Summer finally crept in this week, sheepishly, because of its late arrival. It is here now, though, with a full schedule of events and activities, many of which continue on a regular weekly schedule through September. Here's a sampling of the alfresco fun to be had, this week and beyond.
Saturday, June 29: You are fans of Metric, City and Colour and Serena Ryder? Get out of town! No, really, get out of town – to Butler's Barracks National Historic Site in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., where the Juno-winning acts join forces for an all-day festival (2:30 p.m., $49.50, at 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.com.). Closer to home, the Toronto Rush ultimate-disc franchise takes on their fellow frisbee fanatics at Varsity Stadium (4 p.m., torontorush.com).
Sunday, June 30: Laptop maestros and their fans descend upon the Flats at Molson Canadian Amphitheatre for the two-day Digital Dreams Music Festival (June 29 and 30, 3 p.m., $108.25, 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.com.). For more pedestrian affairs, try Christie Pits where the baseballing Toronto Maple Leafs play each Sunday (2 p.m., mapleleafsbaseball.com).
Monday, July 1: While the Canada Day Regatta at Centre Island has folks paddling and rowing in a variety of styles for a total of 99 races (ddra.ca), there were many who thought the Toronto Blue Jays were rudderless in the early going. The squad has snapped its slump just in time for a game at Rogers Centre, where the first 20,000 fans receive special edition red caps (1:07 p.m., bluejays.mlb.com).
Tuesday, July 2: "What, with my tongue in your tail? Nay, come again, Good Kate; I am a gentleman." Has that line ever worked? To Sept. 1, Canadian Stage presents Shakespeare's saucy early comedy The Taming of the Shrew (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m., PWYC, $20 suggested) in repertory with his tragedy Macbeth (Wednesday, Fridays and Sundays, canadianstage.com).
Wednesday, July 3: The shed on Lake Shore West is open for another season of international touring acts, including the pop specialist Bruno Mars, who hits Molson Amphitheatre on July 3 (7:30 p.m., $61 to $155) and July 6 (8 p.m.). Mars's latest hit single is When I Was Your Man, a bittersweet ballad which fits right into the TIFF in the Park: A Summer of Romance series at David Pecaut Square. Beginning with Casablanca, they'll will play-it-again-Sam all summer – every Wednesday a new weeper (9:15 p.m., free, tiff.net).
Thursday, July 4: The Music in the Garden Series, which kicks off its 14th season of free music with presentations of Beethoven and Dvorak by the Beau String Quartet (June 30, 4 p.m., 475 Queens Quay W.), continues with Thursday's program of Mediterranean baroque music (7 p.m.). This week also sees the start of a roving theatrical presentation of Forgotten Voices: Beyond the Conflict of the War of 1812, which visits various parks in the Etobicoke area, including Jeff Healey Park (July 4, 7 p.m., free, 416-201-7093 or siriustheatrical.com).
Friday, July 5: The annual Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition is a biggie, with four days to browse the paintings, drawings, photography, sculptures, ceramics, glass art, jewellery of more tha 500 artists (free, Nathan Phillips Square, torontooutdoorart.org.).