Food Festivals in Toronto in Summer 2019

You know that summer has arrived when the Toronto food festivals begin to roll out. Summer isn’t complete without attending at least one good food festival. Who doesn’t want to enjoy the hot weather while sinking their teeth into the most innovative mac and cheese dish, a deluxe burger with all the fixings or a vegan creation? Toronto is known for its multiculturalism and this is reflected in the variety of food festivals that take place each summer. These food festivals in Toronto in summer 2019 are worth entering in your calendar!

Toronto Ribfest 2019

Toronto Ribfest takes place Canada Day Weekend at Etobicoke Centennial Park, 256 Centennial Park Road. Choose your favourite ribs from a variety of rib teams and or enjoy burgers, chicken, nachos, fries, vegetable dishes and other food options. Toronto Ribfest will also host an exciting lineup of musical acts, shows, and events throughout Canada Day weekend to be announced. So you can enjoy your ribs while listening to over a dozen bands performing rock, blues, country, jazz, world music, and bluegrass on three stages. Other activities include magic shows, celebrity food judging, and a large midway. The Kids Zone will have games for kids while adults can enjoy food and music in the beer garden. Canada Day (Monday, July 1, 2019) will feature special performers, magic shows, free face painting, and a fireworks display at sundown. Toronto Ribfest 2019 hours are June 28, 2019 from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. and June 29, 2019 to July 1, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Purchasing VIP tickets will help you avoid the line-ups, plus give you service at your private covered table, access to executive washrooms, free samples courtesy of festival sponsors and giveaways.

Toronto Taste 2019

Many Torontonians look forward to Toronto Taste. This exclusive food festival takes place on Sunday, June 9, 2019 at Evergreen Brick Works and showcases dishes from some of Toronto’s best chefs and the proceeds all go to benefit Second Harvest, Canada’s largest food rescue charity. Tickets provide access to 50 Toronto restaurants and chefs who will prepare their mouth-watering creations. Taste fine wines, spirits and craft beers and bid on your favourite item at live and silent auctions. This year will feature a circus theme with acrobats, aerialist, fortune tellers and fire-eaters. Tickets are $260 with a $150 tax receipt. Gather your family or friends and purchase a group of 10 tickets for $2,350. Doors open at 6 p.m. Attire is Cocktail chic. Event is 19+. Purchase tickets online.

Taco Fest 2019

Love a good taco? Then get yourself down to Ontario Place from June 14-16, 2019 for Taco Fest 2019. Vendors at this food festival include Cool Hand of a Girl, Born2eat, Eva’s Original Chimneys, Funnel Cake Dream, Busters Sea Cove, La Chabelita, Bacon Nation, Chill Pops, Clandestina, Dope as Duck, Booyah Inc, Delight Bite, Heirloom,  Rancho Relaxo, Chaat Spot, Tacos vs Ice Cream, El Sabor de Mama, King Catering, The Mighty Cob, La Marquesita,  Fidel Gastros, Fonda Lola, Friday Roots and Vibes, Los Vietnamita, Mad Mexican, The Food Dudes, Nacho Pablo, La Novela, Pancho’s Bakery, Pico de Gallo, Rick’s Good Eats, Wrestlers, Rebozos, Kathi Roll Express, Rick’s Good Eats, Wrestlers, Rebozos, Tita’s Mexican Food, 6 Spice Rack. Enjoy live performances of the Authentic Mariachi Band, salsa dancers and live music. Tickets start at $14.95 and can be purchased online. Tickets are for timed entry. Parking at Ontario Place is a flat rate of $15. Ontario Place is located at 955 Lake Shore Blvd. West.

BurgerMania 2019

BurgerMania 2019 features Toronto’s top burger establishments offering up their best burgers for Torontonians. Food vendors include Marben (BurgerMania 2018 Champions), Holy Chuck, The Stockyards, Ground Burger Bar, Mama’s Boys Burgers, Burger Revolution, Good Fortune Bar, Cherry St Bar-B-Que, Kookoo’s Kitchen, McCoy Burger Co, Ronto’s Burgers, Chef Al’s Pub Fare Curbside, Get Your Own Taters, Spring Loaded Toronto, Chef Michael G’s World Fry House, Holy Shakes, Toronto Softee, Craig’s Cookies, E&R Sweetery, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Georgian Bay Spirit Co and MIX6IX. 

BurgerMania 2019 takes place May 31, 2019 to June 2, 2019 at Yonge-Dundas Square. Hours are Friday, May 31, 2019 from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, June 1, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, June 2, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Grace JerkFest 2019

Love jerk cuisine? Then head down to Centennial Park in Etobicoke to attend Grace JerkFest from August 9-11, 2019. Now in its 18th year, this food festival celebrates jerk cuisine and Caribbean culture. Enjoy games, contests, a Kid Zone, live music and entertainment. Grace JerkFest 2019 hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Aug. 9-11, 2019. Centennial Park is located t 256 Centennial Park Road, Etobicoke. Admission is $10-$90.

Taste of the Danforth 2019

Taste of the Danforth, the popular street festival celebrating Greek cuisine and culture, returns August 9-11, 2019. Danforth Avenue from Broadview Avenue to Jones Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic from 10 a.m. on Friday, August 9 through to 4 a.m. on Monday August 12, 2019. Festival goers will be able to enjoy tasting menus of items costing up to $6 from restaurants along the Danforth offering Greek specialties such as spanakopita, keftedes, souvlaki and dolmades. Celebrity Stage performances will feature  Cuban Bands, Bollywood dancers, Aboriginal singers and the Mr. & Miss Asia Toronto Pageant Competition. Visitors can learn to dance cultural dances including Chinese, South Asian, Filipino, Egyptian, Greek, Japanese, Azerbaijani and Afro-Caribbean. Kids can build  with over 18,000 LEGO Bricks at the EverBlocks Clubhouse and take a picture with the giant TOTD25 EverBlocks installation. Share your photo on social media for a chance to win dinner on the Danforth. If you are planning to drive, there are Green P parking lots on the north side of Danforth Avenue between Broadview and Jones Avenues, but these fill up quickly so it’s probably better to take the TTC.

Festival of South Asia 2019

Taking place at the Gerrard India Bazaar on Gerrard Street East from Greenwood Avenue to Coxwell Avenue, the TD Festival of South Asia is a vibrant festival featuring South Asian music, Bollywood dance performances and South Asian food. Hosted by the Gerrard India Bazaar BIA, the festival takes place Saturday July 13, 2019 and Sunday, July 14, 2019 from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. Gerrard Street East is transformed into a pedestrian-only weekend street party featuring some of the tastiest rotis, chaats, dosas, samosas, pakoras, biryanis, curries, and roasted corn. Check out this video from last year’s Festival of South Asia.

Mac and Cheese Festival 2019

Who doesn’t love a good mac and cheese? You’ll get a chance to taste the latest mac and cheese recipes from June 7-9, 2019 at Roundhouse Park in Toronto. Celebrity chefs, cooks and entrepreneurs will create new mac and cheese creations to compete to win money for charity. Attendees of the festival will be able to purchase a wide variety of mac and cheese dishes. Free admission. Roundhouse Park is located at 255 Bremner Blvd.

Veg Food Fest 2019

The Veg Food Fest is North America’s largest celebration of all things veg. Hosted by the Toronto Vegetarian Association, the Veg Food Fest 2019 takes place at Harbourfront Centre from Friday, September 6, 2019 to Sunday, September 8, 2019 to celebrate this year’s Veg Food Fest. You’ll get a chance to try the latest veg products from over 160 vendors, purchase cruelty-free products and learn from experts on health, nutrition, sustainability, and animal rights. Veg Food Fest 2019 hours are Friday, September 6, 2019 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, September 7, 2019 from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, September 8, 2019 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Taste of Little Italy 2019