Travel
17 Canadian summer festivals your kids will be begging for
The Big Feastival
Travel
17 Canadian summer festivals your kids will be begging for
We rounded up the best family-friendly food, music, agricultural and sporting festivals to celebrate Canada's 150th from coast to coast.
ONTARIO
The Big Feastival
British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is bringing his hit family-friendly food and musical festival to Canada this year. The three-day event features fresh and healthy gourmet eats, craft beer, live concerts and camping on the spacious grounds of Burl's Creek in Oro Medonte. Confirmed acts include Weezer, Ben Harper, The Strumbellas and Fred Penner for the littles! On the food front, Canadian heavyweight chefs such as Chuck Hughes, Vikram Vij, Rob Gentile and Amy Rosen are some of the big draws. Your little dudes will also have their hands (and tummies!) full with cooking, crafts, musical workshops, yoga, dance, a petting zoo, fun fair and Paw Patrol on the big stage.
The Big Feastival
Oro Medonte, August 18-20
Tickets: From $60-$435, free for children 12 and under
Field Trip
Field Trip is back for its fifth straight year, with a star-studded lineup featuring some of Toronto's favourite bands including Broken Social Scene, Feist and A Tribe Called Red among dozens of diverse artists. At the two-day indie music festival at Fort York and Garrison Common, families can expect local food vendors and kid-friendly programming and activities for various ages.
Toronto, June 3-4
Tickets: From $80-$200, free for children 12 and under
Family Pride at Pride Month
Celebrating 17 years at Toronto Pride, the Family Pride festivities take place at Church Street Public School in the Village. Sporting activities, games, crafts, face-painting, stories and performances are some of the ways young families can party together, supporting diversity and the LGBTQ+ community with parents, caregivers and kids. Geared to children up to the age of 12.
Pride Toronto
Toronto, June 24-25
Tickets: Free
www.pridetoronto.com/pride-month
Toronto Caribbean Carnival
Toronto's world-famous Caribbean Carnival, formerly known as Caribana, is celebrating 50 years of stunning brightly coloured costumes, delicious Caribbean eats and beats you can't not dance to. They even have a Junior Carnival for the kiddos where young masqueraders can dance through the streets in their very own parade.
Caribana Toronto
Toronto, July, exact dates TBD
Tickets: Many free events up to $160 (for Carnival Ball)
Canadian National Exhibition (CNE)
Canada's largest annual fair, The Ex is an annual end-of-summer tradition for families of all ages that takes place over 18 days leading up to and including Labour Day. The sprawling grounds of Toronto's CNE pack in massive crowds and entertainment including wacky and guilty-food pleasures, a farm, amusement-park-style rides and games, three-day air show, Annual Cat Show and SuperDogs.
Facebook.com/TheEx
Toronto, August 18 - September 4
Tickets: $15-$59, free admission for children 4 and under, free one-day kids pass for students aged 5-13.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Concord Pacific Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival
One of the biggest dragon boat festivals outside of Asia, the event features world-class dragon boat racing and goes above and beyond for family entertainment. Other things to do include live music and dance performances, children's activities, art installations and an inaugural ancient Chinese blessing ceremony.
Vancouver, June 23-25
vancouverdragonboatfestival.ca
Tickets: Free admission!
Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival
This year's performances at the Vanier Park theatre festival include Much Ado About Nothing, The Winter's Tale, The Merchant of Venice and The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Young Shakespeareans can work on their acting chops with workshops for children and teens under the tents. Family nights, kids' activities and a gourmet food truck (that does catered picnics!) sweeten the deal.
Facebook.com/bardonthebeach
Vancouver, June 1-September 23
Tickets: Vary
ALBERTA
Calgary Stampede
Billed as a celebration of western culture and “the greatest outdoor show on Earth,” the 10-day exhibition and rodeo has a lot to offer the little ones beyond the rides and midway. There are free animal shows, hands-on demonstrations and loads of agricultural activities, plus a small military zone with old army vehicles the kids can sit in.
Calgary Stampede
Calgary, July 7-16
Tickets: $9-$18, free for children under 7
North Country Fair
Celebrate the summer solstice at this rustic camping and arts extravaganza set in a beautiful Boreal forest venue. It features live music, jam sessions, artisans and craft vendors, delicious food (with loads of vegetarian options) and children's activities.
Travel Alberta
Big Lakes, June 23-25
Tickets: $10-$180, free for children 12 and under
Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival
The oldest and largest fringe festival in North America, the Edmonton event takes place in the Old Strathcona neighbouroood and showcases more than 1,600 theatre artists and acts, including buskers, comedians and magicians.
Facebook.com/FringeTheatre
Edmonton, August 17-27
Tickets: On sale August 9 (artists set their own prices
MANITOBA
Winnipeg Folk Festival
This four-day music fest has been going strong for 44 years in Birds Hill Provincial Park, home to Manitoba's Métis nation. Nine stages will host more than 75 performances from a range of genres including roots, world music, indie-rock, electronic, country, Celtic and Americana. There are also workshops, jam sessions and camping grounds for families. Voted “Best Family Program at a Festival” by Canadian Music Week.
Winnipeg Folk Festival
Winnipeg, July 6-9
Tickets: $53-$324, free for children 12 and under
SASKATCHEWAN
Regina Folk Festival
Canadian indie pop duo (and identical twins ) Tegan and Sara are headlining this year's three-day music fest held annually in Victoria Park. Other artists on the mainstage this year include Lights, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Marty Stuart, Coeur de Pirate and Natalie MacMaster. An arts market, food court, beer garden and free children's area with music, dancing and crafts cover the fun for everyone.
Regina Folk Festival
Regina, August 10-13
Tickets: $65-$115, free for children 12 and under
John Arcand Fiddle Fest
This four-day festival features nightly concerts, old time dances, a fiddle contest, workshops and a cultural camp featuring traditional Métis art forms. Free camping, on-site concessions and a children's activity area make it extra appealing for families.
Facebook.com/johnarcandfiddlefest
Saskatoon, August 10-13
Tickets: $25-$60, free for children 12 and under
QUEBEC
Festival d'ete de Quebec
At least 50 acts have been announced for the Quebec City festival's big 50th anniversary, including Metallica, Kendrick Lamar, P!nk and Backstreet Boys—covering every genre from rock and French tunes to hip-hop, electro and jazz. This year's anniversary celebrations also include musical themes of Canadian diversity, reconciliation and inclusion, as well as jaw-dropping acrobatics and enormous floating puppets.
Info Festival
Quebec City, July 6-16
Tickets: From $89, free for children 11 and under
NEW BRUNSWICK
Shediac Lobster Festival
Boasting its reputation as the “lobster capital of the world” with the warmest beaches north of Virginia, the town of Shediac hosts a yearly five-day food festival featuring outdoor family entertainment and activities, local craft beer garden and all things lobster—from suppers with all the trimmings to eating contests and lobster-roll cooking competitions
Shediac Lobster Festival
Shediac, July 6-9
Tickets: From $3-$18, free for children 2 and under
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Summerside Lobster Carnival
This weeklong festival has been going strong for more than 60 years and promises fun for all ages. The event includes three Prince Edward Island's passions: lobster, harness racing and good old-fashioned entertainment. The festival also features a parade, kids' zone and carnival, cooking and eating competitions, old-fashioned step dancing, paper boat racing and live concerts on the waterfront stage.
Tourism PEI
Summerside, July 13-15
Tickets: Free admission to carnival grounds, some ticketed events
www.summersidelobstercarnival.website
NEWFOUNDLAND
Brigus Blueberry Festival
Held in a picturesque seaside town in Conception Bay, you’ll find something for everyone in your brood, including a folk festival, baked goods, pie-eating contest, beer tent, raffles, crafts, children's games, dances and fireworks at the Brigus waterfront.
Facebook.com/blueberryfest
Brigus, Aug 11-13
Tickets: From $2, free for preschool children
www.brigus.net/Tourist/Blueberry-Festival
What are your family's favourite festivals across Canada? Let us know in the comments below!
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