Toronto is squeezing the last drops out of patio season, and the city's events calendar is doing its part. From arena pop shows to a free museum night and a 15,000-pumpkin light display, here's what's worth planning a trip around.

The big-ticket draws are musical. Tove Lo brings her ESTRUS tour to the Coca-Cola Coliseum on Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m., with tickets from $36. If country-rap crossover is more your thing, Shaboozey plays RBC Amphitheatre on Friday, Sept. 25 (8 p.m., tickets from $69). And for something more DIY, the Second Summer Festival takes over several west-end venues Thursday through Saturday from 5 p.m. until late, with multi-venue passes starting at $71.37.

Culture doesn't have to cost anything. The Gardiner Museum, Canada's dedicated ceramics museum at 111 Queen's Park, opens its doors free every Wednesday after 4 p.m., no registration needed. Better still, all ten Toronto History Museums — including Fort York National Historic Site, Mackenzie House, Spadina Museum and Todmorden Mills — now have free admission at all times, a City of Toronto initiative to open up heritage spaces to everyone.

Halloween arrives early at CF Sherway Gardens in Etobicoke, where Halloween Nights of Lights and Pumpkinville kicks off Sept. 25 and runs on select dates to Nov. 1. Expect over 1.5 million lights, midway rides, seasonal food and more than 15,000 real pumpkins. Adult entry starts at $21.99 plus fees, kids at $16.99. Hours run from 5 p.m. on weekdays, with noon openings on weekends.

On the waterfront, a new project called Public Pier turns Marina Quay West (539 Queens Quay W., next to the Toronto Music Garden) into a day-to-night hangout with food markets, DJs and line dancing, from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Admission is free. Skaters can still use the Bentway Skate Trail under the Gardiner Expressway (250 Fort York Blvd.) until Sept. 27 — skating is free, rentals from $18.

Two quirkier options: Cafe Milk O'Clock at 938 Queen St. W. is a free, post-to-pay dairy pop-up where you follow @milkupontario on Instagram or TikTok to build a tray of milk-based eats, complete with live DJs, a milk-and-cereal rave and a gachapon prize machine. And The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen St. W.) runs one of the city's better happy hours, daily 4 to 6 p.m.: $13 cocktails and 30 percent off select menu items across its Sky Yard rooftop, Cafe Patio, Lounge and Lobby Bar.

Why it matters: late September is a sweet spot in Toronto — warm enough for patios and the waterfront, cool enough for fall festivals, and with a lot on offer that costs nothing. If you're in town midweek, the Gardiner's free evening plus a Drake happy hour makes for a cheap, very Toronto night out.