2025 SUMMER MUSIC GUIDE

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Celebrating its 37th year, the Beaches International Jazz Festival is a month-long music festival held each year in the lakeside Beaches community of Toronto in July. It's now one of Canada's largest free jazz festivals with nearly 1,000,000 attendees, throughout its month-long span.

The Festival takes place across a number of venues; stage concerts are held in several different parks within the area and also along a two kilometre stretch of the Beach mainstreet during StreetFest - Queen Street East.

Every year, the Festival brings in internationally acclaimed jazz performers while also showcasing local talent, including "new generation" jazz musicians. The Festival now hires around 1000 artists per annum, including 50 bands for its "StreetFest" event along Queen Street East.

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Just an hour north of Toronto, Brookside Music’s 2025 ‘Festival of the Bay‘ in Midland will keep the music in summer with these internationally acclaimed performances. Join us at the Midland Cultural Centre at 7pm for: (Mon, July 28) - True North Brass; (Thur, July 31) - Janina Fialkowska; (Mon, Aug 4) - Rudersdal Chamber Players , Paul Marelyn; (Thur, Aug 7) - Opera Plus Opera arias, Brahms and Liebesleider Walzes and (Mon, August 11) - James Campbell, Cameron Crozman, Graham Campbell, Carter Johnson.

Series Pass available at the door until July 28 for $125 + hst. Reg. $35 hst/sc - Students attend for FREE! Visit our website and join us for the sweet sounds of summer!

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Since 2010, the CCCTIMF has established a solid name as one of the most reputable and high-profile music festivals in Canada. The festival is held in recognition of the artistic achievements of young musicians, providing them with the opportunity to learn, grow, and showcase their potential in performance. It also provides performance opportunities for young musicians to help bring the scope of their talents to new heights. The annual festival is conducted at the 626-seat, state-of-the-art P.C. Ho concert hall in Toronto. Trophies, medals, and scholarships are awarded to the winners based on the class criteria. Selected winners will receive the opportunity to perform in the Gala Concert and the "Rising Star" concert series. For more information, please visit our website.

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From July 9 to 18, experience the magic of the 2025 Collingwood Music Festival. This year features the legendary Canadian Brass, and the Elmer Iseler Singers with a commissioned work by Ian Cusson. Dive into the world of tango with Payadora with Legend of Carau. The Montreal Guitar Trio concert brings a tribute to Ennio Morricone, while families can take in the free outdoor Symphony Under the Stars, and a family-fun night with Guy Few. The festival also shines a spotlight on the next generation of musicians through inspiring youth performances. The Gershwin Gala concludes the Festival, featuring internationally acclaimed soprano Adrianne Pieczonka, and our Artistic Director Daniel Vnukowski. From intimate chamber concerts to grand open-air events, the Collingwood Music Festival offers unforgettable experiences for all!

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Founded in 1979 by pianist Anton Kuerti, the Festival of the Sound in Parry Sound, Ontario, has grown into one of Canada’s leading summer music festivals. Under the artistic direction of clarinetist James Campbell since 1985, it presents world-class performances in the renowned Charles W. Stockey Centre. The 2025 season, running from July 25 to August 9, offers an exciting mix of chamber music, jazz weekend events, candlelight concerts, opera, and musical cruises on Georgian Bay. Enriching experiences such as masterclasses, artist talks, community events by donation, and collaborations with emerging and established artists round out the program, making it a highlight of the Canadian cultural calendar.

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Batuki Music Society is proud to present the Habari Africa Festival at Harbourfront Centre from Friday, August 8 to Sunday, August 10, 2025. Habari Africa is a multi-disciplinary music and arts festival that displays the rich and diverse cultures of Africa. Join us for a weekend of exploration and engagement with the art, sounds and tastes of the continent. The festival will offer an authentic experience through presentations that celebrate the uniqueness, wealth and diversity of African music, dance, film and arts. The annual Habari Africa Festival is a focal point of Torontoʼs cultural calendar, bringing together musicians and performing artists from all over the world. The festival is an all-ages family event presented free to the public. Batuki Music is a non-profit African arts organization based in Toronto.

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The 2025 Markham Jazz Festival happens Saturday and Sunday, August 16 and 17 in historic Unionville, Ontario, showcasing more than 30 free jazz, blues, soul and related acts on three+ stages. This year's headliners include multiple Juno Award winner Caity Gyorgy, legendary reggae/soul singer Jay Douglas & His All-Stars, the stellar jazz/funk/blues group Shuffle Demons and many more.

Thousands attend from many regions to experience award-winning music, stroll to shops and restaurants between stages, and mingle with like-minded fans. Free parking and continuous shuttle service to the festival site from a nearby location. Accessible. Come to this charming heritage village setting and meet professional, up-and-coming artists, as well as the amazing performers you already know and love!

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Celebrate Canada Day with the whole family at the Aga Khan Museum. Experience Canada’s rich cultural tapestry with two days of world-class performances, hands-on activities for all ages, and delicious food. Watch the entire site — from the Aga Khan Museum to the Aga Khan Park — come alive with music, art, and vibrant celebration.

Enjoy free admission to the Museum Collections Gallery throughout the entire festival. Bring your creativity to life with our hands-on workshops. Visit the Rhythms of Canada Family Tent to enjoy fun arts and crafts activities with the whole family, including special activations from partners like the Ontario Science Centre. Sample some of Toronto's favourite food trucks and prepare to dance and sing to the sounds and rhythms of the city.

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The Stonebridge Wasaga Beach Blues Festival is returning for our 13th year. Join us from September 12 to 14 and enjoy the diverse musical performances on our two main stages, featuring performances by 20 bands, including Blushing Brides, Shawn Kellerman, Durham County Poets, Shawn Cloutier and the Crack of Dawn. Enjoy the variety of food and beverages in our vibrant vendor's village and liquid lounge.

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Harbourfront Centre's Summer Music in the Garden is an intimate live music experience by the waterfront, occurring most Thursdays and Sundays all summer. The 2025 season celebrates the 24th season of Summer Music in the Garden and the 26th anniversary of the Toronto Music Garden, which will feature 18 free performances by JUNO Award-winning Canadian musicians and artists from across Canada and internationally, bringing jazz, soul, Middle Eastern baroque and cyberpunk to audiences.

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Three giant opera steps over the ages! Join us for Toronto’s mini opera festival from July 25th to August 3rd at the historic Alumnae Theatre. Celebrating four decades of opera presentations by Canada's emerging artists, Summer Opera Lyric Theatre features Monteverdi’s The Coronation of Poppea, Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte and Offenbach’s La Vie Parisienne under the leadership of experts in the field - Sabina Rzazade, Minira Najafzade and Paul Goodfellow in fully staged operas by Guillermo Silva-Marin.

Tickets are available through the Box Office at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. (*additional fees apply for online and phone orders*)

Consider becoming a subscriber to enjoy all three operas for the price of two! More information on our website.

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No Strings Theatre is set to unveil an exciting series of events from July 5 to August 17 for its 2025 ‘SummerStage’ season, commemorating its 20th anniversary. ARTCONNECT will highlight three distinct Summer Soundscape concerts: “Sophisticated Soul - Afrocentric classics and crossovers”, featuring soprano Denise Williams, Sean Sutherland, piano, Ben MacDonald, tenor sax, and Jan Morgan, trumpet; “Music of the Spheres” - a solo piano concert by Greg Millar, inspired by celestial bodies - such as the planets, and stars; “A Summer Cabaret” - Broadway classics led by David Stone and featuring some of TO’s first-rate singers.

Additionally, the SPOTLIGHT – Young Artist Opera Program will present two dynamic productions: Mozart’s Così fan tutte and Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, both set in a scenic rural farm in Adjala township.

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Join us for a beautiful week of Chamber Music on Georgian Bay. Our Festival brings music that inspires and connects and includes concerts at various venues, participatory sessions for string players and choristers, a children's concert, free events and more, all curated by Artistic Director Edwin Huizinga. Passes sell out each year - if you haven't experienced the joy and community of SweetWater, this is your year! See you at the Festival!

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Discover the enchantment of classical music in an extraordinary setting. Our concerts are held in the beautiful St. Paul Church on picturesque Amherst Island. Island, Waterside offers a unique experience of rural peace combined with concerts by remarkable and world-renowned musicians - an experience you won't want to miss. Waterside is celebrating our 30th year, with warm thanks and appreciation to our sponsors, and the dedication of our artistic director, Beverly Harris.

This season, our highlights include a repeat appearance of the celebrated Gryphon Trio, and a free children's concert by the Poulenc Trio. All ticket information and purchase options are available on our website. We are an easy ferry ride from the parking lot at Millhaven dock, and all concerts are at 3:15pm.