August 14. The closest subway station to the exhibit is Union Station, followed by a 10-minute walk.

WATCH CityNews reporter Stella Acquisto’s interview with Cedella Marley while touring the exhibit:

Field Trip Music & Arts Festival

The Field Trip Music & Arts festival is set to return to Fort York on Saturday after a three-year hiatus. The one-day event is welcome to all ages and is filled with live music, local food and day camp programming for kids.

This year’s lineup features Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Peach Pit, Kurt Vile and the Violators, Lucy Dacus, and a lot more.

The festival is happening Saturday from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.

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Transit riders can exit Union Subway Station, then hop on the 509 Harbourfront to Exhibition streetcar and get off at the Fleet Street at Bastion Street west side stop.

Kiddies for Mas: Jr. King & Queen Showcase

This showcase is taking place on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Scarborough Town Centre in celebration of the 55th anniversary of Caribana, and will feature colourful Caribbean King & Queen costumes for kids.

This Caribbean tradition of parading through the street was founded in celebration of freedom and emancipation from slavery and is celebrated on what has been recognized by the Canadian government as Emancipation Day weekend.

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Transit riders can take the Line 3 subway to Scarborough Centre Station.

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Road closures

Events

• St. Clair Avenue West from Christie Street to Winona Drive will be closed to vehicles from 8 a.m. on Saturday to 11 p.m. on Sunday for Salsa on St. Clair.
• Lawrence Avenue East between Warden Avenue and Birchmount Road will be closed to traffic from 10 a.m. Friday until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday for the Taste of Lawrence.

 

ActiveTO

• Bayview Avenue from Rosedale Valley Road to Lawren Harris Square, and River Street from Bayview Avenue to Spruce Street, will be closed to vehicles from 7 a.m. on Saturday until 7 p.m. on Sunday.

 

Construction

• Wellington Street from Yonge to Church streets is reduced to one westbound lane for TTC work
• The Queensway between Parkside Drive and Roncesvalles Avenue are reduced to a minimum of one shared travel lane in each direction for TTC work. King Street West is also closed at this intersection.
• Scarlett Road is reduced to one lane in each direction for structural work at Humber Creek.
• The Overlea Boulevard Bridge over the Don River is reduced to one lane in each direction for bridge work.
• Lake Shore Boulevard West between Bay and York Streets is reduced to one lane for gas main replacement.

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TTC closures

Line 1 weekend closure
There will be no subway service on Line 1 between Lawrence and St Clair stations on Saturday and Sunday to accommodate work on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT construction project. Shuttle buses will operate.

Line 2 late opening
Subway service on Line 2 between St George and Broadview stations will start by noon on Sunday for Prince Edward Viaduct beam replacement. Shuttle buses will operate.

Keep in mind Bay and Sherbourne stations will be closed. All other stations will remain open for people to load their Presto card or purchase Presto tickets and connect to surface routes.