Things To do in Toronto. Summer 2022
Feda Abukhadrah
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Boating, music, warm nights — put ’em all together and you have what might just be the coolest live concert experience Toronto has to offer. Music on the River is a concert series right on the Humber River and you’ll get to paddle your way to the show. Your ticket comes with a boat rental, paddle, lifejackets, access to the show, and a glowstick to wave along with the music.
Where:?Humber River Paddling Centre, 9 Old Mill Rd
Canada’s premier amusement park has reopened with new attractions, restaurants, and entertainment for visitors to enjoy. Plus, SplashWorks has a brand new cliff-jumping attraction called Mountain Bay Cliffs, along with Canada’s largest outdoor wave pool, 17 water slides, and a Lazy River. Get ready for a summer of fun!
Where:?Canada’s Wonderland
At a whopping 45 acres and featuring dozens of slides and attractions, this is one of the biggest water parks in Canada, not just Ontario. It features wave pools, adventure slides, vertical freefalling chutes, thrilling slopes, and slides with terrifying twists and turns. Wet n’ Wild reopens early this month to season’s pass holders and on June 30 to the public.
Where:?7855 Finch Ave West, Brampton
Just in time for summer, pedal-powered pubs have finally arrived in Toronto. Pedal Pub is essentially a mobile pub where fifteen people hop on a bike and pedal their way to three breweries and bars over the course of two hours.
While some cities allow you to use the Pedal Pub for its original intended purpose (to drink on board), Toronto does not. That means no alcohol is allowed on board, but don’t worry, there will be no shortage of boozy fun on your tour.
When: Starting on June 25, 2022
Where:?Departure destination provided upon booking
Looking for a new summer, daytime adventure? Or perhaps a way to experience the lake in a new way? A new inflatable water park experience is opening right in the city this summer and it’s the largest of its kind in Ontario.
According to the new waterpark, “you’ll?be able to enjoy 2 full hours of water fun!?You’ll have a blast trying everything from teeter-totters to frog stomps, large slides, orbits, and more.”
Where:?Ontario Place, 955 Lake Shore Blvd West
When:?Open June 25
The city’s busiest transit hub is about to get busier in the best way possible. Toronto’s Union Summer kicks off this month, with a whole lineup of movie screenings, cuisine, dance parties, and entertainment offerings all summer long.
The market will occupy a large space in front of Union Station with non-stop programming every day and into the late evening.
Where: 65 Front St West
When:?June 27—August 28, 2022
If you enjoy locally-sourced, fresh meals, this new dining experience near Toronto may be for you! Eat on the Acre is a farm-to-table experience that is set to take place all summer, and will enable diners to enjoy the fresh fare at a communal table in the gorgeous colourful setting of a strawberry field.
When:?July 21, August 18, & September 8, 2022
Where:?Andrews Farm, 10 Side Road, Milton
This awesome spot is only about a 1.5-hour drive outside of Toronto. When you make the trek, you’ll be met with the beautiful natural landscape that is The Elora Gorge. After about a 20-minute walk, you’ll be at the beginning of the lazy river and your adventure will truly begin.
Be brave and tube the fast rapids or just lounge in the relaxing area of the stream. Either way, you’ll get to enjoy the gorgeous sights of the surrounding river and the beautiful cliffs above.
Where:?Elora Gorge Park, 7400 Wellington County Rd, Elora
The dinner party to end all dinner parties is finally returning to Toronto. D?ner en Blanc has announced that it will be making a comeback for the first time since 2019, all-white dress code in full effect.
This annual event is hosted at a secret location and released to its guests at the last minute. Thousands of guests are invited to the lavish “chic picnic” in their most elegant white attire. However, getting an invite isn’t as simple as buying a ticket online, with exclusivity being the main attraction.
When:?July 28, 2022
What better way to enjoy a summer night than by gliding through Humber Bay in a glow-in-the-dark transparent kayak? Toronto Kayaks supplies the city’s only transparent-LED-light-and-Bluetooth-equipped-hybrid-kayak-canoe, which you can rent by the hour.
Your rental also comes with a waterproof pouch for your electronics, bug repellent, a safety kit, and a life jacket, in addition to the boat, paddle, and Bluetooth speaker — everything you need for an evening on the water.
Where:?See location
The skinny dip at a clothing-optional beach
Sun’s out, buns out! If you want to feel wild n’ free this summer, you should check out some of the official and unofficial nude beaches in Ontario.
Whether you’re looking to stay in the city or are up for a little road trip, these clothing-optional beaches are all over the map. So go ahead and ditch your bathing suit, but not your sunscreen — we don’t want you burning in all the wrong places.
We love food trucks. And we love food truck festivals even more! The Toronto Food Truck Festival is returning this summer, with vendors like include The Kathi Roll Express, Pharaoh's Kitchen, Food Dudes, Buster’s Sea Cove, and Craig’s Cookies.
Admission will be free, and organizers say there’s something for everyone!
Where:?Woodbine Park, 1695 Queen St E
When:?July 29 from 5 to 10 pm, July 30 from 12 pm to 10 pm, July 31 from 12 pm to 8 pm, and August 1 from 12 pm to 8 pm
You’ll find this incredible sight right in the GTA in Caledon. According to Ontario Heritage Trust, the badlands were first formed at the base of an ancient sea over 450 million years ago. It’s known as “one of the most recognizable and visited natural heritage landmarks in southern Ontario,” and for good reason. There’s nothing else quite like it anywhere in the province and the history is equally as fascinating.
Where: 1739 Olde Base Line Rd, Caledon
Nothing beats being on the water on Toronto’s hot summer days. This year, you can check out a new experience on the lake by renting water bikes.
Toronto Water Bikes will be open and available all summer to give you a new water sports experience! Think “cycling meets water”, and a fun exercise while adventuring around the lake. The best part is, that you can get an individual bike or a tandem water bike for two.
Where:?Book online
The Yayoi Kusama exhibit that took Toronto by storm a few years back is now a permanent fixture at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), and it reopens to the public?on June 22.
The AGO’s exhibit features “mirrored spheres suspended from the ceiling and arranged on the floor,” according to the description. If you’ve only seen it in photos, now is your chance to finally experience it in person.
When:?Starting June 22, 2022
Where:?Art Gallery of Ontario
Casa Loma is making your fairytale dreams come true this summer. The iconic castle has transformed its majestic grounds into an outdoor dining experience called The Gardens at Casa Loma, with views of the castle, the city skyline, and the colourful garden all at once.
And if you’re looking to make a full evening out of your trip to Casa Loma, you can attend the Symphony in the Gardens on select evenings until September 5.
Where: 1 Austin Terrace
When: By reservation only
Cider enthusiasts, there’s a festival coming to Toronto this summer that’s just for you. The Toronto Cider Festival is returning this summer for two days of cider tastings, delicious food pairings, and live music to rock out to while you sip.
Award-winning artists and DJs will provide the soundtrack as you sip your way through the festival, snap photos in the photo booth, explore the interactive graffiti art show, and relax in the fire pit lounge.
Where:?The Toronto Inukshuk Park, 789 Lake Shore Blvd W
When: August 26-27, 2022
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If “Barbie Girl” by Aqua was, or still is, your theme song, there’s an immersive experience just for you. A 7,600-square-meter, life-sized display called The World of Barbie is set to come to Mississauga this July.
Visitors will get to walk through Barbie’s neighbourhood streets, step into a Barbie dreamhouse, sit inside a Barbie camper van and explore interactive rooms inspired by some of Barbie’s careers as a scientist, music producer, and astronaut, and more.
Where:?Square One Shopping Centre, 100 City Centre Dr, Mississauga
When:?Premieres July 2022
This Korean dessert cafe releases a special treat every summer and it’s always a huge hit. The dessert is organic watermelon-flavoured milk soft serve sandwiched between two slices of fresh watermelon. It’s back for the season at the Toronto location and trust us when we say it’s as tasty as it looks.
Where: 2651 Yonge St
This special spot is a staple Ontario swimming hole. The teal-coloured waters and towering limestone cliffs are the ideal atmospheres for a hot summer day. After about a 1.5-hour drive from the city, you’ll be met by a stunning secluded quarry where you can float the day away as well as hiking trails around the conservation area that you can explore.
Elora Quarry is open for the season from June 7 to Labour Day and reservations are required in advance.
Where:?319 Wellington County Rd 18, Elora
No summer is complete without a day trip (or several) to Ontario’s provincial parks. The soaring trees, glittering lakes, and wide-open views just don’t compare to anything you’ll find in the city. And for one day only this July, you’ll be able to visit them for free.
Ontario Parks is launching a one-day celebration called Healthy Parks Healthy People. You’ll have until 10 p.m. to enjoy the parks with the complimentary pass that you’ll be issued when you arrive.
When: July 15, 2022
Where:?See all Ontario Parks here
Stop what you’re doing because this is not a drill. The?Friends?experience that has popped up in cities around the U.S. is coming to Toronto this summer. Put on by Warner Bros and Superfly X, the event has every element that would make any?Friends?superfan go crazy, including set recreations and original props and costumes.
You’ll get to dance in front of the fountain, step into the show and explore 12 rooms of set recreations, pose on the couch and take photos to your heart’s content.
When: Opens July 14, 2022
Where: Yorkdale Shopping Centre, 3401 Dufferin St
Toronto’s most colourful patio RendezViews is hosting a block party series throughout the summer that’ll make you feel like you’re partying on the shores of South Beach, Miami.
The event series, called Unidos Festival, is a series of one-day music fests featuring local and international Latin artists. Organizers promise that Unidos Festival will “bring all cultures together for a fun and exciting tropical vibe in the heart of the city we love.”
When:?July 1, July 31 & September 4
Where:?229 Richmond St West
Foodies are in for a huge treat in Toronto this summer! Smorgasburg, America’s largest weekly open-air food market popular in cities like L.A. and Brooklyn, is coming to the city for the first time.
Smorgasburg’s Toronto edition will run for eight weeks starting in July, bringing dozens of international food vendors to one place every single Saturday. You’ll get to chow down on some of the best international eats in the city with views of the waterfront, just in time for summer.
Where: 7 Queen’s Quay East
When:?July 23 – September 10, 2022
In the summer, one must always visit Toronto’s ever-popular group of islands — Centre Island, Ward’s Island, and Hanlan’s Point. Hop on the ferry from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal on Queen’s Quay and spend the day biking, beach-lounging, and picnicking with unbeatable views of the city skyline. There are also events held on the islands throughout the summer, and it’s also home to?Centreville Amusement Park, now open for the season.
Where: Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, 9 Queen’s Quay West
This cascading waterfall is one of the most popular in the province and it’s worth a top spot on your summer bucket list. It’s almost as wide as it is tall, measuring 18 metres by 19 metres. Plus it comes with a gorgeous scenic hike through nature. Seriously, this is the place to pack a picnic and make a day of.
Where:?763-767 Mountain Brow Blvd, Hamilton, Ontario
A new immersive experience is coming to Toronto and it’s a celebration of art, culture, and the pioneer of reggae himself, Bob Marley. Toronto’s Bob Marley experience will feature never-before-seen memorabilia and an experience that transports you to the Jamaican forest.
A new immersive experience is coming to Toronto and it’s a celebration of art, culture, and the pioneer of reggae himself, Bob Marley. Toronto’s Bob Marley experience will feature never-before-seen memorabilia and an experience that transports you to the Jamaican forest.
Where:?1 Yonge St
When:?Opens July 1, 2022
You don’t need a passport to travel to the tropics because vacay vibes are coming right to us this summer. Toronto is getting a pop-up beach club that’ll make you feel like you’re in Tulum, Mexico.
The pop-up is called Playa Patrón and it’ll run for three days in early July at Ashbridges Bay Park. Inspired by the beach clubs of the tropics, Playa Patrón will serve up Tulum-inspired brunch during the day and hand-crafted cocktails and live music at night.
Where:?1561 Lake Shore Blvd E
When:?July 7-10, 2022
A new all-day rooftop hangout is coming to Toronto. Soluna will be a bohemian oasis in the heart of Queen St West when it opens this summer, with dreamy decor, a laid-back atmosphere, and an open-air terrace with sunset views.
It’ll provide a “day-to-night” experience that delights all of your senses, with a share-style menu, a variety of craft cocktails, live music, and performances.
Where: 314 Queen St West
When: Opening June 2022
Back for its thirteenth edition, the Toronto Waterfront Night Market will take over Ontario Place with a huge variety of pan-Asian food vendors and craft beer to try.
Over 100 delicious vendors are said to be at this event, along with a beer garden overlooking the water. You’ll get to sip on craft beer while you fill up on mouthwatering street food and cuisine from all over the continent.
Where: Ontario Place, West Island
When: August 12-14, 2022
Wine enthusiasts, get ready for a trip (or, shall we say?sip) around the world. RendezViews patio is hosting an all-you-can-taste outdoor wine festival in Toronto, with unlimited pours of reds and whites from all over the globe.
Your “liquid passport” grants you three hours of wine tastings and the chance to expand your wine knowledge by learning from wine professionals, all while discovering your new favourites and maybe getting a little tipsy while you’re at it.
Where:?RendezViews, 229 Richmond St West
When: July 8-9, 2022
The biggest picnic of the summer is returning to Toronto. Get ready to throw on your finest pink and white ensemble for this boozy bash known as Toronto’s Rosé Picnic.
This August, Bandshell Park at the Exhibition Place will once again transform into a gorgeous rosé-themed outdoor venue, complete with floral decor, flowing pink champagne, Instagrammable photo ops, and plenty of space for you to sip the day away in the sunshine.
Where:?Bandshell Park, 100 Prince Edward Island Cres
When:?August 6, 2022
With in-person events back in full swing things summer, it’s time to dive right back into all of our favourite celebrations including the Caribbean Carnival from July 28 to August 1, The CNE from August 19 to September 5, and many more. This is the season to enjoy the city in all of its glory!