August long weekend events in Toronto is our guide to events happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here's what's happening in Toronto this August 1-3, 2014.

Caribbean Carnival Toronto (aka, Caribana)
The nearly month-long carnival launched on July 8, but the main events including the legendary parade, Drake's OVO Fest, and a Def Jam party are this weekend. This is the largest celebration of Caribbean culture in North America, and a fun, high-energy way to explore new cuisine, music and art. And partying. The explosion that is the Caribana parade marches 9am-6pm Saturday, August 2, at Exhibition Place & Lakeshore Boulevard. It's $25 to enter Exhibition Place, but most of the parade is free to attend along Lakeshore Boulevard. SR

PARTY

Otherland
OTHERLAND is the newest dance party series in Toronto, but it arrives with a reputation already laid out ahead of it. This is Mansion's new year-long series that pulls inspiration from other worldwide rave utopias such as London's Fabric and Corsica Studios, Berlin's fabled Panorama Bar and Stattbad, Brooklyn's Output, and Rex Club in Paris. Appearing tonight are Simian Mobile Disco, Iron Galaxy B2B Nautiluss, and Bwana. Friday, August 1, 10pm, Tattoo (567 Queen Street West). BA

Veld Music Festival
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. August 2-3, Downsview Park. BB

See also

• "HYDRATE" The Official Caribana Kick-Off Event (Friday, The Marquis of Granby)
• VELD unofficial after parties: 1, 2, 3

For more dance listings, check out our Top Dance Parties in Toronto in August post.

FOOD

Food Truck Festival
Toronto's food trucks have been in the news a lot lately, but this weekend they'll have a chance to do what they do best: serve food, from a truck. Drama free. With beer and live music! August 2-3, 1-11pm, Woodbine Park.

Session Muskoka
Muskoka's beer festival, now named Session Muskoka, is the marquee craft beer event in the area. Held at Bracebridge's Annie Williams Park, the festival is bound to be even more popular this year. Festival organizers anticipate over 30 craft breweries to be on hand for this year's event. Saturday, August 2, Annie Williams Park, Bracebridge. BJ

The Depanneur turns three
Cute corner stop The Depanneur turns three this summer, and will celebrate on Sunday with an open-house shindig complete with music, $4 snacks and drinks, door prizes and more. Sunday, August 3, 5pm, The Depanneur (1033 College St.) LI

For more food events, check out our Toronto Food Events, Summer Food Events, and Summer Beer Events post.

MUSIC

Oldies 990
50s and 60s rock and roll will fill the Gladstone tonight three sets of live covers sample the likes of Chubby Checker, Little Richard, Del Shannon, The Champs, The Coasters, The Everly Brothers, The New Beats, and Sam Cooke while DJs spin the golden classics between sets. Friday August 1, 9:30pm, Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen St. West).

Irie Festival
Head to Nathan Phillips Square for Soca, reggae, and Calypso music from Friday to Monday. Alison Hinds, Richie Spice, Etana, Richie Stephens, David Rudder, Odel, The Arsenals, and more will perform. Aug 1-4, Nathan Phillips Square (100 Queen St West).

OVO
Drake's annual gift to Toronto during Caribana weekend does something amazing: sell out shows based solely on knowing that it'll be a good time. This year brings reunited duo Outkast to town for day one, Drake headlines day two, with a lineup of "special guests" filling out both days. Last year's surprises included Lil Wayne and Kanye West trust Drizzy to put together an unforgettable show. We're pretty sure Lil Wayne will be there - just saying. You don't have tickets, I'm sorry. Aug 3-4, Molson Amphitheatre. MF

Dwayne Gretzky @ QCYC on Toronto Island
Here's your chance to eat ribs while watching covers band Dwayne Gretzky at a yacht club as part of Young Lions Music Club's long weekend plans. Don't ask me what you wear to eat ribs at a yacht club while watching covers bands, I'd just say something snarky. Sunday, August 3, 9pm, Queen City Yacht Club, Toronto Island.

See also

• Modest Mouse (Friday, Echo Beach)
• Oneida (Friday, Lee's)
• Das Rad (Saturday, The Central)
• Destruction Unit + HSY (Saturday, Vice Courtyard, free)

For more music listings, check out our This Week in Music, Summer Concerts, and Summer Music Festivals posts.

FILM

Christie Pits Film Fest presents Days of Summer: Twister!
Instant classic Twister will sweep you off your feet at Christie Pits on Sunday - bring a donation and a blanket. As if a blanket and a couple of bucks could save you from nature. Sunday, Aug 3, 7:30pm, Christie Pits Park.

See also

• TIFF movie night: Chocolate (Friday, Evergreen Brickworks)

ART

Before and after the Horizon
Before and after the Horizon: Anishinaabe Artists of the Great Lakes showcases contemporary and traditional Anishinaabe art by Norval Morrisseau, Bonnie Devine, Robert Houle, Michael Belmore, and many more. Artifacts such as birchbark wall pockets and beaded bags are juxtaposed with contemporary painting work. Until Nov 25, AGO (317 Dundas St West).

Ward's Island Fire Parade
If your summer needs more puppets, fire sculptures, flags, stilts, and lanterns, the island is the place to be this weekend. Hope on a ferry tonight to check out Shadowland Theatre's creative parade and a performance by the Arhythmics Band. Friday, August 1, 8pm, Ward's Island.

See also

• Dr. Sketchy's (Friday, Round)
• Animal Nature (Aug 2-17, Dufferin Grove Park)

For more art listings, check out our Top 10 Must-See Art Shows This Summer post.

SPORTS

Young Lions Softball Classic 2014 @ Bellwoods
It's too late to join the team (and get a shirt) but you can watch pretty young things play softball at Trinity Bellwoods this weekend as Young Lions Music Club celebrates August Long. Why you'd want to do that instead of watching dogs chase balls in the Dog Bowl is unclear, but the world of organized sports has always been an island of mystery to me and my pug. So has fetch, to be honest. Saturday August 2, 9pm, Trinity Bellwoods Park (790 Queen Street West).

FASHION

The Leslieville Flea
Hands up if, as a child, you pictured flea markets as a literal market either for or filled with small, terrible insects that wanted to drain your blood. Hello hand raisers - perhaps you too were a suburban product of box stores, yard sales, Value Village, and sprawling malls, and you, too are drawn to the idea of a cutesy boutique vendor market that calls itself flea. Sunday, 10am-5pm, Harbourfront Centre.

COMEDY

Fan Fiction The Show: Doctor Who
Tired of reading fan-fics online alone with your most definitely uninterested cat/roommate/significant other/s/parents/unicorn plushy/pug/ghost/spy cam you may or may not be getting a paycheque for? Me too. If you're a fan of Doctor Who, Fan Fiction The Show will have you laughing out loud tomorrow in a room where people can hear you. Go on, it's okay. Saturday, August 2, 7:30pm, Black Swan Tavern (154 Danforth, 2nd Floor).

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

Contributions by Sarah Ratchford, Brendan Arnott, Liora Ipsum, Benjamin Boles, Matt Forsythe, Ben Johnston. Lead photo by Irina No.