Spring is a special time in Toronto when the sun starts to shine, flowers start to bloom and everyone wants to start the party! Whether you’re looking to get into nature, eat delicious food, appreciate the arts or be active, there’s a festival just right for you and your family to enjoy. And we’ll be adding more too, so stay tuned! So, live it up with our Spring Festival Guide for Toronto and the GTA…
Spring Festival Guide — April
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA): Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival
Date: Continuing until April 6, 2026
Participate in demonstrations and activities for the whole family (with special hours for Easter Weekend) at the annual Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival in Woodbridge and Stouffville.
Shaw Festival
Date: April 2 – October 11, 2026
The Shaw Festival returns for its 63rd season in the picturesque lakeside town of Niagara-on-the-Lake with a varied program of plays, including family favourites like “The Wind in the Willows”.
⭐ Dino Park
Date: April 3-6, 2026
Dino Park stomps into Scarborough’s Bridlewood Mall for the whole Easter long weekend! This immersive walk-through experience features roaring animatronic life-size dinosaurs, carnival rides, games, food and more.
⭐ Easter HopFest
Date: April 3-6, 2026
Easter HopFest supplies all the springtime magic families are looking for over the Easter long weekend, with epic egg hunts, adorable animals, thrilling rides, and nonstop fun for every bunny. Of course, there’s also magical photo ops with the Easter Bunny!
Easter Fun Fest
Date: April 3-6, 2026
Easter Fun Fest is the GTA’s destination for family fun with jumping castles, kiddie midway, pony rides, mini-putt, easter egg hunts and more.
Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association: Ontario Maple Weekend
Date: April 4-5, 2026
Enjoy the sweetest time of the year with the annual Ontario Maple Weekend at participating maple producers across Ontario.
Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority: Spring Tonic Maple Syrup Festival
Date: April 11-12, 2026
The Spring Tonic Maple Syrup Festival at the Tiffin Conservation Area in Barrie explores traditional maple syrup, along with family shows, and more.
Sunderland Maple Syrup Festival
Date: April 11-12, 2026
Sunderland Maple Syrup Festival celebrates maple syrup with a pancake breakfast, sugar shack tours, plus two days of free shows and activities.
Canadian Latin Fest
Date: April 12, 2026
Canadian Latin Fest celebrates culture, unity and diversity at Nathan Phillips Square, including free entertainment, food vendors, kids zone, sports heroes wall, multicultural community zone, and more!
ICFF Youth Festival
Date: April 13-17, 2026
The ICFF Youth Festival is an annual multi-lingual film program at Cineplex Cinemas Yorkdale that celebrates film as an art form.
TIFF Next Wave Film Festival
Date: April 16-19, 2026
Toronto International Film Festival Next Wave Film Festival returns to the TIFF Bell Lightbox, with brand-new movies FREE for those under 25.
Stratford Festival
Date: April 21 — October 31, 2026
The Stratford Festival returns with Shakespearean classics, musicals, comedies, dramas and family favourites, plus a kids ticket deal.
Hot Docs Festival
Date: April 23 — May 3, 2026
Hot Docs Festival returns with a full line-up of documentary films, including special presentations and events, plus free tickets to students for all screenings before 4:00 PM.
Muskoka Maple Festival
Date: April 25, 2026
Join Spring’s sweetest party at Muskoka Maple Festival, with free admission, maple-inspired dining options, games and live music.
Downsview Park: Earth Day Festival
Date: April 26, 2026
Hug a tree on Earth Day at Downsview Park to enjoy free hands-on activities, learning opportunities with the staff, plus vendors and more.
Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC): SakuraFest
Date: April 28 — May 9, 2026
JCCC hosts their new SakuraFest to celebrate the traditional appreciation (or “hanami”) of cherry blossoms, Japan’s spectacular flowering trees.
Contact Photography Festival
Date: May 1-31, 2026
Contact Photography Festival is an annual festival with public art installations, programs, and special events throughout Toronto.
WeeFestival — Arts and Culture for Early Years
Date: May 1-17, 2026
WeeFestival returns with performances and events in various locations around Toronto, intended for children newborn to six years old.
Cabbagetown Forsythia Festival
Date: May 3, 2026
Cabbagetown Forsythia Festival celebrates its community through the bright yellow forsythia shrubs found in early spring throughout this historical and close-knit neighbourhood just east of Toronto’s downtown.
Canada’s Wonderland: Spring Festivals
Date: Starting May 3
Canada’s Wonderland is reopening for the 2026 season on May 3 (plus a Season Passholder Sneak Preview on May 1!) with exciting events happening throughout the spring months.
Departure Festival + Conference
Date: May 4-10, 2026
Toronto comes alive with the newly transformed Departure Festival + Conference (formerly Canadian Music Week), a dynamic convergence of music, art, comedy, and technology.
Toronto International Storytelling Festival
Date: May 7-10, 2026
Toronto International Storytelling Festival returns this year, celebrating verbal storytelling and featuring free family programming.
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority: Spring Bird Festival
Date: May 9, 2026
At TRCA’s free Spring Bird Festival at Tommy Thompson Park and across the GTA, families can take part in kid-friendly guided walks and bird-themed activities.
SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival
Date: May 20 — June 1, 2026
Sing along with Canada’s premier music festival featuring artists performing “a cappella”, which means to sing without instruments.
Anime North
Date: May 22-24, 2026
Anime North is a yearly anime convention celebrating anime, manga, music, gaming and all other forms of Japanese culture.
Doors Open Toronto
Date: May 23-24, 2026
Doors Open Toronto lets you explore many of our city’s most notable buildings and rediscover our city in a new way, all for FREE!
City of Toronto: Colonel Samuel Smith Park Spring Bird Festival
Date: May 23, 2026
The City of Toronto hosts the Spring Bird Festival at Colonel Samuel Smith Park in Etobicoke, where families can enjoy a day of guided bird walks, children’s activities and more.
Riverdale Farm: Spring Celebration
Date: May 23, 2026
Riverdale Farm hosts their free annual Spring Celebration, with farm activities including demonstrations and children’s crafts and playroom time throughout the day.
⭐️ Beeton Honey & Garden Festival
Date: May 23, 2026
Just a 90-minute drive from downtown Toronto, this quaint town closes its Main Street to traffic and hosts family entertainment and activities, unique vendors, and delicious food.
Carassauga Festival of Cultures
Date: May 23-24, 2026
The Carassauga Festival of Cultures brings out the world’s best in food, music, dance, art and history in a packed two-day weekend at numerous venues throughout Mississauga.
MUSE Arts: HAPPENING Multicultural Festival
Date: May 28-30, 2026
MUSE Arts hosts the HAPPENING Multicultural Festival at Earlscourt Park, giving newcomer artists the chance to display their talents and skills.
Toronto Newcomer Day
Date: May 29, 2026
Toronto Newcomer Day celebrates our city’s diversity by welcoming new citizens with free family-friendly activities and entertainment.
Canada Media Fund: Junior Academy Fun Fest
Date: May 30, 2026
Canada Media Fund hosts the family-friendly Junior Academy Fun Fest in the Atrium of the CBC Broadcast Centre, with hands-on activities, live performances, and fun character meet-and-greets.
Great North Beatbox Festival
Date: May 29-31, 2026
Great North Beatbox Festival is an international beatboxing competition, where music fans of all ages can experience world‑class live vocal performances.
imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
Date: June 2-7 (Toronto) and June 8-14, 2026 (online)
The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is the world’s largest presenter of Indigenous screen content, with in-person and online events.
Luminato Festival
Date: June 3-28, 2026
Luminato Festival kicks off the summer with a unique blend of music, dance, theatre, and art by Canadian and international artists.
Theatre by the Bay: Barrie Theatre Festival
Date: June 4-13, 2026
Celebrating 25 years of professional theatre, Theatre by the Bay hosts the Barrie Theatre Festival, a carefully curated celebration of storytelling featuring stories to entertain, challenge, delight and connect audiences.
Toronto Jewish Film Festival
Date: June 4-14, 2026
Toronto Jewish Film Festival hosts its 34th Festival with a program of films and series, screening through a variety of platforms.
Do West Fest
Date: June 5-7, 2026
Do West Fest is a free street festival of music, arts, food, fun, and community, covering 16 blocks along Dundas Street West.
The Streetsville Founders’ Bread and Honey Festival
Date: June 5-7, 2026
The Streetsville Founder’s Bread and Honey Festival includes music performances, midway rides, a kids stage, lots of food (including bread and honey, of course), and much more.
Pickering Village JAMFest
Date: June 5-7, 2026
Pickering Village JAMFest celebrates the fun, music, and arts that define Pickering Village with a free street festival.
Toronto Comic Arts Festival
Date: June 6-7, 2026
TCAF is an annual event showcasing Canadian and International comic books and their creators, including hands-on kids workshops and events.
Downtown Milton SummerFest
Date: June 6, 2026
Celebrate the start of summer at the Downtown Milton SummerFest, featuring local businesses and vendors, live entertainment, kids’ activities and more!
HungaroFest
Date: June 6, 2026
HungaroFest invites visitors to step into the heart of Hungarian culture and heritage at Sankofa Square with a free festival filled with food, dance and music.
Brampton KiteFest
Date: June 6-7, 2026
Get ready to soar high and celebrate colouring the skies at Brampton KiteFest, including colourful kites, fun activities and good vibes!
Oshawa Peony Festival
Date: June 6-7, 2026
Experience the award-winning Oshawa Peony Festival, a free captivating two-day event where families can become immersed in the splendour of the Oshawa Valley Botanical Garden.
The Dance Together Festival
Date: June 8-14 & July 9-12, 2026
Dancing into Mimico again this year, the Dance Together Festival celebrates community, first to create a new dance floor mural, then to enjoy open dance workshops in Bollywood, Salsa, Afrofusion, Samba, Soca, Ukrainian Village Dance and Line Dance.
Toronto Union Station: TD Union Summer
Date: June 8 – August 19, 2026
Toronto Union Station once again hosts TD Union Summer, a free outdoor food and live music festival where you can relax on their Front Street plaza.
Na-Me-Res Traditional Pow Wow
Date: June 13, 2026
Celebrate Indigenous culture and heritage at the free Na-Me-Res Traditional Pow Wow in recognition of Canada’s National Indigenous Peoples Day at Dufferin Grove Park, featuring dancing, drumming and performances.
Toronto International Dragon Boat Festival
Date: June 13-14, 2026
The Toronto International Dragon Boat Festival welcomes boat racing teams to the Toronto Islands, plus music and cultural performances.
South by South East International Festival (SXSE)
Date: June 17-20, 2026
The South by South East International Festival (SXSE) celebrates the diverse cultures of Asia and Latin America at Nathan Phillips Square, with live music, FIFA World Cup watch parties, global cuisine, and a kids’ zone.
DESIFEST
Date: June 18-20, 2026
DESIFEST is Canada’s biggest South Asian music concert with a free all-ages outdoor festival at Sankofa Square. It celebrates culture and community with epic live performances, plus it’s expanded this year to a three-day event!
The TD Toronto Jazz Festival
Date: June 19-28, 2026
The TD Toronto Jazz Festival returns to light up the city’s music scene once again this summer, in Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood with lots of free outdoor shows, as well as cultural themed nights that celebrate the music diversity of our city.
Fairbank Village BIA: Fairbank Summerfest
Date: June 19-21, 2026
Fairbank Village BIA hosts the return of Fairbank Summerfest, a free annual street fair including carnival rides, entertainment, international food and a European Bazaar sidewalk sale.
Markham Village Music Festival
Date: June 19-20, 2026
Markham Village Music Festival has outdoor concerts on five stages, plus a Kidz Zone, Barkham pets zone, and food and crafts.
City of Toronto: Indigenous Arts Festival
Date: June 20, 2026
Celebrate culture, community and creativity as The City of Toronto celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day with the return of the free Indigenous Arts Festival, held this year at the new park in Toronto’s port lands, Biidaasige Park. This one-day festival features craft and food vendors, as well as dynamic performances, storytelling, dance, and more.
Black Creek Medieval Faire
Date: June 20-21, 2026
Come one, come all to the Black Creek Medieval Faire, where families can experience the excitement and wonder of the Middle Ages at this outdoor festival.
Harbourfront Centre: Summer Music in the Garden
Date: June 21 — August 27, 2026
Enjoy the intimate live music experience of Summer Music in the Garden at the Toronto Music Garden by the waterfront. The program features 18 free performances by both JUNO Award-winning Canadian musicians and celebrated local artists.
Lavazza IncluCity Festival
Date: June 25 — July 19, 2026
The Lavazza IncluCity Festival returns to transform the iconic streets of The Distillery Historic District into an enchanting outdoor cinema village featuring an unforgettable collection of diverse films, including soccer-themed films for 2026!
Toronto Outdoor Picture Show (TOPS)
Date: June 26 — August 23, 2026
Toronto Outdoor Picture Show (TOPS) presents outdoor film screenings in three parks around the city, celebrating their 16th anniversary with a festival programme featuring this year’s action-packed theme of “Going Places”.
Party 4 Paws Pet Fair
Date: June 27-28, 2026
Party 4 Paws Summer Pet Fair is a free paw-some weekend event of furry fun, where you can start your animal adoption journey and support local businesses.
Barrie Hill Farms: Strawberry Festival
Date: June 27-28, 2026
Kick off the Spring berry season at Barrie Hill Farms with their Strawberry Festival, with PYO strawberries, scenic wagon rides, live music, strawberry treats, artisan vendors, and more!
South by South East International Festival (SXSE)
Date: June 17-20, 2026
The South by South East International Festival (SXSE) celebrates the diverse cultures of Asia and Latin America at Nathan Phillips Square, with live music, FIFA World Cup watch parties, global cuisine, and a kids’ zone.
Toronto Fringe Festival & KidsFest
Date: June 30 — July 12, 2026
Introduce your little ones to the magic of live theatre with Toronto Fringe Festival’s KidsFest, with shows and free activities for kids ages 4-12.
Guide to FIFA World Cup 26 Events in Toronto and the GTA
There are special events happening all around town, where fans can gather to celebrate “the beautiful game”. So, get out your flag, put on your jerseys, and cheer on our Guide to FIFA World Cup 26 Events in Toronto and the GTA!
Guide to Spring and Summer Food Festivals in Toronto and the GTA
Food festivals have become extremely popular in recent years in our neck of the woods and what better way to share our city’s many cultures than through a delicious party?! Hit your local park or city square and chow down with help from our Guide to Spring and Summer Food Festivals in Toronto and the GTA!
Guide to Maple Syrup Events and Festivals in the GTA and Southern Ontario
Here in Ontario, we really, *really* love our maple syrup. So, head to the forest for special events to seek out that “liquid gold” with our Guide to Maple Syrup Events and Festivals in the GTA and Southern Ontario!
Guide to the Best Spots to See Cherry Blossoms in Toronto
Toronto is obsessed with cherry blossoms, which bloom in late April to early May. Don’t miss out with our list of the best viewing spots!
Looking to plan ahead for Spring and Summer? Check out our event calendar!
