We’ve officially made it to summer and this June in Toronto is looking to be the biggest in a long time. Arts and culture by the water, iconic artists hosting big-time concerts, one of the biggest Pride celebrations in North America, and more festivals than you may have time for. With that being said, here are the 30 most exciting things to do this June 2023 in Toronto.
1. Enjoy an enchanting Candlelit concert
There are some wonderful ways to get a little culture this June in Toronto and these candlelight concerst are some of our favorite experiences. With both open-air and indoor venues, plus a mix of contemporary and classics sounds, there’s a concert for any occassion.
Some of the magnificent concerts you can attend this month include a concert to see a Hans Zimmer tribute concert which include amazing songs from films like Inception and Batman and a concert that celebrates Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and other iconic musicians. These could work great as a gift for dad during Father’s Day or a date night. You can check out the June lineup and buy your tickets at the official website.
2. Unlock your power at Stranger Things: The Experience
For fans of the popular Netflix series, don’t miss your chance to enjoy Stranger Things: The Experience. Venture into the Upside Down this June in Toronto at the epic Stranger Things Experience that makes you the hero of your own story. Journey with the gang to save Hawkins from Vecna and other villains! Once you’re done being a hero, head over to the iconic Scoops Ahoy for some ice cream or get a pepperoni slice at Surfer Boy Pizza. You will also be able to visit the Starcourt Mall and walk away with awesome branded merch.
3. Lace up your boots for adventure through Jurassic World
Ever since its arrival in Mississauga last April, Jurassic World: The Exhibition has charmed little and old — and as clear proof of its success, the imposing experience will be extending its stay! Step into the prehistoric era where dinosaurs roamed the earth carelessly, and uncover the science behind your beloved giants at The Creation Lab. Hurry and get your tickets before the month’s over.
4. Escape this epic pirate-themed escape room
Secret City design studio and Pirate Life boat cruise are launching ‘Escape the Ghost Ship’ in Hamilton for double the fun! Assemble with friends for an exhilirating escape room set where you’re escaping a haunted ghost ship.
5. Art & Water Dockside Series
Canada’s only floating art festival is returning for another year in Toronto this June. Head down to Toronto’s waterfront for the return of Art & Water’s Dockside Series (formerly known as 100 Days of Summer) where theatre, dance, and music are the highlight, featuring up-and-coming artists. The festival kicks off May 31st and goes through June and the rest of the summer. They also hold the world’s first floating art gallery by showcasing chairs decorated by artists that you can view or sit on and enjoy the performances. For this year’s Dockside Series, they’ve posted the following schedule.
Dockside 2023 Schedule
Music Festival: 1 Queens Quay East. Saturdays & Sundays. 1-4 pm.
Dance Festival: 585 Queens Quay West. Thursdays & Fridays. 6-9 pm.
Empire Sandy: 145 Queens Quay West. Tuesdays & Wednesdays. 6-9 pm.
6. Lavazza Inclucity Festival
This summer in Toronto from June 27th to July 21st, the Distillery Historic District will be fully transformed. An open-air cinema village will line the iconic cobblestone streets in a celebration of multiculturalism and the best of international cinema. The festival will feature films from over 20 countries from dramas to documentaries. As far as tickets go, we’d recommend purchasing a package that’ll give you access to all films being screened and cheaper prices per ticket.
7. TD Toronto Jazz Festival
Lovers of Jazz can enjoy Toronto’s Jazz Festival that kicks off Saturday June 23rd and finishes on Sunday, July 2nd. Also, the festival will celebrating its 36th year! TD Toronto Jazz Festival spans across 10 days with a huge variety of different artists to enjoy with the option to buy ticketed performances or purchase for the entire festival. Classic, modern, global, and unique sounds and vibes will be available to choose between with heavy hitters like Ashanti performing to smaller, independent musicians. Hurry and head to their website for tickets because performances are selling out!
8. Pedestrian Sundays at Kensington Market
Looking for something to do during the weekends in June? Pedestrian Sundays are in full swing at Kensington Market this June in Toronto. Every last Sunday from now until fall, the streets of the market are yours! Closed off to traffic, pedestrians can explore and discover the neighborhood from its eclectic bars and coffee shops to live music and unique food vendors. If you’re not sure what there is to do, we’ve got a full neighborhood guide here that gets into our favorite parts of Kensington Market.
9. Toronto Pride
One of the biggest pride festivals in North America is right in our backyards! Toronto Pride is a huge affair that celebrates throughout the entire month of June. Things kick off with a Parade and at past events there have been several stages for live performances, a Trans Parade, Dyke Parade, and more. We wrote about it in full length here if you want to know more details. P.S. We’ve recently heard that Toronto Pride may be a bit downsized this month due to some funding issues as everything has gotten quite expensive since the pandemic, but we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled.
10. Luminato Festival
From Wednesday June 7th to Monday June 19th, Toronto’s International Arts Festival is back! Founded in 2007, Luminato is bold and transcends the world of contemporary art from what we’ve previously known of it. Since it’s premiered in Toronto, it’s since become huge with more than 3,600 performances featuring 15,000 artists from over 40 countries. This year, expect puppetry art, a musical performance that fuses together European classical music with the sounds of ragtime, folk, and gospel.
11. North by North East (NXNE)
North by North East runs from June 13th to 17th and is for all those who want to discover some of the coolest international music and emerging artists. What’s even better is that tickets are only $25 for five whole nights of music or $15 for one night only if you can’t make the entire week. Make sure to head to their website for the entire festival lineup.
12. Shania Twain’s Queen Of Me Tour
I’m going out tonight, I’m feeling alright because Shania Twain the queen of pop country is having a homecoming concert in Toronto this June. The Windsor-born singer has reached critical acclaim since her humble beginnings and is the best selling woman in country music history. On Saturday, June 24th, you can see her perform her incredible hit “I Feel Like A Woman,” at Budweiser Stage during her Queen Of Me Tour.
13. Summer Music in the Garden
An intimate live music experience at Toronto’s harbourfront, you won’t want to miss Summer Music in the Garden. The concerts kick off June 21st with a dynamic lineup of 18 performances from local and international artists alike. You can get a more in-depth read here.
15-22. Visit a rooftop bar for an elevated evening
Get gorgeous skyline views of the CN tower or Toronto’s waterfront and sweeping looks out at the city at a rooftop bar. Combining cocktails with panoramic views, we don’t think there’s a better way to spend a summer evening. We’ve highlighted Cactus Club Cafe, Lavelle, and more at our in-depth article linked above.
23-30. Visit one of these temporary exhibits passing through Toronto this summer
If you’re looking to get out of the sun and into the shade, we’d recommend heading to one of Toronto’s world-class museums this June. There’s currently an exhibit at Bota dedicated to all things footwear and florals as well as secret evening sessions at the ROM.