21 Food & Drink Festivals You Must Attend in Toronto this Summer

With summer comes sunshine, patio drinks and lots of good eats! If you have a love for food and enjoy a nice, cold beverage on a sunny Toronto afternoon, you have to check out some of the food and drink festivals hitting the city this summer.

From ribs to mac ‘n cheese to Asian cuisine, Toronto has a food festival to suit everyone’s tastes. During the summer months, Toronto pulls out all the stops for foodies, showcasing different cultures, unusual meals and sweet treats with a variety of food and drink festivals. They’re a chance for you to try something new and expand your palate.  

So this summer, grab your friends and take part in one (or many) of Toronto’s food and drink festivals. Take a look at some of the festivals coming this summer below:

Veggielicious
May 5-21
This two-week vegetarian food festival boasts compassionate, mouth-watering cuisine that’s entirely plant-based. The festival includes delicious food from over 40 participating locations featuring vegetarian and vegan prix-fixe menus ranging from $15-$30.

Bud Light Radler Brunch Fest presented by TasteToronto
May 26-28
Is there anything Torontonians love more than brunch? Later this month, Bud Light Radler and TasteToronto will bring you Brunch Fest – a three-day food festival entirely dedicated to brunch. Get ready to experience Toronto’s top brunch eats, a specialty cocktail bar, live music and more. Tickets cost $10 per day.

Mac ‘n Cheese Festival
June 2-4
Step up your Kraft Dinner game at this year’s Mac ‘n Cheese Festival. The first of its kind in Canada, this three day cheese-lover’s paradise provides a gourmet twist to everyone’s classic childhood dish. Admission is free, so go ahead and get a little ooey gooey. Keep an eye out for a cheesy festival in Mississauga, as well. 

BBQ Eats Festival 
June 9-11
This inaugural festival is promising to be one of the city’s best, featuring BBQ flavours from all around the world. Taking place at Ontario Place, admission is free and there are over 80 vendors grilling up international flavours including Japanese, Indian, Greek, Jamaican, Chinese, and Filipino just to name a few.

Taste of Toronto 
June 15-18
This festival will transform Garrison Common at For York into a foodie haven. There will be over 60 food and drink vendors to choose from, including notable restaurants like Barque Smokehouse, Momofuku Noodle Bar, The Drake Hotel, Richmond Station, Nota Bene and more. Tickets start at $17. 

Taste of Africa
June 17
Experience the cuisine of Africa right here in Toronto with Taste of Africa, happening June 17 at Mel Lastman Square. The outdoor food festival will include authentic food, traditional music and lots of dancing to immerse attendees in the African culture. Admission is free.

Taco Fest presented by TasteToronto
June 16-18
If you like tacos, then look no further than Taco Fest presented by TasteToronto happening this June. Enjoy tacos, guacamole, churros, tequila, hot sauce and everything Mexican.  Tickets cost $10 per day.

Taste of Little Italy
June 16-18
As one of Toronto’s biggest food festivals, Taste of Little Italy celebrates College Street’s rich Italian history and the unique neighborhood of Little Italy. Check out artisan vendors, savour a drink on one of the many patios and indulge in the amazing food.

Toronto Wine and Spirits Festival
June 16-17
From wine samples, craft beer and pairing seminars, to some of the world’s finest spirits, the Toronto Wine and Spirits Festival is one sweet, boozy dream. Happening at Sugar Beach, this festival is perfect for beer and wine lovers alike. Tickets are $25 in advance or $35 at the door.

Taste of Asia
June 23-25
Taste of Asia is an exciting, high-energy festival that has been celebrating the Asian cuisine and culture for the past 14 years. The festival will feature dazzling cultural performances, culinary artists, local artisans and much more.

Toronto Ribfest
June 30 – July 3
This year, Toronto Ribfest will be celebrating Canada’s birthday with a four-day rib extravaganza! Ribfest is the ultimate BBQ food festival, including ribs from 13 different BBQ joints in the GTA.

Summerlicious
July 7-23
The annual summer edition of Licious is back come July 7th with over 200 restaurants participating. Each Toronto-based restaurant will offer a special 3-course prix fixe menu for a price that’s easy on the wallet. It’s a great opportunity to try out some of the city’s best eateries without spending a fortune. 

TO Food Fest
July 9
TO Food Fest brings together top foodie-reviewed restaurants and local, hidden gems into one exciting event. The festival serves to promote the cultural diversity in Toronto through food sampling with a mix of established and aspiring chefs from across the city.

Halal Food Fest
July 15-16
Head down to the International Centre in Mississauga for the annual Halal Food Fest. This time around, the festival will feature over 100 halal restaurants, manufacturers, bakeries and speciality food stores, representing halal cuisines from around the globe.

Lovin’ Local Food Fest
July 29
This food festival is all about local and sustainable food and drinks in the heart of downtown Toronto aka Yonge and Dundas Square. The one-day event is one more way that Live Green Toronto promotes and supports the greening of our city.

Toronto Beerfest
July 28-30
Presented by the Beer Store, the Toronto Beerfest is a one-stop shop for cold brews, catchy tunes and good times. With nearly 100 different brewers to choose from, tickets start at $42.50 and include five sample tokens and one commemorative festival sampling cup.

Toronto Food Truck Festival
August 4-7
If you like great food, cold beer and live music then the Toronto Food Truck Festival is the one for you. The festival will feature live music performances and 30-50 food trucks showcasing diverse and delicious eats, all taking place right in Woodbine Park.

Taste of the Danforth
August 11-13
The Krinos Taste of the Danforth is Canada’s largest street festival, welcoming 1.65 million guests annually to Toronto’s Greektown. But the festival is set to be even bigger and better this year with food, food and more food!

Sweetery Toronto Food Festival
August 12-13
Sweetery Toronto Food Festival is just that: sweet. The two-day food festival showcases the delectable world of confectionary taking over Toronto’s culinary scene. Admission is free.

Toronto Vegan Food Festival
August 19
Just because you’re vegan doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the food festivals happening this summer. The Toronto Vegan Food Festival is an all vegan experience featuring comfort food, crafts brews, wine and spirits.

Toronto Cider Festival
August 26
Showcasing amazing ciders paired with delicious food, live entertainment and local Canadian talent, Toronto Cider Festival creates an environment where you can kick back, relax by the water and celebrate the end of summer in true Canadian style.

RELATED LINK: This Mexican-Asian Food Pop-up has Landed in Toronto Just in Time for Summer

Did we miss any of the best food & drink festivals happening in Toronto this summer? Let us know in the comment section or tweet us at @ViewtheVibe.