What better way to celebrate spring than by enjoying the best food and drink in town? Spring in Toronto is filled with festivals of all kinds, many of which are dedicated to eating and drinking. If you’re looking for something to do when the weather warms up (as well as a chance to fill your belly), you have plenty of options in town. Here are 11 of Toronto’s best spring food and drink events to visit.
1. Songkran (April 10-11)
What could be better than eating delicious Thai food and also having a water fight? If that sounds like your idea of a good time, you might want to think about attending some Songkran festivities. Songkran is the celebration of the Thai New Year and this year’s fun will be hosted by Nana and Khao San Road and will involve delicious food and an indoor water fight. The Thai New Year tradition of people pouring water symbolizes clearing away any negativity from the previous year and preparing for the year ahead.
2. Soi 1st Anniversary Night Market (April 16)
Enjoy even more Thai food in celebration of Soi’s first anniversary. College Street Restaurant is throwing a party in the form of a traditional Thai street food experience on April 16 between 7-10 p.m. Feel like you’ve been transported to Thailand for the evening as you sample dishes like Rangoon Crab, Pork, and Sticky Rice nigiri, plantains and coconut potatoes, chicken satay with peanut sauce and basil chicken wrap, krapow, among other delicacies on the menu.
3. Asia Food Fest (April 29 to May 15)
Sample discounted prix fixe menus at more than 60 Asian restaurants in Toronto and the GTA between April 29 and May 15 at Asia Food Fest. The event highlights the wealth of Asian cuisine Toronto has to offer, from Korean and Chinese barbecue to Izakaya Japanese, Indian and Thai food. Some of the participating restaurants include Don Don Izakaya, Little India Restaurant, Nok Won Korean Restaurant, various Kinton Ramen venues, Gourmet Malaysia, Yang’s Chinese Cuisine, and Seoul House among many others.
4. Spirit of Toronto (May 7)
Roy Thompson Hall is hosting Spirit of Toronto, a celebration of all things whiskey and jazz this spring. The popular event, strong since 2004, features a selection of more than 100 premium whiskeys and spirits from around the world. The admission price offers you all of your samples, tutorial tastings, live jazz, food and drink pairings, a glass of Crystal Blender’s imported Scottish malt whiskey, hot and cold food stations and the opportunity to learn as you please thanks to the brand ambassadors and distillery representatives available to share their knowledge.
5. Brewers plaque (May 18)
At this event, also to raise money for War Child, 10 local brewers and 10 local chefs and restaurants come together to serve up a good mix of good food and beer. Tickets to Brewers Plate give you unlimited food tastings as well as Ontario’s wide selection of beers, ciders and mead. Chefs from kitchens like East Thirty-Six, Magic Oven, and Tundra Restaurant combine unique creations with beer from breweries like Beau’s, Great Lakes, Steam Whistle, and more.
6. Halal Food Festival (May 21-22)
Toronto’s Halal Food Fest is back this spring, taking place at the International Center. The two-day gastronomic event will feature more than 100 exhibitors representing some of the best halal restaurants, manufacturers, bakeries and specialty shops and will showcase food from around the world. Seven areas of the festival will offer the opportunity to see cooking demonstrations, panel discussions, cooking competitions, live performances, tasting seminars, a shopping area and a street festival.
7. Torai Toronto (3 of June)
The Sake Institute of Ontario will host its annual Kampai Toronto – Festival of Sake on June 3 at the Distillery District’s historic fermentation cellar. The sake-focused festival is the largest of its kind in Canada and offers the opportunity to sample over 140 sakes from Japan, Canada, and the US, some of which are available at the LCBO if you try one that really resonate. In addition to sake, food will be offered by some of the best Japanese and international restaurants in the city.
8. Toronto Craft Brew Cruise (June 4)
What’s better than beer and sailing? If that sounds like the perfect spring combination for you, buy a ticket for this year’s Toronto Craft Brew Cruise. The third annual event takes place aboard the River Gambler at Harbourfront and will involve a three-hour tour where you can sample some of Ontario’s best craft beers. There will be two sessions, one at 2 pm and one at 7 pm, and both include four sample cards and a commemorative mug.
9. Craft Beer Festival Session (June 11)
The seventh annual session of the Craft Beer Festival will kick off Ontario Craft Beer Week which will take place at Yonge-Dundas Plaza. The much-loved event will feature over 100 beers to try, a chance to learn about the beer you’re drinking, great food, and live music, all in one fun and busy afternoon. This year’s festival will also include all the ladies sessions hosted by the Society of Beer Drinking Ladies. Some of this year’s breweries include Muskoka, Longslice, Beau’s, Amsterdam, Flying Monkeys, and Big Rock, among many others.
Food trucks will also be available to offer sustenance. So far you can expect Chimney Stax, Born2Eat, and Tdots Naansense, with more additions.
10. Toronto Taste (June 12)
In support of Second Harvest’s food rescue program, Toronto Taste will once again take place on the Toronto waterfront at Chorus Quay. This will be the 26th anniversary of arguably the most notable culinary event in the city. Food vendors include some of Toronto’s best chefs and restaurants.
11. Wine and Spirit Festival (June 16-18)
Head to Sugar Beach to take part in this year’s Wine and Spirit Festival, taking place June 16-18. Stroll along the shoreline and sample wines, ciders, beers and spirits on the sand, in the shade of Sugar Beach’s pink umbrellas. There will also be food on sale, live music during the three-day festival, and the opportunity to attend complementary educational seminars if you want to learn more about something you are drinking.
