36 Toronto events and festivals to check out in July

Bring on the sunshine, and the sunscreen!

We are officially ready for summer sixteen!

This month, we’re stoked to check out parades, street parties, music festivals, and of course, food & beer events. Kick off your month with the long weekend and Canada Day festivities. And have a happy July, Toronto!

Canada Day at Mel Lastman Square

• What: Celebrate Canada’s 149th birthday with hundreds of others at Mel Lastman Square. The evening will be filled with music, dance performances, and family filled activities. Don’t forget the fireworks!
• Where: Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge Street
• When: July 1 from 5 to 10:15 pm

Pride Parade

• What: Continue the Pride Month celebration this month, with the 36th annual Pride Parade! Expect colourful costumes, floats, and the first-ever sitting Prime Minister himself, Justin Trudeau.
• Where: Church Street and Bloor Street
• When: July 3 at 2 pm

Toronto Fringe Festival

• What: Over 150 shows and over 30 venues, and more than 1100 performers, the Fringe Fest is dance, arts, buskers, performers, and much more.
• Where: Various venues
• When: Now until July 10

Digital Dreams Festival

• What: One of the biggest electronic music festivals returns with a massive line up including Above & Beyond, Armin Van Buuren, Bassnectar, and so much more.
• Where: The Flats at Ontario Place, 909 Lakeshore Blvd West
• When: July 2 to 3

Beaches International Jazz Festival

• What: A festival that needs almost no introduction, the Beaches International Jazz Festival is celebrating its 28th year.
• Where: The Beach Neighbourhood
• When: July 2 to 24

Toronto Caribbean Carnival

• What: Our fave summer festival, Toronto Caribbean Carnival (formerly Caribana) is a three-week cultural celebration of everything Caribbean. Don’t miss the parade on July 30.
• Where: Various locations
• When: July 5 to August 1

Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition

• What: Over 314 visual artists, performers and sculptures will be featured at the 55th Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibit this year. Also new this year, a beer garden featuring award winning Henderson Brewing.
• Where: Nathan Phillips Square
• When: July 8 to 10 from 10 am to 8 pm

See also

• 10 Toronto food events worth checking out this July
• 27 concerts to check out in Toronto in July

Taste of Lawrence

• What: The East end’s biggest food and cultural festivals returns this month. The annual Taste of Lawrence celebration takes place over the July 8 weekend, featuring local flavours, vendors and lots of family fun.
• Where: Lawrence Avenue East, from Warden Ave to Birchmount Road
• When: July 8 to 10

Lovin’ Local Food Fest

• What: Eat, drink, and enjoy the creations of some of Toronto’s best chefs, restaurants, food trucks, breweries and wineries, as well as take in live entertainment, and plenty of shopping opportunities.
• Where: Yonge-Dundas Square, 1 Dundas Street East
• When: July 9

Afrofest

• What: Celebrate African music and culture in the heart of the city.
• Where: Woodbine Park
• When: July 9 to 10

TD Salsa in Toronto Festival

• What: One of Canada’s largest Latin-themed celebrations is Toronto’s TD Salsa in Toronto Festival, which takes place over three weeks and features music, food, dance and family events.
• Where: St. Clair Avenue West, between Winona Drive and Christie Street
• When: July 9 to 10

Brickfête

• What: The multi-day Brickfête fan expo celebrates all that is lego is back. Run by volunteers, the July 9 and 10 fête features unique lego builds from international hobbyists.
• Where: Delta Toronto East, 2035 Kennedy Road
• When: July 9 to 10

TO Food Fest

• What: More celebrations and more food await mid summer at the TO Food Fest.
• Where: Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto, 5183 Sheppard Avenue East
• When: July 9 to 10

Summer Craft Beer Fest

• What: Discover some craft beer while enjoying the hot summer nights of Toronto, in one of the city’s beloved neighbourhoods.
• Where: 171 Liberty Street East
• When: July 14 from 5 to 10 pm

Toronto Summer Music Festival

• What: From jazz to classical and the Toronto Summer Music Festival. This year’s festival features the musical traditions in Great Britain – from baroque to the 20th century pop invasion.
• Where: Koerner Hall and other venues
• When: July 14 to August 7

Honda Indy Toronto

• What: Celebrating 30 years of racing on the streets of Toronto, the Honda Indy Toronto is taking over in July. It’s fast and furious in the city on that weekend.
• Where: Exhibition Place
• When: July 15 to 17

Night It Up! Summer Night Market

• What: The volunteers of Power Unit Youth Organization are organizing Night it Up, a free outdoor market styled after Asian night markets. Expect authentic street food and multicultural performances.
• Where: Markham Civic Centre, 101 Town Centre Boulevard, Markham
• When: July 15 to 17

Slide the City

• What: The 1,000-foot water slide is back at Downsview Park for a good ol’ fashioned summer day. Tickets are also on sale now.
• Where: Downsview Park, 35 Carl Hall Road
• When: July 16

Festival of India

• What: Splashing some spiritual culture into the city, the 44th Annual Festival of India returns on July 16 for two days of nourishing festivities.
• Where: Parade – Yonge Street beginning at Bloor and continuing south to Queens Quay
  Celebrations – Centre Island
• When: July 16 to 17

Festival of South Asia

• What: The largest Indian Bazaar in North America, the Festival of South Asia includes food, cultural entertainment, shopping, storytime, and more.
• Where: Gerrard Street E. between Greenwell & Coxwood Avenue
• When: July 16 to 17

UNITY Festival

• What: Every July, UNITY Festival celebrates hip-hop diversity in a four day event incorporating beatbox, dance, concerts, and spoken word.
• Where: Multiple locations
• When: July 20 to 23

Midnight Breakfast

• What: A unique experience from San Francisco arrives in Toronto. It’s a four-course breakfast (with bottomless mimosas!) served at midnight. Seats are limited.
• Where: Impact Kitchen, 573 King Street East
• When: July 23

Waterfront Night Market

• What: The annual T&T Waterfront Night Market is back and attendees can expect the awesome outdoor culinary experience along with all the night market awesomeness.
• Where: 185 Cherry Street, Toronto
• When: July 22 to 24

Wayhome

• What: Only one of the summer’s biggest music festivals. Line up includes LCD Soundsystem, Arcade Fire, The Killers and Major Lazer. Camping and music is what summer is all about.
• Where: Burl’s Creek Event Grounds, 180 8th Line South, Oro-Medonte
• When: July 22 to 24

Toronto’s Festival of Beer

• What: Toronto’s Festival of Beer is home to over 60 brewers featuring more than 300 brands from all over the world.
• Where: Bandshell Park, Exhibition Place
• When: July 22 to 24

Big on Bloor Festival

• What: A festival of arts and culture, Big on Bloor is a unique summer street fest. Two car-free days in the heart of the west end.
• Where: Bloor Street between Dufferin & Lansdowne
• When: July 23 to 24

Rogers Cup

• What: Toronto is the centre of the tennis world as the Rogers Cup returns.
• Where: Aviva Centre
• When: July 23 to 31

Hart House Craft Beer Festival

• What: Beer and more beer. The Hart House Craft Beer Festival is all about beer sampling and BBQs.
• Where: Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle, Toronto
• When: July 28 at 7 pm

Toronto Burlesque Festival

• What: The 9th annual Toronto Burlesque Festival returns for a few nights of sexy, glam dancing, and unforgettable performances.
• Where: Revival Bar at 783 College Street and The Virgin Mobile MOD Club at 722 College Street
• When: July 28 – 31

Veld Music Festival

• What: To keep the summer heat, the long weekend at the end of the July offers up Veld Music Festival. Headliners include Toronto’s own Deadmau5, Flume, Kygo, and Travis Scott.
• Where: Downsview Park
• When: July 30 to 31

OVO Fest

• What: Them boys up to something presents Drake’s Summer Sixteen tour with Future, Roy Woods, DVSN, and more. We hope, and expect, a lot more surprises for our very own fest.
• Where: Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
• When: July 31 to August 1

Irie Music Festival

• What: The TD Irie Music Festival has been held since 2002 in collaboration with the Toronto Urban Music Festival. Irie offers Toronto some awesome reggae, world music and gospel.
• Where: Nathan Phillips Square
• When: July 30 to 31

Watch a movie under the stars

• What: Grab some blankets and check out one of the summer’s many movies under the stars.
• Where: Various locations
• When: Throughout the summer

Craft Beer Passport

• What: We love passports filled with stamps, and the Craft Beer Passport allows us to do that with beers all over the city. If you haven’t grabbed yours yet, it’s not too late. Check out the details here.
• Where: Various locations
• When: Passport valid until November 30

Pedestrian Sunday’s in Kensington Market

• What: The 13th season of Pedestrian Sundays brings back one awesome way to spend your Sundays this summer. Performers, musicians, artists, and shopping, basically an awesome Sunday Funday.
• Where: Kensington Market
• When: Last Sunday of the Month until October

Open Roof Festival

• What: Movies and music, Toronto’s Open Roof Festival is now in its 7th year. Ten weeks of screenings starting on June 21, taking place Wednesdays.
• Where: 99 Sudbury Street, Toronto
• When: Now through August