TR Fests + Events Calendar October 2022
đ 12 min read
After a two-year hiatus, food festivals and events are back and better than ever. This monthâs spectacular lineup is jam-packed with festivities celebrating everything from bbq to butter tarts. The only challenge? Trying to fit it all in.
Pro tip: Be sure to check back for additions, follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to the TR Newsletter for breaking news and updates.
Continuing until October 1
TORONTO OKTOBERFEST
Ontario Place
The two day festival takes returns with all things German inside a Festhalle tent, with an outdoor Bavarian Village, celebrating ten years. Erdingerâs Oktoberfest Brew, specially brewed for the season, is exclusive to this event.
Bonus: Free German glass beer stein to the first 500 attendees per session.
Continuing until October 2
EAST END'S FOREVER FEST
Maple Leaf Forever Park - 62 Laing St.
This fun-filled three-day event highlights all-Canadian food, drinks, and music, in support of Legacy of Hope - 100% of NET proceeds raised will be donated to the charity. Entry is free, with VIP options.
Continuing until October 2
ISNA CANADAâS HALAL RIBFEST & NIGHT MARKET
2200 South Sheridan Way
Enjoy fresh Halal ribs, visit food trucks, and explore the night market at this free family-friendly event in Mississauga.
Continuing until October 2
MARKHAM FAIR
Markham Fairgrounds
From a truck and tractor pull to Superdogs daily shows, âCanada's largest four-day agricultural fairâ is back with a full roster of events and performances, midway, vendors, and an abundance of food and drinks.
Continuing until October 2
ONTARIO GARLIC WEEK
Various locations
This cross-cultural celebration of Ontario garlic by local farmers, chefs and consumers of the pungent herb takes place at locations across the province.
Continuing until October 5
INDIGENOUS FOOD MARKET
Fort York National Historic Site - 100 Garrison Rd.
Dashmaawaan Bemaadzinjin, an Indigenous food sovereignty collective and social enterprise focused on âfeeding the spirit of community through connections to healthy, whole and nutritious food,â invites vendors that are âconnected to Indigenous Foodways, food sovereignty, and Elder and community wellness, to provide healthy, fresh, traditional and fun Indigenous food for the publicâ at the new Indigenous food market in downtown Toronto.
In addition to digging into Indigenous fare made by local chefs Wednesdays 3:30pm to 7:30 pm, shop and support local vendors while taking in live performances.
Note: Menu is cash only, though vendors accept debit as well.
Photo courtesy of Night Market Toronto.
Continuing until October 9
NIGHT MARKET MISSISSAUGA HARVEST FESTIVAL
Square One, Lot P3
Night Market Toronto in partnership with Tourism Mississauga, presents the second annual ode to fall. Over ten days enjoy autumn fare, cozy drinks, harvest marketplace, rides, games and a pumpkin patch.
Continuing until October 14
CULTURAL BAZAAR 2022
660 Dundas St. E.
The Toronto Centre of Learning & Developmentâs marketplace in Regent Park takes place every Friday from 5-9pm until September 2.
The free event includes multicultural food, artisanal products, and fun fair treats such as cotton candy and popcorn for sale, live music, henna, raffles and much more. Take part in free Yoga in the Park 5:30pm-6:30pm. Note: Please bring your own mat. Starting Sept 8, classes will move indoors to 540 Dundas St. E.
Photo courtesy of Fall Nâ Leaves TO.
Continuing until October 16
FALL Nâ LEAVES TO
164 Bathurst St.
The popular outdoor food and wine bar pop-up with a âpumpkin patch vibeâ returns to the downtown core.
Enjoy live acoustic music, DJ, wood fire bbq pit and oven, pumpkin painting, pumpkin bowling, snap a pic on the hay bale sofa and more.
Continuing until October 30
ST. LAWRENCE MARKET SUNDAY CHEF SERIES
Market St. next to St. Lawrence Market
The weekly series showcases Toronto chefs offering free cooking demonstrations, dish samples and recipes from approximately 12pm-2pm.
Continuing until October 31
PUMPKINVILLE
CF Sherway Gardens - 25 The West Mall
From larger-than-life sculptures, houses and village inside of a candy forest made with more than 30,000 pumpkins to lights display, midway rides and pumpkin decorating/carving station, thereâs something for everyone, including Fido (on dog-friendly days). For eats and drinks, check out the lineup of food trucks and licensed bar area.
October 1
AFRICAN-CARIBBEAN FOOD FESTIVAL
Mississauga Celebration Square - 300 City Centre Dr.
This free. family-friendly event features a variety of food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, dance workshops, fashion parades, and other activities, revitalizing and promoting African/Caribbean people, culture, and community.
October 1
BLOORCOURT NUIT NUIT NIGHT MARKET
7 Bartlett Ave. (GreenP Lot at Bartlett & Bloor)
Bloorcourt BIA hosts the inaugural night market kicking off Nuit Blanche with artisans, live music, ping pong, snacks and mocktails from 4pm-10pm.
Photo courtesy of Sake Institute of Ontario.
October 1
KAMPAI TORONTO
Japanese Canadian Cultural Center (JCCC) â 6 Garamond Crt.
The 10th edition of Canadaâs largest sake tasting event festival of Sake returns in conjunction with World Sake Day.
Discover an exciting range of sakes from Japan and around the world, chat with vendors and brewers as well as sample food from a selection of Torontoâs Japanese restaurants.
October 1
STIRLING ROAD BLOCK PARTY
Henderson Brewing Co. - 128A Sterling Rd.
Henderson Brewing Co.âs Block Party is back. Enjoy a day of music and entertainment, food, beer, other beverages, shopping, and all-ages entertainment offered by local vendors and artists at this free, family and pet-friendly event.
Space Oddity Image by Meng-Ke Hsieh and Sophia Han courtesy of Nuit Blanche.
October 1-2
NUIT BLANCHE
Various locations
Torontoâs all-night celebration of contemporary art returns for its biggest event to date.
Explore 150 artworks by local, national and international artists in exhibitions located downtown as well as in North York, Scarborough and Etobicoke from sunset on October 1 to sunrise on October 2
The Space Between Us, Nuit Blancheâs curatorial theme by inaugural Artistic Director Dr. Julie Nagam, invites artists to transform the city by creatively sharing stories about their connection to place while bridging cultures and connecting with communities and the environment.
Many businesses and restaurants will be open late for the event, including the TTC.
October 1-31
BLACK LAGOON POP-UP
Third Space - 875 Bloor St. W.
The award-winning pop-up bar is back. Get in on this immersive experience by industry vets Kelsey Ramage and LA-based Erin Hayes touring North America.
The Toronto stopover boasts a month of cocktails against a macabre backdrop. Costumes welcome.
October 5
STREET EATS 2022
40 Oak St.
Enjoy street-food inspired dishes prepared by 20 of Torontoâs finest chefs/makers at the sixth annual event by Fred Victor.
The outdoor street food celebration in the heart of Regent Park includes live music and prizes to be won, all for a good cause: raiseing money to help people experiencing poverty.
Photo courtesy of The Queenâs Ball: A Bridgerton Experience.
October 6-December 4
THE QUEEN'S BALL: A BRIDGERTON EXPERIENCE TORONTO
Cinespace Studios - 8 Unwin Ave.
Get ready for an immersive Regency-era ball with period costumes and striking décor brought to you by Shondaland, Netflix and Fever.
Take in a dance performance, enjoy a string quartet play songs inspired by the iconic Bridgerton soundtrack, enjoy interactive experiences and performances based on key moments of the show, sip cocktails, and snap pics to capture the experience.
October 8-10
RICHMOND HILL PUMPKIN FEST
Richmond Green Sports Centre and Park
Celebrate Thanksgiving weekend with food trucks, vendors, live entertainment, and of course pumpkins.
From fall attractions including the large pumpkin patch and carnival rides, to âUnder The Big Topâ featuring daily circus acts including photo ops with exotic animals, carnival rides, thereâs lots to do, see and eat.
October 8-10
WOODBRIDGE FALL FAIR
Woodbridge Fair Grounds â 100 Porter Ave.
The Thanksgiving weekend event offers a wide array of different competitions for people of all ages to take part in and enjoy.
Competitions include: Agriculture, Art, Culinary Arts, Floriculture, Antiques, Elementary School Arts, Photography and Needle Work/Crafts. And the fun continues with The Great Pumpkin Contest, Farmer Olympics and Colouring Contest.
October 8-10, 15-16, 22-23
PUMPKINFEST TORONTO
Downsview Park
The annual fall fest takes over Downsview Park on weekends throughout the month with food trucks , entertainment, rides and games, pumpkin patch, and more. Take the Pumpkin Express train through the venue to witness all thatâs on offer.
October 14-17
TORONTO FOOD FILM FEST
Various locations
The fourth annual film fest dedicated to âsupporting and showcasing thought-provoking independent films about food from around the worldâ returns with food flicks, curated snacks, tastings demos, workshops and more.
October 15
APPLEFEST
Bayview Ave. from Parkhurst to Davisville
Bayview Leaside BIAâs annual celebration offers fun for the whole family from live entertainment and shopping to food sampling and face-painting.
As a nod of the areaâs farming and orchard history, the streets will be lined with apples and hay.
Image courtesy of A Taste of Nigeria.
October 16
A TASTE OF NIGERIA FESTIVAL
Royal Event Center - 30 Gordon Mackay Rd.
The ninth annual celebration of Nigeria's independence, art, history and culture presented by Arispop is touring across North America. Next stop: Toronto.
In addition to an array of food and drinks, discover music, art, dance, fashion, market and more. Bring the entire family.
October 28-29
POUTINE FESTIVAL
Mississauga Celebration Square - 300 City Centre Dr.
Street Eats Market presents a two-day fest celebrating the Canadian comfort food.
Dig into over 50 varieties including lobster, unicorn, shawarma, bulgogi, fried chicken and more. Activities include roller skating, games, artisan market, marshmallow fire pits and much more.
Photo courtesy of Variety Village.
October 29-30
HALLOWEEN FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL
Variety Village â 3701 Danforth Avenue, Scarborough
The second annual family-friendly, accessible two-day truck nâ treat event by Variety Village and Canadian Food Truck Festivals features food and drinks from local food trucks and craft breweries, farmersâ market showcasing local items, kid-friendly activities, costumes, treats, live entertainment, and open house. Guests are encouraged to attend in costume.
Entrance to the festival is a minimum $5 donation to support Variety Ontarioâs unique programming for individuals with disabilities.
Continuing until January 2, 2023
THE FRIENDSâą EXPERIENCE TORONTO
Yorkdale - 3401 Dufferin St.
Immerse yourself in the world of Monica, Pheobe, Rachel, Chandler, Joey and Ross, including photos ops in Central Perk and food and drink related props, costumes, and merch.
Note: Events and information subject to change.
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