Toronto neighbourhood getting taken over by free concerts this week

A Toronto neighbourhood is set to host a series of free outdoor concerts for film fans and passersby alike as the 51st annual Toronto International Film Festival descends on the city.

While a majority of the TIFF-related action, coinciding with the festival's launch on Thursday, Sep. 10, will concentrate around its King West epicentre, Yorkville is making a strong case for establishing itself as the festival's secondary capital.

Beyond the fact that the neighbourhood houses a swath of hotels and restaurants that celebrities love to frequent when they visit the city, this year the neighbourhood will also be home to a red carpet of its own.

Running from Sep.10 through the 13, the Rogers Red Carpet will roll out along Yorkville Avenue between Hazelton and Bellair, and will be home to a series of free concerts, photo-ops and interactive games. After dark, the red carpet will also host a handful of open-air screenings of TIFF Short Cuts Films and TIFF People's Choice Award-winning films.

The best part of all, it's totally free and open to the public, so that everyone can get a taste of the TIFF excitement, whether you managed to score tickets to premieres and fan zones or not.

Here's the complete schedule of free performances and screenings you can catch at the Rogers Red Carpet in Yorkville this week:

Thursday, September 10

• 8 p.m. – LeWolf & Friends  
• 9:30 p.m. – Kid Koala

Friday, September 11

• 11 a.m. – LeWolf & Friends
• 1 p.m. – The Sidewalk Crusaders
• 3 p.m. – Jeremie Albino
• 5 p.m. – Casa Loma Orchestra 
• 7 p.m. – TIFF Short Cuts Film and Q&A: The End, Q&A with director Niki Lindroth von Bahr  
• 8 p.m. – TIFF People's Choice Award Screening: La La Land

Saturday, September 12

• 11 a.m. – LeWolf & Friends
• 12:30 p.m. – The 99s
• 2 p.m. – Our Lady Peace: Performance and Q&A on their film Gail
• 5 p.m. – Casa Loma Orchestra with members of the E Street Band
• 7 p.m. – TIFF Short Cuts Film and Q&A: Between Late April & Early May, Q&A with director Sophia Smith
• 8 p.m. – TIFF People's Choice Award Screening: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 

Sunday, September 13

• 11 a.m. – LeWolf & Friends
• 1 p.m. – Casa Loma Orchestra with members of the E Street Band 
• 2:45 p.m. – ICYMI: TIFF Q&A with Cameron Bailey
• 4 p.m. – TIFF People's Choice Award Screening: The Princess Bride