By Jenn Reid
It’s officially summer festival season! June is when the city is finally consistently warm (no thank you to this cool and rainy May) and the streets and parks are full of festivals, outdoor markets and events! You can check out tried and true music festivals, brand new food events, free shows and more all month long. Check out the top events happening this June in Toronto. [Photo credit: Courtesy of Taco Fest]
Kampai Toronto
Canada’s biggest sake festival takes over the Distillery District this month! Kampai Toronto is a sake fest that features more than 150 different sakes from breweries across Japan. There’s also Japanese food from top Toronto chefs, and an outdoor market with tons of vendors selling the latest sake accessories, plus other Japanese goods.
Field Trip
There are dozens of music festivals in the city, but Field Trip is always a favourite for many. The indie rock festival boasts a great line-up (Feist, Broken Social Scene, Phoenix and A Tribe Called Red), plus food vendors, a play area for kids, art exhibits, comedy, food eating contests and more. It’s like a weekend day camp with a really great soundtrack.
Session Craft Beer Festival
While most food and drink events are Toronto-specific, Ontario Craft Beer Week takes it a step further and takes place across the province! There are small sampling events, brewery tours and festivals all over the GTA, but the standout for Torotonians is always the Session Festival at Yonge-Dundas Square. There are more than 100 beers to sample, plus food vendors, live music and more.
The Stop’s Night Market
The Stop’s Night Market brings two great Toronto ideas together: eating amazing food and helping the community. Community food bank The Stop’s annual fundraising event is the tastiest in the city. 70 Toronto chefs will be serving up delicious, one-of-a-kind dishes, plus local brewers and beverage makers, and unique food carts created by local designers. Best of all? It’s all you can eat and drink! All food and beverage is included in the ticket price!!
NXNE
Old-school Toronto music fans might not recognize NXNE (North by Northeast) anymore — the festival has undergone a major facelift. Instead of taking over every bar and concert venue in the city, plus Yonge-Dundas square, the fest focuses most of the action on a three-day music festival at the Port Lands. This year’s lineup includes Post Malone, Tyler the Creator, Sleigh Bells and Passion Pit. If you preferred the smaller, intimate shows, a select few clubs will have NXNE programming throughout the week, curated by NXNE superstars like the band The Rural Alberta Advantage or radio personality Raina Douris.
Gatsby Garden Party
The Spadina Museum has been hosting a Gatsby Garden Party for ages, but the event has taken off in the past few years. Don your best flapper dress and enjoy a breezy summer weekend in the beautiful gardens, listening to jazz, playing croquet and learning how to do the Charleston.
Luminato
Luminato is back! The annual theatre and arts festival takes over the city again this June with theatre performances, free concerts, opera, art exhibits and more. Most of the excitement revolves around David Pecaut Square, where ‘the Famous Spiegeltent’ will be set up. The authentic 1920s travelling pavilion will house music, cabaret, theatre and spoken word performances, just as it has for decades.
Wine and Spirit Festival
One of the biggest perks of the sunny June weather is that we can finally drink outside again! Head down to Sugar Beach for the Wine and Spirit Festival and enjoy a glass of chardonnay by the beach — what could be better than that? The event features live music, demonstrations and a chance to sample different wines and spirits, plus an assortment of beer, cocktails, ciders and coolers.
Taco Fest
Taco festival. Need I say more? This food event highlights the city’s ongoing love affair with the almighty taco. Different local restaurants and vendors offer up their take on the classic Mexican dish, plus guacamole, churros, margaritas, sangria and more tasty Mexican food.
Toronto Jazz Festival
The Toronto Jazz Festival is celebrating its 30th birthday this year! The music fest has been bringing world renowned jazz musicians to the city for decades, and this year is no different. Joss Stone, Mavis Staples, Randy Bachman and the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, are all part of the 2017 lineup. There will also be a series of free outdoor shows happening around Yorkville.
