Everyone knows that once the temperature creeps above 15 degrees, Torontonians finally emerge from hibernation, often in shorts and sandals, in anticipation of a long-awaited summer. And since the summers here are so short, every weekend is crammed with street festivals, pop-ups, markets and outdoor events that make the three months fly by at breakneck speed.

If you’ve been to one street festival, you’ve been to them all

Whether the band is playing Sarà Perché Ti Amo for the fifth time at Taste of Italy, or the speakers are blasting salsa on St. Clair, the enveloping smell of cumin lamb skewers and the sight of cocktails in pineapples tie the two experiences together. Although each festival is meant to celebrate a specific neighbourhood and its local vendors, you can’t seem to escape the tornado potatoes and sushi tacos. It makes you wonder if they didn’t just repeat last week’s festival on a different street.

It ultimately doesn’t matter because the true purpose of street fests is not to line up for overpriced food. The festival’s real identity is revealed when the sun sets and the kids go home; the whole thing is an excuse to drink in public and have a block party. This fact became awkwardly apparent the evening I visited the Taste of Italy to pick up a cheap book from Sellers & Newel (one of four I bought that weekend; the Toronto Public Library booth also has insane deals). My sister wanted to say hi to a friend at the festival before going home, and that’s how I ended up in a crowd, swaying to soca music with the history of the Bolsheviks in my hand. And while the bass kept me up all night, it was kind of nice to see people let loose and reclaim the streets, if only for a few nights of the year.

French fries with a side of fossil fuels

Speaking of reclaiming the streets, summertime means temporary patios springing up all over the city and taking over the right lane of traffic, much to the dismay of drivers. I’m not sure why they’re complaining considering us pedestrians pay taxes to pave the roads too, and we only get to use them for a third of the year. Besides, I’m sure diners aren’t too keen on inhaling fumes with their fries or talking over obnoxious honking either. But I digress. As much as I yearn for the public squares of Europe or LATAM, I can’t deny that Toronto’s hastily-assembled wooden decks are a welcome, albeit temporary, haven in this confused car-centric city. The one in front of The Royal is especially large and would be ideal if not for Bottega Volo’s astronomical prices. Morning Parade across from Trinity Bellwoods is another prime location patio. To be fair, the entire West End boasts plenty of patio options in the summer.

In my rage over the lack of pedestrianized areas, I’ve managed to overlook the many mainstay patios in the city. Two of the nicest spaces are right next to each other, Bellwoods Brewery and Paris Paris, on the ever-popular Ossington strip. I can’t speak about the latter, but the former is one of the OG craft breweries in Toronto, and the vibes of their outdoor seating is hard to beat. Some of the smaller patios I enjoyed this summer include Gonzo Izakaya, Cafe Belem and the Sicilian Sidewalk Cafe.

Constant celebrations

One of the best parts about Toronto summers is that there’s always something going on. Having Nathan Phillips Square as our backyard last year meant a different Taste of (insert country/region) every weekend. A short walk away, at the forbidden intersection of Yonge and Dundas, Sankofa Square hosts its own concerts and festivals. Though I don’t find myself in the area very often, getting an impromptu funnel cake or a free sample of Hungarian salami makes my rare trips to the Eaton Centre a little more pleasant.

Summer also means more evening strolls and stumbling onto live music performances like Luminato in the Square and Jazz Fest—little pockets of colour and expression nestled within the concrete grid of the downtown core. There’s something warm and fuzzy about gathering on the lawn for an outdoor concert, and it’s even better when it’s free.

A patch of grass is all we need

You know what else is free? The park. And when it comes to Torontonians, we aren’t very picky. The first time I walked through Trinity Bellwoods I didn’t understand why everyone was so obsessed with it. There was nothing special—no gardens or flower beds, nor fountains or artificial ponds with boat rentals. There are no food vendors (except on Tuesdays in the summer) or shaded wine gardens, and no overlooked war memorials unless you count the bust of Simón Bolívar. Heck, even benches are hard to come by, which is why most people sit on the grass. At least you can legally drink in the park now, and you won’t have to worry about bringing your empties home (IYKYK). In the end, Toronto’s favourite park, or at least the most crowded, is simply a large patch of grass. Riverdale Park is a patch of grass with a view, and Christie Pits is a patch of grass with… a pit.

While our parks don’t exactly compare to the Hyde Parks and Retiros of the world, they do fulfill the most important function of providing an outdoor space for the community to gather. Besides, the world is your oyster when you have a blank space to work with. So go enjoy your local patch of grass before the cold forces the city into its cyclical slumber once again.