Weekend need to know: Toronto Caribbean Carnival, road closures, COVID vaccines for children

It’s a long weekend in the GTA and there’s plenty of things to do like the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, the Food Truck Festival and a dance party dedicated to Drake’s new album.

CityNews is also updating you on what you need to know about booking COVID vaccine appointments for children.

Keep in mind, there are road closures during the long weekend along with regular holiday closures on Monday. Scroll below for details.

Here’s what’s going on this weekend:

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COVID vaccine appointments for children 

Ontario parents can now book COVID-19 vaccinations for kids aged six months to under five years old.

Shots can be booked through the province’s online portal, public health units that use their own booking systems, pharmacies, Indigenous-led clinics, as well as some primary care providers and pediatricians.

Immunocompromised youth aged 12 to 17 are also eligible to schedule second booster doses if six months has passed since their first booster dose or fourth shot.

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Top events

Toronto Caribbean Carnival

After two years of lockdown, the four-day celebration of Toronto Caribbean Carnival returns to the city in honour of Emancipation Day weekend.

This Caribbean tradition of parading through the street was founded in celebration of freedom and emancipation from slavery.

Emancipation Day in Canada falls on August 1, which is the day in 1834 that the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 came into effect across what was then the British Empire.

Event schedule:

• Thursday, 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. – King & Queen Showcase at Lamport Stadium
• Friday, 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. – OSA: Pan-Alive Showcase at Lamport Stadium
• Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. – The Grand Parade Day at Lakeshore Blvd W & Exhibition Place
• Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Sunday Carnival Flavours at Stanley Barracks, Hotel X Toronto

TTC

Those planning to attend the parade on Saturday can take the following routes:

• 29 Dufferin
• 509 Harbourfront
• 511 Bathurst
• 504C King

A dedicated Caribbean Carnival shuttle bus will also operate between Dufferin Station and Springhurst/Dufferin Gate Loop for the parade.

GO Transit

Metrolinx is adding special train service on the Kitchener line on Saturday for those travelling into Toronto for the Grand Parade.

Trips will serve Etobicoke North, Malton, Bramalea, Brampton and Mount Pleasant stops.

Kitchener line passengers continuing to Exhibition GO can stay on the train after its arrival at Union Station for Lakeshore West line service to Exhibition GO.

Train service on the Stouffville line will be adjusted to support the GO Transit network during the Grand Parade. Service will be reduced, with trips departing approximately every two hours.

Bus routes 16, 21, and 31 will also be rerouted.

Ghanafest

The Ghanaian Festival of Arts and Culture is a celebration of Ghanaian culture in Canada. The event includes musical performances and Ghanaian food dishes.

The festival takes place at Earl Bales Park on Sunday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.

TTC
The closest subway station is Sheppard-Yonge Station, with nearby bus routes available.

Toronto Food Truck Festival

More than 40 food trucks will be at Woodbine Park to cook and share signature dishes.

The festival is in support of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

Event hours:

• Friday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Saturday, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Sunday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Monday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

TTC
Transit riders can exit Woodbine subway station and take the 92 Woodbine South bus to Woodbine Park.

Falling Back: A Drake Dance Party at Sneaky Dee’s

Another themed dance party is happening at Sneaky Dee’s for Drake fans on Saturday, playing tracks from Drake’s new album Honestly, Nevermind.

Tickets are $5 and doors open at 10:30 p.m.

TTC
Transit riders can exit College subway station and take the 506 Carlton streetcar to College and Bathurst streets.

Mississauga Latin Festival 2022

This festival is a multicultural three-day event at Mississauga Celebration Square, showcasing music, food, art and performances.

The event is produced by the non-prof Canadian Latin Heritage which aims to promote the Latin culture through local, cultural events.

Event hours:

• Friday 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Saturday 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Sunday 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

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Road closures

Events
The following roads will be closed from 2 a.m. on Saturday to 8 a.m. on Sunday for the Toronto Caribbean Carnival:

• Lake Shore Boulevard West between Colborne Lodge Drive and Bathurst Street
• Strachan Avenue from Fleet Street to Lake Shore Boulevard West
• Jameson Avenue from Springhurst Avenue to Lake Shore Boulevard West
• Dunn Avenue at Springhurst Avenue
• Dufferin Street at Springhurst Avenue
• Fort York Boulevard between Fleet Street and Lake Shore Boulevard West
• Westbound Gardiner Expressway off-ramp to Dunn and Jameson Avenues

Market Street continues to be closed from Front Street East to The Esplanade for I Heart Market Street activities.

High Park

• Roads within the park will be closed to vehicles throughout the long weekend.

Construction

• The intersection of Wellington Street East and Church Street is closed until Monday for streetcar track replacement.
• The Queensway between Parkside Drive and Roncesvalles Avenue is reduced to a minimum of one shared travel lane in each direction for King-Queen-Queensway-Roncesvalles due to TTC track replacement and road reconstruction work. King Street West is also closed at this intersection and eastbound left turns are not permitted from The Queensway to Glendale Avenue.
• Westbound Lake Shore Boulevard East between Parliament and Lower Sherbourne streets is reduced to a single lane until 9 p.m. on August 13 for gas main installation work by Enbridge.
• Westbound Lake Shore Boulevard East between Cherry and Parliament streets is reduced to one lane until Sunday.

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TTC diversions

There are no scheduled subway closures on the TTC this long weekend.

The TTC will be operating on a holiday service schedule on Monday.

Toronto Caribbean Carnival

Several bus and streetcar routes will be diverting to accommodate road closures for the carnival, including:

• 29 Dufferin will run directly to Springhurst/Dufferin Gate Loop from 6 a.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday via Dufferin St.

Stops on King St. W., Strachan Ave., East Liberty St. and Liberty St. will not be served.

• 63 Ossington between 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Saturday
• 80 Queensway between 2 a.m. on Saturday to 6 a.m. on Sunday
• 504A/504B King between 6 a.m. on Saturday to 2 a.m. on Sunday
• 504C King will be extended to King St. and Church St. between 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Saturday
• 510 Spadina between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday

Additional weekend diversions

Those attending the Veld Music Festival can take Line 1 to Downsview Park subway station.

The 101 Downsview Park will be suspended between 11 a.m. on Friday to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday to accommodate the Veld Music Festival.

Riders may also experience delays on the 41 Keele, 84 Sheppard West, 106 Sentinel, 107 York University Heights, and 108 Driftwood due to the event.

The 94 Wellesley will be diverting from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday to accommodate a crane lift at Wellesley St. W. and Yonge St.