Family and friends are summoned to flock to Ontario streets
There’s no better place to flock the streets this year than at an Ontario festival. Festivals & Events Ontario (FEO) is happy to highlight a subset of FEO’s award-winning festivals – each of these themed and cultural festival has something distinctive and unique to offer its guests! The kaleidoscope of festivities lying in wait for you range from bush planes to sheep dogs to cacti and everything in between. It’s just so easy to be captivated by anyone of these festivals and events and there’s something special for everyone.
This year’s Themed and Cultural Festival Highlights include:
Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival May 1 – 31 (Toronto) scotiabankcontactphoto.com CONTACT is the largest photography festival in the world devoted to celebrating the art and profession of photography with over 1500 artists exhibiting at more than 200 venues throughout the GTA.
Dundas International Buskerfest June 2 – 4 (Dundas) downtowndundas.ca Street performers from around the world. Free admission, free parking. Enjoy art and craft vendors, a sidewalk sale, fine dining and international cuisine.
Celebrampton June 10 (Brampton) brampton.ca CeleBRAMPTON is the kick-off to summer event for the City of Brampton. This event has something for the whole family! Enjoy free food, family fun activities and live entertainment!
Pelham Summerfest 2017 July 13 – 16 (Fonthill) pelhamsummerfest.ca Come Chill on the Hill! 4 days of free family fun, food, music, entertainment, art and more in downtown Fonthill. See website for full event listing.
Muslimfest 2017 August 4 – 6 (Mississauga) muslimfest.com MuslimFest celebrates the best in Muslim arts and entertainment. The event features over 50 local and international artists who showcase their talent in various areas. Concerts featuring popular Musli.
Jambana™ One World Festival August 6 – 7 (Markham) jambana.com Fun for the family festival of entertainment, food, travel, trade, craft, health and domino villages.
Kingston Sheep Dog Trials Festival August 11 – 13 (Kingston) cityofkingston.ca/featureevents Family and pet friendly festival filled with exciting attractions now in its 30th year! Enjoy the dog sport of herding, K-9 demos, dock dogs competition, agility demos, artisans fair and more!
Smooth “truck Fest” August 17 – 20 (Smooth Rock Falls) smoothtruckfest.com This annual event attracts motorsport enthusiasts and provides family orientated fun for all. The transport pulls has been part of the festival since 2013 and sees growth every year. Come join us!
Dundas Cactus Festival August 18 – 20 (Dundas) dundascactusfestival.ca 42nd Annual Dundas Cactus Festival. Come out and celebrate in historic downtown Dundas at this exciting Free Street Festival! Live music on 3 stages, Kids Zone, Midway, Vendors, Arts, Inter-actives.
Mississauga Italfest Ferragosto In The City August 18 – 19 (Mississauga) mississaugaitalfest.com Experience a taste of Italy at Mississauga ITALFEST, Ferragosto in the City! Enjoy fabulous local and headline entertainment, delicious food, unique activities, exciting contests and cultural exhibits.
Burlington’s Children’s Festival August 20 (Burlington) burlington.ca/childrensfestival Join us for the 25th annual Children’s Festival! It’s a birthday bash theme! We’re celebrating being a kid with activities, interactive games, bouncers, face painting and more!
Meaford Scarecrow Invasion and Family Festival September 5 – October 16 (Meaford) scarecrowinvasion.ca ‘Scarecrows Proudly Celebrate Canada’s 150th’ is the theme of the 2017 Meaford Scarecrow Invasion & Family Festival. Scarecrows invade Sept. 5th to Oct. 16th. Parade and festival, Friday, Sept. 29th.
22nd Annual Bushplane Days Festival September 16 – 17 (Sault Ste. Marie) bushplane.com Bushplane Days are back. Our 22nd Annual Festival runs Saturday and Sunday from 9am-5pm. See the CL-415 water bombing demonstration (subject to availability), special guests.
Telling Tales – A Family Festival of Stories September 17 (Hamilton) tellingtales.org The Telling Tales Festival is a free one day children’s literature festival that takes place each year at Westfield Heritage Village in Rockton, Ontario. See you Sunday, September 17 2017.
The Word On The Street Toronto September 24 (Toronto) thewordonthestreet.ca/toronto The Word On The Street Toronto is a free public festival that celebrates the written word and champions literacy through an annual event featuring 200+ authors at Canada’s biggest outdoor bookstore!.
Small Halls Festival September 28 – October 1 (Stayner/Clearview Township) smallhallsfestival.ca/ A four day, award-winning indoor and outdoor multi venue event held at Clearview Township’s nine community halls, showcasing music, culture, culinary tastes, rural experiences, arts and heritage.
Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest October 6 – 14 (Kitchener) oktoberfest.ca Canada’s Greatest Bavarian Festival offers something for everyone with 18 exciting festhallen and over 40 Family and Cultural Events. Canada’s largest Thanksgiving Day Parade is Monday, Oct 9, 2017.
There’s always something to celebrate in Ontario! Visit www.festivalsandeventsontario.ca to find a complete listing of this year’s Festivals and Events in Ontario award winners and more.
