It’s Road Trip Time! Canadian Music Festivals
Throughout the year, Canada is a country worth driving around to see the sights, both urban and untamed. But when it comes to the summer months, nothing is more worthy of a road trip than Toronto music festivals.
There are dozens of music festivals planned out for summer every year, all either within or just a few hours away from Toronto. Are you ready for a non-stop music marathon this summer? Then check out these top festivals near Toronto that are perfect for a road trip.
1. Ever After Music Festivals
June 8 to 10, Kitchener, Ontario
Website: www.everafterfest.com
If you’re looking for an immersive experience, then you need to get to Ever After Music Festival. Go on, rent that car for the road trip, buy the camping packages, and then dive into the adventure that awaits. Ever After is huge and has acts like Adventure Club, Illenium, Zedd, and Flux Pavilion every year.
2. Field Trip
June 2 to 3, Historic Fort York & Garrison Common, Toronto
Website: www.fieldriplife.com
Perhaps you want to see some famous Toronto attractions while listening to something a bit more indie. Field Trip gathers up some of the best indie talent out there, like Metric, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Allie X and more. Throughout the day, there are events for people of all ages, and since the festival is held at the historic Fort York in Toronto’s downtown, you get awesome vibes and a backyard feel. Check it out.
3. The Sound of Music Festival
June 14 to 17, Burlington, Ontario
Website: www.soundofmusic.ca
Though Burlington, Ontario might be a few hours away from Toronto, the road trip is definitely worthwhile. The Sound of Music has been Canada’s largest free music festival for multiple years now. The entire waterfront and downtown of Burlington becomes a weekend-long festival full of music, food, fun, and a carnival-like, kid-friendly atmosphere.
4. VELD
August 4 to 5, Downsview Park, Toronto
Website: www.veldmusicfestival.com
If you’re coming from outside of Toronto, no festival is worth the car ride like VELD. And if you live near Toronto, you’re in luck! This electronic music festival has hosted some major names in the world of trance and electro, such as Tiesto, Zedd, Major Lazer, Seven Lions and more. You never know what to expect at VELD.
5. AFROFEST
July 7 to 8, Toronto
Website: www.afrofest.ca
Did someone say “free”? Afrofest has been a popular immersion experience in Toronto for 30 years now. It is the not only the largest African music festival in North America, it is also entirely free and does a wonderful job of showcasing the talent of musicians with African-descent or African-inspired tunes. Bring the children along for this trip, too, because there’s a creative village on site!
Don’t have a car? No worries! Renting a car is not only smart but affordable because you can carpool to multiple venues in and around Toronto. Whether you are looking to go around Canada on your own or with friends to see some of the most epic summer music festivals in the whole world, then start doing research now. Visit Holiday Autos to compare prices of rental vehicles and get this plan underway.
The only question left is which music festivals you plan on checking out. Of course, there are way more summer festivals than the ones listed here all throughout Toronto, Ontario, Montreal, and Quebec. You will never run out of music, food, and fun.