This summer’s can’t-miss food and drink festivals
Ready, set, eat! And stay tuned for updates as more festivals are announced throughout the season
Bud Light Radler Brunch Fest
Everyone’s favourite midday meal will be celebrated the first weekend in June at Hotel X. Avocado aficionados, flapjack fanatics and eggs Benny enthusiasts will enjoy a bevy of brunch eats and a caesar bar. Bonus: one free radler with ticket purchase. $7.95 and up. The Grounds at Hotel X, 111 Princes’ Blvd., thebrunchfest.ca
Wild Things Fest
Sunday, June 2
The second annual festival devoted to all kinds of funky, wild-fermented beer, cider and wine, is kicking off in June at Junction Craft Brewing’s gorgeous Art Deco space in the Stockyards. Organized by the Beer Sisters, this year’s bacchanalian bash brings all the usual boozy suspects, plus a visit from Toronto’s own Grape Witches, a couple of fun-loving natural-wine experts. Junction Craft Brewing, 150 Symes Rd., eventbrite.com
The Mac and Cheese Festival
Friday, June 7 to Sunday, June 9
The fifth-annual mac-and-cheese fest goes down at Roundhouse Park this year with more than 50 variations of the comfort-food classic, a craft beer lounge, marshmallow fire pits and live entertainment. Free admission. Roundhouse Park, 255 Bremner Blvd., themacandcheesefestival.com
The Taco Fest
Friday, June 14 to Sunday, June 17
The new-and-improved Ontario Place is once again hosting Taco Fest, a three-day festival devoted to tacos of all shapes and sizes (including ones filled with ice cream). Attendees can also look forward to margaritas, sangria, churros and live mariachi music. $9.95 and up. Ontario Place, 955 Lake Shore Blvd. W., thetacofest.ca
The Stop’s Night Market
Tuesday, June 18 and Wednesday, June 19
This year marks the eighth edition of the Stop’s annual all-you-can-eat, all-you-can-drink fundraiser extraordinaire, each of the two nights featuring more than 40 chefs and vendors. This year, the festival moves to Stackt, Toronto’s brand-new shipping container market on Bathurst. $125. Stackt Market, 28 Bathurst St., thestopnm.com
Toronto Ribfest
Friday, June 28 to Monday, July 1
This year’s “ribber” lineup isn’t available yet but it’s guaranteed to be four saucy days full of finger-lickin’ fun. And yes, there will be Bloomin’ Onions. General admission is free but true meatheads can purchase VIP passes that include line bypass, private covered tables close to the main stage, free samples and “executive” washrooms. Etobicoke Centennial Park, 256 Centennial Park Rd., torontoribfest.com
Junction Night Market
Saturday, July 6
The Junction’s al fresco evening shindig will feature a whole whack of food and drink for only $5 each. The vendor lineup isn’t out yet, but last year’s included Honest Weight, the Beet, Phancy Food and Mildred’s Temple Kitchen. Longslice Brewery, People’s Pint and High Park Brewery were just some of the boozier ones. Free entry. Pacific Ave. at Dundas St. W., @junctionmarket
Night It Up
Friday, July 12 to Sunday July 14
Styled after Asian night markets, Night It Up returns to transform Markham’s city hall into a maze of food and merchandise vendors, multicultural music venues and sports courts. Catch some Asian cinema on the outdoor screen and then chow down on ramen burgers, takoyaki, shaved ice and more. Free. Markham Civic Centre, 101 Town Centre Blvd., nightitup.com
Toronto’s Festival of Beer
Friday, July 26 to Sunday, July 28
The city’s biggest beer fest is coming back to the Ex for three full days of beer-soaked bacchanalia. Last year’s festival featured a whopping 80 brewers showcasing 416 different beers. So things don’t get totally out of hand, there’ll be a whole bunch of food vendors to help soak up the suds. Oh and hey, Ja Rule is going to be there. $40 and up. Bandshell Park, Exhibition Place, 60 Prince Edward Island Cres., beerfestival.ca
Momo Crawl T.O.
Sunday, July 28
Hosted by Students for a Free Tibet Canada, Momo Crawl T.O. gives Torontonians the chance to get a taste of Parkdale’s Little Tibet, one delicious steamed dumpling at a time. Attendees each receive a passport that grants them a whole bunch of momos from the neighbourhood’s Tibetan restaurants. The list of this year’s participants has yet to be announced but in years past, participating restaurants have included Loga’s Corner, Yak Cafe and more. $25. Various locations, Facebook
Toronto Food Truck Festival
Friday, August 2 to Monday, August 5
More than 30 food trucks will converge on Woodbine Park for three days of grilled, smoked and deep-fried fun. Last year’s vendors included Naansense, Hogtown Smoke, The Food Dudes, FeasTO, Buster’s Sea Cove, Eva’s Original Chimneys and many more. Bonus: It’s licensed, too! Free admission. Woodbine Park, 1695 Queen St. E., canadianfoodtruckfestivals.com/toronto
Jerkfest Toronto
Thursday, August 9 to Sunday, August 12
The jerkiest of festivals is coming back to Centennial Park, bringing with it four days of jerk everything, including a “so you think you can jerk” competition and a hot-and-spicy jerk chicken eating contest. Thankfully, Red Stripe is a sponsor. Lawn chairs and blankets (because, naps) are strongly encouraged. Bonus: A live performance by Ginuwine. Ginuwine! Ticket prices TBA. (Children six and under are free.) Centennial Park, 256 Centennial Park Rd., jerkfestival.ca
Taste of the Danforth
Friday, August 9 to Sunday, August 11
The 25-year-old Greektown food fair now includes Thai, Cuban, Indian and other international flavours alongside the typical Mediterranean favourites. Between bites, attendees can check out live music, Greek dancing, a kids’ area and a sports zone, or see what kind of Guinness World Records they’re attempting to break this year (past attempts include most people to eat a single olive in eight hours). Free entry. Various locations, tasteofthedanforth.com
Waterfront Night Market
Friday, August 10 to Sunday, August 12
The popular Waterfront Night Market is returning to Ontario Place for the second year in a row, filling the grounds with more than 150 vendors serving all kinds of pan-Asian street snacks like popcorn chicken, grilled squid on sticks and stinky tofu. New this year: Beercraft, a 19+ festival within an all-ages one. Free admission to the night market; TBA for admission to Beercraft. Ontario Place, 955 Lake Shore Blvd. W., waterfrontnightmarket.com
Toronto Vegandale Food and Drink Festival
Saturday, August 10
Toronto’s vegans will flock to Fort York for this festival that celebrates soy and all other animal-free foods. This year’s lineup has yet to be unveiled, but last year’s 70-plus vendors included Cool Beans Eatery from Texas, Seasoned Vegan from Harlem and Outlawz Food all the way from Switzerland. $10 and up. Fort York, Garrison Common, 250 Fort York Blvd., vegandalefest.com
Sweetery
Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 11
Calling all sweet teeth: Canada’s largest festival devoted to all things sugary is coming back to David Pecaut Square. Last year, attendees got to sample sweet treats like macaron burgers, s’more cupcakes and ice cream waffle sandwiches. New this year: a movie night! On Saturday, the festival will screen Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade—which has nothing to do with sugar, but it’s still a great flick. Free admission. David Pecaut Square, 60 Simcoe St., sweeterytoronto.ca
Pan American Food and Musical Festival
Saturday, August 17 and Sunday, August 18
This annual Latin-American festival will take over Yonge-Dundas Square for two days of food demonstrations, ceviche sampling, empanada competitions and more. This year’s featured country: Cuba. Oh, and this being a music fest as well, there’ll be plenty of live entertainment, including the first-ever Pan American Star contest. Free admission. Yonge-Dundas Square, 1 Dundas St. E., panamfest.com
Canadian National Exhibition
Friday, August 17 to Monday, September 3
More carnival than festival, we can’t not include the CNE in this edible bucket list of food events. Not only is there the legendary food building where you can find things like deep-fried chicken feet and strawberry-sauced Philly cheesesteaks, but there’s also a Food Truck Frenzy, an East Coast kitchen party and a craft beer fest. Hopefully there’s a Rolaids tent on the grounds, too. Ticket prices TBA. Canadian National Exhibition, 210 Princes’ Blvd., theex.com
Toronto Cider Fest
Friday, August 23 and Saturday, August 24
More than 100 (yes, 100) varieties of cider will be poured at Sherbourne Commons for Toronto Cider Fest’s fifth anniversary. You know what they say: An apple cider a day keeps the doctor away. That’s how it goes, right? $40 and up. Sherbourne Common, 61 Dockside Dr., torontociderfestival.com
Taste of the Kingsway
Friday, September 6 to Sunday, September 8
All of the businesses along Bloor between Prince Edward Drive and Montgomery Road will be out in full force for the Kingsway’s annual street festival. How can you go wrong when you combine a couple beer gardens with a fish-and-chip eating contest, a midway and a dog show? You can’t. Free admission. Various locations, thekingsway.ca
Roncesvalles Polish Festival
Saturday, September 14 to Sunday, September 15
Toronto’s favourite sausage party is packing Roncesvalles for its 14th year, bringing with it all the pierogies, Polish sausage and pickles one could ask for. Also: beer. Lots of beer. And vodka. Lots of that, too. Free admission. Roncesvalles Village, polishfestival.ca
Toronto Ukranian Festival
Friday, September 13 to Sunday, September 15
Didn’t get your fill of pierogies at Polish Fest? Well, head over to Bloor West Village for their annual Ukrainian Fest—another dumpling- and sausage-filled affair. Free admission. Bloor West Village, ukranianfestival.com
