Summer festivals: Get Outta Town
Whether your're heading out of town for a day trip or living outside London for the summer, there are plenty of fun festivals to check out within a few hours' drive of the city.
LUMINATO 2011: FESTIVAL OF ARTS & CREATIVITY
June 10 - 19
Venues across Toronto
luminato.com
Admission: free
Now in its fifth year, Luminato is Toronto's annual celebration of the creative arts, including theatre, dance, music, literature, food, visual arts, fashion, film, magic and more.
NXNE FESTIVAL AND CONFERENCE
June 13 - 19
Venues across downtown Toronto
nxne.com
Admission: Many pass options, wristbands from $25
Celebrating its 17th year, NXNE has become the premiere Canadian festival for exciting and emerging artists in music, film and interactive fields. Whether you're interested in buzz-worthy bands, scintillating cinema or individual interactions with like-minded people, NXNE is the place for you.
SOUND OF MUSIC FESTIVAL
June 16 - 19
Venues across downtown Burlington
soundofmusic.ca
Admission: free
Four days of music in Burlington for free, featuring The Stanfields, The Reason, Crash Karma, Tokyo Police Club, Men Without Hats and more.
SCENE MUSIC FESTIVAL 2011
June 26
Venues across downtown St. Catharines
scenemusicfestival.com
Admission: $29 General
Over 160 bands on 17 stages around 13 venues over the course of a single day! Set in downtown St. Catharines, itself in the circle of the hottest Canadian music communities, SCENE Festival is consistently one of the most enjoyable festivals around.
PRIDE WEEK TORONTO
June 24 - July 3
Venues across Toronto
pridetoronto.com
Admission: free
Pride Week is the premiere arts and culture festival celebrating diversity in sexual and gender identities, histories, creativities and more.
CISCO OTTAWA BLUESFEST: VIVA LAS BLUESFEST
July 5 - 17
Lebreton Flats, Ottawa
ottawabluesfest.ca
Admission: Day passes from $40, Festival passports from $140
Featuring too many acts to count, including Soundgarden, Skrillex, The Roots, The Sheepdogs, The Black Keys, Justin Nozuka, Erykah Badu, Dropkick Murphys, Josh Ritter, Three Days Grace, Buddy Guy, Billy Talent, Tim Robbins, Mother Mother, Joe Satriani and more.
SARNIA ROGERS BAYFEST
July 6, 8 - 10, 15 & 16
Centennial Park, Sarnia
sarniabayfest.com
Admission: Single-day and weekend passes available, check website for details
Sarnia's summer music festival returns with sizzling performances by KISS, Steve Miller Band, The Trews, INXS, Theory Of A Deadman, The Tea Party, The Tragically Hip, Joel Plaskett, Arkells, Trace Adkins, Montgomery Gentry, George Canyon, Dry Country, Lady Antebellum, Rodney Atkins and Aaron Pritchett. Don't miss it!
EDGEFEST '11
July 9
Downsview Park, Toronto
tinyurl.com/edgefest11
Admission: General $60.60, VIP passes $116.05
Edgefest is back with a vengeance in 2011! While the single-day festival has seen better days, it returns this year for the first time since 2009 with Rise Against, A Perfect Circle, The Weakerthans, Tokyo Police Club, Arkells and more of the finest music out of Ontario in years.
THE NATURAL LIVING FESTIVAL
July 9 - 10
Purple Daze Lavender Farm, Delhi
purpledazelavender.com
Admission: free
Stroll through fragrant lavender fields and experience this festival aimed at inspiring you to explore alternative options for a healthier lifestyle. Featuring farmers and artisans from the local Norfolk County and beyond, the Natural Living Festival is unlike any other you've seen before.
CARIBANA TORONTO: FEEL DE VIBE
July 14 - August 12
Venues across Toronto
Admission: free
Unparalleled in North America in its celebration of Caribbean music, cuisine and revelry, Scotiabank Caribana Festival has been extended to six weeks in 2011!
BEACHES INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL
July 15 - 24
Queen St. E., Toronto
beachesjazz.com
Admission: free
Toronto's annual jazz festival returns! Events have been planned in several locations in the city, but the real party is at the street fest; every year, Toronto closes 2 km of Queen St. E. in the Beaches district to celebrate some hot music and culture as the night begins to cool. Don't miss it!
OSHEAGA: FESTIVAL MUSIQUE ET ARTS 2011
July 29 - 31
Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Ste-Hélène, Montreal, Qu
osheaga.com/en
Admission: Single-day pass beginning at $75.50, three-day pass for $217.50
Featuring near-overwhelming numbers of musical acts over three days, including Eminem, Kid Cudi, Broken Social Scene, Janelle Monáe, Bran Van 3000, Elvis Costello and The Imposters, Death From Above 1979, Lupe Fiasco, Karkwa, Bright Eyes, The Flaming Lips, The Tragically Hip, Death Cab For Cutie, Cypress Hill, City And Colour and more.
CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION
August 19 - September 5
CNE Fairgrounds, Toronto
theex.com
Admission: General $16, family passes $48
A summer tradition in Toronto! The CNE is Canada's largest community event, featuring entertainment and special events, midway rides and games, cuisine from all around the world and more. This year marks the festival's 133rd season, a great way to ring in Labour Day.
SCOTIABANK BUSKERFEST 2011
August 25 - 28
St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood, Toronto
torontobuskerfest.com
Admission: free
Watch as Buskerfest 2011 transforms the St. Lawrence market neighbourhood, celebrating 11 years of the finest in street performance entertainment from around the world.
LUMINATO 2011: FESTIVAL OF ARTS & CREATIVITY
June 10 - 19
Venues across Toronto
luminato.com
Admission: free
Now in its fifth year, Luminato is Toronto's annual celebration of the creative arts, including theatre, dance, music, literature, food, visual arts, fashion, film, magic and more.
NXNE FESTIVAL AND CONFERENCE
June 13 - 19
Venues across downtown Toronto
nxne.com
Admission: Many pass options, wristbands from $25
Celebrating its 17th year, NXNE has become the premiere Canadian festival for exciting and emerging artists in music, film and interactive fields. Whether you're interested in buzz-worthy bands, scintillating cinema or individual interactions with like-minded people, NXNE is the place for you.
SOUND OF MUSIC FESTIVAL
June 16 - 19
Venues across downtown Burlington
soundofmusic.ca
Admission: free
Four days of music in Burlington for free, featuring The Stanfields, The Reason, Crash Karma, Tokyo Police Club, Men Without Hats and more.
SCENE MUSIC FESTIVAL 2011
June 26
Venues across downtown St. Catharines
scenemusicfestival.com
Admission: $29 General
Over 160 bands on 17 stages around 13 venues over the course of a single day! Set in downtown St. Catharines, itself in the circle of the hottest Canadian music communities, SCENE Festival is consistently one of the most enjoyable festivals around.
PRIDE WEEK TORONTO
June 24 - July 3
Venues across Toronto
pridetoronto.com
Admission: free
Pride Week is the premiere arts and culture festival celebrating diversity in sexual and gender identities, histories, creativities and more.
CISCO OTTAWA BLUESFEST: VIVA LAS BLUESFEST
July 5 - 17
Lebreton Flats, Ottawa
ottawabluesfest.ca
Admission: Day passes from $40, Festival passports from $140
Featuring too many acts to count, including Soundgarden, Skrillex, The Roots, The Sheepdogs, The Black Keys, Justin Nozuka, Erykah Badu, Dropkick Murphys, Josh Ritter, Three Days Grace, Buddy Guy, Billy Talent, Tim Robbins, Mother Mother, Joe Satriani and more.
SARNIA ROGERS BAYFEST
July 6, 8 - 10, 15 & 16
Centennial Park, Sarnia
sarniabayfest.com
Admission: Single-day and weekend passes available, check website for details
Sarnia's summer music festival returns with sizzling performances by KISS, Steve Miller Band, The Trews, INXS, Theory Of A Deadman, The Tea Party, The Tragically Hip, Joel Plaskett, Arkells, Trace Adkins, Montgomery Gentry, George Canyon, Dry Country, Lady Antebellum, Rodney Atkins and Aaron Pritchett. Don't miss it!
EDGEFEST '11
July 9
Downsview Park, Toronto
tinyurl.com/edgefest11
Admission: General $60.60, VIP passes $116.05
Edgefest is back with a vengeance in 2011! While the single-day festival has seen better days, it returns this year for the first time since 2009 with Rise Against, A Perfect Circle, The Weakerthans, Tokyo Police Club, Arkells and more of the finest music out of Ontario in years.
THE NATURAL LIVING FESTIVAL
July 9 - 10
Purple Daze Lavender Farm, Delhi
purpledazelavender.com
Admission: free
Stroll through fragrant lavender fields and experience this festival aimed at inspiring you to explore alternative options for a healthier lifestyle. Featuring farmers and artisans from the local Norfolk County and beyond, the Natural Living Festival is unlike any other you've seen before.
CARIBANA TORONTO: FEEL DE VIBE
July 14 - August 12
Venues across Toronto
Admission: free
Unparalleled in North America in its celebration of Caribbean music, cuisine and revelry, Scotiabank Caribana Festival has been extended to six weeks in 2011!
BEACHES INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL
July 15 - 24
Queen St. E., Toronto
beachesjazz.com
Admission: free
Toronto's annual jazz festival returns! Events have been planned in several locations in the city, but the real party is at the street fest; every year, Toronto closes 2 km of Queen St. E. in the Beaches district to celebrate some hot music and culture as the night begins to cool. Don't miss it!
OSHEAGA: FESTIVAL MUSIQUE ET ARTS 2011
July 29 - 31
Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Ste-Hélène, Montreal, Qu
osheaga.com/en
Admission: Single-day pass beginning at $75.50, three-day pass for $217.50
Featuring near-overwhelming numbers of musical acts over three days, including Eminem, Kid Cudi, Broken Social Scene, Janelle Monáe, Bran Van 3000, Elvis Costello and The Imposters, Death From Above 1979, Lupe Fiasco, Karkwa, Bright Eyes, The Flaming Lips, The Tragically Hip, Death Cab For Cutie, Cypress Hill, City And Colour and more.
CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION
August 19 - September 5
CNE Fairgrounds, Toronto
theex.com
Admission: General $16, family passes $48
A summer tradition in Toronto! The CNE is Canada's largest community event, featuring entertainment and special events, midway rides and games, cuisine from all around the world and more. This year marks the festival's 133rd season, a great way to ring in Labour Day.
SCOTIABANK BUSKERFEST 2011
August 25 - 28
St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood, Toronto
torontobuskerfest.com
Admission: free
Watch as Buskerfest 2011 transforms the St. Lawrence market neighbourhood, celebrating 11 years of the finest in street performance entertainment from around the world.
