Make the most of your summer with live music, vibrant festivals, local food, and unforgettable experiences around every corner in Canada’s UNESCO City of Music.
Summer sizzles in London! There’s no shortage of things to see and do in Canada’s UNESCO City of Music, plus an almost endless variety of places to fuel up along the way.
At just 200 km from Toronto, London is perfectly suited for a quick summer getaway or as an inexpensive add-on to your Toronto visit. Within the city, you’ll find an abundance of history and culture, with live theatre, vibrant street art, and hands-on art experiences to unleash your creativity. Visit the Museum London with over 5,500 pieces of art and 50,000 artifacts in the collection, plus special exhibits throughout the year, or one of the smaller museums and galleries in the area. The greater region incorporates charming and historic towns that are just the thing for soaking in the disarming quiet, plus hiking and biking trails to enjoy nature while you move.
A Summer Full of Festivals
You want festivals? London has them. Throughout the summer months, the city shines with music and culinary celebrations that will make your heart (and stomach) sing. Start out with sampling some of the thousands of choices at the London International Festival of Food and Drink. Celebrate Canada Day at the daylong festivities in East London or on Dundas Place that end with a sparkling fireworks display. Don’t miss Sunfest, a free event in Victoria Park that showcases world-class music, art, and food. Next on the calendar is the colourful inclusive fun of the Pride London Summer Festival. Or get to Harris Park for four nights of live music at RBC Rock the Park. There’s also Island Fest, filled with Caribbean music, dance, food, and storytelling. And we haven’t even mentioned the Beer Festival, Empanada Fest, Blues and Brews, the Columbian Gastronomy Festival, South Asian Cultural Festival, Taco Fest or Rib Fest! Summer wraps up with the 149th annual Western Fair, with all the midway rides and games and carnival food you could ask for.
This Calls for a Patio
You don’t have to wait for a festival to enjoy live music or London’s amazing culinary scene. The city punches above its weight when it comes to food and local breweries and distilleries. Not much tops a leisurely summer afternoon on a patio before heading to a concert, and luckily for fun-seekers, London has plenty of both. If a smaller show appeals, there are lots of live music venues in town, plus some bigger events — such as the stage Fairway Fest. There are also some fun tribute bands, Canadian icon Bryan Adams, or the weekly outdoor shows during the Springbank Garden Concert Series that you may want to put on your calendar.
It’s a match made in London! To discover more about summer in London, visit www.londontourism.ca.
