FEATURED ON THE LISTED GUIDE
With so many exciting things taking place during the warmer months in the city, we wanted to help you give your wallets a break by rounding up the best free Toronto events happening in the month of June.
From outdoor concerts to food festivals, cultural events and more, here are the top 40 free events taking place in Toronto this June.
Play the Parks
Play the Parks
What: Play the Parks is back for the 6th season and will feature free lunchtime concerts in the Downtown Yonge BIA district throughout the summer.
When: Every Tuesday in June
Time: 12:30 pm to 2 pm
Where: Trinity Square Park, 19 Trinity Square
Price: Free
Evergreen Brick Works Saturday Markets
What: The Evergreen Brick Works Saturday market has grown to become the largest farmers’ market in Toronto. Here you’ll find a wide variety of local and seasonal food from local farmers and producers.
When: Every Saturday in June
Time: 9 am to 1 pm
Where: 550 Bayview Avenue
Price: Admission is free
Waterfront Artisan Market
What: Back for its third year in 2018, the Waterfront Artisan Market runs every weekend until the first week in October. The outdoor festival, presented by The Waterfront BIA and operated by the Scadding Court Community Centre, will feature 50 bakers, chefs, and artisans hawking summery street foods and locally-made products.
When: Every Saturday & Sunday in June
Time: Saturdays 11 am to 8 pm; Sundays 11 am to 5 pm
Where: HTO Park, 339 Queens Quay West, Toronto
Price: Admission is free
A Forest of Canoes at The Bentway
What: A Forest of Canoes by Dana Claxton, is a site-specific installation set up throughout The Bentway and is co-commissioned with Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival and curated by Bonnie Rubenstein. The installation highlights the iconic role and symbolism of the canoe in Canadian, Metis, and Indigenous histories.
When: Now until August 31
Time: All day
Where: The Bentway, 250 Fort York Blvd.
Price: Admission is free
National BeaverTails Pastry Day
BeaverTails
What: BeaverTails celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2018 and the Canada-wide chain of deep-fried pastry makers is launching the first-ever National BeaverTails Pastry Day to celebrate! Fans of the iconic Canadian dessert can score a FREE cinnamon and sugar pastry.
When: June 1
Time: 2 pm to 4 pm.
Where: 145 Queen’s Quay West, Pier 6, Toronto
Price: Free
Trevor Wells 3D Food Exhibition
What: This free 1-day art exhibit will display some of the most diverse and enjoyable things about Toronto, it’s food. The art pieces consist of anaglyph 3D food collages of some of Toronto’s notable food places, as well as complimentary drinks for guests. Guests will also be given free 3D shades to view the arts’ full effect.
When: June 1
Time: Doors open at 7 pm
Where: #Hashtag Gallery, 830 Dundas Street West
Price: Free to attend
Fast in the 6
What: For its second year, ‘Fast in the 6’ returns to Nathan Phillips Square for an evening of fun, food, and celebration. Fast in the 6 will bring together thousands of people to celebrate the diversity of Toronto, and the event is set to be even bigger than last year.
When: June 1
Time: 7:30 pm to 11 pm
Where: Nathan Phillips Square
Price: Free
Dundas West Fest
What: The annual Dundas West Fest is back in Toronto this weekend. This annual street fest promises tons of food, shopping, entertainment, and patios.
When: June 1 & 2
Time: All day
Where: Dundas West Fest from Lansdowne to Ossington
Price: Free to attend
Pride Month Toronto
Pride Toronto, Alexander Sviridov/Shutterstock
What: Now celebrating its 36th year, Pride Toronto is back for another exciting month filled with plenty of fun. The heart of the celebration is in Toronto’s gay village but opportunities for entertainment can be found in LGBTQ-friendly bars, restaurants and nightlife spots across the entire city.
When: June 1 to 24
Time: Varies by day
Where: Events located throughout the city
Price: Varies by event
60 Years of Made in Italy
What: June marks Italian Heritage Month in Canada, which is the perfect time to celebrate the Italian community within our exceptionally diverse country. And Yorkville Village is hosting a world-renowned fashion exhibit, 60 Years of Made in Italy, into the heart of Toronto, just in time for the occasion.
When: June 1 to 30
Time: Varies by day
Where: Yorkville Village, 55 Avenue Rd
Price: Free
desiFest
What: Get your bhangra moves ready because desiFEST is back for its 12th year on Saturday at Younge-Dundas Square. Canada’s premier South Asian urban music festival is a free event that will feature a collection of artists from Canada, Pakistan, India, Pakistan, Australia, and Singapore.
When: June 2
Time: 11 am to 11 pm
Where: Yonge-Dundas Square
Price: Free
Jonathan and Drew Scott Offer Smart Home Tips
What: Design-duo Jonathan and Drew Scott of HGTV’s Property Brothers will be popping-up at the Google Shop in Best Buy’s Yonge and Dundas location to host a smart home workshop and participate in photo opportunities with fans.
When: June 2
Time: 1 pm to 3 pm
Where: Google Shop at Best Buy, Yonge and Dundas, 65 Dundas Street West
Price: Free to attend
Free Ice Cream
@tendoumatcha/Instagram
What: Pâtisserie Kirin is celebrating the grand opening of its new store and will be dishing out free soft serve in waffle cones for the occasion.
When: June 2
Time: 1 pm to 3 pm
Where: 3621 Hwy 7, Unit 105, Markham
Price: Free
The Riverdale ArtWalk 2018
What: The Riverdale ArtWalk is a FREE two-day, public fine art exhibition showcasing established and emerging artists in Toronto’s flourishing Queen East arts district. The first outdoor art show of Toronto’s season, the Riverdale ArtWalk is a great place to connect with artists and buy that perfect piece for your home.
When: June 2 & 3
Time: 11 am to 6 pm
Where: Jimmie Simpson Park & Community Centre
Price: Free
The Body Shop Yogurt Shop
What: Summer is near and the Body Shop is here to help get your skin healthy and glowing. Head down and celebrate the brand’s all-new 100% Vegan Body Yogurts collection with a two-day pop up featuring free frozen treats and experiential (AKA Instagram-worthy) installations inspired by the collection.
When: June 2 & 3
Time: Saturday, 12 pm to 6 pm; Sunday, 12 pm to 5 pm
Where: 950 Queen Street West
Price: Free
Creemore Springs Street Pub
What: The brewpub is closing down Lombard Street to bring a taste of small-town hospitality to the heart of the city! The 19+ event promise cold beer, food, live music, games, and more.
When: June 7
Time: 4 pm to 9 pm
Where: Batch, 75 Victoria Street, Toronto
Price: Entry is free
Yonge-Dundas Square 15th Anniversary Block Party
Shutterstock
What: Yonge-Dundas Square is hosting a massive block party this month to celebrate its 15th anniversary and everyone’s invited. On Friday, June 8, Much and E! host Tyrone Edwards will be emceeing this epic party which will feature a headline set from rock darlings The New Pornographers.
When: June 8
Time: 12 pm to 11 pm
Where: Yonge-Dundas Square
Price: Free to attend
Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival and Contest
What: Back for another year, Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival and Contest boasts 150,000 butter tarts of all sizes and flavours for sale from over 60 butter tart makers, as well as a marketplace populated with bakers and artisans.
When: June 9
Time: 9 am to 5 pm
Where: 333 King Street, Midland, Ontario
Price: Admission is free
Grilled Cheese Challenge
What: Toronto’s annual Grilled Cheese Challenge presented by the Lakeshore Village BIA is taking place this June and will see 16 sandwich makers compete for the top prize of $1,000 voted by a panel of judges. Meanwhile, attendees can vote on the Peoples’ Choice Award for the best tasting, best gourmet, and most unique entries.
When: June 9
Time: 11 am to 6 pm
Where: Islington and Lake Shore Boulevard West, Toronto
Price: Admission is free
World Naked Bike Ride Toronto
What: The annual World Naked Bike Ride returns to Toronto this June and will be rolling through downtown on June 9, giving you the perfect excuse to strip down. Each year, World Naked Bike Ride protests car culture, the pollution cars make and use of non-renewable energy like oil.
When: June 9
Time: 1 pm to 6 pm
Where: It starts at Coronation Park (by the waterfront at the centre of the park; at the big Canadian flagpole.)
Price: Free
Toronto Flower Market
Toronto Flower Market
What: There will be 18 incredible vendor stalls on display to visit and admire, each selling an assortment of seasonal showstoppers including tulips, daffodils, gerbera, orchids, hyacinths, muscari, lilacs, and more. Plus there will also be an array of dahlia tubers, seedlings, garden planters, handmade pots and indoor plants also for sale.
When: June 9 & 23
Time: 10 am to 3 pm
Where: CAMH, 1001 Queen Street West
Admission: Free
Taste of Little Italy
What: Billed as the city’s “most frequented and delicious street festival,” this event features local and visiting vendors hawking everything from Italian standards like spiedini, pizza, and risotto, to international delicacies represented by businesses in the ’hood.
When: June 15 to 17
Time: Friday, 6:30 pm to 1 am; Saturday, 11 am to 1 pm; Sunday, 11 am to 10 pm
Where: College Street, from Bathurst Street to Shaw Street, Toronto
Price: Admission is free
Instruments of Happiness
What: Instruments of Happiness is composed by Montréaler Tim Brady and features 100 electric guitarists performing a new piece inspired by The Beatles late guitarist George Harrison.
When: June 16
Time: 11 am to 3:30 pm
Where: Brookfield Place, 181 Bay Street
Price: Free
Nuit Rose Festival & Art Crawl
What: NUIT ROSE is back for its fifth annual festival of queer art and performance. Taking the theme of Unbound, the festival features art that crosses borders, both real and imagined.
When: June 16
Time: 7 pm to 11 pm
Where: Various venues throughout the city
Price: Free
8th Annual Yorkville Exotic Car Show
Yorkville Exotic Car Show
What: This Father’s Day, Canada’s largest display of luxury vehicles will be parked along Toronto’s Mink Mile from Bay Street to Avenue Road as part of the 8th Annual Yorkville Exotic Car Show.
When: June 17
Time: 12 pm to 5 pm
Where: Mink Mile section of Bloor Street (Bay Street to Avenue Road)
Price: Free to attend
Movie Night in Liberty Village Park: Black Panther
What: Don’t worry if you still haven’t seen Black Panther in theatres yet (even though you totally should have by now, BTW), you’ll be able to see it at a free outdoor screening this June. That’s right, you’ll have the chance to see one of the highest grossing films of all time for FREE at an epic movie night under the stars.
When: June 22
Time: 8:30 pm
Where: Liberty Village Park,70 East Liberty Street
Price: Free
Taste of Asia
What: This night market is billing 150 exhibitor booths along with “dazzling cultural performances, culinary artists, iconic celebrities, dignitaries, sports fans, artisans, and food connoisseurs.”
When: June 22 to 24
Time: Friday, 7 pm to 11 pm; Saturday, 11 am to 11 pm; Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm
Where: Kennedy Road just North of Steeles Avenue East, Toronto
Price: Admission is free
Pride Toronto Street Fair
What: During the whirlwind of events, parades, marches, and parties, don’t forget to do you. Or grab a gaggle of friends and wander through the Village to connect with the community – and maybe do a little shopping while you’re at it.
When: June 22 to 24
Time: Friday, 7 pm to 2 am; Saturday, 12 pm to 2 am; Sunday, 12 pm to 11 pm
Where: Church-Wellesley Village
Price: Free
Le Grande Continental
@luminatofestival/Instagram
What: Le Grande Continental is a public participation show that will take over Nathan Phillips Square for four shows. The performance will feature almost 400 local dancers in a large scale dance piece choreographed and directed by Montreal’s Sylvain Émard. The show concludes with the audience being invited to join the party for a freestyle continental dance party.
When: June 22 to 24
Time: Friday, 9:15 pm; Saturday, 4 pm & 9:15 pm; Sunday, 11 am
Where: Nathan Phillips Square
Price: Free
Redpath Waterfront Festival
What: At Redpath Waterfront Festival, you’ll find incredible live performances, a massive ship from the Royal Canadian Navy, delicious food, local shopping, and more.
When: June 22 to 24
Time: All day
Where: Toronto Waterfront
Price: Free
TD Toronto Jazz Festival
What: The TD Toronto Jazz Festival has come to be recognized as one of North America’s premier jazz festival and has attracted some of the biggest names in jazz and blues.
When: June 22 to July 1
Time: Varies by day
Where: Various locations
Price: Entry is free
The Junction Summer Solstice Festival
What: The Junction Summer Solstice is not only the largest event of its kind in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, it’s also a great chance for locals and visitors alike to explore everything the unique area has to offer. This block party allows visitors to enjoy local restaurants and businesses as they set up on the street for a once-a-year opportunity.
When: June 23
Time: 12 pm to 8 pm
Where: Dundas Street West from Quebec Avenue to Indian Grove
Price: Free to attend
Brew & BBQ
Canada’s Wonderland/Facebook
What: Canada’s Wonderland hosts its third annual Brew & BBQ Festival featuring 70+ adult beverages from the province’s best small batch craft breweries and cideries. Enjoy an afternoon sampling cold brews in between rides at the amusement park.
When: June 23
Time: 12 pm to 10 pm
Where: Canada’s Wonderland, 1 Canada’s Wonderland Drive, Vaughan
Price: Entry to the festival is free with park admission
Sorauren Park Free Movies
What: Toronto’s Sorauren Park will be hosting free movie screenings this summer, with showings happening the fourth Saturday of every month from June to September. This year, attendees can look forward to pizza dinners before each screening from the new Sorauren Park Pizza Oven, prepared and presented by Pizzeria Defina.
When: June 23 to September 22
Time: Roughly 9 pm
Where: Sorauren Avenue Park, 289 Sorauren Avenue
Price: Free
Om T.O. 2018
What: Come and enjoy free yoga classes all day, outdoors by some of the best yogis in Toronto in the heart of Toronto’s historic Distillery District.
When: June 24
Time: 9 am to 5:30 pm
Where: The Distillery District, 51 Mill Street
Price: Free
Pedestrian Sunday’s in Kensington Market
What: The 15th 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.
When: Last Sunday of the month (June 24)
Time: 12 pm to 7 pm
Where: Kensington Market
Price: Entry is free
Pride Parade
Pride Toronto
What: Costumes, choreography, and colour! Stand loud and proud with more than 120 groups marching in Pride Toronto’s Pride Parade, one of the largest in North America. There will be unforgettable performances, floats, marchers, and all the glitter you can handle.
When: June 24
Time: 2 pm
Where: The parade begins at Bloor and Church, South on Yonge Street to Yonge and Dundas Square
Price: Free
Christie Pits Film Festival
What: Christie Pits Film Festival will kick off its new season on Sunday, June 24, with a 30th-anniversary screening of the cult comedy classic Hairspray, a film that tackles racial integration in 1960s Baltimore. The film festival will conclude on August 19, with a two-night Closing Weekend, including a surprise “Closing Night” screening of an iconic urban film, which will be announced at the end of the Christie Pits Film Festival season.
When: June 24 to August 19
Time: Roughly 9 pm
Where: Christie Pits Park, 779 Crawford Ave West
Price: Screenings are free
Toronto Ribfest
What: If nothing says “Canada Day” to you more than a saucy rack of ribs, you’ll find no shortage at Ribfest. In addition to two stages with live music all day, perks for the kids include free KidzZone activities, a massive mobile midway and a variety of daily activities.
When: June 29 to July 2
Time: Friday to Sunday, 11 am to 10 pm; Monday, 11 am to 8 pm
Where: Etobicoke Centennial Park, 256 Centennial Park Road
Price: Admission is free
CITE – A Celebration of Skateboard Arts and Culture
What: The Bentway and Build for Bokma have announced a new summer-long celebration of skateboard arts and culture called CITE. On subsequent weekends during the summer, visitors can enjoy a variety of workshops including skateboard clinics, building skate sculptures, videography, screen printing, and designing skateboards, in addition to a speaker series.
When: June 30 to August 12
Time: 10 am to 9 pm
Where: The Bentway Skate Trail
Price: Free to the public
See also
Follow Channels and Categories