TIFF tickets can easily run $30 or more (and dining experiences into the thousands), but some of the best festival action this opening weekend won’t cost you anything. From a free Our Lady Peace concert and outdoor movies to celebrity spotting and snack and swag crawls, here are 10 free things to do at TIFF this opening weekend (really, keep your wallet at home).
See Our Lady Peace perform for free
One of Canada’s biggest rock bands is playing this weekend, and you don’t need a ticket to see them. Our Lady Peace takes over the Rogers Red Carpet in Yorkville on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 2 p.m. with a free live performance, followed by a Q&A about Gail, the new TIFF documentary that follows a superfan during the band’s 30th-anniversary Canadian tour.
In fact, the entire Yorkville activation is free and open to the public! Look out for more live music along Yorkville Ave. between Bellair St. and Hazelton Ave. throughout the weekend: Jeremie Albino performs Friday at 3 p.m., followed by the Casa Loma Orchestra at 5 p.m. The 99s will also perform Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Watch free TIFF movies at Cinema Park
Cinema Park takes over David Pecaut Square with free outdoor screenings every night at 10 p.m., rain or shine. Opening weekend includes Toronto-shot rom-com The F Word on Friday, Sept. 11, animated favourite Madagascar on Saturday, and magician heist movie Now You See Me on Sunday. The free movies are part of TIFF’s Festival Street, which runs from Sept. 10 to 13 along King St. W. between Peter St. and University Ave., but nightly free movies at Cinema Park will continue through Sept. 19.
Shoot hoops with the Toronto Tempo and meet AFC Toronto players
Speaking of Festival Street, head over this weekend to play some interactive b-ball activities with the Toronto Tempo, including pop-a-shot and a spin-the-wheel game! Players from AFC Toronto will also be meeting fans during Festival Street celebrations.
Watch La La Land, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or The Princess Bride outdoors in Yorkville
Cinema Park isn’t your only free outdoor theatre this weekend. Once the live performances wrap up, the Rogers Red Carpet in Yorkville will transform into an open-air cinema showing past TIFF People’s Choice Award winners.
Friday brings La La Land at 8 p.m., followed by Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon at 8 p.m. on Saturday and The Princess Bride at 4 p.m. on Sunday. Friday and Saturday will also feature TIFF Short Cuts films at 7 p.m., complete with filmmaker Q&As.
Catch free TIFF filmmaker Q&As
Catch free screenings from TIFF’s Short Cuts programme, complete with filmmaker Q&As. On Friday at 7 p.m., watch The End, followed by a conversation with director Niki Lindroth von Bahr. Then, on Saturday at 7 p.m., Between Late April and Early May will screen before a Q&A with director Sophia Smith. Both events take place at the Rogers Red Carpet and are free and open to the public!
Watch TIFF stars arrive without a red-carpet ticket
TIFF has public fan viewing areas outside both the Princess of Wales Theatre and Royal Alexandra Theatre, where fans can watch celebrity red carpet arrivals for free! This year, there’s no advance ticket or registration required for the King Street viewing areas, although space is first-come, first-served.
There’s also the TIFF Fan Zone South at David Pecaut Square for Roy Thomson Hall premieres. Fans line up for individual red carpets, with lineups opening at 11 a.m. through Sept. 14 and colour-coded wristbands handed out on a first-come basis. The Fan Zone opens two hours before each screening, and entry closes about 30 minutes before the screening begins.
Play traditional Korean games, eat snacks and make your own luggage tags
The Korean Cultural Centre Canada and Korea Tourism Organization are hosting All About K-Culture & Travel in front of TIFF Lightbox throughout opening weekend.
The free activation includes traditional Korean games, known as jeontongnori, snack tastings, a claw machine challenge using traditional Korean coins, a photo booth, travel experiences, TIFF movie ticket giveaways and the chance to make your own luggage tags! The activation runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Catch a free TIFF Q&A with Cameron Bailey
This is your chance to hear from the person at the helm of TIFF itself. CEO Cameron Bailey takes the stage in Yorkville for a free “ICYMI: TIFF Q&A” on Sunday at 2:45 p.m. The conversation is part of the Rogers Red Carpet free Sunday programming, so no festival ticket is required.
Ring a bell for free coffee and prizes at Union Station
Lavazza is TIFF’s official coffee partner, and the brand is bringing a TIFF pop-up to Union Station beginning Sunday. The experience takes inspo from Florence’s historic wine windows, but this one dispenses caffeine instead: guests can walk up to a theatre-inspired service window, ring a bell and reveal a prize (anything from a coffee sample to branded merch!). The Union Station pop-up is open Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and again from 4 to 7 p.m.
Mood-inspired treats and free TIFF swag
Not sure what kind of movie mood you’re in? Tubi is turning its activation at Festival Street into an “Any Mood, For Free” playground with an interactive experience designed to match festival-goers’ moods with something to watch! The free activation includes mood-inspired treats and collectible merch.