Toronto International Film Festival + Luminato Arts Festival
I have been to Toronto so many times I have lost track – especially in the years I live so close by in NYC. As the business and financial hub of Canada, sitting comfortably by Lake Ontario, it actually has a lot in common with New York but offers a less intense atmosphere. It’s the home to Drake, MuchMusic, CBC, Second City, comedic giants (Martin Short, John Candy, Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, Catherine O’Hara, Lorne Michaels+++), sports teams Toronto Raptors-Leafs-Blue Jays, and so much more.
Toronto is one of the world’s most culturally diverse cities, and proudly so. You’ll hear more than 140 languages and dialects spoken on the streets in this “City of Neighborhoods.” Toronto boasts a few Chinatowns, a Greek Town, Little Italy, a Koreatown and a Little Portugal, to name a few. It’s the most populous city in Canada (more than 5 million in the Greater Toronto Area) and the province of Ontario’s economic engine. With an abundance of green spaces, a lakeside waterfront, global eats, and a treasure trove of things to experience, you will be sure to enjoy your visit.
Stay: Four Seasons, The Ritz Carlton, Fairmont Royal York, The Drake, Park Hyatt, Shangri-La, Hôtel Le Germain, SoHo Metropolitan
Eat: As ever, the restaurant scene changes too quickly to keep up with so check out Eater’s essential list
It should be of no surprise that some of the largest international festivals happen here, and I attended both the International Film Festival and Luminato International Arts Festival during my festival tour.
Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival is the largest publicly attended film festival in the world, and regularly debuts the most buzzed about films. Founded in 1976, TIFF is a charitable cultural organization with a mission to transform the way people see the world through film. TIFF is dedicated to presenting the best of international and Canadian cinema and creating transformational experiences for film lovers and creators of all ages and backgrounds. 2018 dates will be September 6-16th
Toronto Luminato International Arts Festival
Luminato is one of the preeminent arts festivals in North America, having commissioned close to 100 new works of art, with more than 3,000 performances featuring 11,000 artists from over 40 countries. 2018 dates will be June 6-24th
*I also wanted to mention the Toronto Caribana Festival which I have not yet attended but would really love to!
