free/fun/toronto

Being a broke adult living in a big city like Toronto can seem daunting sometimes. Especially if you’re new ’round these parts. But there’s hope! There are many, many fun places and events scattered around that are 100% free!
So I’ve decided to compile a helpful list of as many of them as I can find.
This will be an on-going and interactive project, so if you know anything I don’t, feel free to tell me and I’ll update the list.

*PWYC= Pay What You Can - technically free, but there is a suggested donation

museums and historical projects
1. the ROM
   (free Friday nights from 4 pm to 9 pm)
2. ROMwalks
   (walking tours of sites of historical significance)
3. [murmur] project
   (self led cultural walking tours of downtown neighbourhoods mediated by cell phone)
4. the Bata Shoe Museum
   (free Thursday nights from 5 pm to 8 pm)
5. Toronto Archives
   (exhibits of photographs, objects and ephemera documenting the history of the city)

the great outdoors

6. High Park
   (farmers market, zoo, gardens, wildlife)
7. Edwards Gardens
   (gorgeous gardens, people watching of many weddings on summer weekends)
8. Allan Gardens
   (Victorian era conservatory, greenhouses and botanical gardens)
9. Riverdale Farm
   (fuzzy-wuzzy farm animals and lots of activities)
10. Municipal pools
    (for swimming, of course)
11. Scarborough Bluffs
    (panoramic vistas, boats, lake, wildlife)
12. Rouge River Valley
    (acres of wilderness, nature trails and camping tucked inside suburbia)
13. The Music Garden
    (wacky new age landscaping based on Bach, with help from Yo Yo Ma)
14. The Beaches/The Beach/that sandy edge of the city that meets the water
    (water, sand, sun, volleyball, swimming, boating)

malls, markets and ‘hoods

15. Kensington Market
    (people watching, thrift shops, sampling foods, cheap/exotic groceries)
16. St. Lawrence market
    (farmers and antique markets on weekends, people watching, sampling foods, cheap/gourmet groceries)
17. Pacific Mall
    (people watching, cheap and cheerful splurges like Japanese toys, Chinese candy and Korean groceries, cultural events on weekends)
18. The Distillery District
    (farmers market, cultural events, art galleries, food, coffee, people watching

cool-kid parties and events

19. Kickball
    (Sunday nights at 6:30 pm in Alexandra Park- summer only)
20. Manhunt Toronto
    (hide and seek every Thursday in a different neighbourhood each week)
21. newmindspace
    (wacky events: capture the flag, Easter egg hunts, streetcar parties, pillow-fights)
22. The Church of Craft
    (monthly communion through crafts and crafting)
23. Speakeasy
    (*PWYC monthly meet and greet and networking for creative types and artists in the city)
24. style in progress
    (urban culture festival with events throughout summer + gallery and featured graf artists)

artsy hangouts

25. the Knit Cafe
    (a place to knit and make knitting buddies, year round, 7 days a week)
26. the Drake
    (Monday night Starving Artist Buffet and Elvis Mondays -
    free indie-rock and free food for reals! + more events throughout week)
27. the Gladstone
    (art shows, concerts, readings, workshops, panel discussions, dance parties, conventions and other events, many free or *PWYC + the best karaoke in town)
28. your local branch of the Toronto Public Library
    (free book borrowing! obviously + events, author readings, book clubs, workshops, various cultural and artsy stuff)
29. 401 Richmond
    (a building full of artists, galleries, studios and workshops free to wander + see schedule for special events)

music

30. Wavelength
    (*PWYC Sunday night indie-rock music series)
31. torontoindie.com
    (indie-rock concert listings - many free or *PWYC)
32. tranzac
    (free music most nights of the week + more events - see schedule)

film and theatre

33. Yonge and Dundas Square’s City Cinema
    (free monster movie every Tuesday night during the summer)
34. the National Film Board’s Mediatheque
    (public screenings of Canadian and foreign cinema with a focus on documentaries and animation)
35. Camera Bar
    (Saturday-afternoon, art-house movie-screenings )
36. Dream in High Park
    (6 nights a week CanStage performs this years Shakespearean offering, Comedy of Errors *PWYC)

art

37. the AGO
    (most galleries free until June 1, 2006 due to construction -
    free Wednesday nights from 6 pm to 9 pm rest of year)
38. the MOCCA
    (always free Canadian modern art)
39. the Magic Pony
    (the coolest little gallery around - show openings/parties apx. twice a month)
40. SLATE Art Guide
    (listings of galleries and shows )
41. back alleys
    (24/7 art gallery of the streets: Graffiti! the best place to start looking is the back alleys of Queen West)