Kat Harlton
Lead Photo: Tiffany Shum for Harlton Empire
The Toronto social season is looking spectacular this summer. From picnic’s to parties at a castle, the summer months are sure to fly by in a glamorous cocktail of can’t-miss events. Ready to get started? Here are the must attend events for your calendar (so far). We’ll see you there!
Rosé Picnic
Rosé Picnic is Toronto’s premium picnic dedicated to the trendiest wine in the world – rosé! With delicious picnic fare, 20+ stunning brand activations and great music from Canada’s top DJs and musical talent, Saturday June 24 will be one to remember!
Located at Hotel X Toronto, Rosé Picnic will transform the grounds into a sea of pink and white. Join over 5,000 guests to sip fabulous rosé wines, savour curated gourmet food pairings from local celebrity chefs, experience beautiful brand activations for the most epic selfies, and the opportunity to enjoy exclusive experiences with your besties.
Rosé Picnic is dedicated to breaking the stigma around women’s issues and promoting equality, equity, and diversity. To achieve their goal, they are proud to be partnering with Women’s College Hospital Foundation (WCHF).
Date: Saturday, June 24, 2023
Location: Hotel X Toronto
Dîner En Blanc
Launched in 1988 by François Pasquier in France (now held all over the world) Dîner en Blanc is a secret dinner party. At the last minute, the secret location is revealed to thousands of friends who have all been patiently waiting to learn where “Dîner en Blanc” will take place. Thousands of people, dressed all in white, and conducting themselves with the greatest decorum, elegance, and etiquette, all meet for a mass “chic picnic” in a public space.
Over the course of the evening, guests experience the beauty and value of their city’s public spaces by participating in the unexpected. Beyond the spectacle and elegance of the dinner itself, guests are brought together from diverse backgrounds by good taste and a love of beauty. Le Dîner en Blanc recalls the elegance and glamor of high French society, and guests engage one another, knowing that they are taking part in a truly magical event. There are no disruptions: no car traffic, no pedestrian traffic—only amazed and astonished looks from passersby observing the scene before them. And participants, like spectators, wonder whether it’s all not a dream…
Date: Secret
Location: Secret
National Bank Open
The National Bank Open presented by Rogers is a prestigious professional tennis tournament owned and operated by Tennis Canada. Since 1881 for the men and 1892 for the women, the best players in the world have showcased their skills on Canadian courts. Only Wimbledon and the US Open have longer histories than this major Canadian stop, which is acknowledged by the tennis world to be one of the best-run tournaments on the professional circuit.
Montreal and Toronto share the task of hosting the best men’s and women’s players in the world, with both tournaments played at the same time during the same week. From August 5-13, 2023, the men will be in Toronto while the women will play in Montreal. Classified as an ATP Masters 1000 event on the ATP Tour calendar and a WTA 1000 event on the women’s tour, the National Bank Open attracts the biggest stars in tennis year after year.
Date: August 5th-13th
Toronto Location: Sobeys Stadium
Soul In The City
Tuesday evenings in the summer months, Casa Loma plays host to Juno Award-winning artist Sean Jones, accompanied by a seven–piece band The Righteous Echo and special guests, in the spectacular Glass Pavilion. Guests can enjoy stunning views of the city, majestic castle and the beautiful estate gardens while enjoying this energetic live show under the stars. Guests also have an abundance of al fresco food and drink options while onsite.
Date: June 20th – August 29th
Location: Casa Loma
The King’s Plate
The Queen’s Plate, North America’s longest continuously run stakes race, will once again be known as The King’s Plate. This exciting next chapter of Canada’s premier Thoroughbred horse race, will take place on Sunday, August 20 in 2023, and follows the September 2022 accession of King Charles III.
The 2023 edition will mark the 164th running of the prestigious, $1 million-stakes race historically named in honour of the reigning monarch, which has become one of the highest-profile events in Canadian sports. The Plate is the first of leg of the Canadian Triple Crown and followed by the Prince of Wales Stakes run at Fort Erie Race Track, and the Breeders’ Stakes run at Woodbine Racetrack.
Date: August 20th
Location: Woodbine Racetrack
Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival is one of the largest publicly attended film festivals in the world. Since its founding in 1976, TIFF has grown to become a permanent destination for film culture operating out of the TIFF Bell Lightbox, located in Downtown Toronto. The 48th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival takes place Thursday, September 7—17, 2023.
Date: September 7th-17th
Location: TIFF Bell Lightbox & Various Venues
Did we miss one? Let us know! We hope you love what we recommend! As always, opinions are our own.