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Whether your passion is for film, food, fine arts, Santa Claus parades, or Filipino culture, Toronto--a cosmopolitan city with a diverse cultural profile--has it all. The city's unusually varied list of events and festivals reflects its unique character: a big city built by waves of immigrants who have established ongoing, cohesive, and vibrant communities. Now, at almost any time of year, you can attend an event that reflects Toronto's international character, along with world-class arts, sports, and theater.

Among the internationally renowned gatherings is Toronto's International Film Festival in September, widely recognized as the most important film festival after Cannes. This 10-day festival has an enormous influence on what the world watches on the big screen. The International Festival of Authors (IFOA)  was formed to bring the "best contemporary writers in the world together." For 11 days in October, the IFOA draws throngs to people to hear lectures and readings from such well-known writers as Margaret Atwood.

What is unique about Toronto's approach to art is its anti-elitism. Nowhere is this better reflected than in the event known as The Nuit Blanche, which runs from sunset to sunrise one night each September. For an entire sleepless night, the city becomes an exalted playground in which half a million people wander through live performances, museums, and galleries--all free of charge. The Toronto International Art Fair in October is another opportunity to view the wide range of contemporary art the city has to offer.

Celebrations of Canada's past, such as Canada's 128-year-old National Exhibition in August, or the 51-year-old Pioneer Festival, are now interlaced with new festivities. The Mabuhay Toronto Summer Festival, also in August, showcases the unique talents that the Filipino community, Canada's fourth largest minority, has brought to the country. The West Village Ukrainian Festival in August, and The Canadian Aboriginal Festival in November highlight the contributions these cultures have made to the city.