There are plenty of things to do in and around Toronto. Here’s a calendar that lists some of the top festivals and events you can experience in the area!
To jump to a specific month, click on any of the following:
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December
Festivals and Events in Toronto
Listed below are the biggest and most important events and festivals each month in Toronto. (Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
January Festivals & Events
- New Year’s Day (Stat Holiday) – January 1, 2025.
- Cavalcade of Lights – every night during the holiday season Nathan Phillips Square is lit up with lights and hosts live music and ice skating. (December until early January)
- 21C Music Festival – a classical and operatic music festival that includes a series of concerts. (January 18 to 25, 2025)
- Interior Design Show – an exhibition featuring a variety of design and interior decor brands. (January 23 to 26, 2025)
- Toronto International Boat Show – this event showcases a preview of the upcoming summer season, with details on all sorts of boats, gadgets and more. (January 18 to 26, 2025)
February Festivals & Events
(Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
- Ontario Family Day (Stat Holiday) – February 17, 2025.
- Kuumba – part of Black History Month, there are dance and music performances, workshops and more all month long. (February 1 to 28, 2025)
- The Rhubarb Festival – the longest-running experimental theatre festival in the country, you can never be sure what to expect. (February 12 to 16, 2025)
- Canadian International Autoshow – the biggest show of its kind in Canada, there are over a thousand cars on display along with other exhibitions. (February 14 to 23, 2025)
March Festivals & Events
(Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
- St. Patrick’s Day Parade – the city’s annual celebration of Irish culture with live entertainment, food and drinks. (March 17, 2025).
- One of a Kind Craft Show – this craft fair has taken place for nearly 50 years and consists of works made by local artisans. (March 26 to 30, 2025)
- Toronto Comicon – a go-to event for all comic fans as well as fans of sci-fi, gaming and anime in general, with plenty of special guests. (March 14 to 16, 2025)
St. Patrick’s Day Parade in March
April Festivals & Events
(Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
- Good Friday (Stat Holiday) – on April 18, 2025.
- Easter Monday (Stat Holiday) – on April 21, 2025.
- Hot Docs Festival – the biggest documentary film festival on the continent, there are movies covering all sorts of topics to enjoy. (April 24 to May 4, 2025)
May Festivals & Events
(Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
- CONTACT Photography Festival – this festival includes an “open call exhibition” program, where any photographer can submit their work. (May 1 to 31, 2025)
- Canadian Music Week – a celebration of all things music with a festival, conference, tradeshow and more. (May 6 to 11, 2025)
- Fashion Art Toronto – a celebration of fashion that aims to be as inclusive as possible with different showcases and events. (May 29 to June 1, 2025)
- Hot Docs Festival – the biggest documentary film festival on the continent, there are movies covering all sorts of topics to enjoy. (April 24 to May 4, 2025)
- Sporting Life 10k – this marathon that runs down Yonge Street has raised millions of dollars for CAMPFIRE CIRCLE which provides a fun summer experience for children fighting cancer. (May 11, 2025)
- Victoria Day (Stat Holiday) – on May 19, 2025.
- Inside Out – an LGBTQ+ film festival that provides a platform for queer voices of all kinds. (TBD)
- Doors Open – every year over 100 historic buildings around the city become open for free visits from the general public. (Virtual event in 2025)
June Festivals & Events
(Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
- Toronto Pride – a full month of LGBTQ+ events headlined by the massive annual Pride Parade on June 29 in 2025.
- RBC Canadian Open – the most prestigious PGA Tour event in Canada, many of the world’s top golfers come to compete each year. (June 4 to 8, 2025)
- Luminato – an arts and culture festival headlined by massive public art and live music performances. (June 4 to 22, 2025)
- Toronto Comic Arts Festival – held at multiple venues in the city, there are comic book workshops, panels, Q&As and more. (June 7 to 8 in 2025)
- North By Northeast Festival – this music festival focuses on lesser-known Canadian artists with the chance at a bigger spotlight. (June 11 to 15 in 2025)
- Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival – thousands of athletes participate each year in dozens of races over two days. (June 14 to 15, 2025)
- TD Toronto Jazz Festival – dozens of venues host jazz performances with some of the biggest names in the genre playing live around the city. (June 20 to 29 in 2025)
- Royal Canadian International Circus – a family-friendly circus with shows in Etobicoke from June 27 to July 1 in 2025. There are also shows later in the summer in Brampton (July 4 to 6), Scarborough (July 10 to 20), Newmarket (July 24 to 27), Vaughan (August 1 to 4), Mississauga (August 8 to 17) and Burlington (August 21 to September 1).
July Festivals & Events
(Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
- Canada Day (Stat Holiday) – on July 1, 2025.
- TD Salsa Festival – an annual celebration of Latin culture with plenty of dance performances and more. (July 5 and 6 in 2025)
- Beaches International Jazz Festival – a nearly month-long festival held outdoors with a wide variety of shows that are all free to attend. (July 4 to 27 in 2025)
- Toronto Fringe Festival – Toronto’s hub for theatre on the “fringe”, with smaller-scale shows that you’re not as likely to see elsewhere. (July 2 to 13 in 2025)
- Grand Prix of Toronto – the Toronto stop on the Indy Car racing tour, held at Exhibition Place every summer. (July 18 to 20 in 2025)
- Toronto Summer Music Festival – a classical music festival held in tandem with an academy that holds both concerts and classes each year. (July 10 to August 2 in 2025)
- Royal Canadian International Circus – a family-friendly circus with shows in Brampton (July 4 to 6), Scarborough (July 10 to 20), Newmarket (July 24 to 27), Vaughan (August 1 to 4), Mississauga (August 8 to 17) and Burlington (August 21 to September 1).
- Toronto Outdoor Fair – celebrating its 64th anniversary in 2025, this outdoor art fair has a wide selection of pieces to explore. (July 11 to 13 in 2025)
August Festivals & Events
(Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
- Toronto Caribbean Festival – also known as Caribana, this very popular festival is jam-packed with food, music, dance and colourful costumes. (On select dates between June 14 and August 17 in 2025)
- Civic Holiday (Stat Holiday) – on August 4 in 2025.
- Royal Canadian International Circus – a family-friendly circus with shows in Vaughan (August 1 to 4), Mississauga (August 8 to 17) and Burlington (August 21 to September 1).
- Boots and Hearts – a country music festival at Burl’s Creek where many attendees camp at the site for the duration of the festival. (August 7 to 10 in 2025)
- Fan Expo Canada – the biggest convention for all things sci-fi, comics, gaming and more in Canada, with plenty of exhibitions packed into four days. (August 21 to 24 in 2025)
- The Canadian Open – the biggest annual tennis tournament in Canada, each year there’s either the men’s or women’s tournament in Toronto, with the other in Montreal. (July 25 to August 6 in 2025)
- The Canadian National Exhibition – the biggest annual fair in the country, the CNE has everything from live entertainment, to shopping, to a carnival and much more. (August 15 to September 1 in 2025)
- Veld Music Festival – an EDM and hip-hop festival in Downsview Park that’s a massive weekend party. (From August 1 to 3 in 2025)
September Festivals & Events
(Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
- Royal Canadian International Circus – a family-friendly circus with shows in Burlington (August 21 to September 1).
- The Canadian National Exhibition – the biggest annual fair in the country, the CNE has everything from live entertainment, to shopping, to a carnival and much more. (August 15 to September 1 in 2025)
- Toronto International Buskerfest – this festival features performances of all kinds including dance, acrobatics, mime, comedians and more. (August 29 to September 1 in 2025)
- Labour Day (Stat Holiday) – on September 1, 2025.
- Toronto International Film Festival – one of the biggest film festivals in the entire world, TIFF showcases the best films out of thousands of submissions each year. (September 4 to 14 in 2025)
- Just For Laughs – the Toronto stop of the Just For Laughs tour, there are shows with some of the biggest names in comedy to check out. (September 18 to 27 in 2025)
- Cabbagetown Festival – the historic neighbourhood of Cabbagetown has a fun and welcoming outdoor festival each year. (September 6 and 7, 2025)
- Oktoberfest – the biggest celebration of Bavarian culture in the country, with plenty of beverages and cuisine on hand for all. (September 26 to October 18 in 2025)
October Festivals & Events
(Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
- Thanksgiving (Stat Holiday) – October 14 in 2024.
- Oktoberfest – the biggest celebration of Bavarian culture in the country, with plenty of beverages and cuisine on hand for all. (September 17 to October 9 in 2024)
- Toronto Waterfront Marathon – one of the top certified marathons in North America, there are a few different race levels available. (October 19 in 2023)
- Toronto After Dark Film Festival – a horror film festival designed to get you in the mood for the Halloween season. (October 16 to 20 in 2024)
- Nuit Blanche – a city-wide art installation project that provides a variety of exhibitions to explore. (October 5 in 2024)
- Toronto International Festival of Authors – the flagship festival for this organization that holds various literary events throughout the year. (October 29 to November 2, 2025)
November Festivals & Events
(Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
- Remembrance Day (not a Stat Holiday) – on November 11, 2024. The National Remembrance Day Ceremony usually takes place at the National War Memorial.
- Cavalcade of Lights – every night during the holiday season Nathan Phillips Square is lit up with lights and hosts live music and ice skating. (Was from November 25, 2023 to January 7, 2024)
- The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair – the biggest indoor equestrian and agricultural event in the world. (November 1 to 10 in 2024)
- Toronto Santa Claus Parade – a tradition for over a century, watch in-person or on TV as a long procession of decorated floats bring Christmas cheer. (November 24 in 2024)
December Festivals & Events
(Note: Dates and other details are subject to change. See official event websites for exact information.)
- Distillery Winter Village – a big Christmas market held in the Distillery District with a wide range of vendors. (November 13, 2024, until January 5, 2025)
- Cavalcade of Lights – every night during the holiday season Nathan Phillips Square is lit up with lights and hosts live music and ice skating. (Was from November 25, 2023 to January 7, 2024)
- Christmas Day (Stat Holiday) – on December 25, 2024.
- Boxing Day – a holiday for some people but not everyone on December 26, 2024.
- New Year’s Eve (not a Stat Holiday) – on December 31, 2024.
Other Information
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
For lists of festivals and events in a number of other Canadian cities check out the following websites:
- Ottawa’s Best Places
- Montreal’s Best Places
- Quebec’s Best Places
- Vancouver’s Best Places
- Victoria’s Best Places
- WhatToDoInWhistler.ca