Make the most of your getaway with uniquely Toronto events and activities that will tantalize your appetite for adventure, culture and luxury.
It’s time to hit the play button! #summer2023 is here, so jam-pack as much fun as you can with these seasonal experiences you’ll only find in Toronto.
Get high at CN Tower EdgeWalk
Stroll in the clouds a thrilling 116 storeys (356 m) above Toronto street level at the CN Tower EdgeWalk. Where else can you do a 360-degree lap with your arms outstretched and wind howling through your hair? Only in Toronto — it’s the world’s highest full circle hands-free walk!
Catch Friday Night Jazz with sharks(!) at Ripley’s Canada
The dazzling aquatic-music combo you didn’t know you needed: jazz and sharks. Hang with sea creatures after dark and let the jazz wash over you at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada on select Fridays in the summer.
Go wild at Toronto Zoo’s Serengeti Bush Camp
Live your best Lion King life at the Toronto Zoo’s Serengeti Bush Camp. Peep wildlife like giraffes, zebras and, of course, lions behind the scenes in the African Savanna area, plus lemurs, gorillas and crocs in the Rainforest Pavilion, on a guided, interactive walk. Finally, make s’mores by the campfire before sleeping outdoors in safari tents, for a night your family will never forget.
Embrace the arts at AGO’s Art Bash 2023
Dust off your dancing shoes with other glam culture vultures at Art Bash! Press Play (September 28, 2023). This over-the-top fundraising ball held at the celebrated Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) – renowned for its 90,000-work collection and Frank Gehry-designed expansion – will plunge you into immersive artwork while feeding and fêting you with exquisite cuisine, curated cocktails and incredible performances.
Light up the night on a Sunset Safari SUP tour
What happens when you rig stand-up paddleboards with bright nightlights? Find out when you paddle the lagoons of the Toronto Islands at dusk as you light up the lake with your illuminated SUP board. With a little luck, you’ll spot the city’s infamous Baltic Belle shipwreck right under your feet on Toronto Island SUP’s Sunset Safari adventure.
Settle in for a paddle-in movie under the stars
You’ve never had a big-screen experience like this before: pass the popcorn and catch a flick, all while gently bobbing in your canoe or kayak on the Humber River in Toronto’s west end. Jaws, Deep Blue Sea and Jurassic Park are among the films that will be shown this summer with Toronto Adventures’ Movies on the River series.
Get styled at Holt Renfrew
Shop till you drop? How about shopping like Toronto’s glitterati instead, with the help of a personal stylist at Canada’s luxury department chain, Holt Renfrew. Whether your vibe leans toward the regal elegance of Chanel or Canadian brand Sentaler (a royal fave worn by the Duchesses of Cambridge and Sussex), every fashionphile can be dressed to impress here.
Devour ridiculously good carnival food at the CNE
Teetering between questionable and delicious, the creative concoctions of the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE, August 18–September 4, 2023) are a must for daredevils and foodies alike. The fair’s nostalgic, circa-midcentury Food Building is Ground Zero for the strange, silly and sumptuous. Past offerings have included rainbow-striped grilled cheese sammies, cotton-candy-stuffed waffle tacos and chicken-and-funnel-cake sandwiches topped with maraschino cherries. Bring your appetite to sample what’s new for summer ’23.
Tip: The Chelsea Hotel is the official hotel partner of the CNE, so be sure to check out their offers.
Jump up at Toronto Caribbean Carnival
Whine your waist and get ready to jump up at Toronto Caribbean Carnival (Festival Weekend runs August 3 – August 7, 2023). If you’re jonesing for the electricity of monster-size street festivals with booming music, dancing and vibing, join the fun. Drawing two million people to the city (and over one million to the Sunday parade), this festival is informally known as Caribana, its historic name. It’s the largest Caribbean festival in North America — and it’s only in the 6ix!
