One of Toronto’s most anticipated summer events is returning as of this weekend, bringing free movie nights right to your favourite city greenspaces all season long.
The Toronto Outdoor Picture Show (TOPS) kicks off on June 26 for its 16th summer season of open-air cinema programming at parks across the city.
Gathering communities together under the night sky, this massive cinematic showcase is rolling out a journey-themed programme appropriately titled Going Places. A giant inflatable screen will take center stage at various local parks, ready to host a series of free, open-air screenings for all who lay down a blanket.
Opening weekend features a special three-night celebration running from June 26 to June 28. This year, the festival will launch at Christie Pits Park, headlining its first night with the Toronto-centric time-travel comedy Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie. The one-of-a-kind outdoor festival pairs local and Canadian short films with major crowd-pleasing features, catering to movie lovers of all ages.
The screenings are completely free to enjoy, but while you won’t pay a penny for a ticket, the event’s mission as a charitable organization relies on community support. Guests are encouraged to make a pay-what-you-can donation to help keep the programming accessible to everyone – a small contribution for an unforgettable evening. Local food vendors and concessions will also be on-site selling eats and treats starting around 6 p.m., well before the movie begins at sundown.
The Toronto Outdoor Picture Show will launch at Christie Pits Park on Friday, June 26, with showtimes scheduled for twilight. You can find the festival’s full summer schedule and movie lineup on the TOPS website.
Besides Christie Pits, you can also catch the open-air movie magic later this summer in other parks across the city, including Corktown Common and Bell Manor Park.
