Weekend need to know: Last weekend of TIFF, Jurassic World Live, Mama Duck returns

Film buffs in Toronto are still able to catch some buzzworthy screenings this weekend as the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) wraps up on Sunday.

Other events in the city include a live, immersive experience of Jurassic World, the world’s largest rubber duck returning to Toronto’s waterfront, and annual street festivals celebrating local Polish and Ukrainian culture.

Plus, the Blue Jays look to rebound from a disappointing four-game sweep with a weekend series against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre.

There are some scheduled subway closures and late openings this weekend. Alongside ongoing road closures. Scroll below for details.

Here’s what’s on for the final weekend of summer:

Top events

Last weekend of TIFF

The Toronto International Film Festival continues to take over King West and select movie theatres until Sunday, and there are tons of screenings for film buffs to check out all weekend.

Boil Alert is a documentary that follows Mohawk activist Layla Staats as she visits communities in Canada and the United States living under boil water advisories, and First Nations who have had their water contaminated by toxins.

Throughout the film, Staats shares her own personal battles as a person reconnecting with her Mohawk identity. People can watch the documentary at Scotiabank Theatre this weekend.

Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard and actor Billy Bryk had their world premier for their slasher-comedy film Hell of a Summer at TIFF on September 10.

The film is the directorial debut for both actors and is still playing at Scotiabank Theatre this weekend.

Studio Ghibli’s long-awaited feature film The Boy and the Heron by renowned director Hayao Miyazaki can also be viewed at Scotiabank Theatre and TIFF Bell Lightbox this weekend.

CityNews reporter Stella Acquisto speaks with Boil Alert director Stevie Salas and activist Layla Staats about the film and its significance:

Jurassic World Live

The Jurassic World Live tour, is an exhilarating and unpredictable family entertainment experience that brings the wonder and thrills of Jurassic World to generations of fans.

The blockbuster series is coming to life on stage at Scotiabank Arena this weekend from Friday to Sunday.

The show is approximately one hour and 50 minutes long, with a 15 to 20 minute intermission.

Frank Ferragine from Breakfast Television gets a sneak peak of Jurassic World Live at Scotiabank Arena:

Waterfront Festival 

The world’s largest rubber duck, also known as Mama Duck, is returning to Toronto’s waterfront this weekend for the annual Toronto Waterfront Festival.

The festival is happening Saturday and Sunday at Queens Quay East and Mama Duck will appear on land this time.

Other activities at the festival include the Billy Bishop Airport picnic lounge, free giveaways, games for kids and families, and local food trucks and food vendors.

The festival begins on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and runs until Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The world’s largest rubber ducky is making a comeback to Toronto’s waterfront this weekend at Queens Quay East. Photo: Flickr.

Roncesvalles Polish Festival

The annual Roncesvalles Polish Festival is happening Saturday and Sunday along Roncesvalles Avenue.

The event includes polka and pierogi, live performances from local artists and musicians, Indigenous programming, and family friendly activities.

The Roncesvalles Polish Festival is back in Roncesvalles Village this weekend. Photo: Roncesvalles Village BIA.

Toronto Ukrainian Festival

The Toronto Ukrainian Festival is a celebration of Ukrainian culture in Canada, which is being held on Bloor Street West between Jane Street and Runnymede Road, from Friday at 5 p.m. until Sunday at 7 p.m.

The parade will take place on Saturday starting at 11 a.m., within High Park and will proceed onto westbound Bloor Street West, northbound on Jane Street, and eastbound on Weatherell Street to the dispersal area. The parade concludes at approximately 12:30 p.m.

The Bloor Street West road closure will extend from Runnymede Road to High Park Avenue during the parade.

The event includes Ukrainian food, live performances at the Jane and Runnymede Stages, craft and artisan markets, and more.

Festival Hours:

Friday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Toronto Ukrainian Festival returns to Bloor West Village this weekend. Photo: Bloor West Village Toronto Ukrainian Festival.

TTC closures

Line 2 full weekend closure 

From 11 p.m. on Friday to 6 a.m. on Monday there will be no subway service on Line 2 between Warden and Kennedy stations due to track work.

Line 2 shuttle buses will operate instead.

Line 4 Sunday late opening

Subway service on Line 4 between Sheppard-Yonge and Don Mills stations will start by 12 p.m. on Sunday due to an emergency exercise.

Line 4 shuttle buses will operate, and will stop at all subway stations along the route.

No bus to Broadview Station

Since Monday earlier this week there has been no bus service to Broadview Station as the TTC works on streetcar tracks in the area.

The changes will remain in effect until November.

Officials say full road closures will be required on Broadview and Erindale Avenues around the station, making it unsafe for buses to pick up and drop off riders.

Those buses will instead divert to Main Street, Pape, and Warden stations.

Broadview Station will remain open for subway service.

Road closures

Toronto Ukrainian Festival

From Friday at 9 a.m. to Sunday at 12 a.m.:

• Bloor Street West is fully closed from Jane Street and Runnymede Road.
• Bloor Street West road closures will extend from Runnymede Road to High Park Avenue for the parade on Saturday from approximately 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Roncesvalles Polish Festival

From Saturday at 5 a.m. to Sunday at 11:59 p.m., Roncesvalles Avenue, from Grafton Avenue to Dundas Street West, will be closed to vehicle traffic.

Pape Village Block Party

From Saturday at 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.,  Pape Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic from Mortimer Avenue to Gamble Avenue.

Ongoing road closures

• Southbound Bayview Avenue is closed from Rosedale Valley Road to River Street from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly, until early January.
• In Brampton, northbound Main Street is closed from Queen Street to Nelson Street until December for watermain replacement.
• Southbound on Broadview Avenue remains closed from south of Danforth Avenue to Gerrard Street, until the end of November.
• Dufferin Street Bridge has a full emergency closure for repair work and it’s expected to last into the fall.
• Broadview Avenue, between Gerrard Street East and Danforth Avenue, will be closed to southbound traffic and reduced to one northbound lane until November to replace TTC streetcar tracks.
• Teston Road in Vaughan will be closed between Pine Valley Drive and Weston Road until the end of the year for road reconstruction and bridge work.
• Queen Street is fully closed to traffic between Bay and Victoria Streets to accommodate work on a new station for the Ontario Line subway. The closure is scheduled to last for at least four-and-a-half years, until 2027.
• Lake Shore Boulevard West, from Rees Street to Spadina Avenue, is reduced to two lanes until May 31, 2024, for Enwave construction.
• Military Trail is closed from Ellesmere Road to Highcastle Road for road rehabilitation and slope stabilization. The project completion date has been delayed until further notice.
• Keele Street is reduced to a single lane about 100 metres north of Langstaff in Vaughan. Construction work is scheduled to finish later this year.
• Northbound Yonge Street is reduced to one lane between Wellington and King Streets for TTC construction. The project is scheduled to continue into 2024.

With files from Jordan Kerr of CityNews