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MAJOR EVENTS IN ONTARIO 2015
THE TORONTO BLUE JAYS (April – October, 2015)
The “Jays” take to the field at the Rogers Centre for all the ‘home’ baseball games. www.bluejays.ca
TORONTO FC (March – September 2015)
Toronto FC (TFC) brings great soccer matches to the newly expanded BMO Field in Toronto. TFC
competes in the Major League Soccer (MLS) www.torontofc.ca
SHAW FESTIVAL (April – November, 2015)
Experience world-class theatre showcasing the plays by Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries in
beautiful Niagara-on- the-Lake, the 2015 season includes Shaw’s Pygmalian and the much loved Sweet
Charity. www.shawfest.com
STRATFORD SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL (April – November, 2015)
Christopher Plummer, Alec Guinness, Julie Harris and William Shatner are just some of the famous
names that have graced the stage of this renowned theatre festival in Stratford, which features the best
in classic Shakespearean theatre as well as contemporary favourites. www.stratfordfestival.ca
DOORS OPEN TORONTO (May 23-24, 2015)
Doors Open Toronto is a popular, annual, city-wide, weekend celebration that features free access to
nearly 135 architecturally, historically, culturally and socially significant buildings.
www.toronto.ca/doorsopen
CANADIAN TULIP FESTIVAL (Weekends, May, 2015)
The world’s largest tulip festival blossoms in Ottawa, commemorating the beauty of spring and
symbolizing international friendship. What began as a Dutch gift of 100,000 tulip bulbs has grown into an
annual event featuring some 3 million tulips across the national capital region, with sites along a 15-km
Tulip Route, family entertainment and an International Pavilion. www.tulipfestival.ca
LUMINATO (June 19-28, 2015)
Toronto’s festival of arts and creativity puts Toronto in a whole new light. Artists working across all
disciplines will come together for 10 days of unique collaborations and an incredible showcase of talent,
making this festival one of the highlights of the summer events calendar. www.luminato.com
NORTH BY NORTH EAST MUSIC FESTIVAL (June 17-21, 2015)
Now in its 21st year, North by Northeast Music Festival and Conference (NXNE) has become the Canadian
festival destination for new and emerging talent—unsigned bands, indie favourites, and major-label
headlining artists alike. Over 650 bands playing more than 40 venues across the city make this the most
anticipated summer music event in Canada. www.nxne.com
NIAGARA NEW VINTAGE FESTIVAL (June 13-14; 20-21, 2015)
Visit Niagara and experience the Niagara New Vintage Festival. Internationally acclaimed wines, fresh
produce, and a culinary experience unique to Ontario are at the centre of this two weekend wine and
culinary extravaganza. Embrace a demonstration of what it means to buy local and realize all that Niagara
has to offer. From quaint cottage wineries among the vines to glittering state-of-the-art facilities,
Niagara's wineries offer you a fresh taste of Niagara - from Vine to Wine. www.grapeandwine.com
PRIDE WEEK (June 19-28, 2015)
Toronto’s Pride Week celebrates the city’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities. Week-long
festivities culminate in the glittering Pride Parade, a joyful sensory assault for over 750,000 spectators,
making it one of the largest Pride celebrations in the world. www.pridetoronto.com
CHANGING THE GUARD (Late June – Late August, 2015)
Witness the ceremonial majesty of the changing of the guard on Parliament Hill, in the nation’s capital.
www.parl.gc.ca/vis
CANADA DAY (July 1, 2015)
Canadians show their national pride on July 1st – Canada Day. Canada’s “birthday” celebrates the
anniversary of the enactment of the British North American Act (today called the Constitution Act) on
July 1st, 1867. Events take place nationwide, but all eyes are on the nation’s capital, Ottawa, where large
crowds gather for concerts, fireworks and more. www.canadascapital.gc.ca
ANISHNAWBE KEESHIGUN (July 4-5, 2015)
This annual event at Fort William Historical Park, the world’s largest recreated fur trade post, celebrates
Fort William will resonate the culture of First Nations people with drumming, singing and dancing.
www.fwhp.ca
RBC BLUESFEST (July 9-19, 2015)
This multi-day music festival celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2014, showcasing local, regional, national
and international musicians. In 2015 the tradition of great live music continues with a performance by
Kanye West, the Tragically Hip, and many more. www.ottawabluesfest.ca
PAN AM GAMES AND PARAPAN AM GAMES:
Celebrate High Performance Splendour, Excitement and Sportsmanship in Ontario
Join us in Ontario July 10-26 and August 7-15, 2015 for the Pan Am Games and Parapan Am Games. This
will be the largest multi-sport event ever held in Canada, with more than 10,000 athletes, coaches and
delegates from the Caribbean and Central, South and North America competing in 48 sports at more
than 40 venues, spread across several municipalities of Ontario. The Pan Am Games and Parapan Am
Games are scheduled every four years–one year before the Summer Olympic Games. Come by the
Celebration Zone where Ontario will highlight its diversity, culture and heritage with incredible
programming at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. Everyone is invited to join the celebration at this free
event, which runs for the duration of the games and includes live acts and entertainment, chef-led
cooking demonstrations, family fun and so much more. www.toronto2015.org
INTERNATIONAL COOL CLIMATE CHARDONNAY CELEBRATION (July 17-19, 2015)
The 5th annual International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration (i4C) takes place in Niagara, and will
showcase over 110 cool climate chardonnays. Other highlights include: an in-depth winemaker
discussion on “Extreme Winemaking”, the Cool Chardonnay World Tour, and a Taste of Canada dinner.
www.coolchardonnay.org
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COLLINGWOOD ELVIS FESTIVAL (July 23 – 26, 2015)
Over 70,000 visitors come to Collingwood, near beautiful Georgian Bay, to pay tribute to Elvis Presley,
and watch talented impersonators from around the world honour the King of Rock ’n Roll.
www.collingwoodelvisfestival.com
CARIBANA TORONTO (July 30 – August 2, 2015)
North America’s largest Caribbean festival is held right in the heart of downtown Toronto. Lakeshore
Boulevard shines with sequined splendour as costumed revellers dance to calypso, soca, steel pan and
the sounds of the Caribbean! www.caribanatoronto.com
WIKWEMIKONG ANNUAL CULTURAL FESTIVAL (early August 2015)
Witness the beauty of First Nation song, dance, hand-made art, and cultural philosophies on Manitoulin
Island. www.wikwemikongheritage.org
FERGUS SCOTTISH FESTIVAL & HIGHLAND GAMES (August 7-9, 2015)
North America’s largest Scottish Festival is right here in Ontario. www.fergusscottishfestival.com
TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (September 10-20, 2015)
The Toronto International Film Festival is the leading public film festival in the world, screening more
than 300 films from 60+ countries every September. www.tiff.net
NIAGARA WINE FESTIVAL (September, 2015)
Late September marks the beginning of wine harvest. Award-winning wineries invite you to celebrate,
taste and experience all the Niagara Harvest celebrations. At participating wineries you will have access
to exclusive wine tasting experiences including food and wine pairings, educational seminars and more.
www.niagarawinefestival.com
TORONTO RAPTORS (October 2015 – April 2016)
The Raptors NBA basketball team take centre court at the Air Canada Centre. www.nba.com/raptors
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (October 2015 – April 2016)
The Leafs take to the ice for some exciting National Hockey League games, with home games played at
the Air Canada Centre. www.mapleleafs.com
OKTOBERFEST (October 9-17, 2015)
This is the second largest Oktoberfest outside of Munich, featuring events and activities throughout the
twin cities of Kitchener-Waterloo. www.oktoberfest.ca
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL WINTER FAIR (November 6-15, 2015)
Held on the grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
has “brought the country to the city” since 1922 and has grown into the world’s largest indoor
agricultural fair. www.royalfair.org
WINTER FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS (November 14, 2015 – January 11, 2016)
Niagara Falls shines with nearly two million lights and over 100 animated light displays during the Annual
Winter Festival of Lights. During this two-month festival, you’ll witness the spectacular illumination of
the Falls themselves – along with illuminated night parades, fireworks, children’s shows and Canada’s
largest New Year’s Eve party. www.wfol.com
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CALVALCADE OF LIGHTS (November, 2015)
This annual celebration kicks off the holiday season at Nathan Phillips Square with the lighting of
Toronto’s official Christmas tree. Concerts by musical guests are followed by a spectacular fireworks
display and a skating party to get you in the festive spirit.
www.toronto.ca/special_events/cavalcade_lights
TORONTO CHRISTMAS MARKET (November 27 – December 20, 2015)
The Toronto Christmas Market is back at the Distillery District for a fifth year. The Market is inspired by
the Old World and influenced by the New. It is a free annual event that captures the tradition of a
European Christmas Market. Aside from local handcrafted products, the festival has family friendly
entertainment, carollers, children's choirs, holiday themed stage presentations, Rudolph's Reindeer Zoo
and Santa and his roaming elves! www.torontochristmasmarket.com
WINTERLUDE (Weekends, February 2016)
Come to Ottawa, the nation’s capital, for Winterlude. This celebration of winter offers a wide variety of
special activities, winter parks, concerts and the opportunity to skate along the Rideau Canal – the record
holder for the world’s largest skating rink! www.winterlude.ca
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