Hello all,
It is the bessssst time of the year!!
You know Toronto people love us some food festivals. I present to you my Summer Food Festival Guide for 2023.
If I have missed any you’d like to add, please say them in the comments so everyone can see and attend. As more information comes out (or new events) I will keep updating this list.
This is done in chronological order, the prices are there, as well as a small explanation and both the location maps and website links are embedded – if you click on them it will take you to more information.
Enjoy!!
T.O. Food and Drink Fest 2023
Date: March 31st – April 1st – 2nd, 2023
Location: Metro Toronto Convention Center
Tickets: $20.00 (with tax)
Website: Click Here
Notes: I know they had this last year and they have a variety of things happening like mixologists for the drinkers, a chef workshop and even live music and a DJ lounge.
Parkdale Easter Spring Fest 2023
Date: April 8th – April 9th, 2023
Location: The Parkdale Hall
Tickets: $3.00
Website: Click Here
Notes: There will be games, food and entertainment. I think this would be a cute family thing to go to.
Noodle Festival 2023
Date: April 22 – April 23, 2023
Location: Evergreen Brick Works
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: Saw this on the Street Eats Market website. I also checked the Evergreen Brick Works events calendar and they basically say to head over to their Instagram to see more information on it. Feel like the name of the festival kind of gives away what kind of food there might be. Just saying.
Desifest 2023
Date: May 31st – June 4th, 2023
Location: Yonge & Dundas
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: Says this event is 17-years old and is the largest annual 4-day music festival for South Asians. There are speaker panels, a hip hop concert and of course, food. We never forget about food.
Do We Fest 2023
Date: June 9th – June 11th, 2023
Location: Along Dundas Street West from Ossington to Lansdowne
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: Formerly Dundas West Fest, this is done by the Little Portugal BIA – which I really hope means there will be plenty pastel de nata?
Lakeshore Village Grilled Cheese Challenge Festival 2023
Date: June 10th, 2023
Location: On Lakeshore Blvd. W from Islington Ave to Second St
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: Looks like you can attend and try a bunch of different grilled cheese and vote for: best tasting, most unique and best gourmet. Feel like this could end up with lots of interesting things to try. Says there will be live music, a beer garden and again, LOTS OF GRILLED CHEESE.
Taste of Little Italy 2023
Date: June 16th – June 18th, 2023
Location: College Street, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: I love pasta and cannoli, give me one of everything.
Taco Fest 2023
Date: June 16th – June 18th, 2023
Location: The Grounds at Hotel X – 115 Princes’ Blvd
Tickets: Between $16.50 – $24.50
Website: Click Here
Notes: Looks like a new location for this years Taco Fest. I mean, I’ve never had a bad time and tacos rock. Can’t miss this. Pre-sale begins April 21st for tickets.
Toronto Beaches Rib & Beer Festival 2023
Date: June 16th – June 18th, 2023
Location: Woodbine Park
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: I appreciate any event that has ‘finger lickin’ in the description of it.
Rosé Picnic 2023
Date: June 24th, 2023
Location: Hotel X
Tickets: $49.95 + tax (tier 1)
Website: Click Here
Notes: I was waiting for the information and date to drop! It is all pretty in pink with this event. If you decide to go, your ticket includes a swag bag, a complimentary drink by Tequila Rose and another welcome cocktail. Have fun.
Fairbank Summerfest 2023
Date: June 23rd – June 25th, 2023
Location: Eglinton West. Dufferin St. to Ronald Ave.
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: An event put on by the Fairbank Village BIA, it includes food from around the world as well as a sidewalk sale that they say will remind you of a European Bazaar. Also, if you come between 12-4pm for FREE popcorn daily. Sounds good to me.
Taste of Asia 2023
Date: June 23rd – June 25th, 2023
Location: Kennedy Road just North of Steeles Avenue East, Markham
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: I feel like this is a large event with a massive amount of food, must check out.
Taste of Lawrence 2023
Date: July 7th – July 9th, 2023 (according to their IG)
Location: Lawrence Ave. E. from Warden Ave. to Birchmount Rd., Scarborough
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: The variety of food offered at this event is pretty amazing, and since Scarborough has some of the best food in all of GTA – good idea to check this out.
Wine Fest Toronto 2023
Date: July 7th – July 9th, 2023
Location: RendezViews
Tickets: $49.00
Website: Click Here
Notes: So apparently for $50, you have ‘all you can taste‘ wine for four hours. Yes, they will also have food to purchase there. Suppose that is necessary when having an unlimited amount of wine.
Salsa on St. Clair 2023
Date: July 8th – July 9th, 2023
Location: St. Clair Avenue West between Winona and Christie, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: I can’t believe it is 2023 and I still haven’t been to this!
Northern Heat Rib Fest 2023
Date: July 14th – July 16th, 2023
Location: 1 Dundas St. East, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: I realize there’s a bunch of these all over the GTA. You can see the full schedule on the website. Kind of funny this one is on this particular weekend, when you see the other event right below this.
Halal Ribfest 2023
Date: July 14th – July 16th, 2023
Location: Downsview Park
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: This will have some of the best halal food that Toronto has to offer as well as competitions, a market and games with carnival rides.
Tammuz Festival 2023
Date: July 15th – July 17th, 2023
Location: Meridian Arts Centre
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: This has a DJ party, a brewing teahouse, and most importantly, IRANIAN FOOD. So so good.
MixTO 2023
Date: July 15th – July 16th, 2023
Location: Lynx Music Car Park, 260 Emerson Ave
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: Describes itself as a festival with music, food and fun. Looks like it is a big ‘block party’ type vibe with DJ’s and whatnot. Could be really good, judging by the 2022 video on the website.
Festival of India 2023
Date: July 15th – July 16th, 2023
Location: Toronto Centre-Island
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: This will be the 51st time the event is held! They have traditional face-painting, a bazaar, an outdoor yoga festival and traditional face painting. I don’t know about you all, but doing yoga makes me very hungry so this goes well together.
Big on Bloor Festival 2023
Date: July 15th – July 16th, 2023
Location: Bloor St from Dufferin to Landsdowne
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: This is a festival that has musicians, artisans and of course, food. The restaurants on Bloor extend their patios and there are lots of sidewalk sales. Feel like this is a good day to throw some sneakers on and go for a walk along Bloor and take it all in.
Brazilfest 2023
Date: July 21st – July 23rd, 2023
Location: Earlscourt Park, Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: Apparently this is Canada’s largest Brazilian Cultural Event and all I want to know is like, will they have caipirinha’s or nah?
Taste The Caribbean 2023
Date: July 22nd – July 23rd, 2023
Location: Eglinton West and Oakwood Ave
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: I don’t see MUCH information on this yet, but this might be the only TTC acronym that doesn’t let Toronto people down.
Ossfest 2023
Date: July 22nd, 2023
Location: Ossington Strip between Dundas St W and Queen St W
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here or Facebook Page
Notes: Going to take a wild guess and say this is short form for OSSINGTON fest, could be wrong. Looks like the street shuts down and it is all patios to eat and drink at, as well as various vendors and musical performances.
Fun Philippines Toronto 2023
Date: July 22nd – July 23rd, 2023
Location: Bathurst St at Wilson Ave.
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: This has 120+ booths in a 1km span of road. There is entertainment, food and rides. If you can’t make it to this, don’t worry, there are some more Filipino events next month as well.
Panamerican Food Festival 2023
Date: July 22nd – July 23rd, 2023
Location: Nathan Philips Square, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: Apparently this is Canada’s only annual festival that celebrates the Western Hemisphere’s diversity of cuisine, music and art – if you’re near downtown, you should check it out.
Toronto Festival of Beer 2023
Date: July 28th – July 30th, 2023
Location: Bandshell Park, Exhibition Place, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: $78.35 – $89.90 currently (I think it goes up in tiers)
Website: Click Here
Notes: I have seen Ja Rule, Ludacris, Ashanti and Method Man at this event. I love attending. For 2022 I got to see Nas perform, it NEVER lets me down. This year the Friday performance will be Ice Cube, the Saturday will be Third Eye Blind and Sunday is T-Pain!!
Alohafest Toronto 2023
Date: July 29th, 2023
Location: Mel Lastman Square
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: Don’t think I have ever tried Polynesian food, but I definitely think I should now.
Canadian Multicultural Peruvian Fest 2023
Date: July 29th – July 30th, 2023
Location: Nathan Phillips Square, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: I literally just went to Peru, this will be a MUST attend because Peruvian food is outstanding.
Taste of India Festival 2023
Date: August 4th – August 5th, 2023
Location: Nathan Phillips Square, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: Can never go wrong with food truck eats. According to the Nathan Philips Square event calendar, it should be taking place these dates!
Toronto Food Truck Festival 2023
Date: August 4th – August 7th, 2023
Location: 1695 Queen St. East, Woodbine Park, Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: Can never go wrong with food truck eats.
Toronto Diversity Festival 2023
Date: August 7th – August 8th, 2023
Location: Nathan Phillips Square, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: There will be vendors, local businesses, music and ALL Kinds of food. As Toronto is the most diverse city in the world (go argue with your mom if you disagree) – I imagine this festival will have wonderful food.
Taste of Vietnam 2023
Date: August 11th – August 12th, 2023
Location: Nathan Phillips Square, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: I mean, Vietnamese food…. duh. Of course we’re going to this. According to the Nathan Philips Square event calendar, it should be taking place these dates!
Jerkfest 2023
Date: August 10th – August 13th, 2023
Location: Centennial Park
Tickets: Info not available yet, was $10 before
Website: Click Here
Note: A freaking staple in Toronto. Must-attend. Check the site to see who performers will be etc.
Toronto Waterfront Night Market 2023
Date: August 11th – August 13th, 2023 (assuming)
Location: Ontario Place, West Island
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: On their website it actually says ‘2023 TBD‘ but since it was in the above location and around this weekend in 2022, I assume it’ll be around there for 2023. This is a Pan-Asian Food & Craft Beer Festival and it looks like it is a pretty large event. Really cool flyers for previous ones on their Instagram page.
Taste of the Danforth 2023
Date: August 11th – August 13th, 2023
Location: Danforth Avenue from Broadview to Jones Avenue, Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: ITS BACK YAAAAH!!
Himalayan Mela 2023
Date: August 13th
Location: Nathan Phillips Square, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: Nepali food. I need it. I want to try it. According to the Nathan Philips Square event calendar, it should be taking place these dates!
Taste of Manila 2023
Date: August 19th – August 20th, 2023 (assuming)
Location: Bathurst St at Wilson Ave.
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: I mean, if you’re not downtown (see below) then you can get your fill of delicious lumpia and ube in North York as well apparently. This is also a date I am assuming is correct as the previous years it is around this weekend, will update if anything new comes up.
Mabuhay Philippines Festival 2023
Date: August 19th – August 20th, 2023
Location: Nathan Phillips Square, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: If I don’t drown myself in ube at this festival, did I really even go? According to the Nathan Philips Square event calendar, it should be taking place these dates!
Afro-Carib Festival 2023
Date: August 19th – August 20th, 2023
Location: Thomson Memorial Park
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: A Caribbean food festival, in SCARBOROUGH? You literally don’t need any other signs that the food here will be outstanding.
Sinting Fest 2023
Date: August 25th – August 27th, 2023 (assuming)
Location: Eglinton West
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: Looks like 2022 was the inaugural year for this event in Little Jamaica. Lots of performances and also Jamaican food…. I repeat, Jamaican food. Yes. Hopefully it is back again this year! Just guess-timating the date in line with when it was in 2022.
Trinbago 2023
Date: August 26th – August 27th, 2023
Location: Yonge & Dundas
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: I am SO MAD I missed this last year. Trinidadian food is amazing and I heard last year if you didn’t get there early, there was no more doubles left for you. The Yonge and Dundas event site says these are the dates for the one this year and I WILL NOT MISS IT.
Toronto Cider Festival 2023
Date: August 26th – August 27th, 2023
Location: The Toronto Inukshuk Park
Tickets: Not Sure Yet
Website: Click Here
Notes: Judging by their event page from last year, this looks pretty epic. Like, they were selling hotel packages for it? Wow. If you like cider, music and food – I suppose this is totally for you. On Eventseeker they say more information is still coming.
Toronto Korean Festival 2023
Date: August 26th – August 27th, 2023 (assuming)
Location: Mel Lastman Square
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: Last year it was held around this date, hence the assumption. They had 50+ market vendors, a K-Pop dance competition and lots of delicious Korean food. Will update when more information is released.
The Rosé Picnic 2023
Date: Hopefully Coming Soon?
Location: Exhibition Place, Bandshell Park
Tickets: $40.00 in 2022
Website: Click Here
Notes: I haven’t seen anything for 2023 yet, if anything pops up, will update. I heard it was really good, so I think it should come back.
Taste of the Kingsway 2023
Date: September 8th – September 10th, 2023
Location: Bloor St. West from Prince Edward Drive to Montgomery Road, Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: This has been going on for 16 years, so it must have something good there.
Veg Food Fest 2023
Date: September 9th – September 10th, 2023
Location: Nathan Phillips Square, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: I was reading a statement that this was hosted at the Harbourfront Centre for 37 years, so I guess they are moving it outside for 2023. If you’re a vegetarian, get yourself here. According to the Nathan Philips Square event calendar, it should be taking place these dates!
Toronto Ukrainian Festival 2023
Date: September 15th – September 17th, 2023
Location: Bloor West Village
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: This is North America’s largest Ukrainian Street Festival. Feel like if you go to this Saturday and the event below this on the Sunday, you’ll probably end up in a food coma.
Roncesvalles Polish Festival 2023
Date: September 16th – September 17th, 2023
Location: Roncesvalles, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: Polka? Pierogi? Kielbasa? This is exactly how I’d want to begin preparing my hibernation body for the winter.
Mexican Independence Day 2023
Date: September 16th, 2023
Location: Nathan Phillips Square, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: If you don’t like Mexican food, I don’t know if I can trust you as a human being.
Vegandale Fest 2023
Date: September 23rd, 2023
Location: Fort York, Garrison Common, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: $10-$16
Website: Click Here
Notes: I know some of you are Vegan, so here you go, you get a whole day. Also, this time it doesn’t give the location exactly, but last year it was at the Garrison Common. So maybe again?
Graze Toronto 2023
Date: September 22nd – September 24th, 2023
Location: Corus Quay and Sugar Beach
Tickets: Says to stay tuned to their IG. So do that.
Website: Click Here
Notes: There isn’t any information on the cost of this event but it will be ‘The Food Network Canada’s inaugural food festival‘. So I imagine this will have some DAMN good food and it is the first time it’s happening, so yay.
I would also like to give a special mention to these events, although not ‘food events‘ – they have some great food AT the events:
Pride Toronto 2023 (June 23rd – June 25th) – Click Here
Afrofest 2023 (July 7th – July 9th) – Click Here
Beaches Jazz Festival 2023 (July 6th – July 30th) – Click Here
Salsa on the Beach 2023 (July 14th – July 16th) – Click Here
Caribana aka Toronto Caribbean Carnival 2023 (August 3rd – August 7th) – Click Here
Canadian National Exhibition ‘CNE’ 2023 (August 18th – September 4th) – Click Here
Busker Fest 2023 (September 1st – September 4th) – Click Here
And I will include the lengthy Summerlicious 2023 is July 7th – July 23rd – Click Here
Happy eating 🙂
– Mirna
I love you for this!!!!
Thank youuu