The top dance parties in Toronto in August will do their best to keep you outdoors. The city's clubs in the summer can seem far less crowded than normal, partly because so many try to escape the city for cottages up north, but also because there are so many great opportunities to dance all day in the sun at the growing number of open air parties.

While this month's event recommendations are all outdoors, that's not even including the weekly Promise Cherry Beach parties, the ongoing Summerdaze series, and of course the festival formerly known as Caribana. Just remember to stay hydrated on hot days.

Veld Music Festival / August 2-3 / Downsview Park / 11 am / $225.44
If you got there when the gates open both days, you could spend 24 hours being pounded by EDM beats at this year's Veld Music Festival. Headliners include the expected big room DJs like Calvin Harris, Armin Van Buuren, and Martin Garrix, but also some unexpected performers, like party rappers Iggy Azalea and Waka Flocka Flame.

Electric Island / August 4 / Olympic Island Park / 1:30 pm / $35
Seth Troxler makes his second appearance this year at Electric Island, but this time he's joined by UK DJ/producer Maya Jane Coles, NYC/Vancouver live duo Bob Moses, and local support from My Favourite Robot, Nitin, and Koki. Expect a full day of sleek streamlined tech-house and melodic minimal sounds.

Mad Decent Block Party / August 15 / Fort York Garrison Common / 4 pm / $55
This year's Toronto stop for the Mad Decent Block Party tour features label head Diplo playing one his genre-hopping DJ sets of global club bangers. Torontonians might feel a bit slighted that Outkast are only appearing at the Denver edition of the travelling party, but at least we are getting a performance by Chance The Rapper, as well as hometown dubstep heroes Zeds Dead.

Corona Sunsets / August 16 / Hanlan's Point Beach / 1:00 pm / $49.50
Weekend afternoons at Hanlan's Point already feel like a party, but this two stage festival of techno, house and downtempo promises to crank it up a few notches. Headliners include rave veteran Moby, chillout stars Thievery Corporation, Cajmere (aka Green Velvets deep house alter-ego), and Brooklyn tastemakers Wolf + Lamb, as well as a slew of other talented DJs.

Waterfront Beach Festival / August 23 / HTO Park / 1:30 pm / $33.90
The under-used HTO Park on the Waterfront is the location for the first Waterfront Beach Festival. The tech-house party features DJs from all over the world, including Spain's Pig and Dan, Brazil's Christian Smith, Hungary's Jay Lumen, England's wAFF, and Miguel Campbell (also from the UK).

Photo: Brian Morton