Weekend events in Toronto show that the holidays are quickly approaching. The Toronto Christmas Market opens on Friday, there are massive lighting ceremonies across the GTA and to top it all off, the Santa Claus Parade is on Sunday. But it's easy to avoid the festive wave thanks to a solid collection of dance parties and concerts just in case you're not ready to start celebrating yet.

Here are my picks for the top events in Toronto this weekend.

BIG EVENTS

Santa Claus Parade (Nov. 20, Downtown Toronto)
Bundle up because the 112th Santa Claus Parade starts at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. No one is expecting you to follow the hundreds of clowns, floats and cheerleaders all day, but it's an easy event to stop by at for a little while and get into the festive spirit.

Podcast Festival (Nov. 18-20, Hot Docs Cinema)
See your favourite podcasts live on stage all weekend! Check out the lineup on the official website to see if your fave podcast is coming to town. Many of the big events are sold out of advance tickets, so get planning and listening as soon as you can.

Rally Against Trump (Nov. 19, City Hall)
It's already been a week since the US election and this is the second such rally planned in Toronto. This one's a peaceful protest that starts at City Hall at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Afterwards, the group will march down to the Trump Tower at 2 p.m., giving you the chance to let out all your frustrations with a crowd of likeminded Torontonians.

The World of RBC Rewards Plus (Until Nov. 20, Liberty Village)
Do you like free things? Then you might want to head to this RBC sponsored fun, games and giveaways event at 80 Lynn Williams Street. There'll be larger than life versions of your favourite childhood games, hot chocolate, a candy bar and a chance to win big prizes from RBC Rewards+

More Toronto events

• 
  Gourmet Food & Wine Expo (until Nov. 20, Toronto Convention Centre)
• Grand Trunk pop up (Nov. 18, Depanneur)
• FNL ROM: Wild (Nov. 18, ROM)
• Dollhouse (Nov. 19, Berkeley St. Theatre)
• Grace, grit & hustle (Nov. 19, Verkspace)
• Trans Day of Remembrance (Nov. 20, The 519)
• Toronto Festival of House Culture (Nov. 20, various locations)
• Salon of Inclusiveness (until Dec. 31, Black Cat Gallery)

HOLIDAY AND CHRISTMAS EVENTS

Toronto Christmas Market (Nov. 18-Dec. 22, Distillery District)
Get started on your Christmas shopping while sipping on mulled wine and listening to carollers in the Distillery District. The price of weekend tickets went up this year to $6 and there's also a new fast pass ticket option for $20.

More Toronto holiday and Christmas events

• Christmas Spice (Nov. 18, Paul Petro Gallery)
• Markham Home For The Holidays (Nov. 18-20, Markham Fairgrounds)
• Swedish Christmas Fair (Nov. 19, Harbourfront Centre)
• Rosedale Cavalcade of lights (Nov. 19, Yonge and Summerhill)
• Dundas Street Holiday Market (Nov. 19, 1161 Dundas St. W.)
• Indigenous & Ingenious Show and Sale (Nov. 19, Ralph Thornton Centre)
• Bloor-Yorkville Holiday Magic (Yorkville Park)
• 22nd Annual Swansea Craft Sale (Nov. 19, Swansea School and Community Centre)
• RUC Christmas crafts and arts market (Nov. 19, Roncesvalles United Church)
• Illuminite (Nov. 19, Yonge-Dundas Square)
• Light up the Square (Nov. 19, Mississauga Celebration Square)
• Toronto Art Crawl and Christmas Market (Nov. 20, The Great Hall)

MUSIC

Cashmere Cat (Nov. 18, The Hoxton)
Cashmere Cat is on fire this year after producing a bunch of Ariana Grande tracks. The Norwegian producer is joined by Diplo favourite Sophie. This will be a wild night of dancing if you're up for it.

More music in Toronto

• Night Owl Festival (Nov. 18, Silver Dollar Room)
• Sublime (Nov. 18, Rebel)
• The Planet Smashers (Nov. 18-19, Horseshoe Tavern)
• Seth Troxler and Matthew Dear (Nov. 19, Coda)
• The Fray (Nov. 20, Rebel)

DANCING

Tush - Live disco with Mamalia (Junction City Music Hall)
Disco party collective Tush returns and they're bringing the funk to the Junction City Music Hall. With DJ sets from Cyclist, Hemingway and Jamie Kidd, this is a sweaty disco party unlike any other with a live disco band in between sets. It'll cost you $10 to get in, but your booty will thank you.

More dancing in Toronto

• Course of Time LXVI (Nov. 18, Drake Underground)
• Saddle Up! (Nov. 18, Owl's Club)
• DUTTY-Reggae Dancehall (Nov. 18, Rivoli)
• DFMO (Nov. 18, The Black Eagle)
• Worst Behaviour (Nov. 19, Clinton's)
• Cherry Bomb (Nov. 19, Round)
• Sweetback (Nov. 19, Cadillac Jenkins)
• The Motown Party: Stevie Wonder edition (Nov. 19, Studio Bar)
• Booyakasha (Nov. 19, Holy Oak)
• All vinyl everything (Nov. 19, Miss Thing's)
• Fabulous Funk (Nov. 20, Holy Oak)

Thanks to RBC Rewards for sponsoring this post.

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events section and have a great weekend!

Photo by Andre Badgley via the blogTO Flickr pool.