Bring on the Toronto summer festivals! As Torontonians ambitiously attempt to squeeze three summers of fun into one, the thriving outdoor summer festival scene has our backs.
Here are six outdoor Toronto summer festivals that are perfect for dates (especially second and third!), going with a partner, or wrangling your besties for a day on the town:
The Taco Fest
Ahhh, tacos: the one thing we can all still agree on.
After two years of doom and gloom, what could be better than a weekend-long taco party? Taco Fest returns to Ontario Place June 17-19, 2022. The three-day fiesta for taco aficionados features over 100 varieties of tacos, not to mention the ever-flowing tequila, salsa dancers, and live mariachi band all in the sunshine– it’s wrapping up to be an unforgettable experience so don’t miss out on the taco the town!
June 17, 18, and 19, 2022
Ontario Place, 955 Lake Shore Blvd West.
Tickets available at: thetacofest.ca
Follow on Instagram: @thetacofest
Wine Fest Toronto
Wine lovers rejoice: Wine Fest, the city’s only all-you-can-taste outdoor wine event returns Friday, July 8 and Saturday July 9, 2022 at RendezViews, Toronto’s largest outdoor patio!
Forget worrying about bringing the right bottle to the date: every ticket includes all-you-can-taste wines, where you can savor wines from around the globe and learn about unique wine regions from fellow cork dorks.
July 8 and 8, 2022
RendezViews, 229 Richmond Street West.
Tickets available at: winefesttoronto.com
Follow on Instagram: @winefesttoronto
Rosé Picnic
Canada’s largest premium picnic is back to celebrate everyone’s favourite pink drink! Bring your best pink-and-white outfit: the massive outdoor spread on August 6, 2022 includes rosé as far as the eye can see, delicious food, and live music from Canada’s best!
Feeling fancy? VIP tables are available for groups six and over– perfect for group dates, bachelorette parties, and more!
Aspiring to be fancy? Early bird tickets are on sale until May 15.
August 6, 2022 from noon to 11 p.m.
Bandshell Park, Exhibition Place, 100 Prince Edward Island Crescent, Toronto
Tickets available at: rosepicnic.com
Follow on Instagram: @therosepicnic
Toronto Outdoor Art Fair
Perfect for starving artists: the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair returns as Canada’s leading contemporary outdoor art festival this June 15-17, 2022. The fair will take over Nathan Phillips Square to showcase countless beautiful works from talented artists across the country. This year’s fair will highlight the stories from individual artists after overcoming two difficult years of the pandemic. The event is totally free so bring a date– or bring five! Who cares? It’s free!
July 15-17, 2022
Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen St West
Learn more at: torontooutdoor.art
Follow on Instagram: @torontooutdoorart
Do West Fest
Formerly known as the Dundas West Fest, the newly-named festival celebrates the best of Little Portugal with its annual block party stretching along Dundas Street West from Ossington Avenue to Lansdowne Avenue from Friday June 3 to Sunday June 5, 2022.
The weekend-long, 12-block street festival is closed off to traffic– allowing pedestrians to roam the busy streets and enjoy food trucks, an outdoor fair, live music, and extended patios! It’s totally free to attend but bring some cash if you want to sample the best of Little Portugal’s food, drinks, and artisan vendors!
June 3-5, 2022
Dundas Street West from Ossington to Lansdowne
Learn more at dundaswestfest.ca
Follow on Instagram: @dowestfest
Toronto Craft Beer Festival
If your date just can’t be without a frosty IPA, check out the Toronto Craft Beer Festival at Ontario Place on June 24-26, 2022. With over 40 beer brands, it’s Canada’s largest celebration of craft beer. There will be live music and DJs, plus every ticket gets you five sample tokens so you and your date can explore the hoppiest place on earth!
June 24-26, 2022
Ontario Place, 955 Lake Shore Blvd West.
Tickets available at: tcbf.ca
Follow on Instagram: @craftbeerfestto
