One of the most picturesque nations you can find on the planet, Canada is awash in beautiful forested terrain, majestic mountains, and sparkling lakes. However, this northern-most country on the North American continent isn’t just the perfect destination for outdoorsy adventures in amazing natural splendor. Canada also offers no shortage of colorful and culturally rich cities like Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, and Montreal. To better explore the unique character of this compelling section of the world, visit captivating community events and fun festivals. And to completely bask in the glory of these great Canadian festivals, one must choose a comfortable retreat; you can pick among the best yurts and treehouse hotels for a unique experience. Ready to explore all Canada has to offer? Then you must read on to see the best festivals in Canada.
1. Celebration of Light
Celebration of Light is the world’s biggest fireworks competition. Competing over several eye-popping nights, this extravaganza of pyrotechnic excellence is a crowd-pleaser for locals and tourists. Along with fireworks, this event goes full force with dynamic music concerts, an array of food stalls selling delicious grub, and a very popular urban-adventure race called the Seawall Challenge. But the fireworks are the star of this show. Lighting up Vancouver’s night sky, these rockets of illumination are stirring, grandiose, and inspiring. Celebration of Light truly lives up to its name and shouldn’t be missed.
Celebration of Light
Address: Vancouver, Canada
Website: Celebration of Light
Takes place: July
2. Folklorama
An all-out celebration of Canada’s diverse experience and people, Folklorama is a multi-cultural, summer-holiday event featuring a wide range of fun and frivolity. With so much going on, it’s difficult to absorb everything, but do try, as many of the world’s cultures are on full display. Enjoy a showcase of delectable and interesting authentic cuisines, relish first-rate entertainment like robust folk dancing, admire attractive cultural displays, and enjoy warm hospitality from the biggest and longest-running multi-heritage festival of its kind on the globe.
Folklorama
Address: Winnipeg, Canada
Website: Folklorama
Takes place: July to August
Price: 5 USD
3. Just for Laughs Comedy Festival
Since its inception in 1983, Just for Laughs Comedy Festival has been making Canadians laugh. Boasting the biggest names in comedy, this event - also known as the Montreal Comedy Festival - is a raucous laugh-fest and one of the main attractions on Montreal’s entertainment calendar. This annual festival hosts the best comedians, many of whom have gone on to star in top-rated TV shows. This laugh-inducing event is very popular and many segments of the show are broadcast by national and international television channels. Your eyes will water and your belly will ache from all the laughter.
Just for Laughs Comedy Festival
Address: Montreal, Canada
Website: Just for Laughs Comedy Festival
Takes place: July
Price: 38 - 95 USD
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4. K-Days
What began in 1879 continues to draw huge crowds every year. Originally called Klondike Day, K-Days is a beloved tradition and oozes a wonderful lighthearted carnival atmosphere. Boasting the best 10 days of summer, K-Days offers a myriad of amusement rides, exciting game booths, enthralling children’s programs, live music, and ample shopping opportunities. Devour fave carnival foods like sweet candied apples and fluffy cotton candy. There’s even hearty fare like tangy barbecue. Marvel at the vibrant parade that features energetic brass bands and colorful floats. At the end of the day’s activities, be dazzled by the amazing fireworks!
K-Days
Address: Edmonton, Canada
Website: K-Days
Takes place: July
Price: 15 USD
5. Montreal Jazz Festival
If you’re looking for the largest jazz festival found anywhere in the world then head to the Montreal Jazz Festival. A most exuberant event, this music-fest is historic and offers more than 20 stages where top performers strut their musical talents. Awash in a bacchanal-like atmosphere, the Montreal Jazz Festival beckons concertgoers by the millions. Every music genre is showcased from jazz and rhythm and blues to rock and pop to reggae and electronic. Past performers have included award-winning artist Norah Jones, Diana Krall, and the late “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin. If you’re a jazz fanatic or just a lover of quality music then this top music festival in Canada is for you.
Montreal Jazz Festival
Address: Montreal, Canada
Website: Montreal Jazz Festival
Takes place: June to July
6. Osheaga Festival
Enjoy a wondrous music and arts event in an idyllic setting at the Osheaga Festival. Established in 2006, this lively indie music festival is held at Montreal’s lovely Parc Jean-Drapeau on Saint Helen’s Island and is one of the most high-profile attractions in the entire country. Osheaga Festival is dedicated to showcasing local and national newbie talent and providing them the chance to perform alongside headliners like Radiohead, Childish Gambino, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Arcade Fire, and more. Attracting music fans from all over the globe, this festival turns a spotlight on not only great music but fine visual-arts presentations. For those seeking great music and art, Osheaga Festival amply provides it.
Osheaga
Address: 1 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montréal, QC H3C 1A9, Canada
Website: Osheaga
Takes place: July
Price: 242 USD
7. Toronto Carribean Festival [Previously known as Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival]
Experience full-blown revelry at the Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival. A rambunctious festival formed by Caribbean immigrants, this event is filled with colorful masqueraders, talented steelpan performers, and a mix of upbeat music from soothing melodies to pulsating island-infused music. Come hungry so you can sample scrumptious Caribbean cuisine and then stay for the biggest street-performance parade in North America featuring thousands of lively costumed performers. A feast for the eyes, this carnival is a true jaw-dropping spectacle of visual and performing arts you won’t soon forget.
Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival
Address: 15 Saskatchewan Road, Toronto, Ontario Canada
Website: Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival
Takes place: July
Price: Free entry
8. Future Forest
Posted by Future Forest on Friday, 29 November 2019
A one-of-a-kind festival in appealing surroundings, Future Forest is a superb showcase of hypnotic electronic music and beguiling art. Situated along a sparkling river on a beautiful wilderness preserve comprised of 200 glorious acres (81 hectares), visitors can watch more than 140 awesome local and international musicians perform on whimsically lit stages constructed into the natural landscape for an unforgettable sight. Attendees can enjoy many visual and performing artists and talented painters as well as a platoon of food vendors to keep them fed and content.
Future Forest
Address: New Brunswick, Canada
Website: Future Forest
Takes place: August
Price: 132 USD
9. Winterlude
When the temperature drops and the snow falls heavily Canadians take it in stride and revel in an awesome festival called Winterlude. Instead of complaining about the wintry weather residents of the nation’s capital embrace it at this incredible winter wonderland. Lace-up your skates and glide on the world’s lengthiest ice rink. Marvel at phenomenal and mesmerizing ice sculptures. Enjoy a variety of music concerts. Play on giant icy and slippery slides made of ice. Have a snowball fight at the snow-filled playground. Needless to say, this winter carnival in Canada is a big tourist attraction and a great way to brighten the gloomy days of winter.
Winterlude
Address: Ottawa, Canada
Website: Winterlude
Takes place: February
Price: Free entry
10. Calgary Stampede
Calgary Stampede aims to celebrate and commemorate Canada’s rich western legacy. This uproarious event attracts over one million visitors every year and features thrilling midway rides and exhilarating bucking-broncos action. If you’ve never seen a genuine rodeo then Calgary Stampede is the go-to site for fast-paced barrel racing, steer roping and wrestling, and so much more. Calgary Stampede even goes a step further and presents exciting chuckwagons races! One of the most anticipated festivals in the country, this festival is a unique experience that’s sure to create lasting memories.
Calgary Stampede
Address: 650 25 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 4K8, Canada
Website: Calgary Stampede
Takes place: July
Price: 14 USD
11. Pride Toronto
Taking over 22 of Toronto’s city blocks is the spirited Pride Toronto. A joyful ambiance is tangible at this celebration in Canada which is one of the largest gay-pride fests in the world. This event is a celebration of the LGBTQ community and its wide diversity. Pride Toronto offers a collection of stages where live performances and professional DJs entertain the bustling crowds. A grand and dazzling gay-pride parade is the highlight as well as several clamorous cavalcades like Dyke March and Trans March. Even Canadian President Justin Trudeau has made an appearance and marched alongside participants of this truly memorable event!
Pride Toronto
Address: Toronto, Canada
Website: Pride Toronto
Takes place: Usually held in June
12. Montreal Fireworks Festival
As many as three million fireworks-loving spectators come from nearby towns and faraway cities to watch the amazing pyrotechnic competition at the Montreal Fireworks Festival. Also known as L’International des Feux Loto-Québec, this annual festival is held at Le Ronde amusement park that overlooks shimmering Dolphin Lake and is considered one of the biggest fireworks festivals on earth. Pyrotechnic pros from around the globe descend on Montreal to compete. Throughout the course of the event over 6,000 fireworks are blasted across the lovely Montreal skyline giving you plenty of Instagram-worthy shots.
Montreal Fireworks Festival
Address: 22 Chemin Macdonald, Montréal, QC H3C 6A3, Canada
Website: Montreal Fireworks Festival
Takes place: June to July
13. Pacific National Exhibition Fair
Pacific National Exhibition is a non-profit organization that hosts many fun community events. One of the most popular is the delightful fair that traditionally ends the summertime season in Canada. This fair is packed with must-see attractions from mechanical bull riding and knight jousting to pig races and dog shows. There are lots of carnival-style entertainment like mystical hypnotists and night-time action featuring wonderful music concerts and incredible fireworks displays. Two standout activities of this fair are shopping at the numerous stalls and eating various delicious food from the best vendors.
Pacific National Exhibition
Address: Vancouver, Canada
Website: Pacific National Exhibition
Takes place: August to September
Price: 14 USD
14. Veld Music Festival
Leaving an indelible impression on festival-goers annually is the zealous Veld Music Festival. Established in 2012 and held every year at Toronto’s sprawling and leafy Downsview Park, Veld Music Festival is a fantastic two-day gathering that rattles the park’s trees with pulsating electronic dance music and heavy-hitting hip-hop vibes. This extraordinary music festival always delivers an impressive line up of talented musicians. Groove and bump to electrifying sets by notables in the industry like Tiesto, Kygo, Cardi B, Skrillex, and many more.
Veld Music Festival
Address: Toronto, Canada
Website: Veld Music Festival
Takes place: Usually held in August
15. The Ex
The Canadian National Exhibition, or simply called The Ex, is a marathon 18-day-long exposition promoting the best technology, bountiful agriculture, and dynamic diversity that comprises Canada. If there’s a cat lover in your party check out the Cat Show where more than 100 prim and proper felines compete. Don’t forget to take a whirl on the Sky Ride to get a spectacular bird’s-eye view of the exhibition activities and an awesome glimpse of the magnificent CN Tower dominating the Toronto skyline. When it’s time to eat The Ex devotes an entire building to great eats from decadent donut sandwiches to juicy bacon cheeseburgers to gooey macaroni and cheese.
The Ex
Address: Toronto, Canada
Website: The Ex
Takes place: August to September
Price: 12 USD
16. Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival has become so popular it’s giving notable film festivals like Sundance and Cannes some competition for the movie-premiere spotlight. Beginning in 1976, this high-profile, star-studded venue has seen successful films like the Academy Award-winning Slumdog Millionaire and American Beauty, along with Black Swan and 127 Hours score top honors at this festival. The Toronto International Film Festival is an ideal venue for burgeoning filmmakers to screen their work and possibly launch a rewarding movie career.
Toronto International Film Festival
Address: Toronto, Canada
Website: Toronto International Film Festival
Takes place: September
Price: 8 - 45 USD
17. North by Northeast Festival
Held in various venues throughout Toronto, the North by Northeast Festival is the granddaddy of music festivals. Don’t be surprised if you hear this festival’s headlining bands playing in city parks, at the airport, and on various modes of transportation like ferry boats and streetcars! This stupendous extravaganza provides a wealth of entertainment: lively showcases, fun parties, engrossing art installations, exciting gaming, and much more. Yonge Dundas Square is ground zero for this festival that includes a three-day music concert that also features hilarious comedy acts, tasty food, beautiful art, and amusement park rides and games.
North by Northeast Festival
Address: Toronto, Canada
Website: North by Northeast Festival
Takes place: June
18. Pop Montreal
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Possessing over 450 bands performing at more than 50 venues throughout the city, Pop Montreal is an ideal event for music-loving locals and fun-seeking tourists who also want a taste of compelling art. This five-day melodic and art-centric festival boasts an irreverent air and shines a spotlight on emerging and underdog-type musicians from across the globe. Pop Montreal is also dedicated to supporting independent art forms so attendees can admire lovely and arresting work by talented artists. If you want to see uncommon music presentations like avant-garde legend Laurie Anderson jam with saxophonist Colin Stetson and cellist Rebecca Foon then Pop Montreal is the place.
Pop Montreal
Address: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Website: Pop Montreal
Takes place: Usually held in September
Price: 8 - 34 USD
19. Shambhala Music Festival
TICKET UPDATE Tickets on Sale TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH 12PM PST We are so sorry Farmily. We had NO IDEA that so many...
Posted by Shambhala Music Festival on Monday, 16 September 2019
Each year the lush green land of Salmo River Ranch is transformed into a music-fuelled forest for the Shambhala Music Festival. This is the country’s top-tier electronic music fest featuring cutting edge talent and sensory experiences of light and sounds. This festival offers stages packed with a fabulous line-up of performers. Throw in some enticing art and you have an incredible outdoor gathering filled with contagious feel-good vibes. Attending the Shambhala Music Festival is sure to be a standout memory of your summer.
Shambhala Music Festival
Address: Salmo River Ranch, British Columbia, Canada
Website: Shambhala Music Festival
Takes place: July
Price: 340 USD
20. Chasing Summer
Posted by Chasing Summer Music Festival on Monday, 12 August 2019
The annual Chasing Summer festival is a two-day epic display of outstanding electronic dance music held on the grounds of the Max Bell Center ice rink. This festival is the biggest outdoor EDM gathering that lures people to the vast golden prairies of Western Canada to dance from sun up to sundown to heart-pounding beats and synthesized rhythms. A primary summer festival in Calgary, Chasing Summer provides a collection of some of the world’s most in-demand headliners in EDM and you’d be crazy to miss this popular event.
Chasing Summer
Address: 1001 Barlow Trail S.E., Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Website: Chasing Summer
Takes place: Usually held in August
21. Dreams Festival [Last event in June]
Growing quickly in popularity over the past few years, Dream Festival is a multi-day outdoor event that is today touted as one of the largest electronic music festivals in the country. Dreams Festival provides three expertly constructed stages offering fantastic electro, techno, and trance music from a collection of top DJs from across the globe. This eclectic festival is the go-to attraction for EDM lovers with discerning tastes. Dreams Festival is also enhanced by the dreamy locale: on the sandy shores of Lake Ontario at the lovely Echo Beach concert space in downtown Toronto.
Dreams Festival
Address: Echo Beach, Toronto, Canada
Website: Dreams Festival
Takes place: June
Price: 76 USD
22. Astral Harvest [Event has passed]
Throwback Thursday ! Here is a glimpse back to 2012. We have come a long way, and we keep building on the magic. 2019...
Posted by Astral Harvest Festival on Thursday, 11 April 2019
Want to attend a festival where you can indulge in reinvigorating yoga, dance the night away to great music, learn juggling, marvel at fire-spinning, and more? Astral Harvest is dedicated to getting participants to explore a new skill or master an old one. This intimate festival is a rare combination of music, art, yoga, and interesting learning experiences. Creating a sense of community, people of every skill level are encouraged to attend the stimulating workshops. Aside from the workshops, Astral Harvest is a nice celebration of fine music and inspiring art.
Astral Harvest
Address: Driftpile, Alberta, Canada
Website: Astral Harvest
Takes place: July
Canada's awesome festivals
You’ll get a full spectrum of Canada’s character and culture when you add to your list of tourist attractions a few of these delightful festivals to experience. From boisterous rodeo festivals to cool-grooving jazz festivals, Canada knows how to throw a party and make every traveler feel welcome.
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