The August long weekend is almost here, and some of the summer’s biggest festivals and events are happening in and around Toronto. The Civic Holiday falls on Monday, Aug. 3 this year, with everything from electronic music festivals and waterfront celebrations to fireworks, street food and, of course, a massive Caribbean parade!
Here are 12 events to check out in and around Toronto this Civic Holiday long weekend.
Toronto Caribbean Carnival Grand Parade
Toronto’s annual Caribbean Carnival, aka Caribana, will once again take over the streets with Mas, steelpan and bedazzled costumes. This year, the Grand Parade takes over Exhibition Place and Lake Shore Boulevard on Saturday, Aug. 1, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Free public viewing is available, while ticketed viewing areas are also offered at Exhibition Place.
Festival of Friends, Hamilton
You can catch some huge Canadian acts for free in Hamilton over the long weekend. Festival of Friends is celebrating its 50th anniversary at Gage Park from July 31 to Aug. 2, with indie icon Feist and country music star Dallas Smith among the headliners. The anniversary celebrations will also bring Chantal Kreviazuk, Hawksley Workman, Maestro Fresh Wes, Brad Roberts from Crash Test Dummies and members of Finger Eleven to the stage! And there’s much more than music. The three-day festival has more than 150 vendors, a huge midway and children’s entertainment. Admission is free.
Kempenfest, Barrie
Up for a short waterfront road trip? Head to Barrie for one of Ontario’s largest waterfront festivals. Kempenfest runs July 31 to Aug. 3 and features 300 vendors, antique dealers, a midway with tons of rides and games, buskers and even an actual Poutine Village. This is perfect if you’re okay with crowds, as the festival draws around 100,000 people each year.
Most of Kempenfest is free, although the evening MainStage shows require tickets. This year’s headliners include Jamie Fine on Friday, Big Wreck on Saturday and High Valley on Sunday.
Port Stanley Calipso Festival
A beach day and a summer festival in one? Yes, please. Port Stanley’s Calipso Festival runs Aug. 1–3, with its famous decorated boat parade, live music, visiting mermaids, magic shows, a sandcastle contest and an epic fireworks finale! New this year is the Sol & Sea Marquee at Little Beach, where you’ll find live Latin music and DJs and free salsa lessons. Admission is free, with some ticketed activities.
Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival, Port Colborne
Spend the long weekend surrounded by tall ships, fireworks and waterfront festivities at the Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival! The four-day festival runs from July 31 to Aug. 3 in Port Colborne, and celebrates the city’s marine heritage along the Welland Canal with free concerts, family activities, a midway, a classic car show and cruises aboard the Empire Sandy, Canada’s largest topsail schooner. Sunday night brings a huge Boat Parade of Lights at around 9:15 p.m. followed by fireworks over the canal at 10 p.m. Festival admission and concerts are free.
Toronto Food Truck Festival
Toronto’s Woodbine Park will be overflowing with food trucks over the entire long weekend! The Toronto Food Truck Festival runs from Friday through Civic Holiday Monday and brings together dozens of food vendors alongside free live music, children’s games and daily eating challenges. And there’s literally something for everyone, from vegetarian and halal to gluten-free options. Admission is free.
Piratefest, Gravenhurst
No need to sail to the Caribbean to spend the weekend with pirates: just head to Muskoka. Piratefest takes over the Muskoka Wharf in Gravenhurst on Aug. 1 and 2 with the normal pirate-y paraphernalia: think pirate cruises aboard the Wenonah II, midway rides, sea shanties, stilt walkers, live-action storytelling, treasure hunts and more (make sure to come dressed in your best pirate gear!).
Taste of India Festival, Toronto
Nathan Phillips Square is transforming into a massive celebration of Indian food and culture over the August long weekend. Taste of India brings cuisine, live performances and Bollywood dance to the heart of downtown Toronto from Aug. 1 to 2. The festival runs from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday. And yes, admission is completely free.
Owen Sound Emancipation Festival
Experience a piece of Ontario history at a festival that’s been taking place for more than 160 years! The 164th Owen Sound Emancipation Festival runs from July 31 to Aug. 2 and commemorates the abolition of slavery throughout most of the British Empire. The tradition began in Owen Sound in 1862, with descendants of freedom seekers gathering over the Civic Holiday weekend.
Saturday includes a Freedom Walk followed by the Emancipation Festival and Picnic at Harrison Park, with live performers, food vendors, activities and community celebrations. The picnic and Sunday’s Legacy Concert are free with suggested donations, while Friday’s Speaker’s Corner event at Grey Roots Museum & Archives costs $25. Owen Sound sits on the southern shore of Georgian Bay, about a 20–minute drive from Meaford and 30 minutes to Thornbury, so perhaps make it part of a weekend getaway.
Glengarry Highland Games
For a bigger road trip, you can trade Toronto for Scotland, or at least the next best thing. The Glengarry Highland Games take over the Maxville Fairgrounds, about a 4.5–hour drive from Toronto, on July 31 and Aug. 1. This is one of the largest Highland Games in the world, so definitely worth the drive. This year’s event includes the North American Pipe Band Championships, Highland dancing, heavyweight competitions, rugby, Celtic entertainment, and yes, even fiddling! General admission is $30 per day, although kids 12 and under get in free.
VELD Music Festival
VELD is one of Toronto’s biggest music festivals of the summer, and it takes over Downsview Park from July 31 to Aug. 2, with more than 60 artists performing across three stages! This year’s electro dance-music lineup includes Armin van Buuren, FISHER, Charlotte de Witte, Illenium, Kx5 featuring (our fave cat lover) deadmau5 and more!
It’s a bit of a splurge: festival passes are $235.58 and up.
Scarborough Ribfest
Scarborough Ribfest is taking over Thomson Memorial Park for the entire Civic Holiday long weekend, from July 31 to Aug. 3! The annual festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, with nine ribbers serving up fall-off-the-bone barbecue alongside live entertainment, midway rides and family-friendly activities. Admission is by donation.
