Top Festivals in Toronto

Ohhh Toronto loves a festival. Summer is chockablock full of festivals celebrating food, music, drinks, art...you name it, there is probably a festival for it in and around the city. Here I've compiled my list of 5 favourite Toronto festivals and just so you know, not all of them are summertime deals.

1// Toronto Cider Festival

I'm not a beer drinker so all the craft beer fests usually aren't my scene, but put a cider on tap and I'm there! This end of summer fest has all the hallmarks of a great summer weekend at the cottage at the Toronto Waterfront on Sherbourne Common.

2// Toronto Light Fest

This winter festival arguably kicks off the year of fests by starting mid-January and running for several weeks at the Distillery District. It's an incredible installation of light based outdoor art pieces. Honestly, I really love this event. Cool public art is tops.

3// Historic Distillery District Christmas Market

I love all Christmas markets, but the ones in Europe are really where's it at. Short of a flight to Germany, the Distillery District for the month of November becomes a Christmas wonderland and the closest thing to a true and proper Christmas market on the cobbled streets of the former Victorian Distillery.

4 Taco Fest

Unlike the other fests on this list, this is the only one I have yet to repeat. June is a busy month for festivals and sometimes you just have to pick and choose how you spend your time. But I love tacos and a whole festival dedicated to them is a-okay in my books.

5 Brunch Fest

This festival also in June gives you your fill of breakfast themed foods. I recommend going to a early session to avoid lines and missing out on some favourite brunch items.

A festival is only second to a really good farmer's market, but what have I missed? Any honourable mentions that should be noted?

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Photo Essay: Quilts at the Creek

It's that time of year again, Quilts at the Creek, Black Creek Pioneer Village that is. I was able to pop in and spot some truly spectacular works of fabric art.

Here were some of my favourites

This beautiful setting is made that much more beautiful with the temporary colourful display. Check it out next year!

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Toronto Cider Fest is COMING!!!

Cider is steadily (much to my pleasure) increasing in popularity, and more importantly, availability. With cider bars popping up in the city and more options (including on tap!) at your local favourite drinking establishments over the last few years, I think it's safe to say this trend is here to stay.

Getting in on the action early, the Toronto Cider Festival is entering it's 4th year and has managed to again promise to be bigger and better than last time. Winner of the Notable Award for Best Festival of the Year 2017 and finalist for Best Public Festival at the 2018 Canadian Special Events Industry Awards, TO Cider Fest has been selling out of each of the jam-packed sessions.

This year things have expanded into 2 days of cider fun with a wild west theme. Like always, there will be over 100 ciders showcased from producers found all over Canada and around the world, food trucks, games, prizes, and live entertainment. What better way to spend a late summer evening in Toronto? Oh I know, a mechanical bull ride! Yup, this year, they'll have that too.

The Friday night session will feature line dancing and Rising Star Award finalist and Canadian country music artist Alessia Cohle and her live country band. On August 24th-25th, Sherbourne Common, right down at the Toronto waterfront, will be transformed into a western themed evening with returning favourites like the photo booth, cottage games, Flair Cider Cocktail Bartending Competition and Art Showdown with some added fun of Outfit Showdown contest and mechanical bull riding.

Each regular session admission includes 4 sample tokens and a commemorative sampling mug. If you fancy yourself more of a VIP status then the VIP Experience includes 6 additional sample tokens, access to the VIP hour and on Saturday night, food and cider pairings and bonus giveaways.
Check out Toronto Cider Festival for how to book your tickets online or find this picture (below) on my instagram for a free giveaway for a chance to win 2 tickets to this awesome event.Tickets are for the Friday session.

🚨 GIVEAWAY ALERT 🚨 The kind organizers of @tociderfest have provided me with two tickets to this year’s Toronto Cider Fest to give away to one of you beautiful and lucky individuals. Who’s in? 🙋🏻‍♀️ How to enter: 1) Follow me @edeerich on insta and like this post. 2) Follow @tociderfest on insta. 3) Tag your cider lovin’ bestie coming with you in the comments below. That’s it! 🍻 Contest closes 3 August 2018 at 11:59 am EDT Complete all 3 steps above to be entered. A winner will be selected at random and notified via DM. Tickets valid for the Friday evening session. Must be 19+ to attend the event

A post shared by Erin Out And About (@edeerich) on Jul 26, 2018 at 11:12am PDT

Disclaimer: I've written this post in exchange for tickets to the Toronto Cider Festival, but I really love this fest and really would be attending this event no matter what.

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5 Things You Don't Want to Miss Out on This Summer in Toronto

Canada, I know it's hard to remember what life was like without snow and cold and general winter grayness, but trust. Summer is coming. And maybe even sooner than we can imagine with an ice storm hammering the city this past weekend and 12 degrees Celsius called for this weekend. Not to get too ahead of myself, but I'm already preparing my annual warmer months 'To Do' list of all the things I want to make sure I do while I can. Although I have an extensive list of things, I've whittled it down to 5 items that I think you should join me in doing. Some are Toronto specific, but many are general ways in which one can soak in the summer sun and take a moment to appreciate the warmth while we still can. 

1 Festivals

The summer calendar in Toronto is chockablock of festivals. Art festivals, various food festivals, fairs, and markets. I adore them all! Of particular note (and one of my favourites!) is the Toronto Cider Fest, started 4 years, this festival has grown each year, both in size and popularity. This year's festivities will take place the last weekend in August (Friday 24-Saturday 25) and have a Wild West theme. As per usual there will be live music, contests, lawn games, flair cider cocktail bar tending competition, and over 100 ciders from the best apple growing regions of Canada and internationally. New this year is a Friday night session which is to include a country night with a country music band, line dancing, and mechanical bull riding. You do not want to miss out on the Toronto Cider Fest and right now until May 1st at midnight, there are early bird tickets on sale $30-$60 and I'll see you there!

2 Farmers markets

All over Toronto there are farmers markets. Small ones run by community groups and larger ones aiming to pull in more than just the surrounding neighbours. The fresh produce and locally crafted artisan foods are a marker of warm summer days. Sure you could go to the grocery store and fondle the peaches, but it's just not the same if while fondling your fruit you have a chat with the farmer who grew and picked them. 

3 Outdoor movies

I don't know why, but one of my most favourite things to do in the summer is to watch movies outdoors. Maybe it's because winter is just so darn long that when I have the ability to be outside with fresh air, I want to spend as much time as possible out there enjoying it to the fullest. And outdoor movies seems to be a thing that's catching on, with offerings all over the city; east end, waterfront, west end. I'm sure there's one in the north end too but nobody ever goes up there! (I kid! I kid!)

4 Lakefront and Beaches

I mean, when is it better to plant your butt down in sandy shores than in the summer time? Even with no events or special activities Toronto beaches are the shizzel. Cherry Beach, Woodbine Beach, Hanlan's Point, Ward's Island Beach, Bluffer's Park, Sunnyside, Sugar Beach to name just a few found along Lake Ontario's shoreline. Not such a fan of sand? Just head to any of the lakefront boardwalks. Specifically, I suggest the Martin Goodman Trail that starts in Mimico (west Toronto) and follows the waterfront, with little interruption, all the way to The Beaches (east Toronto). 

5 Patios

Summer in the city means patio living. Sidewalks fill up with chairs and tables, rooftops get the same treatment. Everyone and their dog can be found sunning their faces and downing cold beverages. We love patio life so much in Toronto that it becomes a little challenging at times to find empty seats. If you are able to snag a table at your local patio bar, stake a claim and move for no one! It's almost as coveted as reasonably priced Toronto real estate. 

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And the Winner is...

The kind people of Toronto Cider Festival have provided me with a pair of tickets to the afternoon session (11:30-4:00) happening Saturday, August 26 to give away to a lucky reader of {Erin Out and About}.

The winner is...

Kelly @WackyWorldofK

Congratulations, Kelly!!! Be on the look out for an email from me with info on how to collect your tickets.

I've been looking forward to this festival all summer. Hope you are able to make for a truly fun time out in Toronto, tickets are still available. Cheers!

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BRUUUUUNCH Fest

Growing up, I was never that much into breakfast foods. I hated going out for breakfast because it would mean I wouldn't be able to eat my favourite AM item; cereal. Seriously. Cereal is my favourite food (still is). 

It wasn't until I was introduced to the poached egg and brunch that I started to understand what all the fuss was about.  

This year, for the first time, but hopefully not that last, Cravings Food Co. introduced Toronto to 'Brunch Fest' in partnership with Bud Light Radler.

I love how this company organizes their events. I went to Taco Fest last year and it was the same deal. You have to purchase tickets ($10-15) for timed entry to the event, but once in, you can stay as long as you like. I feel like this really helps with crowd control and any ridiculous lines that you might encounter at free events, I'm looking at you Mac n' Cheese Fest.

They also provide a menu printout that you can take around with you, or if you do happen to find yourself in a line so long, it's bananas, you at least know what the heck you are waiting for. For my food partner in crime, it helps us prepare a plan of action. You can't go into these events without some sort of strategy!

We tried the Coconut Pancakes with Bud Light Radler Syrup and Crab Cakes with Radler infused Hollandaise sauce from Hollandaise Diner.

Belgian Waffles from The Good Son Restaurant and Will you Berry Me? and Chocolate Banana Milkshake cereals from Sil013.

A Fully Loaded Waffle and Waffle Bacon where the bacon is INSIDE the waffle from Starving Artist.

The Mango Lassi from Kathi Roll Express and my most favourite item of the day, The Spicy Chicken Sandwich also from the Starving Artist.

It's a great party atmosphere carried throughout the event over the whole weekend with live music and outdoor lawn games and a complimentary Bud Light Radler.

The food was good, but probably better when actually served in a restaurant, it was very waffle heavy and not a ton of variety between one vendor and the next. That said, I do love brunch and you can probably find me here again next year.

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Toronto Light Fest

Winter in Canada is long. And cold.

And even when it's mild and short, it's still too long and cold. That's why I like heading to the Distillery District in Toronto. Rather than fight against the season they take it in like a great, big, bear hug and embrace it and encourage one and all to get out there and do the same.

From the Toronto Christmas market, heat fest, and now the Toronto Light Fest to name a few things.

When I first heard about the Light Fest happening in Toronto I was reminded of Lumiere London which I went to last January. I had so much fun at the London event, I knew if this was anything like it, it would be great.

Although on a much smaller scale to Lumiere (as many things are here), the exhibition pieces and light installations were just as fun and inspired.

The Toronto Light Fest is running from January 27 until March 12 in the Distillery District in Old Town Toronto

Sunday to Thursday: sundown to 10pm lights out!

Friday to Saturday: sundown to 11pm lights out!

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