Weekend need to know: Toronto International Film Festival, Asialicious, TTC/road closures

The city’s biggest film festival has returned to King West and runs until September 18. The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is hosting its 47th edition with 11 days of international and Canadian film screenings.

There were fewer fans in the stands for The Swimmers red carpet due to the announcement of Queen Elizabeth II’s death.

But festivities are continuing with the Royal Alexandra Theatre and Princess of Wales Theatre dimming their marquee lights as a sign of respect.

There are also TTC and road closures to keep in mind. Scroll below for more details.

Here’s what’s going on this weekend:

---

Top events

TIFF

After two years of a mostly virtual event, the Toronto International Film Festival has transformed King Street West, between Peter Street and University Avenue, once again for the return of long-awaited film screenings, and some of the biggest actors, directors and producers taking to the red carpet.

Film watchers can still choose to view certain screenings either in-person or digitally. 

For those who prefer to stay at home, a select showing of feature films and documentaries can be viewed online beginning September 13, with six new films available to watch each day through September 16.

Red carpet events will take place on King Street West, Roy Thompson Hall, Princess of Wales Theatre and Royal Alexandra Theatre.

You can find all the details on what to expect at TIFF 2022 here.

WATCH a full recap of the first night of TIFF 2022 with Breakfast Television’s Devo Brown:

AsialiciousTO

Inspired by Summerlicious and Winterlicious, AsialiciousTO is an annual celebration of Asian food and culture in Toronto.

It’s a time when food lovers can sample hundreds of fixed-priced food and drinks with promotional deals priced at $10, $20 and $30.

Asialicious runs for two weeks starting Saturday through September 25.

The event also includes a weekend celebration of the Asialicious Carnival taking place at Woodside Square from this Friday to Sunday.

Toronto’s 188th Anniversary Festival

Toronto turned 188 years old back on March 6, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, the city’s birthday celebration was postponed to this weekend at Nathan Phillips Square from Saturday to Sunday.

The outdoor party will include live music, a Steam Whistle beer garden, food trucks, and the Toronto Made Market featuring dozens of local vendors.

Cabbagetown Art & Crafts

Cabbagetown Art & Crafts show is happening in Riverdale Park West from Friday to Sunday.

The event will feature over 100 artisans, jazz great musicians, family-friendly entertainment, and hot food vendors.

A COVID-19 vaccine clinic will also run during show hours:

Friday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Rolling Loud Festival

The Rolling Loud Festival announced earlier this year its first-ever Canadian tour location, which is at Ontario Place from Friday to Sunday.

The hip-hop music festival headliners will include Wizkid, Future, and Dave.

Drive Festival

The Drive Festival is a three-day automotive event for all car enthusiasts.

General admission tickets include free general parking, access to bus shuttles, and vehicle test drives with a valid driver’s license belonging to drivers over the age of 18.

Kids aged 12 and under can enter the festival for free if they’re with an adult.

The event takes place from Friday to Sunday at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville.

WATCH Breakfast Television’s Stephanie Henry give an exclusive first look at Drive Festival:

---

TTC closures

Line 1 weekend closure

There will be no subway service on Line 1 between Sheppard-Yonge and St Clair stations on Saturday and Sunday to accommodate work on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT construction project. The TTC will take advantage of this closure to work on the Lawrence Station Easier Access Project. Shuttle buses will operate.

TIFF

There will be TTC streetcar diversions for the 503 Kingston Road, 504B/C King and 304 King routes in place between September 8 and 13.

The 503 Kingston Road route will run between Bingham and Woodbine loops. The 504B King route will run between Broadview subway station and Church Street.

The 504C King will run with replacement buses and operate via University Avenue, Richmond Street West/Adelaide Street West and Spadina Avenue to get around Festival Street and loop at George Street, Front Street East and Jarvis Street.

The 304 King route will run between Broadview and Dundas West stations via University Avenue, Richmond Street West/Adelaide Street West and Spadina Avenue.

Regular TTC service will resume at 5 a.m. on Monday, but due to red carpet events on King Street, there will be diversions on Monday and Tuesday.

Diversions

From 12 p.m. on Friday to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, the 300 Bloor-Danforth Night Bus will be diverting to accommodate road closures due to Taste of the Kingsway.

On Saturday, the following routes will be diverting to accommodate the Jesus in the City parade:

• 13 Avenue Road, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• 94 Wellesley, from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• 19 Bay, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
• 506 Carlton, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

---

From 11 p.m. on Saturday to 4 a.m. on Sunday, the 509 Harbourfront and 510/310 Spadina routes will be bypassing Queens Quay/Ferry Docks Station to accommodate maintenance work at the station.

On Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., the 52D Lawrence West will be diverting to accommodate the Malton Nagar Kirtan Parade.

On Sunday, several TTC routes will be diverting to accommodate the Journey to Conquer Cancer:

• 13 Avenue Road will be diverting from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• 505 Dundas will be diverting between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
• 506 Carlton will be diverting between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

The 94 Wellesley will not be diverting, but customers may experience minor delays on this route.

The 19 Bay will be diverting on Sunday between 6 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to accommodate the Yorkville Run.

On Sunday, the 65 Parliament and 506 Carlton will be diverting between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. to accommodate Cabbagetown Parkscape Promenade.

---

Metrolinx

This weekend maintenance and construction work will result in temporary schedule changes on the Barrie GO Line and trips to Niagara Falls.

Starting on Friday evening until the end of service on Sunday trains will not be in service on the Barrie Line.

Buses will replace some cancelled train trips and serve all stations except Downsview Park GO.

On Saturday and Sunday Niagara Falls train service will also be adjusted.

---

Road closures

Events

The following road closures will be in place for TIFF from Thursday until Monday:

• King St W (University Ave to Spadina Ave)
• Simcoe St (Wellington St West to Pearl St)
• Duncan St (King St W to Pearl St)
• John St (Wellington St W to Pearl St)
• Richmond Street (John St to Widmer St)
• Expect increased pedestrian activity along King St W throughout the weekend

The following road closures will be in place for the Rolling Loud Festival from Friday until Sunday:

• Three eastbound lanes on Lake Shore Boulevard will be closed between British Columbia Road and Strachan Avenue. Traffic will be diverted off Lake Shore Boulevard onto British Columbia Road.
• Lake Shore Boulevard westbound will be reduced from three lanes to two between Strachan Avenue to British Columbia Road.
• The curb lane will be allocated for pedestrians/cyclists, and they are reminded to please obey the rules of the road.

To accommodate the Journey to Conquer Cancer and Constantine Yorkville Run, Bay Street between Davenport Road and Cumberland Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sunday.

Additionally, the following roads will be closed to vehicular traffic from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sunday:
• Southbound lanes on Bay Street between Cumberland Street and Dundas Street West
• Elm Street between Bay Street and University Avenue
• Eastbound lanes on Davenport Road between Avenue Road and Bay Street

The following roads will also be closed to vehicular traffic from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday:
• Dundas Street between Victoria Street and Simcoe Street
• University Avenue between Queen Street West and College Street
• Queens Park between Bloor Street West and College Street

Eastbound lanes on Lake Shore Boulevard West between Strachan Avenue and British Columbia Road will be closed to vehicle traffic from 12:01 a.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday for the Rolling Loud music festival. The Martin Goodman Trail will also be redirected to the westbound curb lane on Lake Shore Boulevard West.

Bloor Street West between Montgomery Road and Prince Edward Drive North will be closed to vehicle traffic from 12 p.m. on Friday to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday for the Taste of the Kingsway festival.

Queens Park Crescent East between College Street and Wellesley Street West will be closed to vehicle traffic from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday for the Jesus in the City Parade.

Parliament Street from Carlton Street North to 508 Parliament St. and Carlton Street from Parliament Street to Exchange Lane will be closed to vehicular traffic from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday for the Parkscape Wrap-up event.

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

Construction 
The intersection of King Street West and Shaw Street will be reduced to a single lane in each direction until November 12 for TTC and watermain work.

Traffic lanes on Queen’s Park between Bloor Street West and Queen’s Park Crescent are reduced to accommodate the TTC’s Easier Access (elevator installation) work at Museum Station.

Westbound Lake Shore Boulevard is reduced to a single lane between Lower Jarvis Street and Yonge Street for the month of September to facilitate the Enbridge gasmain installation.

The Queensway has a reduced number of lanes, in both directions, between Parkside Drive and the King-Queen-Queensway-Roncesvalles (KQQR) intersection for TTC track replacement and road reconstruction work. Eastbound left turns are not permitted from The Queensway to Glendale Avenue.

Elizabeth Street from Gerrard Street West to Elm Street and Elm Street at Elizabeth Street will be closed to accommodate a major construction crane lift at Sick Children’s Hospital.

Wellington Street from Church Street to Yonge Street is reduced to a single westbound lane for TTC track replacement and sidewalk improvements. Scott Street, north of Wellington Street, is closed to all vehicular traffic.

The Carlton Street and Church Street intersection will remain closed for streetcar track replacement all weekend.