If you name it, Toronto has a festival for it. In 2015, there are so many great unique festivals that brings people from all walks of life together. From beer to music, there’s a festival in Toronto for it.
- Canadian Music Week
Canadian Music Week is the first ten days of May and brings acts like Death Cab for a Cutie and Joey Bada$$ on one stage together. Canadian Music Week is one of the biggest music festivals in Canada so there is something for everyone. Tickets start at $50 and VIP tickets are $120. The festival is so large that it’s hosted at multiple venues and brings a huge crowd from all over the world to check it out. Check out the stunning lineup at cmw.net. Don’t forget your shorts and sneakers because you’re going to need them to stay cool.
- Fringe Festival
For the art and film lovers Toronto hosts the Fringe Festival with over 155 independent shows in the lineup making it the largest Toronto theater festival. Fringe runs during the first twelve days in July. It’s great for breaking out a pair of shorts and a cute crop top. Ladies, you’re most definitely going to need sneakers because the venues go on for days. The Fringe Festival doesn’t just stop at movies. There are buskers, bands, tent talks and lots of art and the best thing about it is some of the art and activities are free. Check out Fringetoronto.com to keep up to date with all the Fringe activity.
- Toronto International Film Festival
Toronto International Film Festival prides itself in bringing the best of Canadian cinema to the world. People travel from all over to attend such an event. When true moviegoers think of film festivals, they think of the Cannes and then Toronto International Film Festival. The festival runs from September 10-20. It’s a great time of year to practice your layering of fashion for those fall days. Submissions are still being accepted for aspiring filmmakers. To stay up to date on the lineup and tickets check out tiff.net.
- Bud Light Digital Dreams Festival
Bud Light is into having a good time. We know this from the promo for Whatever, USA. So it’s no surprise that Bud Light knows how to do festivals. Electronic musicians like Zedd, Steve Angello, and Armin Van Buuren are set to grace the stage for the electronic music festival Digital Dreams. If that wasn’t enough to sell you on it, this festival takes place on the shoreline of Toronto. Digital Dreams sounds like a dream come true and takes place June 27 and 28th. General admission tickets are $189 and VIP tickets are $279. Keep in mind the lineup includes 36 acts. That’s a lot of music playing in two days. Stay up to date with everything Digital Dreams Festival at http://digitaldreamsfestival.ca
- Riot Fest
Riot Fest prides themselves in booking the bands you need to hear and not the punk rock/alternative bands that you want to hear. If you like punk rock music or alternative music, this is where you’re going to want to be on September 19 and 20th. The lineup hasn’t been released yet but judging by the photos it looks to be a riot alright. Tickets aren’t on sale yet but curious concert goers can check out riotfest.org for the lineup and tickets when they do come available. What a way to kick off fall than live rock, a beer and pull out your boots and wear something black.
- Festival of Beer
What’s better than beer, food and bands? Sounds like heaven. Festival of Beer is held twice a year in Toronto and definitely brings the best of all these festivals together. Festival goers can check out indie brews and bands and there’s even some grilling going on. This year’s performances include Naughty by Nature and 54-40. Beer enthusiasts can check out the Festival of Beer on July 24-25. Tickets start at $39.50 and go up to $79.50. A V.I.P ticket will get you early access and a good view of the stage. Check out Beerfestival.ca for more info on the lineup and breweries involved.
- Field Trip
Field Trip, held in Fort York and Garrison Common is definitely a family filled event. The two-day festival stars De La Soul, Alabama Shakes, and Marina and The Diamonds to name a few. On June 6 and June 7 this is the place to be in Toronto. There’s music, food, drinks, arts, technology, fashion and more. If a friend leaves such an event without one compliment of the place, you may want to find a new friend. 2-day tickets are $120or if you preferred a single day pass be prepared to cough up $85. The good news is children under 12 always get in free. Check out fieldtriplife.com for more info. Make sure to also have your shades ready for all the sunshine you’ll be catching while you’re there.
- Way Home
Way Home is a three-day Toronto festival in Ontario. With headliners like Sam Smith, SZA, Kendrick Lamar and ALT-J, how could someone fail to be impressed? July 24-26 ones ears can be blessed with all sorts of good music to the point where you wouldn’t want it to end. On the festival website, founders have described the festival as a kaleidoscope of different things coming together. There’s art, music and food and everyone leaves with a little something. This festival is so hot (like the weather) that all the $209 tickets are gone. Tier two tickets are $229.99 and can be purchased at wayhome.com.
There are lots more Toronto festivals and the list could probably go on for days. Here are some of the most talked about festivals. What Toronto festival are you hyped up about? What would your dream lineup be?
