It’s going to be a fun-filled summer in Toronto this summer and fall with another exciting lineup of things to do in Toronto. There is also a full calendar of events at the Harbourfront Centre which are all free such as the concert pictured here on the Redpath Stage. All of these are walking or streetcar access from Toronto’s only boat B & B!
June 11-16 North By Northeast Music Festival (NXNE) showcases 650 bands and 40 films. 5 days and multiple locations.
June 14-16 Beach BBQ & Brews Festival Come to The Beach and enjoy Ribfest, Live music, children’s play area, craft vendors, grilling demonstrations and beer garden. Great family outing to celebrate Fathers Day. Sponsored by Beerlicious Location: Woodbine Park Coxwell and Queen Street East
June 14-16 Taste of Little Italy lets you explore the music, street performance and sample food from over 45 restaurants. Location: Little Italy (College & Clinton)
June 15 Roncy Rocks Music and Art Festival in Roncesvalles Village
June 22-23 Redpath Toronto Waterfront Festival. The Tall Ships are coming!!!! The annual festival returns with the addition of the visiting tall ships from around the world. Location: Queens Quay from Spadina to Jarvis.
June 22-July 1 Pride Parade is in its 32nd year and celebrates diverse sexual and gender identities and features the famous Pride Parade. Pride parade is Sunday June 30th. Location; Gay village Church & Wellesley.
All summer The Giant Pandas return to the Toronto Zoo after 28 years absence. They will reside in the newly developed Eurasia region where they will have access to both indoor and outdoor living areas.
May 26-June 17 & Sept 16-Oct 7th Lunchtime Live at Yonge Dundas Square Mondays from 12:30 to 1:30 at Yonge Dundas Square. Singer & Songwriter Series Location: Yonge and Dundas.
June 28 to Sept 6 Indie Fridays on Fridays from 8-10pm at Yonge Dundas Square. Free music concerts and Beer Garden provided by the Hard Rock Café from 4 to 11pm Location: Yonge and Dundas.
June 25th – August 27 City Cinema at Yonge Dundas Square -Free outdoor movies on Tuesdays at sunset. Seating is limited so go early for a great seat. This years theme: Cult Classics II. Location: Yonge and Dundas.
June 20-23 Zimbabwean Stone Sculpture Exhibit at The Distillery. Location Distillery District Cherry and Mill Street.
June 20-29 TD Canada Trust Jazz Festival has celebrates all Jazz musical styles for over 25 years. Nathan Philips Square (city hall) plus multiple locations
June 20 -23 Tim Horton Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival in its 25th year at Toronto Centre Island. Take a water taxi or the ferry to Centre Island.
June 27 to Sept 19 Dancing on the Pier Thursday nights, the waterfront sizzles with live bands, social dance clubs and instructors. Come out and Dance by the shoreline! Location: Harbourfront Centre Queens Quay and York
June 28 – August 30th DJ Deep Fried Fridays at Harbourfront Centre The hottest DJs with a side of your favorite fried gourmet cuisine. New this summer.
June 29 –July 1 Scotiabank CHIN International Picnic is the largest free multicultural picnic in the world. Entertainment, circus shows, midway, shopping bazaar and Miss CHIN competition. Location Exhibition Place at Lakeshore and Strachan.
June 30th – Sept 15 Celebrating 14 years of free concerts in a magical setting!
Photo courtesy of www.harbourfrontcentre.com
Concerts take place in the Toronto Music Garden most Thursdays at 7pm and Sundays at 4pm and are approximately one hour in length. Admission is free Bench seating is available but limited, so feel free to bring a lawn chair – and don’t forget your hat or umbrella and sunscreen as shade is also limited. Location: Just down the pier from the Boatel
July 2 – September 1 Don’t miss one of Toronto’s Favourite traditions – Shakespeare in High Park! This year features Macbeth & The Taming of the Shrew. Admission is free however a donation is recommended. Bring a blanket and a jacket to enjoy this Shakespeare production under the stars. Location: High Park located south of Bloor and High Park Ave.
June 30th – July 1 Canada Day Events Celebrate Canada’s 145th birthday. Events at multiple locations including Harbourfront Centre. This year Ontario Lottery plays along with Harbourfront Centre plays host to a fireworks extravaganza on June 30th.
July 3 to August 28th Free Flicks at Harbourfront Centre on Wednesdays at sunset. Enjoy cinematic worlds next to the lake and under the stars. Seating is limited so go early for a great seat. Location: Harbourfront Centre Queens Quay and York
July 7 Queen’s Plate – All eyes are on Toronto as live thoroughbred racing celebrates the 154 running of the Queens’s Plate at Woodbine Race Track. Location: Woodbine and Lakeshore
July 4 – 15 The Fringe: Toronto’s Theatre Festival. Largest theatre festival of its kind featuring local and International theatre companies over 12 days. Multiple locations
July 7 Dist
illery District Urban Art Festival one day only. Location: Distillery District Cherry and Mills streets
July 12-14 Honda Indy Toronto returns as the annual festival tears up the streets around Exhibition Place with world class Indy Car racing. Exhibition Place Lakeshore Avenue and Strachan.
July 5 – July 21 Summerlicious is in it’s 10 year of promoting pre-fixe menus at Toronto restaurant scene. This is a great way to discover the Taste of Toronto. Various locations.
Aug 2 – 4 Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival Toronto (formerly Caribana). This three week festival ends with the famous parade with Calypso, Steel Pan, Brass Bans, Soca and Reggae. Location: Exhibition Place and along Lakeshore Avenue
July 19 –July 22 Toronto Burlesque Festival returns for its 5th year with workshops, art reception , the famous burlesque ball to celebrate this classic art form. Various locations.
July 20 -29 Beaches International Jazz Festival – for 24 years thisfreemusic festival features a mixture of latin, soul, and traditionalJazz. Location: The Beach
July 26- 28 Toronto’s Festival of Beer features 200 brands of beer and is hosted by brewing experts from around the world. 19th annual beer festival in Toronto. Location Exhibition Place at Lakeshore and Strachan.
Aug 3 -11 Rogers Cup – Tennis anyone? Three million in prize money is up for grabs which attracts the biggest stars in men’s tennis year after year. Location: Rexall Centre at York University
Aug 3 – 5 Artfest Toronto Summer Art & Craft Show Location: Distillery District Cherry and Mills streets
Aug 9- 11 Pilaros Taste of the Danforth celebrates Greek food, music, art and culture and is the largest Greek Festival in North America, celebrating its 20th year. Location: Greektown on Danforth Avenue
Aug 16 – Sept 2 Canadian National Exhibition (CNE). Since 1879 the CNE
or the EX as it is called is Canada’s largest community fair. It includes parades, talent shows, air show, concerts, midway, beer garden, rib fest, discount shopping, food vendor galore and a working farm. Location Exhibition Place at Lakeshore and Strachan.
Aug 22 – 25 Scotiabank Buskerfest is the largest international street performance festival in North America with daredevils, puppeteers, contortionists, clowns, music, magicians and more. Location: NEW location this year Yonge Dundas Square
Aug 30- Sept 2 Artfest Toronto Fine Art Show Location: Distillery District Cherry and Mills streets
Aug 31 – Sept 2 Canadian International Air Show returns to the
Toronto sky with a dazzling array of planes from around the world and Canada’s very own Snow Birds. Noon to 4pm daily. Location: can be viewed from various locations along the waterfront including the Boatel
Sept 6- 12 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) offers screens of more than 300 films from over 60 countries. Star gazing takes on a whole new meaning as the Hollywood actors come to the city for this special event. Various locations.
Sept 7 – 9 Toronto Vegetarian Food Fair has over 100 exhibitors which includes food, wellness, health and authors. Location: Harbourfront Centre Queens Quay
Sept 21 -22 Queen Street Art Crawl The main draw is the Outdoor Art Show & Sale at Trinity Bellwoods Park which features 250 artists, food vendors, community booths and an entertainment stage. The event also includes The Parkdale Night Crawl and Parkdale Crawl, a walking tour with guest speakers. Location Parkdale various locations Queen Street West
Sept 23 Word of the Street Book and Magazine Festival is a not-for-profit which promotes Canadian reading and writing through this free outdoor festival and has Canada’s biggest outdoor bookstore. Location: Queens Park at College and University Streets
October 5th Nuit Blanche means white night. Sleepless in Toronto is the best way to describe this event as Toronto transforms in a city of exploration of art of all kinds. Various downtown locations.
I am sure there is more that I have missed but these are certainly some of the highlights. If you want me to add something please let me know.