Things To Do This Weekend in North York: July 11–12, 2026
Eight picks for the weekend of Saturday July 11 – Sunday July 12, 2026 in North York, with the biggest story running all week: the World Cup is down to its final eight and heading for the July 19 final. Canada's run ended in the Round of 16, but the tournament rolls on — quarterfinals today, semifinals Tuesday July 14 and Wednesday July 15, and the final on Sunday July 19 — and you can watch every remaining match free in North York. Away from the football, Dance on Yonge takes over Mel Lastman Square all weekend, and the Downsview Park Merchants Market runs both days.
Quick answer: The World Cup final is Sunday July 19 at 3 PM ET, free over-the-air on CTV. Before that: quarterfinals today (Sat July 11, 5 PM & 9 PM ET) and semifinals Tuesday July 14 and Wednesday July 15. Watch free in North York at the Columbus Centre Soccer Fest (901 Lawrence Ave W, every remaining match day, no ticket) or the Wilson Village final-weekend party (July 18–19). Also this weekend: Dance on Yonge takes over Mel Lastman Square (5100 Yonge St, Sat 12–10 PM & Sun 12–8 PM, free), the LEGO Art of the Brick exhibition is on at Downsview, and the Downsview Park Merchants Market runs both days (40 Carl Hall Rd, 10–5).
This weekend at a glance
| Event | When | Venue | Cost | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Cup — semis & final (where to watch) | Semis Jul 14–15 · Final Sun Jul 19, 3 PM ET | Free on CTV · Columbus Centre, 901 Lawrence Ave W | Free to watch | All ages, soccer fans |
| World Cup final-weekend party | Sat Jul 18 & Sun Jul 19 | Wilson Village (Wilson Stn + 184 bus) | Free | Soccer fans, crowds |
| Dance on Yonge — free dance festival | Sat 12–10 PM · Sun 12–8 PM | Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St | Free | All ages, families |
| The Art of the Brick — LEGO exhibition | Wed–Mon (on now) | Downsview Airport Lands, 30 Hanover Rd | Ticketed (from $18.90) | Families, all ages |
| Downsview Park Merchants Market | Sat + Sun, 10 AM–5 PM | 40 Carl Hall Rd, North York | Free entry | Families, all ages |
| Aga Khan Museum & Park | Open Sat + Sun | 77 Wynford Dr, North York | Park free · museum ticketed | Culture, indoor |
| Family Salsa at Gibson House | Sat Jul 18, 3–5 PM | Gibson House Museum, 5172 Yonge St | Free (register) | Families, all ages |
| Toronto Botanical Garden & Edwards Gardens | Daily, dawn–dusk | Lawrence Ave E at Leslie St | Free | Families, nature |
The Top 8 — Ranked
World Cup Knockouts — Where to Watch the Semis & Final Free in North York
📍 Free screenings at Columbus Centre Soccer Fest (901 Lawrence Ave W) · Wilson Village final-weekend party (Jul 18–19) · every match free on CTV/TSN
World Cup Free to watch This weekendThe World Cup is down to its final week, and the run to the July 19 final is on. Canada's tournament ended July 4 with a Round of 16 loss to Morocco, but the knockout stage keeps going: quarterfinals today, Saturday July 11 (5 PM and 9 PM ET), semifinals Tuesday July 14 and Wednesday July 15, the third-place match Saturday July 18 at 5 PM ET, and the final on Sunday July 19 at 3 PM ET. Every match airs free over-the-air on CTV (plus TSN and TSN+). The easiest move is a free screen in North York — see the schedule and venues below.
The remaining schedule (all times ET)
- Quarterfinals — today, Sat Jul 11, 5 PM & 9 PM
- Semifinals — Tue Jul 14 & Wed Jul 15
- Third-place match — Sat Jul 18, 5 PM
- Final — Sun Jul 19, 3 PM, free on CTV
Where to watch free in North York
Columbus Centre Soccer Fest — 901 Lawrence Ave W, free screenings every remaining match day (Lawrence West station, free on-site parking, no ticket). Wilson Village final-weekend party — Sat Jul 18 (3–7 PM) & Sun Jul 19 (1–5 PM), free. Boston Pizza Yonge & Empress — 5170 Yonge St, matches on the big screens.
Full match-by-match schedule, TTC directions and the complete venue list in our Where to Watch the World Cup in North York guide.
World Cup watch guide for North York →
World Cup Final-Weekend Watch Party — Wilson Village, July 18–19
📍 Wilson Village (Line 1 to Wilson Station, then 184 Ancaster Park bus) · Free · no ticket
World Cup FreeIf you want the crowd-and-big-screen experience for the finish, the Wilson Village BIA hosts a free final-weekend watch party on Saturday July 18 (3–7 PM) — with the third-place match at 5 PM — and Sunday July 19 (1–5 PM), when the final kicks off at 3 PM. No ticket required. Take Line 1 to Wilson Station, then the 184 Ancaster Park bus to Gilley Rd at Garratt Blvd. The Columbus Centre Soccer Fest (901 Lawrence Ave W) also screens both days for free if you'd rather stay near Yonge.
See all North York watch spots →
Dance on Yonge — Free Outdoor Dance Festival at Mel Lastman Square
📍 Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge Street, North York · Free admission
Festival FreeOne of Toronto's largest free outdoor dance festivals lands right in the heart of North York this weekend. Dance on Yonge runs Saturday July 11 (12–10 PM) and Sunday July 12 (12–8 PM) at Mel Lastman Square (5100 Yonge Street, at North York Centre station), with more than 1,000 dancers, K-Pop dance championships, breakdancing battles, aerial yoga and open social dancing. It is free to attend and steps from the subway — an easy, all-ages Saturday, and a lively pairing with the afternoon World Cup matches.
Dance on Yonge details →
Downsview Park Merchants Market — Every Saturday + Sunday
📍 Downsview Park, 40 Carl Hall Road, North York · Free entry
Market Free entryThe reliable North York weekend staple: the Downsview Park Merchants Market runs every Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM–5 PM, at 40 Carl Hall Road (Downsview Park station). It is one of the largest indoor-outdoor markets in the city — fresh produce, street food, vintage finds, and hundreds of vendors under one roof, so it is a solid rain-or-shine backup if the weather turns. Free to enter; bring cash for the smaller stalls. It is also a short hop from the Columbus Centre World Cup screenings.
Downsview Park Merchants Market →
The Art of the Brick — LEGO Art Exhibition at Downsview
📍 Downsview Airport Lands (YZD), 30 Hanover Road, North York · Ticketed · indoor / air-conditioned
Exhibition FamilyA rainy-day or heat-wave winner in North York: The Art of the Brick, the touring LEGO art show, is on now at the Downsview Airport Lands (30 Hanover Road) after opening March 5, 2026. It gathers more than 130 works built from over a million bricks — including LEGO takes on the Mona Lisa, Starry Night and Michelangelo's David — in a big, air-conditioned indoor space. It is ticketed (from about $18.90 for kids, $24.90 for adults) and open Wednesday–Monday, an easy indoor pairing if the outdoor plans get rained out. Check the official site for the latest closing date and hours.
Art of the Brick tickets & hours →
Aga Khan Museum & Park — Islamic Art and Gardens off the DVP
📍 Aga Khan Museum & Park, 77 Wynford Drive, North York · Park free to walk; museum admission ticketed
Culture Indoor + OutdoorFor a cooler, quieter weekend option, the Aga Khan Museum & Park (77 Wynford Drive, North York) is open Saturday and Sunday with its permanent collection of Islamic art, manuscripts and contemporary work, plus a formal garden of reflecting pools that is one of the city's most photogenic. The park and gardens are free to wander any day; museum admission is ticketed. It is an easy air-conditioned escape a short drive off the DVP, and a good rainy-day or heat-wave backup to the outdoor festivals this weekend.
Aga Khan Museum visit info →
Family Salsa at Gibson House — Free All-Ages Dance Lesson, July 18
📍 Gibson House Museum, 5172 Yonge Street, North York · Free · register at salsaintoronto.com
Family FreeLooking ahead to next Saturday: the Gibson House Museum (5172 Yonge Street, steps from North York Centre station) hosts Family Salsa with Drey Dance Academy on Saturday July 18, 3–5 PM — a free, all-ages dance lesson for every skill level in one of North York's oldest heritage homes. It is a relaxed, low-key alternative to the big festivals, and a nice pairing with a walk down Yonge. Registration is required (free) at salsaintoronto.com, and spots are limited.
Register for Family Salsa →
Toronto Botanical Garden & Edwards Gardens — Free Any Day
📍 Toronto Botanical Garden / Edwards Gardens, Lawrence Avenue East at Leslie Street, North York · Free admission
Nature FreeThe reliable free-and-outdoors pick: the Toronto Botanical Garden and the adjoining Edwards Gardens (Lawrence Avenue East at Leslie Street) are open daily from dawn to dusk with free admission, and mid-July is peak bloom. The formal beds wind down into the Don Valley and connect to an extensive network of walking and cycling trails, so you can turn it into a short stroll or a long ramble. It is stroller- and family-friendly, shaded in spots, and one of North York's easiest no-cost mornings — bring water on a hot day.
Toronto Botanical Garden info →Coming Up Next
This weekend page fills the gap between the bigger seasonal moments. Two on the horizon worth planning for now:
The World Cup Final — Where to Watch in North York
The 2026 final kicks off Sunday July 19 at 3 PM ET, free on CTV. Our guide has every remaining match, the free Columbus Centre and Wilson Village watch spots, and transit.
More Things to Do in North York
Festivals, markets, patios and family days across North York all summer long. Browse the full local-events hub for what's coming up next.
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FAQ
What's on this weekend in North York for the week of July 11–12, 2026?
The weekend of July 11–12, 2026 is built around the World Cup's run to the July 19 final. Canada's tournament ended in the Round of 16 on July 4, but the knockout stage rolls on: quarterfinals Saturday July 11, semifinals Tuesday July 14 and Wednesday July 15, and the final Sunday July 19 at 3 PM ET — all free on CTV. Watch free in North York at the Columbus Centre Soccer Fest (901 Lawrence Ave W) or the Wilson Village final-weekend party (July 18–19). Also on: Dance on Yonge at Mel Lastman Square (July 11–12, free), the LEGO Art of the Brick exhibition at Downsview, and the Downsview Park Merchants Market (Sat + Sun, 10 AM–5 PM).
Where can I watch the World Cup semifinals and final free in North York?
The Columbus Centre Soccer Fest at 901 Lawrence Ave W (Lawrence West station, free on-site parking) screens matches free on every remaining tournament day — including the semifinals July 14–15 and the final weekend July 18–19 — with no ticket required. The Wilson Village BIA hosts a free final-weekend watch party on Saturday July 18 (3–7 PM) and Sunday July 19 (1–5 PM): take Line 1 to Wilson Station, then the 184 Ancaster Park bus. Boston Pizza at Yonge & Empress (5170 Yonge St) shows matches on its big screens, and every match airs free on CTV. Full list in our Where to Watch the World Cup in North York guide.
When is the 2026 World Cup final and what channel is it on in Canada?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 final is Sunday, July 19 at 3:00 PM Eastern. In Canada it airs free over-the-air on CTV, plus TSN and TSN+. Before that, the semifinals are Tuesday July 14 and Wednesday July 15, and the third-place match is Saturday July 18 at 5 PM ET. You can watch any of them free in North York at the Columbus Centre Soccer Fest (901 Lawrence Ave W) or the Wilson Village final-weekend watch party.
What is there to do indoors in North York this weekend?
Two good air-conditioned options. The Art of the Brick, a touring LEGO art exhibition of more than 130 sculptures built from over a million bricks, is on now at the Downsview Airport Lands (30 Hanover Road) — ticketed, open Wednesday to Monday. The Aga Khan Museum & Park (77 Wynford Drive) is open weekends with its Islamic art collection and free formal gardens; museum admission is ticketed. Both are easy heat-wave or rainy-day backups off the DVP.
Is the Downsview Park Merchants Market open Saturday and Sunday?
Yes — the Downsview Park Merchants Market (40 Carl Hall Road, North York, M3K 2C1) is open every Saturday and Sunday year-round, from 10 AM to 5 PM. It is one of the largest indoor-outdoor markets in the city — fresh produce, street food, vintage finds, and hundreds of vendors under one roof, a solid rain-or-shine backup. Free admission, free parking on-site, accessible from Downsview Park subway station (Line 1) via a 10-minute walk. Both cash and card are accepted.
What free things to do are there in North York this weekend?
Plenty. Every World Cup match is free to watch — on CTV at home or at the free Columbus Centre Soccer Fest screenings (901 Lawrence Ave W). Dance on Yonge, one of Toronto's largest free outdoor dance festivals, runs July 11–12 at Mel Lastman Square (5100 Yonge Street). The Downsview Park Merchants Market (40 Carl Hall Road) is free to enter both days, 10 AM–5 PM. And the Toronto Botanical Garden and Edwards Gardens (Lawrence Avenue East at Leslie Street) are free daily from dawn to dusk, with trails into the Don Valley.