Summer festivals: Best events coming to Toronto's east end
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Photo: Leslieville Beer Festival
From street-shuttering block parties to eye-catching art fairs, here are the festivals in Toronto's east end to keep on your radar this summer.
LESLIEVILLE FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL
May 5, District 28
Returning for its third year, the Leslieville Food & Drink Festival turns a spotlight on the community by promoting local talents — from chefs and sommeliers to artists and musicians — with an evening of food, beer and wine tastings exclusive to Toronto's east side. Admission is $22.
TASTEMAKER TORONTO
May 18-19, Evergreen Brickworks
Tastemaker Toronto is a curated food festival that will take place at Evergreen Brick Works. According to organizers, hand-selected local and national chefs, restaurants, and artisans will connect, share, and inspire foodies through an unparalleled experience. Tickets are $60.
WOOFSTOCK
May 26-27, Woodbine Park
Dog lovers! Woofstock, a festival just for your lil furry four-legged friend, is celebrating 15 years of celebrating dogs. Fun and wacky contests, fashion shows and more — it's the largest outdoor festival of its kind in North America.
ART OF CRAFT BEER
June 2, Ashbridge Estate
The Art of Craft Beer, a "multi-sensory beer experience that pairs the best in craft beer label art with the best in craft beer," is returning to Leslieville with a free and kid-friendly event that features craft beer, food, music and an art expo.
RIVERSIDE EATS & BEATS
June 2, Riverside neighbourhood
Riverside’s annual street festival spans 10 vibrant blocks along historic Queen St. East between the DVP to DeGrassi Street. Over 50 local eateries and retailers open their doors serving tasting plates, special promotions and live entertainment.
BEACHES JAZZ FESTIVAL
July 6-29, Beaches & Leslieville
Celebrate 30 years of smooth grooves with this month-long summer event featuring concerts and street festivals that take over the east end. Anchored in the streets, pubs, bars, restaurants and parks of the Beaches, the event is bringing back Sounds of Leslieville & Riverside to Jimmie Simpson Park again in 2018.
AFROFEST
July 7-8, Woodbine Park
The spirit of African culture in the heart of Toronto, Afrofest has been running for 30 years with a family friendly event that celebrates African music and culture in an inclusive, vibrant and positive community festival setting that attracts upwards of 120,000 in attendance.
TASTE OF THE DANFORTH
Aug. 10-12, Danforth
Taste of the Danforth is Canada’s largest street festival with about 1.6 million people spilling on to the Toronto thoroughfare for activities, performers and endless food options from the neighbourhood's Greek cuisine to Thai, Indian and Cuban.
TORONTO FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL
Aug. 3-6, Woodbine Park
Back for another year, the Toronto Food Truck Festival will surprise you with just how delicious grub served from a truck can truly be. Admission is free at this four-day event with a licensed green space, live music and eating challenges.
canadianfoodtruckfestivals.com
LESLIEVILLE BEER FESTIVAL
Aug. 25, Leslieville
The Leslieville Beer Festival shuts down Dundas St. East from Logan Ave. to Carlaw Ave. for a "good old fashioned neighbourhood street party." This ticketed event feature regional brewers, community food vendors and local artisans.
TORONTO INTERNATIONAL BUSKERFEST
Aug. 31 - Sept. 3, Woodbine Park
Now in its 19th year running, the annual festival combines comedy, performance, spontaneity and a dash of the unbelievable. More than 100 buskers — acrobats and artists, comedians and contortionists, plus musicians, magicians, fire jugglers and daredevils — will be coming together for the largest street performance event in Ontario and biggest epilepsy awareness event in the world.
Are you organizing an event or festival that should be listed? Send details to hello@goodhood.ca.
