Everywhere you look – there is a festival. I’m not complaining…just wish I had more TIME to go to all of them!

This past weekend I went to two festivals in one night. I started off at the South Asian Festival on Gerrard East and ended up on St. Clair for Salsa on St Clair. Each festival had something different to offer and I was happy to be able to walk thru both of them. (and eat, of course)

Needed a translation but managed just fine!!

Other festivals that are on my ‘hit list” include the following:

a) Toronto Fringe Festival to see “Everything I Never Knew I Wanted”. This festival takes place from July 4 -15th. This is my first time attending the Toronto Fringe Festival but I’m really looking forward to it. I didn’t know this but it’s Toronto’s largest theatre festival with 150 plus artistic creations. I have a good feeling that this festival might be on my list every year!

b) Night It Up which takes place July 13-15 at the Markham Civic Centre. This festival features 100 plus different vendors including many “street foods” that one might find in the markets of Taiwan or Hong Kong. I’ve heard so much about stinky tofu that I really think I might go this year!!

Street Food!!

c) Toronto Festival of Beer which takes place July 27-28th on the Exhibition Grounds. I am a huge fan of this festival and have been going for years and years and years. In my opinion the festival just gets better and better each year. Don’t delay and buy your tickets as this festival will sell out on all three days!!

Won’t Miss the Toronto Beer Festival. Period.

b) Cobourg Sand Castle Festival which takes place Aug 4 – Aug 5th. Well worth the drive to Cobourg to see the spectacular sand castle exhibits.

Love this beach and this competition.

c) Wild Blueberry Festival which takes place August 11th from 8 a.m to 3 p.m at Evergreen Brickworks. If you love blueberries – this is the festival for you!! Tons of great activities, recipes, food products containing blueberries and more.

Blueberry Heaven

d) The Ex which takes place Aug 17 – Sept 3rd. I’ve been eating my way thru the Ex for the last two years and once again will be there the minute it opens. The minute!!

Eating My Way Thru The Ex.

e) The Toronto Garlic Festival which takes place Oct 13-14 at Evergreen Brickworks. I went last year and learned so much about garlic that I need to go back to learn even more!! (and taste more).

Garlic 101..So Much To Learn Here.

I know that my calendar has all these dates marked down and I encourage you to look at your calendars too. By all means take a peek at this website  called Festivals Toronto for a bigger list (way bigger) . In this blog post, I simply wanted to highlight some of my favorites!! I’m hoping to add a few more festivals to this growing list but like I said in the title of this blog post….so many festivals, so little time!!

PS what are your favorite festivals?

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It’s the summer and the kids are away at camp, and once again I am taking advantage of every weekend to travel.

Weekend #1: Ottawa

Weekend #2: Washington and Presqule Ilse, Erie Pennyslavani

Weekend #3 –  Kingston PLUS  Wolfe Island, Sandbanks and Cobourg.

I was all to happy to drive a lot last weekend as I was driving a Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. I wanted to take full advantage of driving this luxury car and I did!! Mission Accomplished.

I. Want.

The car was dropped off early Friday morning. I was asked by the driver “have you ever driven a hybrid before?”. I replied “no”. He said “you are going to put the key into the ignition and you wont think the car has started but it has”. WOW was he right. The car was so pleasant to drive – the seats, the steering wheel, and it was super efficient with gas. I had nothing to complain about.  I floated to Kingston – I didn’t drive. LOL.

The GPS system was a bit complicated for me to figure out (waypoints?). So I stopped off at Buster Rhino’s to ask a Darryl to help me out and we figured it out after a few minutes. (ok 10 minutes).  Not to mention, I picked up a sandwich for my mom to enjoy when I saw her in Kingston. (smart. daughter).

Now let’s talk about those beaches:

WOLFE ISLAND: Did not take the car onto the ferry (don’t ask), so we went across as pedestrians and then asked strangers for a ride. We wont be doing that again!! We finally scored a drive from a lovely resident of Wolfe Island. We got to the parking lot of the beach and we were told that “its a bit of a walk”. We walked, we walked and we walked and then when we saw one of  the workers we asked him to radio his buddy to come pick us up in the ATV. There was no way my mom was a going to walk just OVER A KILOMETRE. They were SO accomodating and came to our rescue.

The nicest park attendant

As for the beach: stunning. Cant’ believe I have never been to Wolfe Island before.

Wolfe Island

SANDBANKS: I love this place too. Its heaven. We found a quiet quiet section of the beach and didnt move for hours. This year, the shore line is not as sandy as previous years but we were still happy.

Sanbanks Provincial Park

COBOURG: I went to this beach on my way home as I had downloaded a new book on my @kobo (State Wonder by Ann Pattchett) and wanted to read it. Nothing like reading a book on the beach!! The beach was PACKED due to a volleyball tournament that ate up half the beach, but I solved the problem with some earphone and my iphone. The water was clear and just the perfect temperature.

Cobourg Beach

It was sad to give up the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid and return to my filthy, gas guzzling,  old van with 250,000 km. Thanks to Ford for this opportunity to drive this awesome car.

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