How has it taken this long for a festival of Pizza to come into existence in the GTA? I mean…read moreVaughan/Woodbridge/Maple, the Italian strongholds of Southern Ontario - and nothing? Until NOW! And man do the organizers of Vaughan Pizza festival do it right! Over 21 different pizza restaurants all selling their wares at extremely reasonable prices. I managed to get half a pizza for 6 tickets (1 ticket = $1). How many places are you going to get a full pizza hot outta the over for $12. They had pizza and Italian food representing all of the major Italian communities in Ontario, as well as some special guests from Jersey and beyond. Every pizza maker is either cooking their pizza in portable wood burning pizza ovens or these gas BBQ rotating pizza ovens. No reheated Pizza Pizza here. Speaking of Pizza Pizza... none of the overblown pizza chains were there, only local independents. AMAZING! Plus there was booze and 2 nights of live music. Night one of all throw backs to early 90's dance hits (Stevie B, Lil Suzy, to name a few) and night two had Dj Pauly D from the Jersey Shore - I know I know, stereotyping but whatever it was cool. On day three they had a pizza eating contest with some international heavy eaters on hand. This is a great location as well (right off the 400 and the 407, at the now virtually defunct Interchange Way Plaza - former home to AMC Vaughan), lots of parking, lots of space, amazing Can't wait for next year AND their brand new Burger Fest! Eatcrest Out

This is the best Street festival I've been to in the GTA…read more It's huge, there's a good variety of vendors & there's a wide variety of price points (eg you can still get $1 pop, $4 hotdogs, $5 paella, $2 pizza slices & $5 mango lassi, but you can also get a $15 coconut). And some vendors give out free stuff too. There's even a separate alcohol section (with $5 for 12oz craft beer) so you can get your buzz, even in the middle of the day.

I love the Aurora Street Festival and try to go every year. The Aurora Chamber of Commerce runs…read morethis yearly event and this is its 22nd year. They block off Yonge St from Wellington St South to Murray Dr to make a 1.5 km long pedestrian mall where you can buy all types of food from vendors and food trucks. Like the name says, it's a festival running right down the centre of Yonge St. They claim over 500 vendors participate and it sure seems like it, once you start walking it keeps going and going... This is a big event, some 30,00 people come out for the event, it's a really great family oriented crowd. Your kids can get their faces pained at least a dozen times. Along the way are people selling everything from toys and gadgets to new products and food. Oh there is a lot of food, some of it's even healthy. There are a lot of handout along the way, from businesses to public organizations like the Police, the region, the city, etc, etc, etc and I always come home with a shopping bag pull of useful stuff, most of it for free ;-) There are a lot of scheduled entertainers along the way, there's no way to get bored, and always a lot go good bargains. There us little shelter along the way so sunblock is a must, I have come home from this festival redder and fuller than I planned.

Stinky Tofu....The whole event just smell like Stinky Tofu...I can smell it even at the underground…read moreparking lot!! That's just insane! Richmond Hill Summer Carnival is like a night market with food vendors plus on stage competition and performers. A lot smaller scale than the other Night Market but the good thing about this is there are tons of parkings and no lines for anything. Similar food vendors as other events selling BBQ skewers, Pineapple drinks, Bubble Tea, Stinky Tofu and Takoyaki. Good to pop by if you have the cravings for the tofu..but if you are not into that, stay away... STAY FAR AWAY!!

Stinky Tofu Hong Kong Style The very first booth that we…read morestopped by because we are in need of some stinkiness XD These stinky tofu is made the moment you put in an order, such that all customers will have the best of the stinky tofu. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. After three minutes, the deep fried stinky tofu is ready! We added lots of sweet sauce, spicy sauce, pickled cabbage and it's ready to eat! When you're actually eating it, it doesn't smell stinky at all. I think the essence of HK style stinky tofu is in the sweet sauce so make sure you add lots of it! A variety of seafood available at HK Seafood Station. We wanted to try everything! Here it is! We got Grilled Whelk in Shell and Stuffed Clams. The Grilled Whelk in Shell is very good and perfectly seasoned. They did not taste fishy at all. On the other hand, we felt like we were scammed by the Stuffed Clams, as there was very little clams in it. The clams did not taste bad, but it's not worth the money for it. Taro Tornado Fries! We were told to add EVERYTHING to the crispy goodness and so we did. powdered ranch, ketchup, ceasar, garlic powder, chilli powder etc. it was super fresh and crunchy not to mention fun to eat! Here's a video of the making of tornado fries! Notice how it's night time already. Although this was a relatively small event, we managed to spend a few hours there and ate all the food items we missed at Night It Up as it was less crowded and not as stuffy. And so here's a close for this year's night market events, until next year!

So good to be back!!!…read more After missing out on this festival last year due to the pandemic and other events we finally made it back this year to the Unionville Festival. This year it was held on June 4th and was a special event for us as it was my daughter's birthday as well. When I asked her what she wanted for her birthday this year, she said she wanted to go to the Unionville Festival, so off we went. The Unionville Festival is an annual event hosted by the Unionville BIA. For more info, you can look them up at https://unionvilleinfo.com. Almost all of the businesses on Main Street Unionville offer something for families to do. The stores and restaurants are open, and some companies have booths or offer street food. It's also attended by several other vendors from the Markham area. There is much for kids to do as some of the locations have children's activities. The Varley Gallery had art-related activities for the kids. For grown-ups, there is a beer tent, and of course, the restaurant, bars and patios are open if you're looking for an 'adult' drink. Many of the shops are open for shopping and there are street vendors too. This is only a one-day festival but there is enough for two days. We had a great time as we ran into many people we knew, had some street food, and the kids had fun at the Fred Varley Gallery, we had dinner at the Old Country Inn, which doubled as one of the beer tents. It was a good day for us, as we shopped, we ate, we ran into friends and had a great time. Check out this once-a-year event for yourself.

This was my first year attending the Unionville Festival and it definitely will not be my last! The…read moreevent is organized thoroughly with a variety of vendors. To my knowledge, the number of vendors are increasing dramatically every year. Happening at Main Street Unionville, this festival is good for everyone and anyone. From bars, to family friendly restaurants AND cute little patios, there is something to do for everyone. Main Street Unionville is closed off for this festival all weekend so you can literally walk around this beautiful section of Markham while getting to know/enjoy different local businesses. The Opening Parade was also awesome! There was a lot of different cultural representations alongside great music. After the Parade there were a few entertaining performances that occurred at Carlton and Main Street. The festival was a lot fun and I really enjoyed the street musicians jamming out. Will definitely come back next year :)

When I came to Toronto, friends brought me to different food festivals, and Night It Up! was the…read morelargest. They've hosted at Markham Civic Centre every year, but this time was at the newly constructed downtown Markham plaza. Loud music and a campground of tents attracted the crowd as I turned on the corner of the street. But what made it memorable was that strong irresistibly-overwhelming smell - a passionate love or a vehemently hate for stinky tofu. I bought it from the Smelly Tofu food truck - the only Hong Kong-style among the three vendors. I sat front stage watching live performances as I enjoyed this guilty pleasure of nauseating messy snack. Young singers from @thesingingschool showcased their remarkable skills - from "Love The Way You Lie" and "Hold My Hand" to even their original songs. A group of children as little as a few years old were dancing. I roamed the area finding carnival games like fish catching, spin-the-wheel, jumbo Jenga and more. And before leaving, I hunted for my last bite - there was corn on the cob, skewers, flatbreads, takoyaki, seafood pancakes, leek pie and more - I opted in for the beef pie instead. What an amazing night!

Location This event is now hosted on Enterprise, in the same…read moreplaza as Good Catch, Goodlife and the VIP cinemas. Parking (including underground) is quite limited there - so best to come carpooling or explore nearby parking. One good thing is that the organizer does have a designated parking area setup for people coming in. Setup There are multiple vendors - from food, drinks to small gifts, organizations and even non-profits to promote anything! There are also festivities and live performances based on a schedule - so make sure to grab a seat if you want to watch any of them. I usually come for the food - to see what's new and exciting and what is not out there in restaurants. Inflation over the years have risen a lot of prices - so it could range anywhere from $10 for a drink to $15-$20 for food. Quantity wise - depending on where you look - can vary. You may have to spend at least 1-2 dishes to feel full. It's a staple yearly event that happens in Markham - definitely do check it out - and you may little hidden surprises !

This was a drive-thru event in 2020, but for this year, the event got converted to an immersive…read morewalk-thru experience. Now, I've been to many light show events with my family, both Halloween and Christmas ones, drive-thrus and walk-thrus, and this event, is one of my favourites this season. As my husband put it, the walk-thru experience allows you to completely submerge surround yourself with holiday lights that are animated and synchronized to cheerf Holiday music. The location is right off the 400 by the Dave and Buskers and IKEA at the newly built gardens at Assembly Park. The tickets have timed entry and it took our family, with kids age 4&6, about 25m to walk though. I don't want to give away the surprises, but make sure your phone has enough battery to take lots of pictures! We especially liked the light tunnels. One thing of note - my phone kept on turning off because it was too cold. It was -5 the night we went, so make sure you keep your phone close to your body when you're not taking pictures. At the end of the light show, it opens up to a tent with Santa (free) and you can line up and take pictures with him. There are also vendors, and midway rides for the kids. This portion is free to the public, but there really isn't much to see or buy. Take a look at my photos and maybe you can squeeze this fun activity into your holiday break. The event runs until January 2, 2022. Merry Christmas Y'all!

I've always been a sucker for food festivals but over the years, I've become less and less…read moreintrigued by them because they're usually poor quality, expensive, and a huge waste of time. This was my first year going to the KHF because I happened to be in the area and I am SO glad I decided to check it out! I came at around 1pm on the first day (Saturday) so I braced myself for the lunch rush, but the lineups weren't THAT bad. Compared to other festivals like Night It Up, the longest lines here were only about 15 minutes long. I tried the takoyaki ($5) and aburi salmon roll ($5) from Kibo Sushi House and they were both very tasty. In fact, I think their takoyaki was one of the best I've ever had (even compared to sit-down restaurants)!! They managed to keep the outer shell crispy while dousing the top with delicious sauces, and each ball had a generous piece of octopus. I also got the large grilled oysters ($8 for 1/$20 for 4) and they were cooked very well, not to mention also slathered in a delicious chili garlic sauce. My boyfriend was so impressed by them that he contemplated buying another set of 4! Alas, the lineup got longer by then so we opted out. **EDIT**: I came back again today (Sunday) and they raised their prices to $8 for 1/$15 for 2/$20 for 3... I have to say, that's pretty shitty. I didn't stick around for the activities but I saw on their Facebook page that they had a huge lineup of performances, celebrity meet n greets, and other great things. Although the food is what enticed me the most and there weren't a lot of other types of vendors, I found this festival to be overall very enjoyable and would recommend others to check it out.

Korean Harvest Festival is just another reason for me to eat and celebrate. This is the 11th annual…read moreFestival held by Korean Canadian Business Association of North Toronto at Mel Lastman Square. Harvest Festival (Hangawi) is celebrated on August 15th of the lunar calender which is similar to Chinese Moon Festival, which they consider to be their "Thanksgiving"! And to celebrate and give thanks, families are gathered together to eat, drink and dance! That's all I need to know! Korean performers, fashion shows, traditional dances, hip hop/singing competitions are held on the centre stage. There are also arm wrestling and wings eating competition. Food vendors offerings Korean comfort food all curiously either in orange or brownish colour: rice cake in hot sauce, sausages, bbq, fish cake and buns. Curiously St Louis has the largest food area selling chicken wings, ribs, corns and potatoes... Western comfort food! It was kind of fun watching families sharing their laughter and food, kids playing with each other, friends chilling.......... That's makes any Festival special!

What a great food festival this is. Definitely one of the busiest food festivals in Toronto. The…read morefood items here are outrageous. Lots of seafood offerings on a sick, lots of meats on a stick. The flavours are not only Chinese, but also Indian inspired. Think Hakka. Make sure to try some of the tasty and interesting drinks, from fresh fruit drinks (some served in a pineapple), to ice teas to bubble teas. The perfect accompaniment on a hot summer day. The festival is very busy, so be prepared for the crowds. Parking can be a hassle, but there is lots of street parking in the surrounding neighbourhoods. On a hot summer day, you can step into the adjacent Pacific Mall to cool down. So, why not a 5 star review you ask me? Simple reason: The place has a very unappetizing smell. I asked around, and was informed that it's the Sticky Tofu. I do believe that people eat it as a novelty, like durian fruit. So, I hope I'm not being culturally insensitive when I mention it. But honestly, I think this festival would be much better if the Sticky Tofu truck was stuck on the 401. Sorry. In case I'm misunderstanding the whole Sticky Tofu thing, please enlighten me! Other than that, I would definitely recommend this food festival. As an added bonus, there is a stage with dance and song performances.

Taste of Asia just isn't what it used to be. Sure there's still lots of food stalls this year but…read moreit's a far cry from the past. It feels more like a community fair now with many non-food stalls like GO transit, embassy of India, MPs, plants and even Scientology (lol). Food options were good, but predominantly Chinese. There's a few Thai and other Asian cuisines but the variety was rather poor and selections were limited compared to a Night Market that I attended last year in New York. Food prices definitely went up by quite a bit this year ($20 for 4 scallops/oysters).

I was only able to watch the fireworks at the end of the night. Trying to find where to park was…read moreinteresting. I'd imagine if you're early enough you'd be able to find a spot at the park but otherwise it'll be a little more difficult. I saw lots of people waking from their homes, some parked on side streets in neighbourhoods, some on lawns of nearby establishments and a lot parked in plazas a short distance away. Just after 10 pm and still no fireworks. Everyone standing and sitting where I was saw the fireworks down the street. I contemplated finding out where those were seeing as nothing was happening here. An announcement was made and they had some technical difficulties but would start in several minutes. Once the fireworks started I thought it was good that I decided to stay and watch the ones here instead. They went on for quite a while. Perhaps 20-30 minutes or even longer. Once they had started cars driving by stopped to enjoy the fireworks as well. You'll need lots of patience when it's over and everyone wants to leave at the same time. It was such a backlog of vehicles all trying to leave the plaza at the same time. If I'm able to I'd like to attend more of the event next year.

From the owner: Experience the children's village and teen zone, the Bavarian garden, multicultural food pavilion,…read moreas well as the local artist exhibit and market place. Play all day at the midway that includes over 20 mechanical, inflatable and sport-themed attractions. Live entertainment takes place throughout the day, including a performance by Eleven Past One, then at nightfall, sit back and enjoy one of the region's largest fireworks displays. Parking is limited arrive early or take a complimentary shuttle bus to the celebration! *Entertainment and Activities are subject to change. Fees may apply for some activities.

Maplefest was a little disappointing…read more... At first I thought it is a festival for "maple" syrup but it is really a small festival for the suburban community of Maple in Vaughan. The website barely has any information of vendors, entertainment or what to expect. But if you have kids, you might find the numerous information about dancing schools, performing program, RESP, music schools quite helpful. Your kids might enjoy those carnival rides and they can scream their hearts out. There is also a 18 and over area right in front of the stage where Wegz has a beer and food area. If you are into Budweiser, you might be in heaven. The Live performance on the stage were quite amateurish.. I forgot my ear plugs. This might be the first year that the local Lion's Club organized this Maplefest and hopefully it will improve over time.... Ample parking!