Welcome, adventurous listeners, to Things to do in Toronto! It’s Sunday, November 2, 2025, and I’m your hyper-energetic sports-mad guide, Oly Bennet, here to turn your Ontario autumn into an epic highlight reel of fun, festivities, and a little bit of quirky local flair. Toronto’s waking up today under a classic fall sky—think crisp air that puts an extra bounce in your step, scarlet leaves swirling around, and just enough coolness that your pumpkin-spice latte feels like a warm hug from that random raccoon you met in High Park last summer. The city’s glowing with early holiday buzz and the party mood is strong!

Let’s dive straight into today’s lineup. For starters, fans of heartfelt tradition and bold celebration will love the Day of the Dead festivities happening at Playa by Tulum. This bash blends the rich, colorful magic of Día de los Muertos with a final splash of Halloween. Salsa, bachata, reggaeton—two floors of Latin beats, drink specials, and costumes if you’re feeling spicy, according to TorontoNightlife.com, and the party roars till 4AM.

Family fun seekers and fans of the ephemeral, your Sunday is sorted with the annual Good Mourning Festival at Evergreen Brick Works. Think art installations, hands-on crafts, live performances, and a welcoming community focus—all free, and running until 3pm. Grab a sweater, catch a shuttle, and you’re off on a journey through loss, love, and leafy autumn vibes, as the City of Toronto events calendar cheerfully confirms.

For the theatre buffs amongst us, the Greenwin Theatre in North York hosts the captivating “Without an Evil Eye” by Nephesh Theatre. Expect moving performances, a sprinkle of Jewish culture, and profound storytelling—perfect if you want to jump headfirst into something heartfelt and thought-provoking, courtesy of The Canadian Jewish News.

Meanwhile, if you’re itching for some mind food, today is the perfect day to dip into the tail end of Toronto International Festival of Authors at Victoria University. Meet acclaimed writers, join insightful talks, or just wander the buzz and bask in that collective creative energy. Bookworms, unite!

Night owls craving energy—Toronto’s nightlife pulses on, with the Day of the Dead event taking over King West. No excuses: even the streetcars are running extra late for all those post-party burrito-and-poutine runs.

Now, for the latest city scoop worthy of a goalie-mask mic-drop: this week, a new plant-based Italian eatery called “Verdura” has just opened on Queen Street West, serving up truffle risotto that’ll make your Nonna second-guess her own recipe. Also, heads up, TTC adventurers—Line 2 is running with minor delays today near Bloor-Yonge due to a temporary maintenance blitz, but shuttle buses are rocking a pretty tight operation, so factor in a few extra TikToks for your travels.

Looking for must-do activities? Don’t skip a lakeside stroll at the Toronto Islands, still open and shockingly peaceful with the summer crowd gone. If you want a sneaky slice of the city to yourself, duck into Allan Gardens for a blast of tropical warmth, or find the urban street art alleys of Kensington Market, which double as the unofficial world championship arena for Toronto’s best bubble tea slurp.

Here’s your local tip, courtesy of an 82-year-old streetcar driver I met last week: If you need to cross Queen Street in the rain, find a vestibule with jazz buskers—their saxophone solos magically repel umbrella collisions. And did you know? Toronto hosts more registered recreational soccer teams than any other city in North America. Talk about kicking things up a notch!

Hold onto your toques! Tomorrow brings more literary festival action, a cozy indie film screening at Spadina Theatre from the European Union Film Festival, and maybe even a spontaneous parkour jam near Nathan Phillips Square if history is anything to go by. Check back in for another...