TORONTO OUTDOOR PICTURE SHOW

PRESENTS

When we were young

SUMMER 2025 IN PARKS ACROSS THE CITY

From June 12 through August 24, 2025, Toronto Outdoor Picture Show is proud to present our 15th anniversary festival over 20 evenings of open-air cinema programming at three parks across Toronto: Fort York, Christie Pits, and Corktown Common.

When We Were Young celebrates TOPS’ milestone birthday by throwing back to the festival’s very first curated programme theme – coming of age – to reflect on where we’ve been, where we’re going, and why we fell in love with the movies in the first place. Stories about the trials and tribulations of youth are a cinematic staple, and this programme includes a diversity of short and feature films about the wonder of childhood, the never-easy process of growing up, and coming of age – at any age.

The festival season will open at Fort York on June 12 with Baz Luhrmann’s hyper-stylized Romeo + Juliet, a unique take on the timeless tale of star crossed lovers featuring young Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. When We Were Young features coming of age classics young and old, including groundbreaking new kids on the block from the past decade (I Saw the TV Glow, Moonlight), middle-aged Gen X and Millennial stalwarts (celebrating Clueless’ 30th anniversary, Stand by Me), and venerable golden-agers from cinematic eras past (What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, The Wizard of Oz). This programme invites you to lay a blanket in the grass and gaze up at the films that take us back to the times When We Were Young (however recent or distant).

All TOPS events are accessible and open to the public, with no barriers to entry. TOPS is always free to all, and charitable donations make this possible. As part of the 15th anniversary season, every person who makes a charitable donation of $15 or more on the TOPS website will be invited to vote on the festival’s closing night film in August.

The When We Were Young programme is curated by Artistic & Executive Director Emily Reid, Manager of Programme Admin Isabella Brown, and programming contributors Lauren Baldwin, Rachel Barclay, Tika Francis, David Osubronie, Felan Parker, and Jon Petrychyn.

Click on your neighbourhood series below or view the complete TOPS 2025 calendar at a glance here.

ToPS at PARKS ACROSS THE CITY

Admission: All events are free to the public, no tickets or advanced registration are required to attend
Charitable donations make our programming possible

Event details:
Showtime at sundown
BYOBlanket & Chairs
Films are screened with open captioning (more accessibility features here)
Click here to read all film content advisories

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TORONTO OUTDOOR PICTURE SHOW

TOPS is pleased to return to public parks this summer, with events that are open to all who want to attend. Please click on the questions below to get more information about attending Toronto Outdoor Picture Show.

A: No. TOPS events are free to attend, and do not require a ticket, and there are no barriers to entry. As a charitable organization, we encourage you to make a donation if you are able. Support from community members is crucial to keeping TOPS accessible to everyone.

Attendance at events is first come, first to get a great spot. Come early, bring your blanket or folding chairs, and enjoy some eats & treats while the sun sets. Films begin at sundown.

A: Films always begin at sundown, which changes over the course of the summer. Check the individual event pages for the approximate film start time.

TOPS welcomes you to come join us in the early evening to set up your blanket, enjoy a picnic or food truck meal, and stop by the TOPS tent for some popcorn and treats! Please note that the screening area fills up long before showtime at many screenings, so make an evening of it!

Opening weekend TOPS' 15th anniversary season, at Fort York from June 12-17, will include pre-show programming every evening, such as vintage lawn games, chalk art painting, a celebratory photo booth, a costume contest, and more.

A: If the show can go on, it does! TOPS very rarely cancels events before the early evening on an inclement weather day. Screenings can continue in some rain and wind, so pack appropriate clothing for light rain or cool temperatures if you’ll be joining us. If we must cancel, TOPS will communicate the cancellation on our social media channels. Instagram stories are the most up-to-date communication.

Please do not send inquiries about the forecast, we can’t answer them. Just cross your fingers, pack an umbrella, and dress well!

A: Every event will include concessions – snacks and non-alcoholic beverages – for sale at the TOPS tent, and events at Fort York, Christie Pits, and Corktown Common will have food vendor offerings as well. Visit our Instagram on each event day to find out which food vendors will be onsite that evening. 

Your outside food picnics are also welcome. Please ensure that no garbage is left behind so that our public parks are maintained.

If you are attending a screening at Fort York, please note that these events are licensed for alcohol sales by TOPS, and no outside alcohol will be allowed inside the gated event spaces. Alcoholic drinks will be available for purchase at Fort York, though not at city park venues.

All patrons are encouraged to bring refillable water bottles and use the available water fountains. There is no available water fountain at Fort York, and TOPS will have bottled water available for sale at those events.

A:  Yes! Domestic pets are welcome to join for the evening - just please make sure they’re well behaved and you pick up after them.

A: Yes, all guests must bring their own blankets or folding chairs to sit in the grass. Events at Fort York, and Corktown Common are flat, and at Christie Pits are at the base of a natural amphitheatre. Chairs are less suitable at Christie Pits due to the layout, but can be set up along the flat surface at the top of the hill. We hope that guests will be considerate of others when setting up their spot in front of folks who have already put down their blanket for the night.

A: We encourage active transportation to our events, and most patrons walk, cycle or take TTC. Each screening’s webpage details the address of each event, and main TTC routes.

Bicycles are the responsibility of their owners and should be locked to municipal bike racks, as they can be a serious safety hazard in the dark if left lying on the ground within the audience who may be circulating. 

Patrons who choose to drive to events can identify Green P lots near the venues at this link.

A: Yes, there are onsite restrooms at all event sites, and hand sanitizer is furthermore available at the TOPS concessions & merch tent.

Please note that washroom facilities in public parks are serviced and operated by the City of Toronto, and hours of operation may be subject to change. Furthermore, the condition and amenities of facilities may range and are not the responsibility of Toronto Outdoor Picture Show.

A: No, this is not a drive-in! This is a good old fashioned Toronto Outdoor Picture Show event, where you can come on foot, transit, or bike, and enjoy great cinema in the open air with your friends and neighbours.

A: TOPS events are accessible to most audiences, and all screenings feature open captioning. Select films will be provided with an optional audio description feature, click here to learn more. You can read about the accessibility features for our 2025 venues here, and please don’t hesitate to email us at accessibility@topictureshow.com if your particular needs are not addressed. We will endeavour to support your needs if solutions are within our control.

A: TOPS curates its film programmes for a general audience, appealing to our broad attendance. There is something for everyone, which you’ll see here! Most attendees are adults, teens, and older children (given that screenings begin around 9PM), though there are a number of films within the programme that have been selected specifically with families in mind. Each event’s web page details the content advisory for that screening so that you may make an informed decision about films will be best enjoyed by you and your family. Please visit TOpictureshow.com/content for content advisories for the complete programme in one place.