Toronto, Ontario Hotels and City Guide

Toronto - Going Out

Toronto Entertainment Guide

Toronto hosts two major events: June brings Caravan, an exciting fusion of culture, where rhythmic dance movement, ethnic cuisine and music are on display, and the Festival of Festivals, an international festival of film, where participants come from across the world. Toronto is also renowned for the Blue Jays and the Skydome Annual Jazz Festival. An increasing multicultural population has introduced Latin American, European and Asian traditions that serve to highlight an already international status.

Toronto Annual Events Guide

January/February
Toronto Winter City Festival (Nathan Phillips Square): Ice skating and fun in the snow, delicious culinary experiences.

May
CONTACT Photography Festival (throughout the city): A yearly month-long photography festival which installs photographic installations at over 200 venues around the city. Featuring over 1000 local and international artists, the festival is devoted to "celebrating, and fostering an appreciation of the art and profession of photography".

June
NXNE - North by Northeast Music Festival and Industry Conference (Various venues): Featuring Canadian and international bands, including emerging talent and indie bands as well as major-label headlining artists.

Queen's Plate Horse Racing (Woodbine Racetrack): Canada's oldest thorough-bred horse race.

Toronto Jazz Festival (various venues): Begun in 1987 as an eight day showcase of jazz, has now turned into a major event attracting over 500,000 and spanning 10 days.

July
Toronto Fringe Theatre Festival (Various venues): A theatre festival which hosts over 150 theatre companies from around the world. Performances include dramas, musicals, and improv, with venues ranging from formal city theatres to more unusual make-shift theatres such as parks and parking lots.

Beaches International Jazz Festival (The Beaches): A vary varied music festival including Latin, Jazz, Blues and World music.

July-August
Toronto Caribbean Carnival (Caribana) Festival (throughout the city): a colourful festival of music and costumes, featuring the eleborate costumes Caribbean Carnival's are infamous for, steel drum bands and food stalls.

August-September
Canadian National Exhibition (Canadian National Exhibition Grounds): Agricultural fair, exposition and amusement park.

September
Toronto International Film Festival (various venues): celebrates international, Hollywood and Canadian cinema.

October
International Festival of Authors (Harbourfront Centre): a showcase of Canadian literature. Events include interviews, author readings, discussion groups, and book signings. 

November
Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (Exhibition Place): This fair is the world’s largest indoor agricultural and international equestrian competition. There is also a horse show, a dog show and small animal petting farm. Non-four-legged activities include various dining stalls, shopping and a Healthy Eating exhibit.

Santa Claus Parade (Midtown to downtown): An annual event since 1905, this parade is the perfect prelude to Christmas. Involving over 1500 volunteers and thousands more spectators, the parade of floats, marching bands, and costumed characters begins to make its way down the route from 12:30PM EST.

November-December
Cavalcade of Lights (Nathan Phillips Square): Skating, ice-carving, festive lights and more.

Hotels in Toronto, Ontario