16 Best Performing Arts Venues in Canada

A flurry of activity, mainly on the Plains of Abraham but also on several of the city's main drags, surrounds Carnaval de Québec, which occurs over two weekends every February. Snow- and ice-sculpture contests, dog sled relays, and canoe races on the icy St. Lawrence River chase away winter doldrums. Visitors brave the cold to get a glimpse of Bonhomme, the friendly carnival master, and tour his Ice Palace, which is rebuilt each year. Caribou, a strong mixture of red wine, hard liquor, and maple syrup, is a popular libation during the festivities.

Featuring bespoke prix-fixe menus at renowned restaurants, this is the flagship event of the Montréal culinary scene. This beacon of terroir gastronomy beckons foodies to discover exclusive dining experiences throughout the city. For those on a smaller budget, it's an excellent opportunity to dine at high-end restaurants and fork out just a fraction of the usual damage.

Niagara-on-the-Lake remained a sleepy town until 1962, when local lawyer Brian Doherty organized eight weekend performances of two George Bernard Shaw plays, Don Juan in Hell and Candida. The next year he helped found the festival, whose mission is to perform the works of Shaw and his contemporaries, including Noël Coward, Bertolt Brecht, J. M. Barrie, J. M. Synge, and Anton Chekhov. Now, the festival has expanded to close to a dozen plays, running from April to October, including some contemporary plays by Canadian playwrights and one or two musicals. All are staged in one of four theaters within a few blocks of one another. The handsome Festival Theatre, the largest of the three, stands on Queen's Parade near Wellington Street and houses the box office. The Court House Theatre, on Queen Street between King and Regent Streets, served as the town's municipal offices until 1969 and is a national historic site. At the corner of Queen and Victoria streets, the Royal George Theatre was originally built as a vaudeville house in 1915. The Studio Theatre, the smallest of the four, hosts mostly contemporary performances. The festival is one of the biggest events in the summer.  Regular-price tickets cost C$39 to C$182, but discounts abound.

One of the two largest classical repertory companies in the world—England's Royal Shakespeare Company is the other—the Festival presents not only Shakespeare plays, but also works by other dramatists (including new plays) and popular musicals and musical revues in its four theaters.

The 1,800-seat Festival Theatre ( 55 Queen St.), with its hexagonal wooden thrust stage and permanent wooden stage set, is the largest and the oldest of the theaters—in its first incarnation in 1953 it was just a stage under a tent. The 1,100-seat Avon Theatre ( 99 Downie St.) has a traditional proscenium stage, while the Tom Patterson Theatre and Lazaridis Hall ( 111 Lakeside Dr.) has a long, runway-style thrust stage and 600 seats. The petite Studio Theatre ( 34 George St. E), with only 260 seats, is the go-to space for experimental and new works. It has a modern appearance and a hexagonal thrust stage.

Throughout the season, 12 to 16 productions are mounted, always with at least a couple of family-friendly productions. At the height of the festival in July and August you may be able to choose from among eight performances. The festival also offers numerous concerts, workshops, tours, lectures, and talks, such as Meet the Festival, where the public can ask questions of actors and artists. The festival has both matinees and evening performances (and many visitors do see two plays per day).

For five weeks in July and August, Stratford Summer Music brings musicians—from elegant string quartets to folky bluegrass bands—to indoor and outdoor venues around town. Outdoor performances, like those sounding from a barge on the Avon River, are free. Series may include Friday night cabarets at Revival House and classical music lunches. Some performances sell out, so get tickets in advance.

Perhaps the most important film festival in the world after Cannes and Sundance, TIFF is open to the public and even the star-studded galas are accessible to the average Joe. More than 300 works by both acclaimed and lesser-known directors from around the world are shown. Movies that premiere at TIFF have won Academy Awards and launched the careers of emerging actors and directors—TIFF audiences have been among the first in the world to see movies like La La Land, Slumdog Millionaire, and Juno. The red carpet is rolled out for star-studded premieres, and actors and directors may be on hand afterward for Q&As. Along with the serious documentaries, foreign films, and Oscar contenders, TIFF has fun with its Midnight Madness program, screening campy horror films, comedies, and action movies.

It's not only wine drinkers who can enjoy festival fun. Victoria's annual cocktail party includes tastings, workshops, and other sipping and supping events every October.

This artisan food and beverage fest in September features artisan island produce at its best: charcuterie boards abound with tastings paired with local ciders, microbrews, and more.

Tons of fun and completely free, the very popular five-day jazz festival in early August draws in at least 15,000 tourists and locals to Mont-Tremblant. The concerts take place under the stars on two outdoor stages and in at least 10 restaurants, bars, and hotels in the village or St-Jovite (downtown area).

North America's largest documentary film festival. April--May.

This major event features films made by and about people in the LGBTQ+ community. May--June.

Montréal's world-famous comedy festival hosts international comics, in French and English, from the second through third weeks of July. There are tons of shows to watch, in venues from big concert halls to quaint bars. Walk around the Quartier des Spectacles during the festival and giggle your way from one outdoor act to another. The twins parade is not to be missed.

Mondial de la Bière is a captivating event where more than 100 Quebecois microbreweries and North American craft beer staples come together. Each May, this popular festival offers visitors an exclusive opportunity to expand their palates, understand beer production, meet artisans, and discover new flavors.

Dedicated to horror, sci-fi, and thriller films. Late October.

Victoria's wine fest in late August/early September showcases international wines with tastings, dinners, and seminars, including island wineries and labels from Washington State.