Who ever said Toronto lacks country culture? Round up your best cowboys and cowgirls and giddy up for this one-of-a-kind fest taking over the Distillery District for the rest of the summer.
The Distillery Picks and Bricks Country Festival, a long awaited affair for lots of city slickers since it was created in 2024, is set to begin Jul. 27 and will run until Sept. 2. That means there’s more than a month to celebrate all things country, like indulging in some great music shows and food.
Of course, this fest wouldn’t be complete without some of the best of the best in country music performances — and who better to show up than Shania Twin, the ultimate Shania Twain tribute act? Set to perform on Aug. 18, she’ll be bringing the greatest hits you know and love to the stage, including songs like “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” to “That Don’t Impress Me Much.”
Other headline performers you’ll be able to see live include the Jamie Oliver Trio, who will be delivering ballads and country music covers for four days from Aug. 6–9. Plus, the always-quirky The Odd Country is expected to perform on Sept. 1 as well as acoustic cover duo Stardust Duo on various dates through August and September.
If you’re not going for the music, this festival has a ton of free activities that’ll definitely make you want to saunter on by. In particular, you’ll want to check out the line dancing lessons, happening every Friday of the fest from 7–9 pm. It’s a sure way to get into the country spirit and learn a thing or two about this unique form of dance, hailing all the way from the south.
There are also other free activities that you’ll want to mosey on down to, including riding on the fest’s mechanical bull, available every Thursday from 12–8 p.m. — all you need to do is sign a waiver.
Plus, there are some cool contests to enter, whether you want to show off your best roping cattle skills, dress up your dog or put your pie-baking abilities to the test. You can enter online here.
This fest is the ultimate opportunity for foodies looking for something different to eat this summer, too. Visit the Pure Spirits Saloon for some of the best BBQ, grilled sweet corn and brisket sandwiches. There’s also the nearby Trinity Food Truck that’ll bring all the Tex-Mex flavours like queso and chips and pulled pork tacos.
No tickets are required to enter the Distillery Picks and Bricks Country Festival, but you can plan your visit by checking out their website for specific dates and times.
