What to Do (and Wear) this Long Weekend
The August long weekend is fast-approaching — here’s what we’ll be doing and wearing this year.
Canada’s statutory holidays can feel few and far between, especially compared to our European counterparts, though there’s no coincidence many of them fall during the summer months — the season when our mostly-glorious weather stands up to any other country.
Beaches feel (almost) Mediterranean, public parks overflow with families and friends, restaurants buzz with energy late into the night, and an overarching sense of freedom fills the air.
The August long weekend symbolizes the peak of high-summer fun, and while many have earmarked plans well in advance, some are still searching for ideas on how to spend theirs. Whichever camp you're in, these are our suggestions for what to do during your extra day off this month.
You can’t fully embrace the summer season without enjoying at least one picnic.
This is the only time of year when we can truly enjoy our public parks without worry of frostbite or a soggy bottom, and come the winter months, these vast open spaces are essentially garnered useless.
Don’t let our lush green parks go to waste — instead, do your part and put some effort into planning the perfect picnic.
What do we mean by “perfect”? Here’s our can’t-go-wrong checklist:
One or multiple blankets.
Plenty of in-season fruit.
Fresh bread from your neighbourhood bakery.
A selection of cheese and/or charcuterie, plus your favourite flavour of jam.
Pickled vegetables, crudité, and your dip of choice (we love a great hummus).
Some refreshing local beer, wine, or soft drinks.
A speaker for your summer playlist (to be played at a non-obnoxious volume).
A frisbee, ball, or board game of choice.
A few of your closest companions.
Peak picnic attire is all about keeping things comfy and casual.
You’ll be sitting for most of the time, and despite your blankets, you’ll likely also spend time on grass itself. This is all to say that you should wear something that offers mobility and durability.
Keep your white and light-coloured pants at home and instead opt for shorts made from lightweight and forgiving fabrics in darker colours to hide any stains from grass or food spills. Up top, a t-shirt, polo, or button-up made in a breathable cotton fabric is what you want.
Shoes should be easy to slip on and off so you don’t dirty your blankets. And don’t forget your accessories! Keep the sun off your face with a hat and stylish pair of sunglasses.
Dining al fresco is a rite of passage come the summer months, though most major cities and urban areas take things to the next level with various food festivals.
Vendors of all different cultures and cuisines come together to showcase their signature dishes, allowing attendees to try a vast array of food while mitigating distances between bites. What’s not to love?
This August long weekend, let these Toronto-based festivals transport you to Flavourtown — props to anyone who manages to attend them all over the long weekend!
Needless to say, the name of the game here is keeping spills and stains at bay as best you can. Being careful with each bite, especially while standing up, is step one, though not a guarantee you’ll keep clean. To help augment, we recommend dark (again, to hide any accidents) and easy-to-clean fabrics should anything fall on you.
Keep cool with shorts or lightweight pants down below while a t-shirt, polo, or short-sleeve button-up shirt does the same on top.
On your feet, sneakers, sandals, or slip-ons will ensure you’re walking on a cloud while your step-count creeps up between vendors, kiosks, and food trucks.
Music festivals happen all year round, though the best ones take place during the summertime when outdoor venues host the largest headliner events.
Therefore, it makes sense that the biggest festivals take place during the longest weekends, with this year’s August long weekend reserved for some of the most anticipated of the year so far.
Between indie, country, pop, EDM, folk, bluegrass, and beyond — whatever music you’re into, there’s still time to purchase last-minute tickets to an incredible festival playing your type of jam ahead of the long weekend.
Music festivals and concerts in general are unique opportunities that allow you to get creative with your get-up and dress a little out of the ordinary. Think: bright colours, interesting silhouettes, and more often than not, function over form.
If you’re out dancing all day, comfort, mobility, and breathability are the most important factors, especially under the summer sun.
This is the natural home of tank tops, t-shirts, and shorts, which keep you cool and don’t restrict your dance moves. On feet, sneakers are the way to go — comfortable and secure, they allow you to be sure-of-foot while providing day-long (or weekend-long) comfort so you can head to any stage and strut your stuff with peace of mind.
