Spring has finally arrived in Toronto! Temperatures are hitting double digits and snow piles melting away! Toronto undergoes a cultural renewal in spring and we’re happy to share our favourite events that are just around the corner!

Visit Toronto’s New Farmers’ Market

Farmer’s Market 707, in and around the Scadding Court Community Centre and the Sanderson Public Library starts May 1st, every Thursday until September 25th, 3pm until 7pm, and includes such vendors as Forsythe Family Farms, Monforte Dairy and Mnandi Pies.

Songkran Festival

Khao San Road celebrates the Thai New Year with a water gun fight in a big heated tent on Saturday, April 12th. Admission is $16 and water guns are supplied, while $6 food tickets will get you dishes supplied by a solid roster.

Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo runs a close second to St. Patrick’s day when it comes to holidays most likely to be exploited via misappropriated cultural tropes and binge drinking. That aside, we’re all in need of a reason to party at some point, and if you’re looking for excuses to imbibe freaky amounts of tequila, this is the excuse for you!

Beer Festival

We’re spoiled for choice this spring when it comes to beer drinking events and festivals, but Ontario Beer Week might take the cake. The fifth annual tribute to Ontario’s independent brewers takes place June 15-21 and features over 30 Ontario Craft Breweries.

Cherry Blossoms

Arguably the most spring-like of all of these spring events, the annual pilgrimage to High Park to check out the sakura trees has become wildly popular over the past few years.

Canadian Music Week

Canadian Music Week is entering its 32nd year. Between May 6 – 10th over 1,000 international bands and musicians of all backgrounds (from the securely established to the naive and hopeless) will perform and hustle at showcases around the city.

Woofstock

Toronto’s Woofstock, North America’s largest outdoor festival for dogs, is part doggie socializing extravaganza, part expo for fancy pooch swag and accessories, and part meet and great for Toronto pet owners. Pet owner or not, head down to Woodbine Park May 24 & 25.

Luminato

Renew your creative spirit with the Luminato Festival June 6-15th. This year has a particularly stellar line-up of talent and events and a moving and beautiful performance by ten Maori women. Luminato celebrates the best and boldest of creative minds, enlivening the city with cultural activities.

NXNE

North by North East (like SXSW but Canadian, but possibly with the same amount of flannel shirts) is pulling a ton of bands into town from June 13 – 22, including Spoon, St. Vincent, Ryan Hemsworth, Le1f, Swans, Spiritualized, and way more for a week of multi-venue concerts here and the usual big free shows at Yonge-Dundas Square.

Pillow Fight

PILLOW FIGHT!!! Don’t the words just curl your toes and send a jolt of springing energy through you? Each year a giant urban pillow fight happens in Nathan Phillips Square-this year’s theme of Pillow Fight Day (April 5th) is Superheroes versus Villains.

What are you looking forward to this spring? Let us know with a comment below!