The top 50 summer festivals in Toronto for 2017

Summer festivals in Toronto will keep you busy all season long with a dizzying array of food events, block parties, massive music gatherings, and more in every corner of the city. Have fun exploring and taking it all in!

Events you might want to check out:

Electric Island Festival (May 22 - September 4 @ Woodbine Park)
With a party every weekend featuring international DJs and food vendors, this fest will happen at Woodbine Park while we wait for Island to re-open.
Pride Month 2017 (June 1-25 @ Multiple Venues)
Pride Toronto's main weekend is June 23-25, but there are also events all month long beginning on June 1 with parties and human rights panels. 
Toronto Japanese Film Festival (June 8-28 @ Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre)
All films shown at the Japanese Film Fest have been recognized by Japanese audiences and critics, international film festivals and the Japanese Film Academy.
TD Jazz Fest (June 23 - July 2 @ Multiple Venues)
Joss Stone, Gregory Porter, Mavis Staples and Aretha Franklin headline the city-wide jazz fest happening in some of the best sounding venues in Toronto.
Toronto Craft Beer Festival (June 23 @ Ontario Place)
Celebrate independent craft brewers with an impressively wide variety of local craft beers and ciders, as well as delicious food, fun activities and live music.
TD Taste of Asia 2017 (June 23-25 @ Kennedy Road)
Head to Markham for two-days of non-stop food and action.
TD Irie Music Festival (June 23 @ Mississauga Celebration Square)
Feel the power of summer at this laid back, positive music and cultural fest featuring international and Canadian music, dance, spoken word, visual arts and culinary artists.
The Junction Summer Solstice (June 24 @ THE JUNCTION)
Usher in the new season with a full day of music, art, outdoor patios and shopping.
Luminato Block Party (June 24 @ Drake Commissary)
This block party celebrates the intersection of high art and street culture, led by Australian artist Shaun Gladwell and a performance of his film Skateboarders vs Minimalism. Expect DJs and food trucks.
Pedestrian Sundays (June 25 - September 24 @ Kensington Market)
On the last Sunday of the month, the streets of Kensington Market are car-free. Expect performers, food vendors, makers, dance parties and endless surprises happening all day in the market. 
Open Roof Festival (June 27 - August 29 @ 99 Sudbury)
Make sure to get your tickets in advance for these movie nights under the stars as they're busy, boozy and laid back nights of fun.
Heritage Ontario Festival (June 30 - July 3 @ Ontario Place)
Celebrate the heritage, culture and traditions of Ontario through music on multiple stages, interactive exhibits and food and drink vendors, spread out all around Ontario Place. 
Toronto Ribfest (June 30 - July 3 @ Centennial Park)
This is a four-day celebration in a park, surrounded by the best rib makers in all the land. Also expect lots of live shows and entertainment.
Redpath Waterfront Festival (July 1-3 @ Sherbourne Commons)
Visit HTO Park to see the world's largest rubber duck, visit over 75 crafters, artists, bakers and creators and see a Lumberjack show and massive navy ships.
Toronto Fringe Festival (July 5-16 @ Multiple Venues)
See various types of theatrical work on multiple stages at all hours of the day and night. There's also a huge free outdoor party space. 
Bud Light Dreams Festival (July 7 @ Echo Beach)
Above & Beyond, DVBBS and Steve Angello headline the newly named Dreams Festival. It's two days of larger-than-life dance music.
Summerlicious (July 7-23 @ Multiple Venues)
Summerlicious is one of Toronto's favourite culinary celebrations. For two weeks in July, savour delicious three-course prix fixe menus served by more than 200 of Toronto’s top restaurants. 
Taste of Lawrence (July 7-9 @ Lawrence Ave. E.)
Scarborough’s largest street festival boasts the most enticing flavours from every cultural community in the GTA. Visit 130 street vendors, midway rides and two music stages.
Beaches International Jazz Festival (July 7-30 @ The Beach)
This summer jazz fest takes over the street, pubs, bars, restaurants and parks of the Beaches.
Salsa On St. Clair (July 8 @ St. Clair Avenue West)
The 13th annual Salsa on St. Clair is a free weekend celebration that attracts hundreds of thousands of salsa lovers for non stop dancing and singing in the streets.
Maker Extravaganza (July 8 @ Toronto Reference Library)
For one weekend only, the city's most creative people gather together to share their latest creations, demonstrate their newest projects and make things together at this free fest.
Anatolia Festival (July 9 @ Dundas square)
Celebrate Turkish culture in downtown Toronto with folk dance, food and live music. Admission is free.
Fusion of Taste Festival (July 9 @ Albion Road and Islington Ave)
This is a one day celebration of multiculturalism with international and local performances, buskers and over 60 vendors.
Toronto Summer Music Festival (July 13 - August 5 @ Koerner Hall, Walter Hall, and Church of the Redeemer)
This festival features renowned Canadian and international artists in 26 main stage concerts, masterclasses, free shows, lectures, and workshops.
Vector Festival (July 13-16 @ 9 Ossington Avenue)
See and experience emergent, critical and experimental new media in the city. It will feature instalments and exhibits from world-renowned tech minds, screenings and online components.
Unity Festival (July 13-15 @ Geary Lane)
The ninth annual Unity Festival returns with visual art, spoken word, breakdancing and beatboxing by local youth and international artists.
Summer Craft Beer Festival (July 13 @ Liberty Village Market Galleria)
Throw back some local brews in Liberty Village at this pay-as-you-go festival. There'll also be live music, snacks, food vendors and summer heat.
Night It Up! Night Market (July 14-16 @ Night It Up!)
This is the longest-running outdoor night market in the GTA and it's packed with unique Asian street food, gourmet food trucks, a variety of merchandise and stage performances.
Festival of India (July 15 @ Toronto Island Parks)
The Festival of India brings South Asian culture to the heart of downtown with 40-foot tall floats in a grand parade. There'll be drumming, singing, and dancing all the way from Bloor to Queens Quay.
Toronto Burlesque Festival (July 20-23 @ Multiple Venues)
This is sizzling four-day extravaganza of performances and parties with a cast of innovative artists from all across the globe.
Big on Bloor (July 22 @ Bloor Street West)
Toronto’s Big on Bloor Festival has expanded its programming this year between Dufferin and Lansdowne for a celebratory car-free weekend. Art institutions, collectives, galleries and artists take to the streets.
Tirgan Festival (July 27-30 @ Harbourfront Centre)
Tirgan is a non-profit, non-religious and non-partisan cultural celebration for Iranian-Canadians with four days of music, dance, food, discussions and historical programming.
WayHome (July 28-30 @ Oro Medonte)
Okay, it's in Oro Medonte, but everyone's going to this massive camping and music festival. Solange, Frank Ocean and Justice headline and there will be food, art and film all around the grounds.
Caribana Weekend (August 3-7 @ Toronto, ON)
Caribana weekend really takes over the entire city. Sure, the massive parade on Sunday is a glorious spectacle, but it's the parties, concerts and general celebratory vibe in the streets that make it so special.
Summerworks Festival (August 3-13 @ Multiple Venues)
This festival features the city's brightest up-and-coming theatrical talent in all sorts of venues around Toronto. There's also a concert series and some great parties.
Toronto Food Truck Festival (August 4-7 @ Woodbine Park)
Spend four days trying out the more than 50 food trucks at this fest with a licensed green space, live music and eating challenges.
Arts & Music Ontario Festival (August 4-7 @ Ontario Place)
Enjoy and explore all forms of artistic expression with a focus on Ontario and newcomer artists in music, theatre, dance and more.
Veld Music Festival (August 5 @ Veld Music Festival)
One of the city's loudest electronic and hip hop festivals returns with an impressive lineup that includes Future, Major Lazer, Tiesto, Tory Lanez and way more. 
Kultura Filipino Arts Festival (August 10-13 @ Daniels Spectrum)
What began as a small Kensington Market BBQ has grown into a vibrant and contemporary arts, culture and food festival. Celebration Filipino Canadians, the three day festival focuses on food, fashion and arts. 
Waterfront Night Market (August 11-13 @ Hearn Generating Station)
The Night Market has transformed into a massive indoor and outdoor event at the Hearn Generation Station.
Taste of the Danforth (August 11-13 @ Greek Town)
Taste of the Danforth is Canada’s largest street festival, welcoming approximately 1.65 million attendees annually. Expect endless activities, performers and of course, so. much. food.
JerkFest (August 11-13 @ Grace JerkFest - Canada's Jerk Food Festival)
Brian McKnight, Pinchers, Maxi Priest and Freddie Jackson headline this year's JerkFest. Expect vendors, lots of food and drinks and a crowd that's in it for the music.
Sweetery (August 12 @ David Pecaut Square )
Canada’s largest sweets festival makes its third appearance to celebrate local chefs, students and artists.
CNE (August 18 - September 4 @ Canadian National Exhibition)
The CNE rolls into town at the end of August. Expect the traditional roster of midway games, rides, wild fair foods and about a million ways to spend your hard earned money.
Vegan Food and Drink Festival (August 19 @ Fort York National Historic Site)
Try meat-free comfort food, craft brews, wine and spirits from 100 vegan vendors. There'll be more than just food at this relaxing festival in the grassy fields of Fort York.
TAIWANfest (August 25-27 @ Harbourfront Centre)
Billed as a "cultural tango with Hong Kong" this fest at the Harbourfront is free to enter. It'll blend food vendors and cultural programming.
Scarborough Afro-Carib Fest (August 26 @ ALBER CAMPBELL SQUARE SCARBOROUGH CIVIC CENTER)
The sixth annual Scarborough Afro-Carib Fest brings you live musical performances, shows from local and international artists, mouth-watering cuisine, a marketplace, visual arts, dance workshops and way more.
Toronto Cider Festival (August 26 @ Sherbourne Common)
This waterfront cider celebration at Sherbourne Common (near Sugar Beach) showcases cider paired with food, live entertainment and local Canadian talent. You'll taste 60 different ciders from Canada and around the world.
Fan Expo Canada (August 31 - September 3 @ Metro Toronto Convention Centre)
Meet your heroes, attend celebrity guest panels, lineup for autograph sessions and cosplay here.
Toronto International BuskerFest for Epilepsy (September 1-4 @ Woodbine Park)
Comedians, musicians, magicians, fire jugglers, acrobats, aerial artists, clowns, daredevils and many more gather for four days of goofy and impressive entertainment.
Toronto International Film Festival (September 7-17 @ TIFF Bell Lightbox)
The city feels electric with an endless list of world premieres, celebrities and parties at this annual event.
Roncesvallles Polish Festival (September 16 @ Roncesvalles Ave)
Catch live Polish music, polka and Euro dance bands on multiple stages and food from over 40 restaurants.
Toronto Garlic Festival (September 17 @ Artscpape Wychwood Barns)
Taste delicious garlic-themed dishes paired with Ontario craft beer and wine from 20 chefs. Meet farmers, check out cooking demos, contests and workshops. There's also screenings and live music, but don't forget mints.

by Phil Villeneuve via blogTO