Pride, Punchlines & Palestine: What’s On in Toronto (June 19–25)

Hi, I’m Nassar, and welcome to the very first edition of khamsa.

This issue is arriving a little later than planned. Almost three weeks later, to be honest. I switched newsletter platforms three times, overthought every detail, and froze. But I kept circling back to why I started this in the first place.

khamsa isn’t just an event listing. It’s meant to be a small weekly reminder that language, culture, and community are alive and growing in this city. That even with everything happening around us, there’s still space to gather, laugh, learn, and show up.

Starting today, khamsa will land in your inbox every Thursday with Arabic-inspired events happening across Toronto and the GTA. This first issue covers the week of June 19 to 25 and features a mix of film, food, music, comedy, and community.

Thanks for signing up and sticking around.

In future issues, I’ll be sharing more about how khamsa came to be and where it’s headed next.

Yalla, let’s gooo.

Thursday, June 19

🎤 Sushi and Shawarma: A Comedy Show
A hilarious cultural mashup with two comics from wildly different backgrounds. Warning: No actual food included!

🌟 Darren Leo and Marwan Shafei
💬 Language: English
🗓️ Date: Thursday, June 19 – 7:00 to 9:00 PM
📍 Venue: Spotlight Comedy Club - 92 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines, ON
🎟️ Tickets: Spotlight Comedy Club

Friday, June 20

💡Dr. Karim Ali Lecture Live in Toronto
An engaging, science-based talk on holistic health, energy, digestion, and wellness, led by one of Egypt’s leading nutritionists.

🌟 Dr. Karim Ali
💬 Language: Egyptian Arabic
🗓️ Date: Friday, June 20 – Doors open at 7:00 PM, Lecture begins at 8:00 PM
📍 Venue: Randolph College for the Performing Arts – 736 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON
🎟️ Tickets: Rescounts

🎥 TAF25: Back to Alexandria
A powerful story of return and reconciliation as Sue comes home to Egypt after two decades abroad, facing the mother she once ran away from.

🌟 TAF25 – Toronto Arab Film Festival 2025
💬 Language: French and Arabic (with subtitles)
🗓️ Date: Friday, June 20 – 7:00 to 9:00 PM
📍 Venue: Innis Town Hall – Innis College, 2 Sussex Avenue, Toronto, ON
🎟️ Tickets: Eventive

🎉 TAF25 Festival Kick-Off Party
Celebrate the start of the 6th annual Toronto Arab Film Festival with music, community, and a night of energy and art.

🌟 TAF25 – Toronto Arab Film Festival 2025
💬 Language: Multilingual / Social
🗓️ Date: Friday, June 20 – 9:30 PM to 12:00 AM
📍 Venue: Royal Lounge – 720 Spadina Avenue, Unit 111, Toronto, ON
🎟️ Tickets: Eventive

Saturday, June 21

🎥 TAF25: La fin d’amour?
Jamel’s quiet summer is turned upside down when he discovers his ex is getting married, forcing him to confront love, loss, and change.

🌟 TAF25 – Toronto Arab Film Festival 2025
💬 Language: French (with subtitles)
🗓️ Date: Saturday, June 21 – 4:00 to 6:00 PM
📍 Venue: Innis Town Hall – Innis College, 2 Sussex Avenue, Toronto, ON
🎟️ Tickets: Eventive

🎥 TAF25: Arzé
A mother and son journey across Beirut to recover a stolen scooter, uncovering family secrets and navigating sectarian lines with grit and heart. Director Mira Shaib will be present for a post-screening Q&A.

🌟 TAF25 – Toronto Arab Film Festival 2025
💬 Language: Lebanese Arabic (with subtitles)
🗓️ Date: Saturday, June 21 – 7:00 to 9:00 PM
📍 Venue: Innis Town Hall – Innis College, 2 Sussex Avenue, Toronto, ON
🎟️ Tickets: Eventive

🪩 ShikShook Queer Arab/SWANA Pride
Celebrate one year of ShikShook with a stacked lineup of DJs, drag, dance, and drumming in a night full of joy, movement, and queer Arab/SWANA love.

🌟 Anoush Ellah, Selena Vyle, Slaylat, Jenny C., DJ Romantek & DJ Ra2asny
💬 Language: Multilingual / Social
🗓️ Date: Saturday, June 21 – 11:00 PM to 2:30 AM (Sunday, June 22)
📍 Venue: The Drake Underground – 1150 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON
🎟️ Tickets: Universe

Sunday, June 22

🎥 TAF25: Guerrilla Grieving
A moving short films programme exploring mourning, memory, and resistance across Arab and diasporic experiences.

🌟 Multiple Directors
💬 Language: Arabic (with subtitles), English
🗓️ Date: Sunday, June 22 – 2:00 to 4:00 PM
📍 Venue: Innis Town Hall – 2 Sussex Avenue, Toronto, ON
🎟️ Tickets: Eventive

🎥 TAF25: Perfumed with Mint
A surreal journey through a decaying city as two estranged friends navigate haunting memories, danger, and the mysterious scent of mint.

🌟 Directed by Fadel AlMheiri
💬 Language: Egyptian Arabic (with subtitles)
🗓️ Date: Sunday, June 22 – 4:00 to 6:00 PM
📍 Venue: Innis Town Hall – 2 Sussex Avenue, Toronto, ON
🎟️ Tickets: Eventive

 🎥 TAF25: Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo
A heartfelt story of a man and his dog on the run across Cairo, searching for safety and self-redemption.

🌟 Directed by Tamara Abu Laban
💬 Language: Egyptian Arabic
🗓️ Date: Sunday, June 22 – 7:00 to 9:00 PM
📍 Venue: Innis Town Hall – 2 Sussex Avenue, Toronto, ON
🎟️ Tickets: TAF25 Eventive

Monday, June 23

🎥 TAF25: Where the Wind Comes From
Two Tunisian youth escape their harsh reality on a road trip filled with imagination, risk, and a shot at freedom.

🌟 Directed by Amel Guellaty
💬 Language: Tunisian Arabic
🗓️ Date: Monday, June 23 – 7:00 to 9:00 PM
📍 Venue: Innis Town Hall – 2 Sussex Avenue, Toronto, ON
🎟️ Tickets: Eventive

Tuesday, June 24

🎤 Stand-Up Comedy: Hussein Kaouk
Known for his sharp wit and viral sketches, Lebanese comedian Hussein Kaouk hits the Toronto stage for the first time for a night of unforgettable laughs!

🌟 Performed by Hussein Kaouk with Hussein Dayekh as opening act
💬 Language: Lebanese Arabic
🗓️ Date: Tuesday, June 24 – 8:00 to 9:45 PM (Doors at 7:30 PM)
📍 Venue: Armenian Youth Centre – 50 Hallcrown Place, Toronto, ON
🎟️ Tickets: Eventbrite

📚 June Book Club: Beirut
Join a guided in-store discussion of Rima Zailaa Barrack’s poetic graphic novel exploring memory, identity, and the changing face of Beirut.

🌟 Hosted by Another Story Bookshop
💬 Language: English
🗓️ Date: Tuesday, June 24 – 9:00 to 10:00 PM
📍 Venue: Another Story Bookshop – 315 Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto, ON
🎟️ Tickets: Eventbrite

Wednesday, June 25

🪡 Weekly Tatreez Circle
A welcoming weekly gathering to practice Palestinian embroidery, connect with the community, and stitch in good company. All levels welcome!

🌟 Hosted by Watermelon Seeds Collective
💬 Language: English
🗓️ Date: Wednesday, June 25 – 6:00 to 9:00 PM
📍 Venue: Starving Artist – 833 Runnymede Road, Toronto, ON
🎟️ PWYW: $5 Suggested Donation

📚 Book Launch: Where the Jasmine Blooms
A moving debut novel by Zeina Sleiman that blends political mystery, family secrets, and feminist love story across Toronto, Lebanon, and Palestine.

🌟 Zeina Sleiman in conversation with Tendisai Cromwell
💬 Language: English
🗓️ Date: Wednesday, June 25 – 7:00 to 9:00 PM
📍 Venue: Another Story Bookshop – 315 Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto, ON
🎟️ Tickets: Eventbrite

🎥 TAF25: Resurrection + Community Gathering
A powerful short films program exploring memory, resistance, spirituality, and reclamation. Followed by a community gathering in the heart of Toronto’s arts scene.

💬 Languages: Arabic, French, English (varies by film)
🗓️ Date: Wednesday, June 25 – 7:00 to 10:00 PM
📍 Venue: CineCycle – 129 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, ON
🎟️ Tickets: Eventive

🎤 Nasser Al-Rayess @ Comedy Bar
Syrian-American comedian Nasser Al-Rayess, aka the “Shawarma King”, brings his viral Arab-American comedy to Toronto for two back-to-back shows.

🌟 Performed by Nasser Al-Rayess
💬 Language: English
🗓️ Date: Wednesday, June 25 – 7:00 to 8:15 PM & 9:00 to 10:15 PM
📍 Venue: Comedy Bar Danforth – 2800 Danforth Avenue, Toronto, ON
🎟️ Tickets: 7:00 PM Show · 9:00 PM Show

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