The warm weather is finally here which means it's time for all of the delicious festivals in Toronto over the coming months.
The city and the GTA are home to a bunch of great festivals that serve up delicious eats, drinks and entertainment over the summer and you'll want to mark your calendars so you don't miss out on any of the exciting events.
Here are nine festivals you won't want to miss this season!
Yonge North York Night Market
Date: June 7 to June 9, Fri (6pm-10pm), Sat (2pm-10pm), Sun (2pm-8pm)
Address: Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York, ON M2N 5V7
Why You Need To Go: Come for the tasty street food, stay for the giant glowing raccoon!
"With over 60 international vendors curated by Street Eats Market, plus a three-meter high glowing raccoon, the Yonge North York Night Market will take over Mel Lastman Square with a sizzling celebration of culture and street food," says the Instagram page of the event.
The raccoon installation is a monument to a beloved Toronto friend.
"Conrad was the name of the raccoon that died on the corner of Yonge & Church in the summer of 2015," they explain. "Though Conrad was just a raccoon, he was human enough to inspire compassion and warmth in the hearts of Torontonians."
Taste of Little Italy
Date: Friday, June 14, to Sunday, June 16
Address: College Street from Bathurst to Shaw Street
Why You Need To Go: Mangia! Enjoy a weekend of fun with all things Italian at the Taste of Little Italy featuring over 200 local businesses to shop and dine at where you can nibble on street eats and enjoy music.
You'll also have the chance to learn about about Italian culture with special activities featuring a focus on the Lazio, Basilicata, and Molise regions of Italy.
Taste of the Middle East
Date: July 5 to July 7
Address: Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5H 2N1
Why You Need To Go: To learn more about and enjoy Arabic music, art, dance and culture, you'll want to check out Taste of the Middle East.
Enjoy live performances and dancing while snacking on tasty - make sure to leave some room for dessert!
Visit Taste of the Middle East's website
Toronto Food Truck Festival
Date: August 2 to August 5
Address: Woodbine Park, 1695 Queen St E, Toronto, Ontario
Why You Need To Go: Enjoy some bites from multiple food trucks while relaxing in Woodbine.
"As always, admission is free and there’s something for everyone, including Free Children’s Games," says the event. "Entertain yourself with some of Toronto’s best local talent, participate in our live-eating challenges and enjoy a cold beer!"
JerkFest Toronto
Date: August 9 to August 11
Address: Centennial Park, 256 Centennial Park Rd Toronto, ON M9C 5N3
Why You Need To Go: To load up on delicious jerk foods while celebrating all things Carribean, head to JerkFest.
"Indeed, there is no place like home, especially when the emotional pull of home is strong and deeply rooted in the Caribbean," says the event. "Today, JerkFest is one of Ontario's most prominent and hottest summer festivals with a three-day international event celebrating jerk cuisine, music and family entertainment."
Toronto Waterfront Night Market
Date: August 9 to August 11
Address: Hotel X Toronto, 111 Princes' Blvd, Toronto, ON M6K 3C3
Why You Need To Go: Now in it's fifteenth year, the Toronto Waterfront Night Market pairs culture with nightlife.
"Symbolically designed in celebration of the QiXi Double Seven Festival (Asia's version of Valentine's Day)," says the event of this year's offering. "The 2024 edition of the WNM continues to be anchored by the Signature Pan-Asian Food Festival, Kre8ions Cultural Showcase, and illuminasian Floating Lantern & Music Festival."
Taste of Asia
Date: June 28 to June 30
Address: Kennedy and Steeles
Why You Need To Go: Taste of Asia is Canada’s largest Asian festival, so you're most definitely in for some spectacular dishes, as it celebrates diverse cultural harmony, cuisine, and experiences.
Fun fact: Taste of Asia was first introduced in 2003 during the SARS outbreak to boost the local economy and has become a beloved event ever since!
Sweets Festival
Date: July 1
Address: Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York, ON M2N 5V7
Why You Need To Go: If you have a sweet tooth, it just makes sense to go to the Sweets Festival!
"Come with us on a sweet escape to taste, smell and experience some decadent and indulgent treats," says the event. "Sweeten up your day with desserts from our culinary chefs as they take you on a global dessert experience."
Taste of Lawrence
Date: July 5 to 7
Address: Lawrence Avenue East between Warden Avenue and Birchmount Road
Why You Need To Go: "As Scarborough’s largest street festival, it boasts the most enticing flavours from every cultural community in the GTA, over 150 street vendors, live entertainment on two stages, midway rides, kid workshops and so much more," they say of their offerings.
Sounds like a delicious and fun day for the whole family!
If you're interested in dining at some of the hidden gem GTA restaurants while you're visiting various parts of the area, you'll want to check out some of the best spots that locals don't necessarily want you to know about — you're welcome!
Or, if you're interested in hidden gem restaurants in Toronto, locals recently dished on what spots usually fly under the radar but are well worth going out of your way for, because they're just way too delicious.
But if you want to eat like a celeb, you can hit up some of the spots that the A-listers dine at while they're in Toronto, and a few of them won't even break the bank!
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
