TORONTO, ON – June 1, 2026 – VegTO is kicking off the season with its biggest summer lineup yet. From late-night street food to golden-hour gatherings and a day dedicated to plant-powered wellbeing, this summer’s events invite Torontonians of every background, vegan or veg-curious, to eat, connect and thrive together.
The lineup includes a special collaboration with the Vegan Night Market, VegTO’s first-ever Pride karaoke night, a three-part Sunset Socials series, harvest lunches and free produce tastings at Toronto farmers’ markets with Flavour Harvest, a long table dinner with vegan icon Lauren Toyota and Thrive, a wellness event celebrating healthy, sustainable living.
VegTO x Vegan Night Market
VegTO is teaming up with the Vegan Night Market to bring the city four summer markets full of plant-based street food, local makers and live entertainment. Guests can explore dozens of vendors serving everything from global comfort food to inventive desserts, all 100% vegan.
At the VegTO booth, visitors can pick up resources, meet the team and learn how to get more involved in Toronto’s plant-based community.
All four markets take place at Balmy Beach, 2205 Queen St E:
- Thursday, June 18: 6:00 – 9:30 PM (Opening night)
- Thursday, July 16: 6:00 – 9:30 PM
- Thursday, August 13: 6:00 – 9:30 PM
- Saturday, September 12: 1:00 – 7:00 PM (End-of-summer mini-fest)
Sing with PRIDE! VegTO’s First-Ever Karaoke Night
VegTO is celebrating Pride Month with its first-ever karaoke night. Sing with PRIDE! is hosted by Mike and Priya, friends for nearly 30 years and co-hosts of Life Is in the Lyrics. The evening is part karaoke showdown, part love letter to the anthems that made so many people feel seen.
Cupcakes by Conrad and other snacks will be on hand, with drinks available for $5. The optional (but highly encouraged) dress code is “Express Yourself”: full drag glamour, head-to-toe rainbow, or whatever Pride means to you.
Date: Thursday, June 25, 2026 · Time: 8:00 – 10:00 PM · Tickets: $5 on Eventbrite · Location: The Lab | Vegutainment Centre
Sunset Socials: Three Golden-Hour Gatherings
The Sunset Socials are a three-part series of summer evenings on the rooftop of The Big Carrot Danforth Community Market, in the heart of Greektown. VegTO is partnering with some of the best local plant-based food brands. Each founder hosts an evening, shares their story and answers guests’ questions while everyone mingles and watches the sun set.
Tickets are $25, and VegTO members save 15%. The Big Carrot rooftop is an accessible venue.
- Friday, July 17, 7:00 PM – Bad Attitude Bread, founded by Logan Dunn. The season’s first Sunset Social.
- Friday, August 21, 6:30 – 8:30 PM – Better Brie, founded by Jen Wojtaszek. A guided tasting flight of four plant-based cheese pairings, with a non-alcoholic drink included.
- Thursday, August 27, 6:30 – 8:30 PM – SAU Bake, founded by Matheus Brasileiro. Treats from Hamilton’s 100% plant-based Brazilian bakery: a mini birthday cake, a savoury triangle and a non-alcoholic drink.
VegTO x Flavour Harvest: Summer at the Farmers’ Market
VegTO is partnering with Flavour Harvest, a program of the Canadian Centre for Food and Ecology (CCFE), to bring plant-forward food experiences to three of Toronto’s favourite farmers’ markets: Sorauren, Dufferin Grove and the Junction.
Pull Up a Chair: Harvest Lunches
Farm-to-table dining usually means a trip from the farm to the restaurant. These lunches skip a few steps. Guest chefs Mehyo El Jawhary, Olivia Cupido and Matheus Brasileiro will each cook a seasonal communal meal right in the market, using the freshest ingredients available that day. Guests can meet the farmers behind their food and connect with fellow market-goers.
Each lunch offers three 30-minute seatings:
- Sorauren Farmers’ Market (with Chef Mehyo El Jawhary, Lebanese-Palestinian-inspired): Monday, July 27 · 3:45, 5:00 and 6:15 PM
- Dufferin Grove Farmers’ Market: Thursday, July 30 · 3:45, 5:00 and 6:15 PM
- Junction Farmers’ Market: Saturday, August 1 · 9:45 AM, 11:00 AM and 12:15 PM
The Great Produce Showdown: Can You Taste the Difference?
Put freshness to the test at this free, interactive tasting experience. Guests will taste local market produce alongside grocery store equivalents, vote for their favourite and discover how freshness, soil health and growing practices influence flavour. Come hungry, bring a friend and see if your taste buds can spot the local produce.
The Showdown visits three Toronto farmers’ markets in August:
- Sorauren Farmers’ Market: Monday, August 3, 3:00 – 7:00 PM
- Dufferin Grove Farmers’ Market: Thursday, August 6, 3:00 – 7:00 PM
- Junction Farmers’ Market: Saturday, August 8, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Admission: Free
Long Table Dinner with Lauren Toyota
VegTO will give summer the send-off it deserves with a long table dinner hosted by local icon Lauren Toyota. It’s the only event Lauren is hosting in Toronto this summer.
Lauren is the founder of hot for food and one of the most influential voices in the vegan food movement. Plant-based since age 12, she is the bestselling author of two cookbooks and the creator of a hugely popular YouTube channel. Fans may also know her from her MuchMusic days. Her vegan takes on comfort food have helped bring plant-based eating into the mainstream.
Guests will enjoy a gourmet plant-based meal and hear Lauren’s story, with time for questions. Her hot for food cookbooks will be available for purchase and signing.
Date: Friday, September 18, 2026 · Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM · Tickets: From $55 on Eventbrite · Location: The Lab | Vegutainment Centre
Thrive: A Plant-Powered Wellness Event
Rounding out the summer, Thrive brings together wellness practitioners, nutrition experts and community leaders for a day focused on feeling good in body and mind. Attendees can expect talks on plant-based nutrition, movement sessions, cooking demos and a marketplace of local wellness brands.
Thrive is designed for everyone, whether you’ve been plant-based for years or are just starting to explore.
Date: To Be Announced · Time: · Location:
“Summer is when Toronto comes alive, and we wanted this year’s lineup to reflect that energy,” said Priya Rao, Chair, Event Committee at VegTO. “Whether you join us at the Vegan Night Market, catch a Sunset Social or spend a day at Thrive, there’s a place for you at the table.”
Tickets, registration and full event details are available at https://veg.ca.
About VegTO
VegTO is a Toronto-based non-profit that inspires people to choose a healthier, more sustainable and compassionate plant-based lifestyle. Through events, education and community programs, VegTO connects thousands of people across the city with the resources and community they need to thrive.