10 Things to Do in Toronto This June

Here’s how we’re starting our summer in the city. —Karen Kwan

1. Eat local with fare made by Toronto chefs with Ontario producers at a pop-up picnic at Yonge-Dundas Square—an appropriate way to kick off Local Food Week.

2. Enjoy fresh air and get your foodie fix at Adelaide Eats, which launches on June 1 and runs every Thursday and Friday til the end of July. (And, yes, you can get your Chimney Stax fix here.)

3. Summertime hangs with a view—bring it on! Sip on brews and kick of roof-top season with the four-day party that takes place at the Mascot Beergarden to launch Roof Fest.

4. Get your comfort food cravings satisfied with many delicious versions of mac ‘n’ cheese at the Mac and Cheese Festival at Ontario Place. Dress code? We reco elastic waistbands and forgiving cuts and fabrics.

5. If you want to keep your rep for being at all the cool local events, you’ll want to be sure to make an appearance at Dundas West Fest where there’ll be restos, clothing, antique shops and more to peruse, with some performers on small stages, too.

6. Fort York gets taken over again for the weekend of June 3 and 4 by musical acts (this year’s lineup includes Broken Social Scene and A Tribe Called Red), art and family activities for Field Trip.

7. If being able to try more than 100 beers while learning about them and also filling your belly with some tasty bites sounds like heaven to you, then the Session Craft Beer Festival at Yonge-Dundas Square is where you’ll find your bliss.

8. Back for another year, Taste of Toronto at Fort York promises more than 60 local chefs (among them this year include Victor Barry, Michael Hunter and Rob Gentile) serving up delicious dishes along with master classes and, of course, refreshing bevvies.

9. Aviation fans of all ages will not want to miss a chance to access a section of the live airfield at Pearson Airport at the Toronto Pearson Street Festival on Father’s Day. Climb into a massive FedEx cargo airplane, meet pilots and get a rare behind-the-scenes look at how this busy airport runs.

10. Possibly the coolest block party of the summer: hosted by Drake Commissary, high art and street culture will clash in the most amazing way as artist Shaun Gladwell leads a live performance incorporating skateboarders and replica sculptures from artists Donald Judd and Carl Andre. DJs, food trucks and pro-skater appearances round out the night.