Top 5 must-attend events in Vaughan to heat up your summer

Music festival, film festival, PizzaFest, brew & BBQ festival, concerts in the park

Thestar.com
June 13, 2022
Yoyo Yan

Longer days and warmer nights are here, and, this summer, Vaughan is the place to be. Featuring a variety of arts, cultural and music festivals, along with community events, the heart of Vaughan's downtown has so much to see and do.

Here are the top five must-see events that will heat up your summer in Vaughan.

Vaughan International Music Festival

• A first-of-its-kind music festival is coming to Vaughan's downtown core. The Vaughan International Music Festival will showcase music from cultures worldwide. Multi-platinum award-winning super group, the Tenors will be capping off the weekend with a special performance.

• Location and Venue: Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (200 Apple Mill Rd.)

• Event date and time: Saturday, June 11, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday June 12, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

• Cost: Free

• To learn more, visit vaughaninternationalmusicfestival.com.

Vaughan International Film Festival

• This year, the Vaughan International Film Festival (VFF) is celebrating a special milestone. It is the festival's 10th edition since it was created back in 2013. Within the last 10 years, this small-but-mighty festival has accomplished so much. From donating roughly $40,000 to local high schools and student filmmakers to bringing top industry talent into the city -- including William Baldwin, Enrico Colantoni, and Kim Roberts -- VFF continues striving to secure the future of the short film industry.

• Location and Venue: Cineplex Cinemas Vaughan (3555 Hwy. 7 W.)

• Event date and time: The festival will run June 20 to 23, with two days of film screenings on the Monday and Wednesday, student films screening on the Tuesday, and concluding with the VFF Awards on the Thursday.

• Cost: Tickets

• To learn more, visit vaughanfilmfestival.com.

 

Vaughan PizzaFest

• After a pandemic-induced hiatus, North America's largest pizza festival is back with even more food and dessert vendors, and a jam-packed music and comic entertainment lineup that will have guests laughing, dancing and singing along. Disney star Adassa will perform favourite songs from the hit movie "Encanto."

• Location and Venue: Improve Canada (7250 Keele St.)

• Event dates: June 17 to 19

• Cost: Tickets on Friday and Saturday, free on Sunday

• To purchase tickets or for more information, visit vaughanpizzafest.com.

 

Vaughan Celebrates Concerts in the Park series

• Start your summer off right with a night of live music outdoors! The 28th annual Vaughan Celebrates Concerts in the Park series, presented by TD and event sponsor Tim Hortons, kicks off the summer season with Juno Award-nominated performer Shawn Hook.

• Location and Venue: Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (Transit Square located at 100 New Park Place)

• Event date and time: Select Wednesdays from June 8 to Aug. 10, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., weather permitting

• Cost: Free

• For a complete schedule and additional details, visit vaughan.ca/concerts.

 

Canada's Wonderland's Annual Brew & BBQ Festival

• Canada's Wonderland's Annual Brew & BBQ Festival features dozens of craft beers and ciders from Ontario's best small-batch craft breweries and cideries. Enjoy an afternoon of foot-stomping live music and entertainment while sampling world-class beverages! Pair your drink with a tasty item from our specialty summer menu featuring ribs, gourmet burgers, and BBQ chicken during this beer and barbecue festival.

• Location and Venue: Canada's Wonderland (1 Canada's Wonderland Dr.)

• Event date and time: June 24, 10 a.m. to June 26, 10 p.m.

• Cost: Park admission

• More information: canadaswonderland.com/events/brew-bbq.