Recreation in Toronto - Annual Events

Annual Events

The oldest annual fair in the world, the Canadian National Exhibition, is held annually at Exhibition Place. It is Canada's largest annual fair and the fifth largest in the world, with an average attendance of 1.3 million.

Toronto's Caribana festival is one of North America's largest street festivals, taking place from mid-July to early August of every summer. The first Caribana took place in 1967 when the city's Caribbean community celebrated Canada's Centennial year. Forty years later, it has grown to attract one million people to Toronto's Lake Shore Boulevard annually. Tourism for the festival is in the hundred thousands, and each year, the event generates about $300 million in revenues.

Pride Week takes place in mid-June, and is one of the largest LGBT festivals in the world. It attracts more than one million people from all over the world, and is one of the largest events to take place in the city. Toronto is major centre for gay and lesbian culture and entertainment, and the gay village is located in the Church and Wellesley area of Downtown.

The Toronto Santa Claus Parade is the world's longest-running children's parade. Held annually in mid-November, the event draws more than half a million visitors each year. The parade is also televised and broadcast around the world.

Numerous other events take place in the city. These are sponsored by federal, provincial and municipal government, by local business and international companies, by community groups, and by volunteer, charitable, educational and religious organizations.