11 Fun Food and Drink Festivals You Have To Hit Up This Summer

Eat, drink, and be merry AF as you sample a bit of everything at these food and drink festivals in Toronto.
11 Fun Food and Drink Festivals You Have To Hit Up This Summer

In recent years, food festivals of all varieties have descended upon the city, offering some of the best eats in one spot, with an inevitable side of (slightly buzzed) personal and professional networking.

The best thing about the festival season is the ability to eat, drink, and be merry AF as you sample a bit of everything (i.e. you don’t have to commit to just one restaurant or bar) – always a welcomed thing for the indecisive set.

Here are 10 food and drink festivals worth checking out in GTA:

Poutine Fest Toronto

Thursday, May 24 to Sunday, May 27, 2018

Celebrate Canada’s unofficial national dish with a four-day festival of all things poutine-related. Yonge-Dundas Square will fill with fancy food trucks from across the country, which will serve up over 50 varieties of fresh poutine for the first-ever Poutine Fest Toronto.

No tickets.

Brunch Fest

Sunday, June 1 to Sunday, June 3, 2018

TasteToronto and Bud Light Radler are teaming up with the most iconic brunch spots in the city to bring everyone together for our favourite meal.

Buy tickets here.

Toronto Taste

Sunday, June 3, 2018

For a food and view-filled Sunday-funday, head down to Corus Quay for an evening of eats from Toronto’s top culinary talent – all in support of an important cause. Right on the waterfront (just steps away from Sugar Beach), guests can enjoy gourmet grub from 60 Toronto chefs and beverages from 30 local purveyors. Proceeds will support the Second Harvest food rescue program.

Buy tickets here.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BGkzj9BJ8qd/?taken-at=301635904

Mac N’ Cheese Festival

Friday, June 8th, to Sunday, June 10th, 2018

You can also expect a huge Ferris Wheel, bouncy castles, live shows and concerts, a market with local vendors, an outdoor movie theatre, carnival games, a craft beer lounge and lots more! Choose through over 50 different variations of mac n’ cheese including specialities from vendors like Junked Food Co., Bobbie Sue’s Mac n’ Cheese, Bacon Nation, The Food Dudes and more!

Buy tickets here.

Taco Fest

Friday, June 15, to Sunday, June 17, 2018

Trade Taco Tuesday for a taco-filled weekend (or do both) when Taco Fest hits Ontario Place this June. Taco fans can expect an eclectic atmosphere that’s dedicated to the love of the taco, with a showcase of some of the city’s best chefs and a celebration of all things Mexican. Think, hundreds of tacos, guacamole, churros, tequila, mariachi bands, a hot sauce bar, and salsa lessons.

Buy tickets here.

Pizza Fest

Friday, July 20, to Sunday, July 22, 2018

Toronto’s first ever PIZZA FEST! Celebrating everything Italian from fresh pasta, meatballs, tiramisu, wine, and of course Toronto’s top pizza. Join us for an authentic Italian experience serving up everyone’s favourite cuisine, created by TasteToronto.

Buy tickets here.

A post shared by The Pizza Fest (@thepizzafest) on

Caesar Fest

Sunday, July 22, 2018

Covering three levels, with over 6,000 square feet of area to drink and play in, including a rooftop terrace, with breath-taking views of the city, Caesar Fest is ramping up to be Canada’s largest dedicated festival surrounding this proudly Canadian iconic drink.

Get tickets here.

A post shared by Caesar Fest (@caesarfest) on

Toronto Festival of Beer

Thursday, July 26, to Sunday, July 29, 2018

From Ludacris to Finger Eleven and I Mother Earth – you’ll find them all at the (massive) Toronto Festival of Beer, in addition to all the beer your heart desires (literally hundreds of brews). The sprawling festival – now in its 20th year – fills Bandshell Park, Exhibition Place with beer of all varieties, quality food vendors to soak it all up, live talent, and games.

Get tickets here.

Sweetery Toronto

Saturday, August 11, and Sunday, August 12, 2018

Festival participants will sample culinary delights from aspiring chefs, taste a variety of distinctive award-winning delectables, and partake in interactive fun-filled activities such as a scavenger hunt, a taste testing challenge and a search for the “golden ticket” to name a few. You definitely can expect t0 see Wafel Bar, What The Bake, Oh My Gori, Holy Cannoli and much more!

Get tickets here.

A post shared by Lily (@cadence75) on

Toronto Vegandale Food and Drink Festival

Saturday, August 11, and Sunday, August 12, 2018

Both the full-on vegans and part-time vegetarians will find a plant-based paradise at Fort York, Garrison Common on August 11 – 12 when the Toronto Vegandale Food and Drink Festival rolls into town. Now in its fourth year, this is the first time the festival will span two days, offering all the creative vegan dishes you didn’t know you were missing in your life.

Buy tickets here.

Beer, Bourbon, and Barbeque

Friday, August 24 to Sunday, August 26, 2018

Closeout festival season with what summer is made of – barbeque and beer (and bourbon). The Beer, Bourbon, and Barbeque Festival will fill Ontario Place with more than 17,000 attendees in celebrating of some solid barbeque fare. Guests can expect goodness from the BBQ pit, and an assortment of ice cold beer, and refreshing bourbon cocktails while listening to live country music and joining in online dancing, axe throwing, and mechanical bull riding.

Buy tickets here.

Did we miss any food and drink festivals happening in Toronto this Summer? Let us know in the comments!

Featured image: Instagram/@thetacofest

Posts you might be interested in:

5 Food Delivery Apps You Need to Know in 2018
The 9 Best Patios in Toronto
Toronto Hosting Massive Food Truck Festival All Summer Long
A Poutine Food Festival Is Coming To Toronto This Spring
6 Tasty Snack Foods That Are Uniquely Canadian