We get it, everyone’s a World Cup aficionado these days (except, apparently, you). There’s no shame in wanting a summer that involves zero home-team jerseys or die-hard fans yelling at a screen during a watch party. Thankfully, Toronto is, well, Toronto, and even if it’s ground zero for soccer programming, there are still some ways to enjoy the city without going anywhere near the FIFA crowds.
Here are a few ideas for enjoying an anti-World Cup summer in Toronto.
Free outdoor movie circuit
This summer, open-air cinema nights are officially coming back, with the Toronto Outdoor Picture Show returning for its 16th season of free outdoor cinema across three public parks.
The outdoor film festival runs from June 26 to Aug 23 under the theme “Going Places,” with 19 free public events. Christie Pits Park hosts the opening weekend from June 26 to 28, beginning with Matt Johnson’s Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, a 2025 Canadian time-travel comedy, followed by Sunday screenings from July 5 to Aug 23.
Corktown Common gets Thursday night screenings from July 2 to 30, with films like Back to the Future, Wildhood, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Speed. Later in the summer, Bell Manor Park in Etobicoke gets three consecutive nights of movies from Aug 13 to 15, including The Queen of My Dreams, The Princess Bride and Paddington.
Arts and Culture
If you’re looking for live music instead of soccer commentary, the Toronto Music Garden is the perfect spot. Harbourfront Centre’s Summer Music in the Garden returns for its 25th season from June 21 to Aug 27, with 20 free performances on Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. Fair warning, as it’s near the waterfront, there’ll be World Cup events and fans around, so you’ll want to be strategic about timing (still, you’ll be far enough from FIFA action that you won’t have to fight your way through a fan zone).
In the evening, whether solo or with a group of friends, head to Soulpepper’s ‘Tiger Bride’ for a brilliant take on Beauty and the Beast (runs until June 21 at the Michael Young Theatre).
If you’re looking for “the one,” but aren’t keen on swiping right, an anti-dating app social series is making its Toronto debut early this July at Book Bar in Toronto’s new Mirvish Village, while people over 40 are turning to a phone-free social club to make friends.
Got a FIFA-free date? Great! Take them to an unexpected space where community and creativity blur together, from Craft Rave at Waterworks Food Hall to a bar-Bingo Hall. Or keep it classic and explore some of the city’s most iconic street art and murals, including Graffiti Alley and other bold works.
To explore the city like a high-society tourist, Toronto is getting Canada’s first luxury afternoon tea experience on a glass-roof double-decker bus! The aptly named High Sociétéa is a 90-minute experience that combines sightseeing with a traditional afternoon tea service, complete with artisan teas curated by Toronto tea sommeliers, plated savoury bites and desserts, all served in an elegant, Insta-ready bus setting.
And there are tons of other unique festivals and events to attend this summer, including Play on the Runway, where a former airport runway will be transformed into a giant playground for the public from July 11 to 12.
Parks, Waterparks and Nature
Toronto’s ravines are full of after-dark life, and on June 20, one guided field trip is offering a rare chance to slow down and look for it: Field Trips-Turtles at Twilight will take visitors on a gentle sunset stroll through the Don Valley at Evergreen Brick Works to get a closer look at turtles as they begin their nesting season.
The trails around Evergreen Brick Works connect to the Beltline system, so you can literally take a long walk away from World Cup mania. Moore Park Ravine and the Milkman’s Lane area are also good choices if you want to feel like you’ve left the city without actually leaving the city.
If it’s scenery you’re seeking, these five Toronto hiking spots have the most amazing views. And if you’re looking for more of a hidden gem, there’s a forested escape hidden behind a parking lot that feels miles from the FIFA buzz. So zen.
Speaking of zen, Casa Loma is hosting Sunday morning yoga classes in the gardens throughout the summer. Each two-hour session kicks off at 9 a.m. on Sundays, so you can start your day surrounded by the beautiful flowers and landscaping on the castle grounds rather than screaming soccer fans.
There are also FIFA-free spaces that the entire family will enjoy, from indoor water parks to off-leash dog parks and the Toronto Islands.
Day or weekend trips
If you want to escape the city altogether, we put together guides on essential day trips you can take within Ontario during the summer, the five best towns near Toronto for a summer weekend getaway, stunning white sand beaches and a round-up of the very best of Muskoka.
