The Top Cultural Festivals in Toronto
The City of Toronto is filled with diversity and serves as a major destination for immigrants moving to Canada. With a diverse tapestry of over 250 ethnicities and 190 languages, the city hosts many events annually to celebrate its diverse population. The festivals listed below are just some of the most popular events, where people can celebrate their own culture and learn more about and celebrate others.
The Pride Parade
Pride is the first cultural event to kick off the summer festival season. Throughout the month of June, events are held across the city to celebrate Toronto’s 2SLGBTQI+ community. The month begins with an official –flag-raising ceremony at City Hall and ends with the Toronto Pride Parade on the last Sunday of the month in the Church-Wellesley Village (Toronto’s Gay Village). Spectators can expect to see ravishing floats and fearless costumes while the message of inclusion and progress is being spread.
Fun Fact: The Toronto Pride Parade is Canada’s largest festival and the second largest Pride in the world.
Toronto Caribbean Carnival
The Toronto Caribbean Carnival (referred to as Caribana) is the celebration of Caribbean culture that commemorates the end of enslavement in Canada. The season officially kicks off in mid-June and ends on the Civic Holiday, with the Grande Parade held two days prior, which is the highlight of the carnival season. Masqueraders are seen in colourful and jewelled costumes while dancing along the Lakeshore to a blend of Caribbean genres like soca, calypso, dancehall and reggae, while steel pan bands hit the road in between them. The music, costumes and dancing aren’t the only exciting aspects. Vendors will be situated along the parade route selling Caribbean delicacies.
Fun Fact: The Toronto Caribbean Carnival is the largest Caribbean carnival celebration outside of the Caribbean. The Grande Parade attracts millions of participants and spectators globally every year and contributes over half a billion dollars to Toronto’s economy.
Taste of Lawrence
The taste of Lawrence is Scarborough’s largest street festival, which takes place on the first weekend in July. With over 150 vendors to choose from, spectators can select from a diverse range of international food options that showcase how diverse Toronto is. The varied culinary choices are not all that’s appealing about this street festival. There’s also a wide range of entertainment, with the midway section being another popular attraction. It’s filled with rides, inflatables and games that are mainly catered towards young children, but they are popular among adults as well.
Salsa in Toronto Festival
Also taking place during the first weekend in July, Toronto’s Midtown turns into a place with Latin festivities for the annual Salsa in Toronto Festival. Salsa dancing is the highlight of the festival with salsa performances by professional dancers taking to the stage. Spectators can also join in on the fun by participating in dance lessons taught by experienced instructors. There are also other ways to partake in the festival through art exhibitions, film screenings, a parade and savouring Latin cuisine.
Fun Fact: While Salsa in Toronto is the big highlight, it doesn’t begin or end there. The festivities start in late June at Blue Mountain Resort and make one final round in Tremblant, Quebec in late August.
Toronto Waterfront Night Market
Night markets, street markets which usually operate at night, are a cultural aspect in east and Southeast Asia. They are bursting with local street food and beverages, handmade goods and clothing, and they feature entertainment while people browse and shop. Night markets have made their way over to Canada with a few of them taking place in the GTA for a limited time. The Toronto Waterfront Night Market is one of them. It’s a three day festival that takes place on the Exhibition Grounds over by Hotel X and runs for three days in early August. While the first two days are for adults 19 and up, the final day is for all ages and includes the Illuminasian Floating Lantern & Music Festival in the line-up for entertainment.
Fun fact: The Toronto Waterfront Night Market is the first Night Market to debut in Toronto.
If you’re open to delving into an array of cultures, the five events mentioned above would be some of the best events to attend for the best cultural experience.