The year in festivals kicked off in January with a dance festival called Connect TO at Lower Ossington Theatre, which is a prime festival location.

The music festival season began with the Canadian Music Festival in March. Musicians and bands performed at local venues including The Painted Lady, The Garrison and The Dakota Tavern.  Juno Fest also hit Toronto, and Ossington, in March, with Canadian musicians featured at The Garrison and The Dakota Tavern.

The music came back with the return of NXNE in June, and we saw some amazing shows right here in Ossington Village. This July, the Painted Lady created a new festival to coincide with the Toronto Jazz and Fringe Festivals. Maybe next year, we’ll see more venues join the fun.

The Contact Photography Festival covered art galleries for the entire month of May, and didn’t miss Ossington, with exhibits at The Painted Lady, Angell Gallery, Brockton General and Levack Block.

Jane’s Walks, which take place all over the globe on a May weekend, were also led in our neighborhood. Maybe next year you’ll see an Ossington Village Jane’s Walk instead of “the Hipster’s Guide to Ossington!”

Summerworks returned in August, bringing music and theatre to Lower Ossington Theatre and other local venues. The hugely popular Havana Cultura returned for it’s second year in August, with Cuban music, art and food on offer at almost every spot on the street. Who can forget the cigar roller surrounded by scantily clad women? Another returning event was Queen West Music Fest, which celebrated it’s third year this summer in Trinity Bellwoods Park.

Some was sipped, and some was likely chugged, but either way, Toronto Beer Week also returned to Ossington in 2011, with tastings and pairings at local restaurants and bars. Ossington also saw the return of TO Sketch Fest, with lots of comedic troupes taking to the stage at LOT this past November.

The school is a  Toronto Fringe Festival site specific venue for a show called Halcyon Youth. Every night this week through Saturday, July 16 from 6-7:30PM,  everyone is welcome to buy a ticket and participate in a ball hockey game against some of the kids of the school. Yes, the neighborhood kids are challenging you to a game of street hockey, and they are good! You don’t have to play either; you can watch and cheer, and make a donation. All profits will be donated to Givins/Shaw JPS for programs lacking funding, so you know your money is going to a great cause!

The Givins-Shaw schoolyard is also the location for The Yard,  a new TV series on HBO Canada, which premiered this past weeekend to really great reviews. This mockumentary style miniseries is filmed in the schoolyard and is gaining comparisons to such high quality shows like The Wire and The Sopranos.

BlogTO wrote up on the night markets happening at Rolly’s Garage, an fascinating space just north of Argyle St. We actually stopped by and checked out the market over the weekend and they had a great selection of interesting products from local artists. And the cupcakes looked good!