Let us celebrate Ontario through winter lights, festivals that titillate your taste buds, make you think with Ontario playwrights, get you tracking Ontario birds, music festivals that get you rock out world famous artists, and more!
Here are some of the upcoming festivals in Ontario.
You may also like: Summer Music Festivals in Ontario
Markham Jazzlicious WinterFest
Markham Jazzlicious WinterFest will bring together food lovers and music enthusiasts for a night of culinary delights and live jazz performances. Guests will enjoy a gourmet dinner, prepared by some of Markham’s top chefs, followed by an intimate performance by award-winning Canadian jazz artists. This year’s edition sees the series ... More Details
Where:
Various venues, Markham
International Film Festival of Ottawa
The International Film Festival of Ottawa (IFFO) brings an eclectic mix of shorts and features from around the globe to Canada’s capital. Held annually in March by the Canadian Film Institute, IFFO is hosted at the Ottawa Art Gallery, the ByTowne Cinema and other venues all within the Ottawa downtown ... More Details
Where:
Various locations, Ottawa
Vanier Sugar Festival
Organized by the Vanier Museopark, the Sugar Festival is an annual, family-friendly event that promotes the culture of maple syrup as well as local Franco-Ontarian and Indigenous artists. A flagship event in the Museopark’s public programming, the Vanier Sugar Festival celebrates the traditions of the sugar season, while allowing visitors ... More Details
Where:
Richelieu Park, 300 des Pères-Blancs Ave., Vanier
Eat & Drink Norfolk
Check out Norfolk County’s best restaurants, wineries, breweries and food producers all under one roof for 3 days! Live musical entertainment all weekend! Featuring local restaurants, food producers, wineries, breweries and live musical entertainment all under one roof! Come see why we are one of the Top 100 Festivals & ... More Details
Where:
Norfolk County Fairgrounds, 172 South Drive, Simcoe
Elmira Maple Syrup Festival
Visit the 56th volunteer-run Elmira Maple Syrup Festival for local food, fun, and maple syrup on Saturday. 2001 - Guinness World Book of Records - World's Largest One Day Consumption of Maple Syrup. Enjoy family fun activities, go on trips between St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market to Elmira on Festival Day, ... More Details
Where:
24 Church Street West, Elmira
Ontario Maple Weekend
Join maple syrup producers from across Ontario for Ontario Maple Weekend. This free, family-friendly, two-day event is hosted by the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers' Association, and is the perfect way to celebrate spring and the annual maple syrup season, while learning more about how maple syrup is made, from tree ... More Details
Where:
Various Sugar Bushes, Ontario
Stratford Swan Release Parade
Visit Stratford the first Sunday in April and witness swan parade. Every year, on the first Sunday of April, the swans are released from their winter home. Join the feathery herd as it waddles along to the Avon River. The Stratford Police Pipes and Drums Band will lead the swans on ... More Details
Where:
Lakeside Drive, Stratford, ON
TIFF Next Wave Film Festival
The TIFF Next Wave Film Festival returns with brand new movies free for anyone under 25. Kick things off at Battle of the Scores where four bands compete for one big prize, celebrate the next wave of Canadian filmmakers at the Young Creators Showcase, join our popular Loved It series ... More Details
Where:
TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King Street West, Toronto
Irish Film Festival Ottawa
Three days of Irish films ,including Oscar winner An Irish Goodbye and Oscar nominee The Quiet Girl Wolfwalkers for children. Irish Film Festival Ottawa is a non-profit organization that celebrates Irish culture, language, humour and history through the modern medium of film. Founded in March 2014, the festival showcases recent ... More Details
Where:
Arts Court Alma Duncan Room, 2 Daly Ave, Ottawa
Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny River Race
Participants are challenged in a rigorous 10-kilometre race down the mighty Ganaraska River. At the finish line, “Fannyville”, the outdoor event village, is set up to host various food, drink and merchant vendors, on-stage entertainment, children’s activities, and a live commentary of the race results, culminating in an award presentation ... More Details
Where:
Downtown, Port Hope
Stratford Festival
North America’s largest classical repertory theatre, presenting the works of William Shakespeare and other great writers ... More Details
Where:
Queen Street, Stratford
New Ideas Festival
New Ideas Festival is an annual juried festival of new writing, works-in-progress and experimental theatre, with a different program of plays each week and staged readings. Proudly entering its 36th year, the New Ideas Festival is Alumnae’s annual showcase of new and experimental one-act plays. Witness theatrical history in the ... More Details
Where:
Alumnae Theatre, 70 Berkeley Street, Toronto
Hot Docs Festival
Hot Docs will present its 31stth annual edition, in cinemas across Toronto, with a selection of films available online to audiences throughout Canada. Hot Docs will also mount a dynamic series of knowledge sessions, networking opportunities and market programs for documentary practitioners and industry delegates, including the renowned Hot Docs ... More Details
Where:
Various Venues, Toronto
Ottawa PoutineFest & Mac My Cheese
Ottawa PoutineFest celebrates the best in Traditional, Exotic, and Extreme Poutine, over 125 choices of poutine, a new Best in Cheese Curd, an exotic poutine competition, live music, more live entertainment, the Poutine Sample Social with your Fest Pass, free entry and more. Who is it for? All ages – ... More Details
Where:
Ottawa City Hall Plaza, 110 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa
The Powassan Maple Syrup Festival
The Powassan Maple Syrup Festival is an outdoor, family friendly event held every year on the 4th Saturday in April. The event offers participants the opportunity to come out of Winter hibernation to enjoy many activities, events and sample wonderful maple treats. Who is it for? all ages WHEN & ... More Details
Where:
Various Venues, Powassan, ON
Festival of Maples
Maple products and taffy sales displays of maple syrup production maple awards, entertainment, pony rides & children’s activities. Live musical entertainment over 100 Craft & Artisan Vendors Food Vendors Enjoy the talent’s of our local musicians as you roam around the festival ... More Details
Where:
Downtown Perth, Gore Street East, Perth
Stayner Kinsmen Duck Races
Watch out for the ducks! The Stayner Kinsmen launch their annual Duck Race at Kinsmen Park in Stayner. Featuring 2000 rubber ducks and 200 corporate decorated ducks, the Kinsmen Duck Races will be sure to entertain the whole family! Live music, food and more!. There will be a lot to ... More Details
Where:
40 Brock Street, Stayner
Canadian Tulip Festival
Ottawa’s award-winning flagship festival since 1953, the Canadian Tulip Festival is one of the largest events of its kind in the world celebrating Ottawa’s official flower as a symbol of international friendship and peace. The Canadian Tulip Festival is an event of the Canadian Tulip Legacy, a non-profit charitable organization ... More Details
Where:
Commissioners Park, Ottawa
Paprika Festival
Currently in the 8th year of partnership, Paprika Festival is working with Native Earth to present the 23rd annual youth-led performing arts festival. Following a year of professional theatre training and mentorship programs, Paprika Festival showcases creations from the next generation for one full week in Aki Studio. Paprika programs are free of ... More Details
Where:
Aki Studio, 585 Dundas Street East, Toronto
Electric Island – Summer Concert Series
The fully licensed concert and picnic series returns with world class talent ... More Details
Where:
Fort York 250 Fort York Boulevard, Toronto
Carassauga Festival
The Carassauga; Festival of Cultures will be one of the biggest attractions this May as we stand as one of the largest multicultural showcases in Ontario and also of all of Canada. Various countries bring you the best of food, music, dance, art and history in a packed 3 day ... More Details
Where:
Various Venues, Mississauga
Warkworth Lilac Festival
The annual Warkworth Lilac Festival highlights the Millennium Lilac Trail showcasing 300 lilacs of 83 unique varieties. There will be entertainment, music, master gardeners, horticultural vendors, a photo show, and lilac designs. The Festival showcases many rare and beautiful varieties of lilac to surprise and delight. With early, mid and ... More Details
Where:
Various Locations, Warkworth, Trent Hills
SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival
SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival is Canada's premier a cappella festival dedicated to celebrating Canadian and International vocal artists ... More Details
Where:
Various Venues, Toronto
Food Truck Frenzy Whitby
With its continued success, Food Truck Frenzy Whitby has become the Finest Foodie Festival in Durham Region. Get ready for a taste bud extravaganza at Food Truck Frenzy 2024 – Durham’s biggest culinary bash! With 30+ mouthwatering food trucks, a vibrant Makers Market, and an epic Kids Zone, this two-day ... More Details
Where:
Iroquois Park Grounds, 500 Victoria Street West, Whitby
Jewish Music Week
A festival of concerts, recitals and musical events throughout the Greater Toronto Area. It features the different styles of Jewish music, such as Israeli, Klezmer, Sephardic, Cantorial, and Yiddish, as well as the Jewish contribution to genres not typically thought of as Jewish (jazz, Broadway, pop, Hollywood). Twenty-five programs including ... More Details
Where:
Various Venues, Toronto
RBC Canadian Open
Played annually continuously since 1904, except during World War I and World War II, the Canadian Open is the third oldest continuously running tournament on the PGA TOUR, after The Open Championship and the U.S. Open. Defending champion Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. and world no.2 Rory McIlroy are early ... More Details
Where:
Hamilton Golf and Country Club, 232 Golf Links Road, Ancaster
Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival
The Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival returns to historic downtown Orangeville this June. This award winning festival boasts over 90 acts on multiple stages over 3 days. With amazing concerts, special events, the ever-popular Blues Cruise on Broadway and a broad selection of food and craft vendors, there is sure ... More Details
Where:
Various Venues, Orangeville
Streetsville Founders’ Bread and Honey Fest
The Streetsville Founders' Bread and Honey Festival is fun for the whole family! Since 1973 our festival has been held annually on the first weekend in June in the Village of Streetsville. Performers throughout the street all day, children inflatables, clowns, face painting, vendors, artisans, buskers and … and of ... More Details
Where:
Streetsville Memorial Park, Mississauga
Downtown Milton SummerFest
Join us in Downtown Milton and celebrate the start of summer! Hosted by the Downtown Milton Business Improvement Area with support from the Town of Milton and local contributors, the event features local businesses and vendors, live entertainment, kids’ activities and more! SummerFest attractions include: Main Stage at the Main & ... More Details
Where:
Downtown Milton, Main Street East, Milton
Canadian Music Week
Canadian Music Week is Canada's leading annual entertainment event dedicated to the expression and growth of the country's music, media and entertainment industries. Combining multifaceted information-intensive conferences; a trade exposition; awards shows and the nation's largest new music festival. Join us in 2024 as we mark the 42nd anniversary of Canadian ... More Details
Where:
Various Venues, Toronto
Luminato Festival
Luminato is Toronto’s international arts festival dedicated to performance, media and visual arts, and programming that cuts across traditional artform boundaries. Luminato works closely with Canadian artists to support the development and creation of distinctive new work as well as presenting today’s most exciting artists from around the world. Luminato ... More Details
Where:
Various Venues, Toronto
Springtide Music Festival
Springtide Music Festival is back this year, showcasing live music along a 750m strip of downtown Uxbridge. Presenting 12 stages that include a diverse set of Canadian Musicians across multiple genres of music for visitors to discover while exploring an eclectic mix of venues in downtown Uxbridge. With headliners including ... More Details
Where:
Various Venues, Uxbridge
Orléans Craft Beer Festival
The Orléans Craft Beer Festival has quickly become the “can’t miss event of the season”! With a great combination of outstanding craft beers, smooth wines and spirits, delicious food, and excellent live entertainment, we have something for everyone! This popular outdoor festival goes off rain or shine! We’ve got you ... More Details
Where:
255 Centrum Blvd, Ottawa
Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival
All the sweet deliciousness of Ontario Best Butter Tart Festival. The day includes a butter tart contest, vendors, entertainment, a mid-way and much more! A great family-friendly day. Over 60 businesses selling butter tarts and butter tart-inspired foods and products + vendors selling jewelry, clothing, unique home and garden products, ... More Details
Where:
Downtown Midland
Mississauga Polish Day 2024
Mississauga's annual Polish cultural festival features live music, traditional food and drinks, a kids’ zone and much more! Expect a full day of exciting attractions for visitors of all ages and backgrounds. Festival Highlights Live performances Hearty traditional food Beer gardens Children’s Village with lots of activities for kids Art ... More Details
Where:
Mississauga Celebration Square, 300 City Centre Drive, Mississauga
Annual Peony festival
The City of Oshawa is hosting the annual Peony Festival at the Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens. The popular festival celebrates horticulture, arts and heritage. Many of the more than 300 Peony plants will be in glorious bloom in the gardens, and the same number of cut blooms will be on ... More Details
Where:
The Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens, 155 Arena St, Oshawa
NXNE
North by Northeast (NXNE) Canada’s most important festival of emerging music returns this June 13 – 17 with over 300 of the world’s best new bands in more than 20 of Toronto’s top live music venues. The best up and coming bands in Canada and the world as well as ... More Details
Where:
Various Venues, Toronto
Heritage Sounds Music Festival
The Annual Musical Extravaganza Is Back! With 3 Days Of Multi-Genre Music, And An Amazing Line-Up Of 50+ Artists, You Don’t Want To Miss This! YOUR MUSIC, YOUR VIBE! Heritage Sounds Music Festival 2024 will be a 4-day musical extravaganza. DAY 1 - OPENING GALA A spectacular soirée, infused with ... More Details
Where:
Various Venues, Brampton
Sound of Music Festival
Every year in June, music takes over Burlington Downtown and Waterfront. The largest local music event of the year features an eclectic combination of emerging artists, blasts from the past and current performers. ... More Details
Where:
Spencer Smith Park, Lakeshore Road, Burlington
Pickering Village JAMFest
Join us for Father's Day weekend at this year's Pickering Village Jam Fest. Pickering Village's favourite FREE ADMISSION music festival, will fill the streets with music along closed to traffic Old Kingston Road between Elizabeth and Linton. There will be amazing music. There will be delicious food and most importantly, ... More Details
Where:
Pickering Village, Old Kingston Rd, Ajax
VARAC Vintage Grand Prix
Give Dad a special treat this Father’s Day weekend – a trip to CTMP to see beautifully restored cars from the past 50-plus years of motorsports, racing on our legendary Grand Prix circuit. The 44th annual VARAC Vintage Grand Prix returns Father's Day weekend with a colourful lineup of open and ... More Details
Where:
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, 3233 Concession Rd 10, Bowmanville
Markham Village Music Festival
Markham Village Music Festival will have over 50 artists lined up for some awesome performances, Kidz Zone, a vendor village, a beatbox battle and much more. 5 Stages Of Entertainment Muticultural Taste Of Markham Beatbox Showcase Craft And Food Booths Barkham Farmers’ Market Kidz Zone: Enjoy a variety of family ... More Details
Where:
Main Street, Markham
Mississauga Halal Food Festival
Mississauga Halal Food Festival (MHFF) is a celebration of halal food connecting a diverse variety of halal cuisines with fun and entertainment. Running successfully from past nine years, MHFF is one of the largest celebrations of the region and is attended by more than 20,000 attendees every year from various ... More Details
Where:
Mississauga Celebration Square, 300 City Centre Dr, Mississauga
Ottawa Jazz Festival
Spanning all genres and inspirations of jazz, diverse cultures, traditions and an array of styles that covers the spectrum from pop, rock to lush harmonies, the Ottawa Jazz Festival has been a trailblazer for more than 40 years. As the only outdoor music festival with a grand presence in the city’s downtown ... More Details
Where:
Confederation Park, Elgin St, Ottawa
Kingsville-Essex Highland Games
The Canadian Transportation Museum & Heritage Village provides the backdrop for a totally immersive Highland Games experience. Pipes & Drums, Highland Dancing, Heavy Events, Tug of War, Clan Village, Sheep Herding, Haggis Hurl, 5K Run/Walk, Vendors and so much more. Who is it for? All ages HOW MUCH Tickets : ... More Details
Where:
Canadian Transportation Museum & Heritage Village, 6155 Arner Town Line, Kingsville
Mariposa Folk Festival
Old Crow Medicine Show, Bahamas, Band of Horses, Noah Cyrus, William Prince, Amigo The Devil, Donovan Woods, Dwayne Gretzky, Jesse Cook, Joseph, Maestro Fresh Wes, Modern Biology, The Secret Sisters, a special performance by Bruce Cockburn, and more ... More Details
Where:
Tudhope Park, 500 Atherley Road, Orillia
TD Salsa on St. Clair Street Festival
Canada’s biggest Latin street party is back to heat up Toronto! The FREE Annual TD Salsa on St. Clair Street Festival is the main event of the award-winning TD Salsa in Toronto Festival. The weekend celebration has garnered international recognition and attracts hundreds of thousands of salsa lovers from near ... More Details
Where:
St. Clair Avenue West between Winona and Christie, Toronto
Because Beer Craft Beer Festival
Hamilton's premier craft beer and cider festival returns to Pier 4 Park! Because Beer offers a unique opportunity to sample hundreds of craft beers and ciders from dozens of craft beer and cider makers, chat with brewers, and enjoy hours of fun, including a free retro arcade. Festival-goers can also ... More Details
Where:
Pier 4 Park, 64 Leander Drive, Hamilton
Tall Pines Music & Arts Festival
The Tall Pines Music & Arts Festival is returning for the second year. Lineup: Ila Barker Spencer Burton Chloë Doucet City and Colour Jin July Talk Boston Levi Dan Mangan Deanna Petcoff The Sarandons Texas King Tiny Horse The Vaniers JJ Wilde Who is it for? All ages HOW MUCH ... More Details
Where:
Gull Lake Park, 405 Brock Street, Gravenhurst