The top events in Toronto for May will open doors for you, whether an early glimpse of an indie band on the rise, a new comic book artist or character to cosplay and geek out over, or a voyeuristic peek into what keeps Toronto ticking.

Also don't miss the Eastern Breeze Film Fest, plus annual date-oriented celebrations May the 4th ("Star Wars Day") and Cinco De Mayo (May 5).

Here are my pics for the top events in Toronto this May.

Contact Festival (May)
Beginning on May 1 and covering more or less the whole month of May (depending on the gallery), the Contact Photography Festival is the largest event of its kind in the world, which is pretty impressive even if only a fraction of it will interest most. Galleries great and small participate, with the opening at MOCCA as a highlight every year. Check out our full preview here.

CMW (May 1-10)
Canadian Music Week is back with The Jesus and Mary Chain, Joey Bada$$, Death Cab For Cutie, Alvvays, Billy Talent, Metz and hundreds more playing in venues across the city. The main thing is the music industry conference, but there are film and comedy components, and the Indies Music Awards. Check out our full preview here or see which venues are the best to stick to here. MF

Pages UnBound (May 7-10, Randolph Theatre)
Toronto's newest books & lit festival, self-described as "A Literary Festival for the 21st Century" is back for one weekend in May. The festival merges voices from the worlds of books, film, and digital media. Hit the launch on the 7th at CSI Coffee Pub.

TCAF (May 9-10, Toronto Reference Library)
The Toronto Comic Arts Festival is an indie comic fan's dream, with tables upon tables of graphic novels, art prints, and much more, plus a host of special guests. If you need more geek, Bit Bazaar is the same weekend at Bento Miso.

Drone Day (May 9)
Drone Day is not only a celebration of music that sounds like harmonizing refrigerators: it's a tribute to Canada's free spirited non-commercial and fringe musicians, with events criss-crossing nearly all provinces and territories. The event was launched last year by Weird Canada's Marie Claire Flanagan and Toronto has a lot planned.

Electric Island (May 18, Toronto Island)
Electric Island is back for another season of all-day electronic music events on Toronto Island. This year kicks off with a back-to-back set by the Martinez Brothers and Seth Troxler, as well as performances by UK house hero Steve Lawler, Lee Burridge, and more. BB

Inside Out (May 21-31)
While Inside Out make a name for themselves with screenings year round, film lovers know the best time for queer cinema in the city is the Inside Out LGBT Film Festival, marking its 25th anniversary this spring. Watch the trailer here.

Anime North (May 22)
The vendors, speakers, performers, and stars are the glitz of Anime North (shout out especially to all the local talent) but it's truly the geeky fans and the devoted cosplayers who make it one of the year's best spectacles and fan gatherings.

Doors Open (May 23)
You know the deal: Toronto's historical or otherwise closed-access buildings will open the doors to the public. Ready your neck for looking up, and don't forget to bring a DSLR or you'll feel left out.

Bike Month (May 25 - June 25)
Less an event than an excuse to party with your best two-wheeled friend for thirty days, bike month will see events popping up city wide including May 25th's Bike to Work day. Stay tuned for more bike-centric events in our upcoming preview.

Contributions by Ben Boles