Saddle up, Toronto – a celebration of country culture is taking over one of Toronto’s most historic neighbourhoods starting today, and it’s totally free to join in on the fun!
The Distillery District is officially bringing country to the heart of the city with Toronto Country Fest! Running from August 6 through August 23, this exciting new festival will celebrate the very best of country culture with a packed lineup of county fair nostalgia, western-inspired eats, and non-stop live entertainment.
Visitors can look forward to free live country music every single day on the Trinity Stage, featuring daily sets from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The lineup highlights a roster of Canadian country talent, including artists like Bree Taylor, Charissa, Jessica Sole, Elyse Saunders, and Rosewood Ave. On Friday and Saturday evenings, the event turns up the energy with “Nashville Nights” from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., featuring live country DJs, neon lighting, and a full party atmosphere.
Beyond the music, you can test your grit on a mechanical bull, take a ride on a Ferris wheel, try your hand at cattle roping, or play classic carnival games. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to boot-scoot, free line dancing lessons will take place every Wednesday for intermediate dancers and every Friday for beginners from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
When you work up an appetite, participating neighborhood restaurants and smoker-and-grill pop-ups will be serving up mouthwatering Southern hospitality. Guests can dig into festival favorites like Nashville hot chicken sandwiches, baby back ribs, deep-fried pickles, and Tex-Mex street corn, alongside exclusive menu items from local spots, including Crawfish Gumbo at Pure Spirits and a dry-aged Cowboy Ribeye Steak at Cluny.
Best of all, admission to the district and most of the festival activities are completely free. You can find the full music and activity schedule on The Distillery District’s official website before heading down to 55 Mill Street.
