Things to do / Travel Guide
Western New York and south-central Ontario have an entertaining array of annual festivals and events, with something for everyone. From Toronto's cosmopolitan film, arts and jazz festivals, to western New York's widely-acclaimed sauerkraut and lilac festivals, the best time to catch some of these fun and entertaining regional festivities is from May to September. Scroll through our calendar and plan your trip around a not-to-be-missed annual affair!
February
The Metro Toronto Convention Center and the Rogers Centre host the annual International Autoshop. The largest in Canada, the show gathers a crowd of nearly 300,000 visitors and features the latest models of forty premiere vehicles from Canada and abroad. Admission costs about $40.
March
The Metro Toronto Convention Centre holds an annual “Canada Blooms” show in the middle of March. This gardening and floral-design exposé features more than 250 exhibitors, florists, and horticulturists, and 40 feature gardens. Admission costs approximately $15.
May
Rochester also hosts the annual Lilac Festival, one of the largest lilac exhibitions in North America. People from literally all over the world come to see 1,200 lilac bushes of more than 500 varieties. It takes place the middle week or so in May.
The yearly Contact photography exhibition in Toronto, held throughout May, is the largest of its kind in North America. Visit over 140 exhibits at a wide variety of venues throughout the city.
June
June through August, the Chautauqua Institution for self-improvement and continuing education (previously attended by nine U.S. presidents and a wide range of famous scholars and artists) in Chautauqua County, NY offers prestigious courses, public forums, and lectures on a variety of cultural, economic and political topics. More than 7,000 people of all ages travel to Chautauqua Institution to attend these sessions.
The world's most famous jazz musicians perform at the Downtown Toronto Jazz Festival during June and July. Performing at a wide variety of venues are internationally-known headliners such as Etta James, Dave Bruebeck, and John Pizzarelli, as well as small-time, local jazz artists. Prices vary, and many free concerts are open to the public.
July
Sterling, New York (NY), east of Rochester, holds a yearly Renaissance Festival every weekend during July and August. The event features more than 80 live performances by professional actors reenacting an English renaissance village. Activities include a pub sing and “wench auction.” Adult tickets cost around $20.00.
The Toronto Fringe Festival consists of 1,000 drama, dance, comedy, and musical performances during a 12-day period. The festival attracts more than 40,000 spectators and is Toronto's largest theater event.
August
The second Sunday in August, Auburn, NY, southeast of Rochester, hosts The Great Race, (a.k.a the Captain Myles Keogh Paddle, Wheel & Run) at Emerson Park on Owasco Lake. This annual event features triathlon races (individual and team relay races) of running, biking, and paddling.
September
The Toronto International Film Festival is second only to Cannes. With over 300 screenings in many different locations, the Toronto International Film Festival also pays homage to Canadian filmmakers. Costs vary, and it takes place one week in the month.
The annual Toronto In-water Boat Show on Lake Ontario attracts more than 100,000 visitors and displays watercraft of all types and sizes, both antique and modern. Spectators can also watch and cheer-on mini-regatta. The cost is about $18, and it takes place in the middle of the month.
November
The Canadian Aboriginal Festival is an annual event, the focal point of which is the Toronto Pow Wow. Taking place in Rogers Centre, the pow wow is 1,000 dancers strong, and takes place over a three-day weekend. The event also showcases Canadian Aboriginal art, music, crafts, and cuisine. Admission costs about $10.
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