Toronto is famous for its food and drink events, where foodies and craft enthusiasts can taste the latest and greatest in the culinary and beverage worlds.
Get started with our guide to the city’s top food and drink festivals.
The Toronto Festival of Beer, presented every July in Bandshell Park at Exhibition Place, is a gathering place for 90 brewers to exhibit 400+ brews. Presented by The Beer Store, the outdoor festival drew huge crowds this year with headliners like Raekwon and Ghostface Killah. Tickets sell out early so be sure to plan ahead. Delicious dishes from talented local chefs provide the stamina to party all night long. Choose your ticket type according to your budget and desired experience, from General, Hoptimized, VIP (early entry, 10 sample tokens, catered meal) or Club TFOB, the most exclusive entry with access to a private lounge.
The CNE Craft Beer Fest takes place at The Ex in late August, in the heart of Food Truck Frenzy. More than a dozen breweries, including Sawdust City Brewing Co., Muskoka Brewery, Folly Brewing, Founders, and Halo Brewery take part in this celebration of all things craft. Fans of sour beers and other off-the-beaten-path brews will delight in the selection. And the fun doesn’t stop here – the Ex is 192 acres of food, rides, exhibits and live performances.
Just because Labour Day is behind us doesn’t mean festival season is over! The 10th edition of Toronto Craft Beer Week happens in September, bringing craft beer lovers and brewers together all across the city. Bars and breweries from north to south and east to west open their doors to welcome beer enthusiasts with great brews, food and activities, like the Mill Street Brewery Community Night Market. Celebrating over 200 years of rich brewing history in Toronto, Craft Beer Week is a reminder that there is another beer festival in town!
Left Field Brewery Beer Garden
Left Field Brewery has been making its name for several seasons now with its pre-game beer gardens, with baseball themed food and beer, batting cages and more. This summer, they set up shop outside Gate 14 of the Rogers Centre, refreshing fans with a full roster of baseball-inspired brews, like Grandstand, Squeeze Play, Farm Team and Southpaw. With many baseball stadiums expanding their craft beer selection, Left Field is helping cement the relationship between baseball and beer.
This popular event in Toronto’s Greek town is a full weekend of music, performances, activities, and of course delicious food! With over 200,000 Torontonians of Greek ancestry, the city is the second-largest Hellenic community outside of Greece. The family-friendly event in early August features a kid’s fun zone, a sports zone, and a Greek stage with traditional dancing and music. This year’s festival welcomed over 1.9 million visitors – one of the biggest festivals in the city. Popular $6 tasting menus mean you can try all of Greece’s culinary delights! Great beer is also on offer – visit the Bud Light Orange Beer Garden or enjoy a cold pint of Great Lakes Brewery Blonde Lager on one of the Danforth’s many patios.
With great festivals all summer long and well into September, Toronto is the perfect place to quench your thirst! And the Strathcona Hotel is the perfect home base!