Hello all,
After the success of my 2018 post for this, figure I’d see if lightning would strike twice you know?
I feel like many people in Toronto work on their bodies during the winter to get a ‘summer body’ but for us that means like, lose weight that you’re basically going to put back on attending all these damn food festivals.
If there’s any food fest I forgot, feel free to add it in the comments so other people can take advantage and see it! I got you covered from May ALLLLL the way to September.
Dixonlicious
Date: Thursday, May 9th, 2019
Location: Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas St. East, Toronto
Tickets: $85.00 – $95.00
Website: Click Here
Notes: This event gives all its proceeds to Meals on Wheels, Children and Youth Programs, Summer camp etc. The cost of the ticket gives you entry and at the venue you will be able to try different signature items from restaurants around Regent Park that come with a complementary beverage, also included in the price.
Yonge and Dundas Square Rib Fest
Date: Thursday, May 16th – Sunday, May 19th, 2019
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 – if you go look for your specific city I’m almost 100% you probably will find one coming closer to you.
Spring Beerfest TO
Date: Saturday, May 18th – Sunday, May 19th, 2019
Location: Fort York: Garrison Common, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: $24.00 General Admission (includes a commemorative mug, tickets on sale April 9th)
Website: Click Here
Notes: I didn’t even know there was a spring version of Beerfest, but it’s for Victoria Day long weekend so I imagine it probably gets very busy.
Black Owned Food Market
Date: Sunday, May 19th, 2019
Location: Wynchwood Barns, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: This event will feature various Afro-Caribbean staple foods, presented to you by the Black Owned Unity whose aim is to create opportunities that support black business. Can’t lose with Caribbean food, ever. Definitely a must-attend.
Poutinefest
Date: Friday, May 24th – Sunday, May 26th, 2019
Location: Yonge-Dundas Square, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: I missed this last year and probably will fail again this year, don’t be like me.
Burgermania
Date: Friday, May 31st – Sunday, June 2nd, 2019
Location: Yonge-Dundas Square, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: I would like to know how I have never heard of this? I LOVE HAMBURGERS. They’ll have all kinds as well for the meat, veggie and gluten-free folks.
Riverside Eats and Beats Streetfest
Date: Saturday, June 1st, 2019
Location: Queen St. East to DVP, Riverside, Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: Over 50 local restaurants open up their doors with special promotions and live entertainment.
Brunch Fest
Date: Saturday, June 1st – Sunday, June 2nd, 2019
Location: The Grounds at Hotel X, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: $7.95 – $12.95
Website: Click Here
Notes: This is one of those ‘DON’T MISS THIS’ events. I have an awesome time every year. The food is very good and there’s always a crazy amount of options for sweet and savory.
The Mac and Cheese Festival
Date: Friday, June 7th – Sunday, June 9th, 2019
Location: Roundhouse Park, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: Yessssss, they’re back downtown. Big win. Delicious!
Toronto Taste 2019
Date: Sunday, June 9th, 2019
Location: Evergreen Brick Works, Toronto
Tickets: $260.00 (with $150.00 tax receipt)
Website: Click Here
Notes: The proceeds from this event go to Second Harvest. The cost gets you entry into the event, along with UNLIMITED access to delicious food from 50 different restaurants along with wine, spirits and craft beers.
Taco Fest
Date: Friday, June 14th – Sunday, June 16th, 2019
Location: Ontario Place, West Island, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: $9.95 – $14.95
Website: Click Here
Notes: Tacos. That’s it, that’s the explanation.
Taste of Little Italy
Date: Friday, June 14th – Sunday, June 16th, 2019
Location: College Street, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: I’m definitely making it this year! I failed in 2018 and will not be held back from the pasta and cannoli I deserve in my life.
Foodalicious
Date: Saturday, June 15th – Sunday, June 16th, 2019
Location: 35 Carl Hall Road, Toronto
Tickets: $8.00 (general) – $100.00 (VIP family pass)
Website: Click Here
Notes: Looks like a pretty big event since there’s rides for kids and a wholeeeee bunch of food vendors.
Taste of Asia
Date: Friday, June 28th – Sunday, June 30th, 2019
Location: Kennedy Road just North of Steeles Avenue East, Markham
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: 150 booths will be at this gathering, so expect a huge turnout and lots of variety!
Taste of Lawrence
Date: Friday, July 5th – Sunday, July 7th, 2019
Location: Lawrence Ave. E. from Warden Ave. to Birchmount Rd., Scarborough
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: Another event I failed to get to in 2018 that I might try to get to in 2019. The food selection looks superb, with 130 street vendors participating.
Salsa on St. Clair
Date: Saturday, July 6th – Sunday, July 7th, 2019
Location: St. Clair Avenue West between Winona and Christie, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: I’ve never been, yes, yes I am ashamed.
Pizza Fest
Date: Friday, July 19th – Sunday, July 21st, 2019
Location: Ontario Place, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: $7.95 – $12.95
Website: Click Here
Notes: I feel like last year was the inaugural year for this event and that’s why I didn’t make it there? But this year? NOT MISSING IT.
Halal Food Fest
Date: Saturday, July 20th – Sunday, July 21st, 2019
Location: 6900 Airport Rd, Entrance 5, Mississauga
Tickets: $5.00
Website: Click Here
Notes: This event will likely have some of the best seasoned food around, so for all my non-pork eating friends, make your way there.
Brazilfest
Date: Sunday, July 21st, 2019
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?
Toronto Festival of Beer
Date: Friday, July 26th – Sunday, July 28th, 2019
Location: Bandshell Park, Exhibition Place, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: $45-$70 for the times that aren’t sold out already (5 beer sampling tokens included for the lowest tiered one)
Website: Click Here
Notes: I saw Ludacris in 2018 and Method Man in 2017…. this year it looks like both the Friday AND Sunday will have a pretty impressive lineup. The Friday will have Public Enemy (without Flav) and the Sunday will have Ja Rule and Ashanti (unless Ja decides to participate in some next Fyre scam). I’ve never had a bad time at Beer Fest, I definitely encourage everyone to go at some point.
The Rosé Picnic
Date: Saturday, July 27th, 2019
Location: Stanley Barracks @ Hotel X, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: $30.00 (general admission, comes with 1 wine glass, 1 wine bag) – $5,000.00 (VIP Suite for Group of 20, comes with like eight bottles of champagne and food)
Website: Click Here
Notes: I have never even heard of this event, but this also might be because I don’t drink champagne or wine. An estimated 3500 people come for the event, there is A LOT of wine, champagne, food and you get to listen to music on some pink blankets.
Taste of the Middle East
Date: Saturday, July 27th, 2019
Location: Yonge-Dundas Square, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: Ooooh, I think this would be delicious to attend.
Food Truck Festival
Date: Friday, August 2nd – Monday, August 5th, 2019
Location: 1695 Queen St. East, Woodbine Park, Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: If you check the website, there are other dates for other locations around the GTA as well!!
Taste of India
Date: Sunday, August 4th, 2019
Location: Nathan Philips Square, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: Go from West Indian to Indian in the same weekend as Caribana. VERY nice.
Jerkfest
Date: Friday, August 9th – Sunday, August 11th, 2019
Location: Centennial Park, Base of Ski Hills, Etobicoke
Tickets: $10.00
Website: Click Here
Note: A freaking staple in Toronto. Must-attend. They haven’t released the performers for 2019 yet, so make sure to check the website often.
Taste of the Danforth
Date: Friday, August 9th – Sunday, August 11th, 2019
Location: Danforth Avenue from Broadview to Jones Avenue, Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: You’re literally going to be either at Jerkfest or this so….. maybe both?
Beer, Bourbon & BBQ
Date: Friday, August 9th – Sunday, August 11th, 2019
Location: The Grounds at Hotel X, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: $7.95 – $12.95
Website: Click Here
Notes: Interesting that they moved this event up two weeks earlier than usual. If you can make time, definitely try to attend.
Vegandale Fest
Date: Saturday, August 10th, 2019
Location: Fort York, Garrison Common, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: $10-$15
Website: Click Here
Notes: I know some of you are Vegan, so here you go, you get a whole day.
Sweetery
Date: Saturday, August 10th – Sunday, August 11th, 2019
Location: David Pecaut Square, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: If you have a sweet tooth, this is your time to shine.
Taste of Manila
Date: Saturday, August 17th – Sunday, August 18th, 2019
Location: Bathurst Street/Wilson Street, North York
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: Wooooo I love some pichi pichi and sapin sapin, I’m alllll in for this weekend. Yes.
Veg Food Fest
Date: Friday, September 6th – Sunday, September 8th, 2019
Location: Harbourfront Centre, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: This event celebrates all things veg. If you are an herbivore, look this is for you!
Taste of the Kingsway
Date: Friday, September 6th – Sunday, September 8th, 2019
Location: Bloor St. West from Prince Edward Drive to Montgomery Road, Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: Over 150 exhibitors will be out and about to show off their culinary skills.
Cabbagetown Festival
Date: Saturday, September 7th – Sunday, September 8th, 2019
Location: Cabbagetown, Downtown Toronto
Tickets: Free
Website: Click Here
Notes: Along with numerous food vendors they have an opening ceremony, a kids area, various community events and a closing ceremony. Very nice, close by too – well, to me.
Roncesvalles Polish Festival
Date: Saturday, September 14th – Sunday, September 15th, 2019
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.
I would also like to give a special mention to these events, although not ‘food events‘ – they got some great food AT the events:
Pride Toronto (June 22nd – June 23rd, 2019) – Click Here
Afrofest (July 6th – July 7th, 2019) – Click Here
Caribana (August 1st – August 4th, 2019) – Click Here
CNE (August 16th – September 2nd, 2019) – Click Here
Busker Fest (August 30th – September 2nd, 2019) – Click Here
And I will include the lengthy Summerlicious is in July 2019 – Click Here
Happy eating 🙂
– Mirna
