What’s Happening in August: Top Burlington Events You Can’t Miss
July 29, 2025
Looking for unforgettable August events in Burlington? Whether you’re a local or visiting for a weekend getaway from Toronto, this lakeside city is packed with food festivals, live music, cultural celebrations, and relaxing escapes, all wrapped in small-town charm. Here are the top 10 events happening this August, each with something special to offer.
Top August Events in Burlington 2025:
1. Canada’s Largest Ribfest
August 29 – Sept 1 • Spencer Smith Park • Free Admission (Donations welcome)
There’s nothing quite like the smoky scent of slow-cooked ribs wafting through the summer air along the Burlington waterfront. Canada’s Largest Ribfest is more than just a food festival, it’s a beloved Labour Day tradition. With over a dozen award-winning ribbers, live music, craft vendors, and lakeside lounging, this four-day event is a feast for all senses. The setting alone, Spencer Smith Park’s sweeping views of Lake Ontario, adds a relaxed yet vibrant energy that’s uniquely Burlington.
Hosted by the Rotary Club of Burlington Lakeshore, this event raises funds for local and international charitable initiatives. New to the scene or a BBQ veteran, Ribfest brings people together with smoky flavours and a side of Burlington charm.
Fun fact: This festival has served over 3 million people since its start. How many ribs do you think that is?
2. Lakeside À La Carte
August 10 • Spencer Smith Park • Ticketed
Elevate your summer palate at Lakeside À La Carte, Burlington’s signature gourmet event. Featuring curated dishes from the region’s top restaurants, paired with Ontario wines and craft beers, this upscale outdoor experience is as refined as it is relaxed. Enjoy shaded seating under elegant tents, all with unobstructed views of the lake and skyline, a setting that perfectly marries fine dining with Burlington’s laid-back lake life.
Proceeds support the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation, making every bite count for a greater cause. Expect live jazz, a stylish crowd, and culinary creativity that pushes beyond the expected.
Fun Fact: Lakeside À La Carte has raised over $1 million for the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation since its inception, all while serving gourmet bites with a view. Fine dining and community impact? Yes, chef!
3. Jazz on the Plaza
August 8–10 • Burlington Performing Arts Centre • Free Admission
For one magical weekend, the Burlington Performing Arts Centre transforms into an open-air stage for smooth sax, cool keys, and soulful vocals. Jazz on the Plaza brings together top Canadian jazz artists in a relaxed outdoor atmosphere where art lovers gather under the summer sun and evening sky to enjoy world-class music. The event is free, making it a welcoming entry point for curious newcomers and longtime jazz fans alike.
Set just steps from Burlington’s downtown core, the event has become a cultural cornerstone that echoes the city’s growing creative scene. With BPAC’s modern architecture as a backdrop and the buzz of nearby patios and shops, the vibe is intimate yet energized, a jazz lover’s dream with small-town charm.
Fun Fact: Launched in 2015, Jazz on the Plaza has evolved from a humble outdoor gathering to one of Burlington’s must-attend musical traditions.
4. Burlington VegFest
August 16 • Spencer Smith Park • Free Admission
Back for another delicious year, Burlington VegFest is a plant-powered celebration along the lake. This family-friendly, eco-conscious festival showcases vegan eats, health and wellness brands, ethical fashion, and sustainable living, all set-in scenic Spencer Smith Park. This lively event brings together passionate vegans, curious foodies, and wellness seekers over fresh, feel-good bites that celebrate plant-based living.
The vibe is energetic yet peaceful, reflecting Burlington’s reputation as a wellness-oriented city. With engaging speakers, kids’ zones, and mindful activities, VegFest offers something for every age and lifestyle.
Fun fact: Burlington was one of the first cities in Ontario to host a 100% vegan waterfront festival, a true trailblazer.
5. Art Walk 2025
August 23 • Burloak Waterfront Park • Free Admission
Celebrate creativity at the 5th Annual Art Walk, hosted by the Elizabeth Gardens Creative Collective. Set along the scenic Burloak Waterfront Park, this all-ages, open-air festival brings together over 40 local artists, educators, and performers for a day bursting with community energy and artistic expression. With hands-on workshops, live music, an art scavenger hunt, and even a community art installation, this event turns a visit to the lake into a canvas of possibilities.
Fun fact: This park straddles the Burlington-Oakville border, making it the perfect meeting point for artists and art lovers from both cities.
6. Burlington Latin Festival
August 23–24 • Central Park • Free Admission
Feel the rhythm of Latin America right in the heart of Burlington. The Burlington Latin Festival brings the heat with two days of dance, music, and mouthwatering food from across Latin cultures. From salsa to reggaeton, empanadas to arepas, the energy is electric and inviting, a true celebration of diversity through rhythm and flavour.
Set in beautiful Central Park, this event captures the essence of community, family, and joy. It’s the kind of experience that makes you want to dance first, ask questions later.
Fun Fact: According to the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Latin America is the top vacation destination for Canadians. The Burlington Latin Festival captures that same vibrant spirit—bringing the colours, rhythms, and flavours of Latin America right to Central Park for a true fiesta, no plane ticket required.
7. Classic Cars & Carnival
August 23 • Ireland House Museum • Free Admission
History meets horsepower at Classic Cars & Carnival, hosted on the heritage grounds of the Ireland House Museum. Browse vintage vehicles, play nostalgic carnival games, and tour a historic 1830s home all in one afternoon. This event blends Burlington’s rich past with retro fun, making it a family favourite each year.
With food trucks, prizes, and pop-up exhibits, the event is as educational as it is entertaining.
Fun fact: The Ireland House was owned by one of Burlington’s founding families, imagine what the roads looked like then!
8. Yoga at the Gardens
Saturdays through Sept 27 • Hendrie Park, RBG • With admission or membership
Set your intention among the blooms. Yoga at the Gardens invites you to unwind in the lush surroundings of the Royal Botanical Gardens. These morning classes take place in the tranquil beauty of Hendrie Park, where nature sets the tone for a restorative, all-levels yoga session.
With birdsong overhead and floral fragrances all around, it’s a grounding way to start your day and connect with Burlington’s natural side.
Fun Fact: With 1,264 unique plant varieties blooming around you, this yoga session is basically a retreat into Canada’s botanical paradise.
9. RBG After Dark: Hot Summer Sizzle (19+)
August 21 • Rock Garden, RBG • Ticketed
As the sun dips, the gardens come alive. Hot Summer Sizzle is part of the RBG After Dark series, blending cocktails, food, and music in one of Burlington’s most beautiful settings, the historic Rock Garden. Wander illuminated pathways, sip summer drinks, and dance under the stars in an environment unlike any other.
Perfect for date night or a night out with friends, this adults-only event is a fresh take on garden evenings.
Fun fact: The Rock Garden was once a quarry, today, it’s one of Burlington’s most enchanting spots after dark.
10. Royal Canadian Circus
August 21 – Sept 1 • Burlington Centre • Ticketed
Roll up, roll up — The Royal Canadian Circus is coming to town! This family-run circus blends traditional charm with awe-inspiring acts, featuring acrobats, daredevils, and aerial performers from around the world. Held under a big-top tent in the Burlington Centre parking lot, it’s a classic summer spectacle that will have kids (and kids at heart) wide-eyed from start to finish.
There are no animals involved, just pure human talent and edge-of-your-seat thrills.
Fun fact: The Zerbini family behind this circus has roots in European circus tradition dating back over 250 years!
11. Bonus: B.C.C.S. Cruisin’ Car Show
Monday Evenings • B.C.C.S. Parking Lot, 355 Guelph Line • Free Admission
Rev up your Monday evenings with a classic Burlington tradition, the B.C.C.S. Cruisin’ Car Show, hosted weekly at Burlington Centre (weather permitting). Rows of polished chrome, retro rides, and passionate car enthusiasts fill the lot, bringing vintage charm to this family-friendly community event. It’s not just a car show, it’s a nostalgic step back in time, fueled by local pride and community spirit. Plus, proceeds support Canadian Tire Jumpstart, helping kids in need access sports and recreation.
Fun fact: Some regulars have been showing the same ride here for over a decade. What stories do these cars hold?
Plan Your August Escape
Waterfront festivals by day, glowing gardens by night, and lakeside indulgence everywhere in between. August in Burlington offers diverse experiences wrapped in local charm. Whether it’s a weekend getaway from Toronto, a romantic escape, or an artsy outing, there’s a magic moment waiting for you.
Explore our full Events Calendar and start designing your perfect August in Burlington.
