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8 Toronto Summer Festivals You Won’t Want to Miss

July 9, 2026

Photo from a crowd at the CNE of colourful tents and a ferris wheel.

Source: Unsplash

When the days start to get longer and the weather calls for more time outdoors, Toronto’s summer festivals turn the season into a busy calendar of arts, music, and cultural events. Across waterfront parks, downtown streets, lively neighborhoods, and other locales, visitors and locals flock to participate in and marvel at the celebrations, filling their summer with a little more energy. With live entertainment, global cuisine, and outdoor markets, summer is one of the best times to explore the city.

Set to spend some time in Toronto in the warmer months? You won’t want to miss these top 8 summer staples.

1. Beaches International Jazz Festival

The Beaches International Jazz Festival is one of Toronto’s longest-standing music festivals, beginning in 1989. The month-long festival is held yearly in the Beaches community and is one of the country’s largest free jazz festivals. You’ll get to enjoy concerts at various stages and listen to around 1000 artists throughout the span of the event, with past acts including Canadian favourites like the Downchild Blues Band and international stars like Grammy-winning drummer Larnell Lewis.

For a raw community experience, be sure to check out StreetFest, another part of the broader experience. The street festival features diverse bands, vendors, and food trucks that’ll keep the energy high.
Where: Woodbine Park, 1695 Queen St. E
When: July

2. Canadian National Exhibition (CNE)

Fondly known as “The Ex” to Toronto locals, the CNE is a highly anticipated annual tradition. People of all ages head to Exhibition Place to graze their way through the food court, soak up the adrenaline on the rides, find hard-to-beat deals on products, and bask in the atmosphere. The Canadian International Air Show is also a must-see, spotlighting aerial performances over Lake Ontario on Labour Day weekend. As it leads up to and includes Labour Day, it’s often seen as the best way to mark the end of the summer.

Tip: Bought tickets to a concert at RBC Ampitheatre? Use them to get free entry to The Ex on the same day.
Where: Exhibition Place, 100 Princes’ Blvd.
When: August/September

3. Toronto Pride Festival and Parade

People at the Toronto Pride Parade holding up a large Pride flag.

Source: Unsplash

Toronto’s queer community has much to be proud of, with a strong cultural presence, plenty of visibility and representation, and many inclusive nightlife and community spaces.  So, it’s no surprise that Toronto boasts Canada’s largest 2SLGBTQI+ festival and the second largest Pride in the world.

Pride Toronto aptly hosts events throughout Pride Month, starting with the City of Toronto flag raising at City Hall, and ending with a multi-day festival weekend packed with music performances, a street fair, and an incredible parade. 

Where: Church-Wellesley Village and beyond
When: June

4. Toronto Caribbean Carnival (Caribana)

Toronto’s summer festivals clearly feature many superlatives, and Caribana is another one of them. Officially known as the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, the event is North America’s largest cultural festival.  It was inspired by Trinidad’s pre-Lenten Carnival, and became a way to honor Caribbean roots through music, dance, and celebration.

 If you’re looking for dynamism, pool parties, and nightlife events, you’ll be certain to find it there. For the Caribbean community, Caribana is serious business. Attendees take dressing up to a whole new level and want to immerse themselves in the scene as much as possible. While plenty of events go on throughout the weeks, the most famous part of the festival is The Grand Parade.

Where: Exhibition Place/Lake Shore Boulevard West and various other venues
When: July/August

5. Toronto Waterfront Night Market

Ever wanted to wander the vibrant night markets in East Asia? The Toronto Waterfront Night Market is your chance to get a literal and figurative taste of diverse Asian culinary traditions. Designed to emulate the traditional night market concept, the festival offers a floating lantern experience, delicious eats, and nightly live entertainment and cultural performances.

Where: Hotel X/Exhibition Grounds
When: August

6. VELD Music Festival

VELD is where electronic music fans go for the quintessential EDM festival experience. Every year’s lineup features a range of up-and-coming artists, as well as big industry names like Galantis and deadmau5. Three featured stages deliver distinct experiences, from the pyrotechnics of the Mainstage to the raw, immersive atmosphere of the Sirkus Stage.

Beyond the music, you’ll find food vendors, creative activities, interactive art and brand activations, a Ferris wheel, and more.

Where: Downsview Park, 70 Canuck Ave.
When: July/August

7. Toronto Food Truck Festival

Karaage fried chicken topped with pickled veggies in individual paper bowls.

Source: Unsplash

The Toronto Food Truck Festival is hosted on the 28-acre Woodbine Park, leaving plenty of space for foodies to sample their way through the lineup. Whether you’re yearning for a tropical smoothie, in the mood for tacos, or looking for an adventurous fusion creation, there’s bound to be a truck to satisfy your craving. Whilst there, why not participate in a live-eating challenge or stick around to watch local talent?

Where: Woodbine Park, 1695 Queen St. E
When: July/August

8. FAN EXPO

Fan Expo hosts over 17 annual events across North America, including Toronto’s very own Fan Expo weekend. It’s a four-day weekend celebration where those into sci-fi, comics, anime, cosplay, and gaming come to gather and find community. Listen to celebrity guests, shop for hard-to-find comics, and check out the many booths. 

Where: Metro Toronto Convention Centre
When: August

Turn Festival Season Into a Longer Toronto Stay

DelSuites Suite @ 300 Front St.

A summer in Toronto doesn’t just feature festivals—it’s also brimming with other seasonal attractions like Summerlicious, patio dining, farmers’ markets, and must-see concerts. The beautiful weather and longer days also call for visiting landmarks like the St. Lawrence Market, the Distillery Historic District, Casa Loma, the Toronto Islands, and the many spaces that foster outdoor recreation.

With so much happening throughout the season, a weekend might not be enough to see all that Toronto has to offer. Many visitors opt for short-term stays to give them a comfortable base for exploring and experiencing the city. For those looking to stay a little longer, DelSuites delivers. Our suites combine the space of an apartment with the ease of hotel-style living. Designed with convenience and comfort in mind, they’re the ideal home away from home.

Browse all of our locations today to find your perfect stay!

Downtown Toronto, Entertainment, Food & Recipes

Top 5 Favourite Bars for Craft Beer in Toronto

July 7, 2024

Craft beer is big business in Toronto. According to the Ontario Craft Brewers Association, “there are currently over 100 craft breweries in Ontario employing over 1,000 people in direct brewery jobs across the province. This represents over 30 per cent of the direct brewery jobs in Ontario.”

Now that grocery stores will now have the opportunity to sell beer and wine, this will not replace your visit to your local bar to taste test brews. If you don’t want to stay in your furnished suite or apartment to drink, here are our favourite places in Toronto for this niche experience.

1. Bellwoods Brewery. The popular indie brewery on Ossington Ave–with its white picket fence and prime people-watching patio– is listed as one of the 100 best breweries in the world by Rate Beer. Sip and savour on IPAs, stouts, single hop series, Belgian saisons, and a variety of ales. There’s a good selection of charcuterie to nibble alongside your pints. The brewery is dealing with its line-ups with a next door bottle shop (you’ll also want to save those beautiful labels for your home collection) and are opening a new location at Dupont and Dovercourt. Currently, you can quench your thirst by participating in a spring guided tasting.

2. Bar Volo. Bar Volo is the craft beer bar that was ahead of the trend and now 25 years old. It’s a great centralCraft Beer in Toronto location if you are living in our downtown toronto apartments or North Toronto. The dim-lit, intimate, wooden space gets crowded early. It’s a casual process: look at the list on the walls for over 30 rotating regional beers on tap, casks, more than 75 international types of bottles, and a hectolitre nano brewery. You then find your own table, and order/pay at the bar. Though known for beer, there are two VQA wines served on tap, and over 60 bottles of bourbon and rye for non-hopheads. In the summer, there are DJ nights and during those times, cans of Howe Sound Lager is available for $5 (as previously stated on their site, last year).

3. Bar Hop. Located a short walk away from our 300 Front, Icon, and Element locations, Bar Hop is the ideal unpretentious after-work spot on King West. The bar has over 36 rotating taps plus tap takeovers, gluten-free beers and ciders, aCraft Beer in Torontond two casks. Special deals like Sunday Sessions ($5 for select craft beers); Mussel Mondays (2 pounds of mussels and fries for $9.95); and Buck-a-Shuck Tuesdays ($1 Oysters) make this a bustling place. Fret-not, a second location is in the works around Richmond and Peter.

4. Indie Ale House. If there is one reason to head over to the Junction, it’s for its noteworthy brewery. There’s a variety of beers here, including their speciality of bold ales. Peruse their menu for collaborations and their original brews with fun flavours and names like the Broken Hipster, Zombie Apocalypse, and the Breakfast Porter. Add a flavourful, varied menu of healthy options and bar staples with a twist; tours, and tastings, and you’ll never want to leave (unless you go here first and then dance the night away at 3030 down the street).

5. Amsterdam Brewery. Though it now feels like a tourist attraction due to its Harbourfront location, Amsterdam Brewery has bCraft Beer in Torontoeen in Toronto since 1986 and come a long way from its first location on John St. Now the brewery is a short walk away from our downtown toronto apartments. Amsterdam Brewery is known for its Boneshaker unfiltered IPA and has other original brews like the Sweetwater Squeeze Radler, the 416, and the all natural Blonde. Sip lakeside on a muskoka chair with an unparalleled view of Lake Ontario and the Toronto Islands. A bonus if you can’t grab a seat on the patio is that you can grab your favourite beer from their bottle shop, which is open 7 days a week until 11pm.

Honorable mentions go to some of Toronto’s newer breweries like the soon-to-open Left Field Brewery (which is hosting tastings and pop-ups to buy select bottles from time to time); East York’s new Muddy York brewery; and the established Granite Brewery at Eglinton and Mount Pleasant.

What is your favourite bar for craft beer in Toronto?

Downtown Toronto, Entertainment, Family Vacations in Toronto, Lifestyle talk, Markham, Mid Town, Mississauga, North York, Toronto Family Travel, Uncategorized

Visit the Beach throughout Your Stay in Toronto

May 8, 2023

At the Beach!

While Toronto may not seem like your typical beach destination, as the temperature rises, there’s definitely no shortage of sun, sand and surf. Situated on the shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto’s shoreline is peppered with a variety of sandy beaches, each with its own unique atmosphere. In fact, the city even boasts a community that’s fondly known as The Beaches. So whether you’re living in the downtown Toronto core or a suburban area in your furnished apartment, pack your sunscreen, towel and swimsuit and check out one of these must-see destinations.

Bluffer’s Park

1 Brimley Road South, Scarborough

Featuring a breathtaking view of Lake Ontario against the rugged backdrop of the Scarborough Bluffs, Bluffer’s Park Beach is a natural haven for picnicking with family and friends or enjoying a quiet dinner at Bluffer’s Restaurant. Remember to bring your hiking shoes if you’re up to exploring this geographically diverse area.

The area is pedestrian-friendly but public parking is available.

Where To Stay

Kew & Balmy Beach

2075 Queen Street East, Toronto

One warm weekends, this eastern beach location is heavily populated with a mix of locals and suburbanites who descend on Toronto’s infamous community known as The Beaches. From swimming and beach volleyball to picnicking and playgrounds, this kid-friendly location is ideal for young families. Want a break from the sun and sand? Take a stroll up Lee or Kenilworth Avenue and browse the local shops or tuck into a local eatery for a quick bite.

Where To Stay

Beach VolleyballLake Front Promenade

800 Lakefront Promenade Mississauga

Combining beach and parkland the Lakefront Promenade is a summertime retreat that’s got plenty of activity. From playgrounds that feature splash pads to recreational sailing and boating, this area is also home to an abundance of wildlife.

Where To Stay

2012624-Kew-Balmy-Beach-9351

Stay Close To Enjoy Summer In The City

Even if you’re staying in your short-term rentals Toronto isn’t a vacation, you can still make the weekends feel like a getaway by getting out and exploring your local beach community.

Who knew that summer in the city offered all the fun of a beach destination? Well, we did and now so do you!

Entertainment, Events, Fitness and Health, Holiday Events, Lifestyle talk

How to Stay Healthy Over the Holidays

December 2, 2022

Staying healthy over the holidays can be a challenge. The weather outside is cold and we spend most of our day indoors, breathing in recycled air and possible germs. The abundance of alcohol and sugary treats over the holiday season reduces our immune systems, making us more susceptible to illness. The stress and pressure of preparing for New Years’ events can decrease your health even more – making you a target for flu bugs, colds and much more.

However, there are a number of ways that you can keep yourself healthy over the holidays.

Keep Up Your Exercise Routine

It’s tempting to ditch your workouts and let your days fill up with parties, errands and holiday preparations. However, it is important to keep your exercise routine as much as possible. Staying active will give you more energy, help you deal with added stress, boost your immune system and help you manage your weight during the holiday season. Squeeze in a visit to the gym whenever you can and try to enjoy active holiday activities such as going for a walk in the snow with your family. When staying in your furnished rental in Toronto, you can utilize the gym in the downtown Toronto apartments which is included in your rate, so you dont have to pay extra to work out.

Reduce Your Alcohol Consumption

Healthy Over the HolidaysThe holidays bring with them a number of situations where alcohol is consumed, from a mug of mulled wine to cocktails and drinks at the New Years’ party. It’s fine to have a few festive drinks but be careful not to go overboard. When you drink too much it will reduce your immune system function, put a strain on your liver, raise your blood pressure and add a lot of empty calories. Try to alternate your alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic ones at a party or an event so that you can cut back and stay healthy over the holidays.

Fill Up on Healthy Food

If you are going to a holiday get-together where you know there will be a lot of sweets, cookies, candies and other unhealthy treats, make sure that you eat a full meal of healthy, nourishing food first. Then, you will be less likely to eat as many unhealthy treats.

Take Time to De-Stress

The holidays can be a stressful time. There are a lot of commitments to friends and family, a lot of events to attend and plan for as well as the financial stress of gifts. You might find yourself being stretched thin and feeling stressed. Make sure that you give yourself time to take a break and recharge. Allow time for yourself to enjoy activities that reduce stress, such as going for a walk, practicing yoga or listeniHealthy over the holidaysng to some calming music.

Stay Warm

When the weather outside is frightful, make sure that you keep yourself warm and bundled up. A warm coat is important, as well as a hat and gloves to reduce heat loss through your head and hands where you lose the most heat.

Keep these tips in mind so that you can stay healthy and make the most of this holiday season.

Looking for a 30+ day furnished rental in downtown Toronto for your travel program?

Start your search for furnished apartments in downtown Toronto today with DelSuites.

Entertainment, Events, Family Vacations in Toronto, Toronto Family Travel, toronto toursim, Vacation Travel

Discover Toronto in Six Summer Festivals

July 5, 2022
Toronto summer festivals photo by Maarten van den Heuvel on Pexels.

After two years on hold, Toronto summer festivals are back in action.

From music to theatre, cultural celebrations, and family-oriented fun, they’re a perfect way to enjoy something new, discover a neighbourhood, or spend some much-needed time together.

Here are some of the shows, events, and festivals—indoors and outdoors—that you’ll want to see this summer.

Beaches International Jazz Festival

Big Band, Dixieland—the Beaches have it all. This year’s Jazz Festival is already on, but you’ve got all month to catch it at a string of locations in Toronto’s East End Beaches and Leslieville neighbourhoods.

The main stage shows are the prime attraction, but this year’s jazz festival brings a double handful of fun interactive activities. Learn to swing dance at Jimmie Simpson Park on July 8-9, or see Streetfest transform Queen Street East into a massive, blocks-long concert on the weekend of July 21-23.

The jazz festival runs from July 2-24, with most events public and free of charge. https://www.beachesjazz.com/

Toronto Fringe Festival

It’s the festival that launched Kim’s Convenience, Broadway’s The Drowsy Chaperone, and the team behind Come From Away. And it’s the most fun way to see what might be next.

Toronto’s 34th annual Fringe Festival takes over eleven downtown venues this month with theatre, comedy, storytelling, dance, and musicals, as well as a full kids’ program. With over 1,200 independent, grassroots artists, Fringe is the perfect afternoon for anyone who loves new, fun, experimental, and offbeat shows—and it costs less than a good restaurant lunch.

This year’s Toronto Fringe runs from July 6-17, 2022. Single or multi-show passes are available now, with discounts for kids and teens. https://fringetoronto.com/

Toronto Caribbean Carnival

Toronto has Caribbean roots—and every year, we like to show it.

Toronto’s Caribbean Carnival—or Caribana, for us locals—is the largest Carnival celebration in North America. While the major festivities kick off July 28th, Caribana is a month-long ode to everything Caribbean: from calypso showcases to kids’ events to crown junior kings and queens.

It’s all a buildup to the massive Grand Parade, a whole day of music, dancing, and some of the most incredible costume work anywhere. It’s accompanied by steel pan performances and Carnival Flavours, a showcase for Caribbean food and drink from across the islands.

The party runs from July 7-30, with tickets and event information available at https://www.torontocarnival.ca/.

The Canadian National Exhibition

How about an old-school county fair—but in the city? It’s a Toronto kid’s most beloved cheesy summertime destination—with plenty of room for all ages.

This year’s Ex brings back the traditional mix of fairground rides, a late-night midway, a Biggest Vegetable competition, kids’ sports tournaments, and everyone’s annual dip into weird food that is bad for you (deep-fried butter, anyone?). There’s also a few steps into the future: a dedicated Gaming Garage, complete with esports and FIRST Robotics tournaments.

For music fans, the Ex is also the place for shockingly cheap live shows. This year’s mix at the Bandshell runs from indie rockers Hawksley Workman and JJ Wilde to familiar Canadian musicians like Gordon Lightfoot, Bruce Cockburn, and The Spoons.

This year’s Ex runs from August 19-September 5, with all-day passes available. https://www.theex.com/

Toronto International Film Festival

Some events put a city on the map. The Toronto International Film Festival does it with a great big star.

2022 marks the 47th year of this internationally-renowned film festival—one that draws stars, media, and major industry movers and shakers alike to Toronto. It’s a marquee event for film fans—a chance to meet creators, attend Q&As, and see premieres from around the world—and a vital industry conference, wrapped into one. And with programming tracks like quirky cult favourite Midnight Madness or national showcases, it’s a chance for any kind of movie lover to see something sweet, gory, action-packed, incisive, or just plain awesome.

This year’s TIFF runs from September 8-18, and ticket packages are on sale now, with final schedules due at the end of August. https://tiff.net/

International Festival of Authors

Toronto’s most prestigious literary festival is back at the Harbourfront Centre for the Arts this September.

With a hybrid in-person/online format for its 43rd edition, IFOA is bringing marquee authors for readings, interviews, and panel discussions to highlight what’s important and vital about books.

The lineup’s due to be announced late summer, and the festival itself runs September 22-October 2. https://festivalofauthors.ca/

Whether you’re traveling from far away or just from around the corner, let us show you Toronto at its best. Call DelSuites at 647-370-3504 or email info@delsuites.com to find out how we can open the gates to discovering Toronto’s festivals.

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