Weekend Highlights: August 1st - 3rd, er, 4th!

Eat award-winning ribs this weekend

Monday's Simcoe Day so if you're one of the lucky ones whose workplace recognizes the civic holiday, you've got a long weekend on your hands! And if your workplace doesn't recognize Simcoe Day, well, it's still the weekend and there are lots of fun things to do from now until Sunday. Or you could use your downtime to start looking for a better employer.

• This is Caribana's big, final weekend with the King and Queen Show on Thursday night, a steelband competition on Friday night, the parade on Saturday and an all-day festival on Olympic Island on Sunday.


• The Irie Music Festival is on all weekend as well, celebrating reggae and world music with some shows in Nathan Phillips Square and others in Queens Park.


• Every day until September 1st CNE Horseplay is open from 12:30pm to 3:30pm in the Horse Palace at Exhibition Place. This introduction to horses is free from now until the Ex begins on August 15th and then it's included with your grounds admission fee.


• On Saturday night Semisolid Media is hosting another Rock Band Video Game Jam Session at Rocky Raccoon's. The organizer posted about the first jam session in the About Toronto Forum, where you're welcome to post about your own events as well.


• Scarborough Ribfest is on from Friday through Monday at Thomson Memorial Park. Parking and admission are free, but you'll have to pay for the ribs... the delicious, so very worth it ribs.


• On Friday the Toronto Argos take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at 7pm.


• This is the first weekend for Avenue Q, the critically acclaimed, for-adults-only puppet musical that opened Tuesday night. Read more about it and what else is on stage now.


• The annual Chinese Lantern Festival is back on as of this weekend at Ontario Place, where it will continue until October 12th.


• Do you really love furniture you assemble yourself? From July 31st to August 3rd there will be an Ikea 2009 Catalogue Showroom open at 143 King Street East (near Jarvis) showing off their newest wares.


• And of course on Monday there are free Simcoe Day events at two of Toronto's historical museums.

Got plans of your own? Add a comment to share your ideas of things to do this weekend.

Photo © Marilyn Campbell