Top 2023 summer food festivals

Take a culinary tour around the world this summer and discover new and delicious flavours at these vibrant food festivals.

Ontario celebrates its rich mosaic of different cultures, cuisines and backgrounds in the best way possible — with food.

If you’re wondering where to start on your summer food fest circuit, here are a few can’t-miss favourites in Toronto, Ottawa and beyond.

Summer-long food festivals

01

Street Eats Market

When: Monthly dates in 2023
Where: Various locations including Mississauga, Markham, Whitby and a new location in Hamilton
This year, Street Eats Market will host exciting food festivals. Eats Theme Parks combine many food festivals in one space each month. Bring your appetite to enjoy the Mac & Cheese Festival, Fried Chicken Fest, Ice Cream Fest, Poutine Festival, and more. Eats Night Market will unveil a new look to celebrate night markets. There will also be a new Street Eats in Hamilton. Tickets are available online.
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02

Northern Heat Rib Series

When: May-September, 2023
Where: 16 different communities across the province
This summer North America’s largest rib and beer combo tour will be hosting a series of rib fest events across Ontario, serving mouth-watering BBQ ribs along with a wide assortment of top local craft beers and beverages and a bevy of entertainment.
Find a date and location near you.
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03

Poutine Feast

When: April-September 2023
Where: Multiple locations across Ontario
The world’s largest poutine festival is touring multiple cities in Ontario this summer, including Sault Ste. Marie, Parry Sound, Cornwall, Brockville, Parry Sound, Wasaga Beach, Wiarton, Guelph, Welland, Kingston, Hamilton and many others.
Over 50 different varieties of this classic Canadian dish will be served, with toppings ranging from fresh vegetables to meat like pork and lobster. Music, games and contests will be held to entertain kids and adults alike.
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04

Halal Ribfest and Food Truck Festival Tour

When: Events take place from mid-July to mid-September, 2023
Where: participating locations include Toronto, Windsor, London, Ottawa, Durham, Mississauga, Scarborough, Hamilton and Scarborough
Canada’s largest halal barbeque and food truck event is rolling through Ontario again this summer.
And they’re pulling out all the stops with a host of great food trucks, carnival rides, games, sports competitions, a BBQ recipe competition with prizes, a fun vendor bazaar and some of the very best, juiciest, mouth-watering BBQ ribs and more.
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Food festivals in May

01

Carassauga Festival of Cultures across Mississauga

When: May 26-28, 2023
Where: Mississauga
Experience Canada’s largest multicultural festival of food and entertainment. This unique event is spread across multiple pavilions across the city dedicated to different cultures and cuisines, each connected by a fleet of free shuttle busses.
Upon entry, you’ll receive a Carassauga passport that you can fill with stamps as you "travel" to different countries, taking in a delightful array of sights, sounds and tastes along the way.
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Food festivals in June

01

Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival

When: June 10, 2023
Where: Downtown Midland
Savour various delicious butter tarts at Canada’s largest butter tart festival, including coconut, maple, bacon and chocolate-covered butter tarts. The festival will have entertainment, food trucks, vendors and a competition for the best butter tart. Vegan, sugar-free keto options will be available.
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02

Taco Fest

When: June 16, 2023
Where: Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum, 10 Huron Road, Kitchener
Enjoy delicious tacos and craft beer from the best restaurants and breweries in the Waterloo Region while raising support for local charities. It’s a win-win!
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03

Taste of Little Italy in Toronto

When: June 16-18, 2023
Where: College Street, Toronto
From pasta to pizza to gelato, indulge in classic Italian food in Toronto’s Little Italy neighbourhood, as well as fusion cuisine familiar around College Street.
Enjoy live street performances, local artisan vendors and inviting patio drinks. Bellissimo!
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04

London International Food Festival

When: June 23-25, 2023
Where: Victoria Park, London
Explore delicious and diverse dishes from around the world. Enjoy Portuguese, Caribbean, Mexican, Chinese, Serbian, Italian, Polish, Greek food and more.
And quench your thirst with an assortment of beverage options, including fruit smoothies, slushies, bubble tea as well as coolers, craft beer and wine.
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05

Markham’s Taste of Asia

When: June 23-25, 2023
Where: Kennedy and Steeles, Markham
North America’s largest outdoor Asian festival features amazing Asian food, artisan vendors, performers and more together for a harmonious, multi-day celebration of cuisine and culture.
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Food festivals in July

01

Summerlicious in Toronto

When: July 7-23, 2023
Where: participating restaurants across Toronto
Join fellow foodie and celebrate the diverse and innovative culinary scene in Canada’s largest city!
Over 200 participating restaurants across Toronto offer special three-course prix fixe menus that represent the essence of their cuisine.
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02

Taste of Lawrence in Scarborough

When: July 7-9, 2023
Where: Scarborough
One of Scarborough’s largest street festivals returns to Lawrence Avenue this summer with a three-day celebration of culture and cuisine from around the world.
Live music, family entertainment and a vast array of street vendors make this an event not to be missed.
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03

Thunder Bay Festival of India

When: July 22, 2023
Where: Marina Park, Thunder Bay
Experience the colours and flavours of India this summer during Thunder Bay’s largest celebration of culture, arts, music and mouth-watering vegetarian food.
Bonus: the Festival of Colours takes place July 23.
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04

Toronto Festival of India

When: July 15-16, 2023
Where: Centre Island, Toronto
51st annual Festival of India includes a parade down Yonge Street followed by celebrations, activities and delicious vegetarian food on Centre Island.
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05

Belleville Waterfront & Multicultural Festival

When: July 6-9, 2023
Where: West Zwick’s Park, Belleville
With four stages for entertainment, buskers, arts and crafts, canine watersports and dog shows, plus amazing, multicultural cuisine and local, craft beer, Belleville is a summer staple for festive fun and great food.
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06

Lebanese Food Festival in Ottawa

When: July 19-23, 2023
Where: Ottawa
For over thirty years, the Lebanese Food Festival has showcased the best of Middle Eastern food and culture.
Hosted at the St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, the festival features music performances, cooking demonstrations like those at the saj bread booth, carnival rides and of course plenty of delicious hummus, tabouli, falafel and chicken shawarma.
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07

Festa Italiana in Timmins

When: July 21-23, 2023
Where: Timmins
Hosted by the Porcupine Dante Club, Festa Italiana is celebrating over 70 years with food, music, entertainment and market vendors.
This three-day event lasts the whole weekend, with a ‘Party in the Parking Lot’ on Friday, live traditional music and a gala on Saturday and a street party along Cedar Street on Sunday to cap off this festive celebration of Italian culture.
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Food festivals in August

01

Toronto Food Truck Festival

When: August 4-7, 2023
Where: Woodbine Park
Local food trucks will be serving up some of your favourite dishes, along with local beer, local talent, live-eating contests and more.
The festival ensures there are vegetarian, vegan, halal and gluten-free options available each year so there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Admission is free.
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02

JerkFest Toronto

When: August 10-13, 2023
Where: Toronto
Immediately following North America’s largest festival of Caribbean culture, Caribbean Carnival, savour Caribbean cuisine at another one of Ontario’s hottest summer events celebrating everything jerk flavoured, along with Island music and family entertainment.
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03

Night It Up! Markham Night Market

When: August 5-7, 2023
Where: Markham
One of Markham’s landmark summer events returns!
Night It Up! is an outdoor festival that showcases a mosaic of delicious Asian street foods and innovative Insta-worthy treats. The festival styled in the vein of night markets from across Asia will be complemented by performances by local talent.
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04

Brockville Ribfest

When: August 10-13, 2023
Where: Hardy Park, Brockville
Activities like a fishing derby, volleyball tournament and 5k run will be sure to work up an appetite for the mouth-watering, barbequed-to-perfection ribs, chicken and other delicious foods.
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05

Toronto’s Taste of the Danforth

When: August 11-13, 2023
Where: Danforth Avenue, Toronto
One of Canada’s largest street festivals takes place along Danforth Avenue in Toronto, affectionally known as Greektown, with entertainment, arts and crafts, live music, special menus and sidewalk tasting tables to sample all the best Greek cuisine and naturally, plate smashing.
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This story has been adapted from an original article available at: https://www.destinationontario.com/en-ca/articles/top-2023-summer-food-festivals.