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The arts scene picks up in September. At the start of the month the Cabbagetown festival has something for everyone. And for fans of the big top the Toronto Public Library presents The Circus Comes to Town, an exhibition of circus images in the TD Gallery with related programming featuring former circus owner A.W. Stencell, author of Seeing is Believing: America's Sideshows. Also, don't miss the annual Studio Tour by North York Visual Artists at the end of the month. Here's a list of your local arts scene for September:

CABBAGETOWN

Cabbagetown Wine Route

Cabbagetown Wine Route takes place Sept. 5 from 7 to 11 p.m. Australia meets Cabbagetown is this year's theme. Seven Cabbagetown restaurants will tailor their menus to match their best with Australia's best wines. Carefully selected vintages are paired with the finest from each kitchen. Each restaurant will host three tastings: 7, 8:30 and 10 p.m. Food and wine are served in tasting sizes. Reservations are now being accepted. For tickets, call 416-921-0857. Cost: $40 per session. For a complete list of restaurants and wines they will be serving visit www.oldcabbagetown.com.

The Cabbagetown Short Film and Video Festival

The Cabbagetown Short Film and Video Festival takes place Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. It is a juried showcase for some of the world's best short films, receiving submissions from across Canada and the United States, as well as Europe, South America, Australia, Hong Kong and Japan. The two-hour Cabbagetown Short Film and Video Festival screening includes an equally diverse program of original productions shot on 35mm, 16mm, Super-8 and digital videos. They need not be premieres, nor made in the year of the festival, but they cannot exceed 15 minutes in length. A panel of industry professionals judges the entries and awards prizes in each category including comedy, drama, experimental, animation, and documentary. Winchester Dance Theatre, 80 Winchester St.

Cabbagetown Festival

Cabbagetown Festival hits the streets from Sept. 7 to Sept. 9. Friday's events include: Art and Crafts in Riverdale Park from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Riverdale Park; Cabbagetown Theatre Company presents Fairy Godmother's Assistant at 7:30 p.m. at Necropolis Chapel, 200 Winchester St. (also Saturday and Sunday at noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.). Events continue Saturday on Parliament Street from Wellesley south to Gerrard and Carlton Street from Parliament west to Berkeley. There's Blair's runs from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.; People's parade 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.; Yonge Street Mission street party 10 a.m. to close; Riverdale farm annual fall harvest festival: corn roast 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. Barn Dance from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday's events run from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Big Opening - Sunday Brunch starts at 11 a.m. Restaurants all along the street will feature Sunday brunch menus. Foods from around the world are featured. Riverdale Farm pancake brunch at 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; corn roast 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

GALLERIES

80 and Still Going Strong

The Sculptors Society of Canada (SSC) presents 80 and Still Going Strong Sept. 10 to Oct. 31. Opening reception and artist talks, Sept. 11, 7 p.m. Celebrating the vitality and commitment of the SSC. The Society is solely dedicated to the education, promotion and exhibition of contemporary Canadian sculpture. The mandate of this society is establish the profile of Canadian sculpture and to encourage sculptors working at a professional level. Gallery hours: Tuesday to Friday: noon to 6 p.m.; Saturday at 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. E-mail: gallery@cansculpt.org. The Sculptors Society of Canada, 500 Church St. Call 416-533-0126.

STUDIO TOUR AND SALE

North York Visual Artists presents its 8th Annual Studio Tour and Art Sale Sept. 27 and 28 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It features 19 artists working in oil, acrylic, watercolour, mixed media, photography and drawing. Participating artists range from traditional to contemporary, from realistic to abstract, and include photography, prints, paintings and drawings in a variety of media. Locations mapped throughout north Toronto. Visit www.nyva.ca for map of galleries. Free parking, admissions and draws. Tour includes a group art show featuring eight artists at Mitchell Field Community Centre, 89 Church Ave. A percentage of the sales will go to benefit the North York Women's Shelter.

MUSIC

Howard Dyck: Mozart Requiem

Canadian Amateur Musicians Musiciens Amateurs du Canada (CAMMAC) invites instrumentalists and vocalists Sept. 21 to Howard Dyck: Mozart Requiem. Singers and instrumentalists discover or revisit musical works with others at the readings. Musical readings provide an excellent opportunity for all to improve their sight-reading, experience new works and most importantly enjoy making music with others under the direction of some of TorontoÃ?'s outstanding music directors. Students are invited to attend free. Readings are $10 for non-members. Music provided. Visit www.cammac.ca. Elliott Hall, Christ Church Deer Park 1570 Yonge St., two blocks north of St. Clair Avenue W. Call 416-421-0779.

THEATRE

Agokwe

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre presents Agokwe Sept. 23 to Oct. 12. Agokwe explores unrequited love between Jake and Mike, two young men from neighbouring reserves. The two meet briefly at a post-hockey tournament party where they bashfully express their mutual feelings for each other. However, youth, distance and social isolation strive to pull the threads apart when tragedy intervenes. Student discount tickets are available for each of Buddies performances, unsold tickets are available to students with valid ID for $15. Student discount tickets can only be purchased in person at the box office the day of the performance at 6 p.m. Box office, 12 Alexander St. Call 416-975-8555.

The Circus Comes to Town

Toronto Public Library presents The Circus Comes to Town, an exhibition of circus images in the TD Gallery with related programming featuring former circus owner A.W. Stencell, author of Seeing is Believing: America's Sideshows, Sept. 6, 2:30 p.m. in the Beeton Auditorium. See the exhibit at the TD Gallery until Oct 15. The exhibit features artwork, ephemera, posters, photographs and books from several of the library's special collections including materials from the Performing Arts Centre, the Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books, and the Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation and Fantasy. The exhibit also features loans of circus props and models from the Al and Shirley Stencell Fairground Collection. Highlights include archival photographs from the Canadian National Exhibition, prints by August Brouet and Dame Laura Knight, Victorian pop-up books and international posters from 1900 to 1970. A selection of books will be on display by contemporary artists Diane Arbus, Paul McCarthy and Cindy Sherman, all who referenced circus performance in their work. Gallery hours: Monday to Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. (September and October only). For more information about the exhibit, free tours and other related programming, call 416-393-7158.