Going out in Toronto this weekend? Better plan ahead, because it's a busy one

Toronto is hosting one of its last busy weekends of the summer season as August comes to a close, with concerts, festivals, service disruptions and road closures set to take over the city.

If you're planning to get around, you're probably going to want to plan ahead, because there's lots on the go.

Did somebody say, let’s go to the Ex?

The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) officially returned Friday. The first weekend at Exhibition Place will bring Torontonians interesting food combinations, wild rides and businesses that have created a legacy.

This weekend’s performances at the CNE include Lights, Jay Douglas and Shaggy — only some of the artists in the star-studded lineup.

In a news release Thursday, the City of Toronto advised residents of a closure on Dufferin Street, south of the Dufferin Street Bridge, to accommodate the festival, which runs until Sept. 7. The road closure will take place from 5 a.m. on Saturdays to 11:59 p.m. on Sundays.

“With a number of concerts, sporting events, construction projects and the opening of the Canadian National Exhibition, it will be a busy weekend in the city,” the city’s chief congestion officer, Andrew Posluns, said. “The City of Toronto, along with TTC, Metrolinx, the Toronto Police Service and other partners has been preparing for increased volumes of traffic.”

The city will deploy traffic agents and adjust signal timing to help residents navigate, he added. People are encouraged to use public transit to get around where feasible.

The 504 King and 510 Spadina streetcar routes will temporarily change to accommodate the CNE until Sept. 7, according to the Toronto Transit Commission's website.

To meet the CNE’s demand, which the TTC says attracts more than 1.5 million visitors each year, a dedicated express shuttle bus will run from Dufferin station. That is in addition to extra service on the 29 Dufferin and 929 Dufferin Express buses, the 509 Harbourfront streetcar and the 511 Bathurst route.

If you’re not looking to head to the CNE on its debut weekend, you could check out the Yorkville Murals festival, which might be taking place for the last time. The free festival turns Yorkville Avenue into an outdoor gallery and attracted more than 70,000 attendees last year.

In its news release, the city said Yorkville Avenue will be closed to all vehicle traffic between Hazelton Avenue and Bellair Street until Sunday at 9 p.m. for the festival.

Major concerts downtown and in North York

Festivals are not the only exciting events hitting the city this weekend. As part of their Arirang World Tour, South Korean boy-band BTS will perform sold-out shows on Saturday and Sunday at Rogers Stadium. The K-pop group, known for hit songs Swim, Permission to Dance and Butter, will perform for approximately 100,000 fans over the two nights.

The city proclaimed Saturday and Sunday as BTS Weekend in Toronto, marking the occasion by lighting up the Toronto sign at Nathan Phillips Square in purple — a colour the city says is associated with BTS and its fans.

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The TTC is increasing service on Line 1 for the BTS shows on Saturday and Sunday. Concertgoers are encouraged to take Line 1 to Downsview Park, or another station nearby within walking distance of Rogers Stadium, the public transit agency said in a news release Thursday.

There will be extra buses deployed on the 84 Sheppard West and 984 Sheppard West Express routes. As well, the 101 Downsview Park buses will be extended to Sheppard West Station from 12 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Fans can use their concert tickets to access the TTC for free on the way home.

Downtown, Ed Sheeran is taking over Rogers Centre on Friday and Saturday, following a successful show on Thursday.

Over at RBC Amphitheatre, French DJ and record producer Hugel is set to bring the remixes to Toronto crowds on Saturday. Less than five kilometres away, Nigerian singer and rapper Asake will headline Scotiabank Arena that same night.

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If you’re more of a sports fan, the Toronto Argonauts will take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at BMO Field Saturday at 7 p.m.

Transit disruptions

Several service disruptions and street closures are planned this weekend.

The 506 Carlton streetcar will continue to divert due to a Metrolinx transit expansion from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. nightly until Sunday. Replacement buses will operate between Spadina Station and Gerrard Street E. and Broadview Avenue.

On Friday, Line 1 will have a nightly early closure of 11:59 p.m. between Lawrence West and St. George stations.

In a news release Thursday, the public transit agency also advised customers of a late opening of 11 a.m. on Line 2 Sunday, from St. George to Chester stations. Subway service will be replaced by shuttle buses due to planned infrastructure work.

Road closures

The city is advising residents of some road closures this weekend due to work on the Gardiner Expressway. Two left lanes on Lake Shore Boulevard W. will be closed between Bay and York Streets on Friday from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Two right lanes on Lake Shore Boulevard W. between Bremner Boulevard and Bay Street will be closed on Sunday between midnight and 5 a.m., the city said in a news release Thursday.

The Westway in Etobicoke will be closed for safe operation of a crane hoist between Islington Avenue and Hartsdale Drive from Friday at 9 p.m. to Saturday at 9 a.m., with one westbound curb lane maintained, the city said in its release.

Rehabilitation work on the Eastern Avenue and Adelaide Street bridges will also take place from 10:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. on Friday. The Don Valley Parkway (DVP) will be reduced to one lane southbound from Dundas Street E. to south of Eastern Avenue and the off-ramp to Richmond Street will be closed.

The Unwin Avenue Vehicular Bridge will also be closed to traffic from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

As well, the eastbound lanes of Gerrard Street E. from Jarvis to Church streets will be closed Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. to safely hoist a vault, the city said.

The Canadian Armed Forces advised residents Friday of heavier traffic and delays Saturday and Sunday as reservists disembark from Toronto armouries and head up to Petawawa for an end-of-summer training exercise.

The military and chartered civilian vehicles will convoy along the Gardiner Expressway and the DVP, as well as highways 28, 41, 401, 404, 427, 512 and 515. Soldiers will be carrying weapons, but will not have ammunition, the Canadian Armed Forces said in a news release.

GO service expansions

In a news release Friday, Metrolinx said it would be adding seven Lakeshore West trains departing from Exhibition GO and travelling to Union Station on weekdays. A new morning train will also be leaving from Union Station to Exhibition GO, the public transit network said.

On weekends, a new train will be leaving Exhibition GO in the early afternoon, making its way to Union Station. Three additional trains will run from Union Station to Exhibition GO in the afternoon.

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On the Lakeshore East line, three new trains will be departing Whitby GO, making all stops to Union Station on weekdays. One train will also depart from Union Station late in the evening, making all stops to Whitby GO on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Veterans and a companion can ride GO and UP Express free to and from the CNE for the Warriors’ Day Parade on Saturday.