BRIAN'S BLOG
Toronto Events for July
July 2, 2019
Toronto Fringe Festival (July 3rd-14th)
The Toronto Fringe is a theatre festival happening across the city for the first two weeks of July. There’s a wide range of shows, themes and performers including Jake Epstein, who starred on Broadway as Spiderman and Gerry Goffin. Several shows, including The Drowsy Chaperone, got their start at this fest!
Surprise your taste buds! Savour the fresh flavours of summer with delicious three-course prix fixe lunch and dinner menus at nearly 200 of Toronto’s favourite restaurants. Are you ready to try something new?
Explore Toronto’s rich and diverse food history through Toronto’s Table, a new culinary event program presented by Toronto History Museums. Tickets are now on sale!
Cultura Festival (July 5th-26th)
Cultura is a free family-friendly outdoor festival presenting Music, Art, Food and Film every Friday evening in July. Cultura celebrates Toronto’s rich diversity and features world-renowned musicians, tasty international street food, explosive buskers, interactive art activities, and evening film screenings under the stars. Co-presented by Councillor John Fillion and North York Arts, Cultura serves to benefit the local community.
Join us every Friday at 6:00 p.m. for the must-see opening acts! Enjoy small world stage music and unique busker performances, grab a bite from your favourite food truck, get your photo taken at the photo booth, and explore all the exciting activities Cultura has to offer!
Beaches International Jazz Festival (July 5th– 28th)
Beaches International Jazz Festival, returns from July 5 – 28, 2019 to celebrate its 31st year of unparalleled music from both established and emerging artists. Featuring multiple stages and venues, the return of festival favourites and leading musical talent, the 31st annual Beaches International Jazz Festival is one that can’t be missed.
We kick off the festival with the Sounds of Leslieville & Riverside Main Stage and Block Party featuring performances from over 40 bands at the Jimmie Simpson Park Main Stage, as well as various locations along Queen St E (between Logan and Broadview Avenues). Performances take place from Friday July 5 – Sunday July 7. The Beaches Jazz Latin Carnival will return to Woodbine Park for its fourth year between Friday July 12 – Sunday July 14, to showcase the lively melodies of salsa, merengue and cumbia.
Afrofest 2019 is an African music festival which celebrates the beauty and diversity of African music and culture. Taking place on July 06 & 07, 2019, it features a mix of local and international artists, and French and English programming.
Afrofest is the largest free African festival in North America with a weekend attendance of about 120,000 visitors. It features 5 main sections: Main Stage for established professional artists; Youth Stage for emerging artists; Drumming Zone for drum enthusiasts; a market place which features over 80 food and merchandise vendors and a Children’s Creative Village for toddlers and young children to learn about African culture. The festival has about 50 performances and engages about 400 local and international artists to present various forms of African music and culture to the dynamic audience.
One of Markham’s landmark summer events Night It Up! Night Market returns to Markham Civic Centre from July 12 to 14. Now in its 18th year, the GTA’s longest-running night market will showcase a mosaic of iconic Asian street food and innovative Insta-worthy treats.
The outdoor festival styled in the vein of night markets from across Asia will be complemented by performances by local talent and an action-packed SportsZone by partner organization the Chinese Canadian Youth Athletic Association.
Night It Up! Night Market is a philanthropic event run by youth volunteers from Power Unit Youth Organization (PUYO). The GTA-based non-profit group aims to set a precedent in its members to learn, grow, and share within their community through events. PUYO annually donates proceeds from Night It Up! to a designated beneficiary and has contributed over $143,000 to charities across the GTA.
Pizza Fest is returning to Ontario Place to bring together 20+ of Toronto’s best pizza joints and Italian hotspots, serving up authentic slices and other Italian favourites from spaghetti carbonara and meatball sandwiches to gelato and tiramisu.
This carb-lover’s dream will immerse guests in Italian culture with pizza-making classes from the pros, wine tastings, and live music all weekend long. Once guests have savoured the top slices, they can cool off with a taste of Southern Italy in a limoncello cocktail, aperol spritz, Birra Moretti or a sampling of the top reds, whites, and rosés at the wine bar.
BIG on Bloor Festival 2019 returns for the 12th annual free celebration of arts, music & community magic in Bloordale!
July 20 Pedestrian Takeover Dufferin to Lansdowne 12PM-12AM
Artsite x Bloordale until July 27 at various locations in Bloordale.
Festival of Beer (July 26th-28th)
This is Canada’s premier celebration of the golden beverage…
Toronto’s Festival of Beer, presented by the Beer Storefeatures hundreds of brews, seriously good eats, live entertainment, and plenty of beer love. The festival runs from July 26 to 28 at Bandshell Park, Exhibition Place. This is 19+ event. Please enjoy responsibly.
Nothing says summer more, than street festivals in Toronto! For the fourth consecutive year, OssFest returns for a pedestrian take over of the Ossington Strip between Dundas St W and Queen St W. Beginning with a yoga class in the morning, followed by artisans and local businesses showcasing their goods all day. We have over 20 extended patios, music and entertainment programming all day and into the evening.
It is family friendly, dog friendly, and is a fantastic way to celebrate the neighbourhood and Toronto! And people talk about it all year, excited for the next.