Ontario Special Occasion Permit guide
October 17, 2026 · 2 min read
When you need an SOP, the types, timelines, costs, Smart Serve rules and the mistakes that get bars shut down.
Read moreBlog
How-to
How-to from the EventPlans.ca blog: practical articles for planners and hosts in Toronto and the GTA, with prices, permits and real examples.
Ceiling height for aerialists: the numbers venues get wrong
October 15, 2026 · 1 min read
Minimum clear heights for silks, lyra, straps and hammock, what "certified rigging" means, and what to book when the room is too…
Read more
Magician vs mentalist: which fits your event?
October 13, 2026 · 1 min read
The difference, who each works best for, what each needs from the room, and GTA price ranges.
Read more
Getting traffic to your trade show booth
October 11, 2026 · 1 min read
Booth layout, staffing, scheduled micro-shows and 20-second lead capture: the playbook for a busy booth.
Read more
Toronto wedding cost breakdown (2026)
October 5, 2026 · 1 min read
Where the money goes for a 120-guest Toronto wedding, line by line, with the three decisions that move the total most.
Read more
What a kids’ party entertainer costs in the GTA
October 3, 2026 · 1 min read
Magicians, face painters, balloon artists, characters and circus workshops: 2026 price ranges, what is included, and how to book.
Read moreWhat you will find here
The How-to section is the practical end of the EventPlans.ca blog. Each article answers a specific planning question for Toronto and the GTA: how to get an alcohol permit, how high a ceiling must be for an aerial act, how to choose between two kinds of entertainer, how to draw traffic to a trade show booth, or what a wedding or a children's party actually costs. The articles are written to be used on the day you need them, with steps, figures phrased as typical ranges and the questions to ask suppliers.
How to use these guides
Read a how-to article when you have a decision in front of you, then move straight to the matching tool. A guide explains the rules and the reasoning; a tool turns them into numbers for your own event. For example, after reading about Special Occasion Permits, run the bar and alcohol calculator to estimate drinks, bartenders and whether a permit applies. After reading about ceiling heights for aerialists, check your room against the act's requirements and share a performer tech rider with the venue.
Many articles also link to encyclopedia entries for the terms they use, so you can check a definition without losing your place. If a word in a contract or quote is unfamiliar, the encyclopedia is the fastest route to understanding it.
Topics that come up most
- Permits and compliance: alcohol, tents, fire and open flame, park use.
- Budgets: what each category typically costs in the GTA and why.
- Entertainment: choosing an act, what it needs from the room, booking terms.
- Venues: capacity, layout, season and what to ask on a site visit.
- Event day: timing, running the room and solving common problems.
A note on accuracy
Rules and prices change. Where an article refers to regulation, it describes the general position in Ontario, and you should confirm the current requirements with the relevant authority, such as the AGCO for alcohol or your municipality for park and tent permits, before relying on them. Price references are typical ranges rather than quotes; always get written quotes from suppliers. For a structured path through the same material, the free Academy follows the planning process in order, starting with the learning paths, and the master event checklist puts the steps from these articles into one list.