Toronto Festivals - June 2013

The Waterfront Blues – Metro Toronto’s only genuine Blues festival – will once again be presenting top flight talent! And this year they continue to uncover some gems of the Blues. Many performers, vendors, food (BBQ, etc) and more. The best in Canadian and International Blues talent includes:

• Multi Blues Music Award winner Deanna Bogart
• Multi Blues Music award nominee Eugene Hideaway Bridges
• Chuck Jackson’s Big Bad Blues Band – A Tribute To Big Joe Turner
• Blues Music award nominee The Alexis P. Suter Band
• 2X Juno Award Winners Fathead
• Juno and Blues Music award nominee Paul Reddick

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A 4-day celebration of Argentine Tango that includes workshops and performances. If you'd like to learn how to dance the tango or watch professionals perform, this would be the festival for you.

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**Registration required.**

The inaugural edition of the Dundas West Fest is coming!

In collaboration with the Dundas West BIA & the Little Portugal BIA. Enjoy a full day of arts, music, kids’ activities, food, drink and shopping!

• Time: 11am – 10pm
• Where: Dundas Street West (Landsdowne to Rowton)
• Admission: FREE!

For dog lovers! Lots of booths with fun stuff to buy your 'loved one' (doggie). Dogs of all sizes attend this weekend activity. Some in fancy dress. Held along Front Street between Yonge and Jarvis in the St. Lawrence Market area. Not your typical festival!! You never know, you could potentially come away with a new family member! I went this year and wrote about it in the blog section.

MIDF celebrates the drum, its universality as an art form, and its presence in all cultures around the world. MIDF is the only annual festival in North America celebrating the drum. It is a free festival that is gaining additional recognition year after year. The event promises to be a 2-day family-friendly celebration full of multicultural performances and passionate, artistic people.

It is a festival where all cultures come together, drumming and dancing to one beat! There is also a Children’s Play Area with a petting zoo, ethnic cuisine, exotic arts and crafts, workshop programs and for the adults in the crowd a strategically placed refreshment area.

This is probably the most coveted culinary event of the year - Toronto Taste! Indulge your senses in a gastronomic adventure showcasing over 60 of Toronto`s top chefs and 30 beverage purveyors, all coming together to celebrate the love of food and support Second Harvest. Last year Toronto Taste raised enough funds to provide 750,000 meals for Toronto`s hungry.

• Where: Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queens Park (indoors and outdoors)
• When: Sunday, Jun 9

Pairing cuisine and compassion, Toronto Taste is the city`s premier culinary event, in support of Second Harvest, one of the city’s largest and most reliable food banks. Toronto Taste brings together the city`s best culinary talent, to prepare innovative and delectable fare for guests.

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This is the North's equivalent to the SXSW event held in Austin each year. NXNE now offers music, comedy, interactive events held throughout the city.

Music & Collective Concerts: Live shows and concerts - free and ticketed. Their programming schedule is continually being updated. Also, to guarantee admission to any NXNE Spotlight Series show, fans must purchase tickets online. A limited number of NXNE wristband and pass holders can join a rush line the day of each NXNE Spotlight Series show for a chance at free admission.

Comedy Extra Series: Donnell Rawlings - Sund, June 16 - Danforth Music Hall. Opening for Rawlings are Nick Reynoldson, Trixx, and Dave Merheje. 50 NXNE wristband and pass holders can join a rush line the day of the show for free admission.

NXNEi: Inspiring speakers and unforgettable panels featuring Johnny Cupcakes, J. Joly, Saul Colt, Mavis Huntley and many more. This year’s NXNEi takes a hard look at entrepreneurship and branding through digital outreach.

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**Wristbands - def. a must for avid attendees**

This year the festival is being held at Sugar Beach [Jarvis/Queens Quay]. From wine samples, craft beer, and pairing seminars in our Wine & Spirit School, to some of the world’s finest spirits, live music and a waterfront breeze, maybe the perfect way to kick off the summer. Note: Tickets are $20 in advance || $30 at door (cash only). The price of admission includes 5 drink/food vouchers (value $5) and a Festival sampling glass.

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The Beach BBQ & Brews Festival is scheduled to take place on Father’s Day weekend at Woodbine Park. This event is family friendly, active and the place to be! Enjoy great BBQ, Live Music, Children’s Area (complete with rides!), BBQ competitions, Grilling Demonstrations, Craft Vendors and of course, the Beer Garden. It’s a community favourite and has something for everyone!

I went to this and you can read all about the ribs factor!

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**FREE.**

The Mississauga Waterfront Festival has celebrated its moment among the 100 best festivals in Ontario. Experience a slew of achievement awards, phenomenal culinary talent, an interactive sandbox artist that needs to be seen to be believed, mad scientists, extreme sports, and Father’s Day tributes that will make any dad’s heart melt.

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**FREE**

This festival is held along College Street between Bathurst Street and Shaw. Food sampling, street entertainment and performances over the weekend. Smaller than the Taste of the Danforth, but still manages to attract a good sized crowd.

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**FREE.**

This festival attracts over 1,000,000 million participants and consists of over 100 events. There are events that are free, but others you will need to purchase tickets.

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**FREE / Tickets are required.**

Wine and food fanatics will be visiting Niagara to experience the Niagara New Vintage Festival. Internationally acclaimed wines, fresh produce, and a culinary experience unique to Ontario are at the centre of this two weekend wine and culinary extravaganza. Embrace a demonstration of what it means to buy local and realize all that Niagara has to offer

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**Ticket event - passes required.**

This annual festival is expected to attract more than 500,000 people. Toronto Downtown Jazz has come to be recognized as one of North America's premier jazz festival producers and has attracted some of the big names. This festival will satisfy the most avid jazz goer.

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**Tickets required.**

This festival began as a one-day celebration, but has become such a favourite. Formerly held at the Harbourfront, this year it's at Yonge/Dundas Square. A festival that brings to Toronto a taste of French music and culture.

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**FREE.**

This festival combines a sporting event with loads of entertainment and events that have a multi-cultural flare. It's held on Toronto Centre Island and approx. 200 teams with over 6,000 paddlers compete in over 100 races over the 2 days. A great family day out!

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**FREE (except for ferry fare over to the Island)**

This festival brings together the best hidden gem restaurants in Scarborough ranging from the top Middle Eastern pastries in the GTA to the highest rated shortbread cookies in the city. These restaurants have spent years perfecting their craft and our show will be the first event to feature them all in 1 location. Anyone who wants to taste the best burger, oyster, shortbread cookie, or milk tea in the GTA must come to this show!

Time: 1pm–6pm
Where: Chinese Cultural Community Center (5183 Sheppard Ave East)
Admission: FREE
Food samples: Will vary by vendor

Pride Week: Jun 21-30. The end of Pride Week ends with a festival weekend with parades and free entertainment on the main streets around Church and Wellesley Streets. (Dyke March: Saturday/Pride parade: Sunday

Church Street between College and Bloor Streets is blocked off to traffic for the whole weekend and the area becomes one big playground with live entertainment/stages and a market/street full of booths - fun place to hang out for those with an open mind.

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**Some venues require tickets. Weekend celebrations - FREE.**

Toronto Ribfest, a community fundraising event of the Rotary Club of Etobicoke, is held at Centennial Park, Etobicoke on the Canada Day long weekend. 100% of the funds raised at the festival go to support community organizations both here and abroad.

Highlights are:

• Great food from world-class ribbers
• Live entertainment (2 stages)
• An exciting midway, food vendor area, Kidz Zone, haunted house, large merchandise vendor area
• Canada Day fireworks

Another unique aspect of Toronto Ribfest is the Canada Day Citizenship ceremony that is conducted by a Citizenship Court Judge and includes a swearing-in ceremony for new Canadians.

**FREE.**

This 3-day event attracts 250,000 people annually and remains the largest, free picnic in the country.

Each day enjoy a star-studded lineup of performers from around the world; thousands of community singers, dancers and performers; family fun and much more! Miss CHIN Bikini and Mr. CHIN Competitions (both very popular!); Beer garden, and dozens and dozens of food and beverage concessions.

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**FREE.**

The Little Lake Musicfest showcases entertainment in downtown Peterborough (Del Crary Park) every Wednesday and Saturday (8-10pm). Admission is FREE. More details can be found on their website.

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