Fast Facts
Dates times and location
The festival is happening June 28 – 29, 2025 at Sugar Beach, 11 Dockside Drive on Toronto’s Waterfront.
TS Playfair is docking at Harbourfront Centre at 235 Queens Quay W. on June 27 & 28.
General festival hours are 10am-7pm on Saturday and 10am-6pm on Sunday. Deck Tour hours are 10am-6pm on both days.
How much is the festival
General admission to the festival is FREE. This includes nautical entertainment, access to food trucks, sponsor activations and giveaways, interactive activities with the Armed Forces, Canadian Coast Guard, Toronto Fire, Live Green Toronto and Moccasin Identifier. You can also view the ships from Sugar Beach and take photos.
To get on board the 4 visiting ships and tour their decks, you need a DECK TOUR TICKET for $15 + tax and fees. The ships will be staying at the dock and NOT sailing. You can purchase a ticket in advanced HERE or purchase a ticket onsite at the festival.
There are also SAIL AWAY tickets available for $40 + tax and fees. These are for a 2 hour sail on Empire Sandy which happens 4 times per day on both Saturday June 28th and Sunday June 29th. You can purchase a ticket in advanced HERE or purchase a ticket onsite at the festival.
On our ticket page there is also the option to combine both a deck tour ticket and sail away ticket for a small COMBO discount. This way you can tour the decks of the visiting ships at the dock wall as well as sail onboard Empire Sandy. Look for the COMBO option when you go to check out.
ALL TICKETS that are purchased (Deck Tours & Sail Aways) must be redeemed onsite at the festival at our TICKET BOOTH in exchange for a wristband to board the ship(s). If you purchase a ticket in advanced, show your printed ticket or the ticket on your phone to our ticket booth staff to get a wristband.
Don’t miss the boat! Book your tickets today by clicking the ticket link at the top of our site.
How do I get there?
We encourage visitors to avoid driving and take a ride share, taxi, public transit, bike or walk wherever possible as there is a lot of construction on the waterfront and limited parking.
TTC : For detailed routes please visit the TTC Trip Planner. For accessibility options please visit Wheel Trans.
Walking from GO and Union Station
From Union GO and Subway Station walk south through Union Railway Station into the ACC Galleria and walk south to Queens Quay. At Queens Quay, turn left and walk for 15-20 minutes to reach 11 Dockside Drive / Sugar Beach. Look for the pink umbrellas and you’ll be there!
To plan your trip with GO visit GO Trip Planner.
Driving: To avoid congestion from construction and traffic delays, we suggest taking ride share, a taxi or public transit to the festival and walking south from Union station.
Is the event accessible?
The Toronto Waterfront Festival sites are always accessible and fully complies with the City of Toronto accessibility rules and regulations. The festival also fully complies with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. For accessible transit options please visit Wheel Trans and for any other specific needs, please visit our information booth onsite or email info@towaterfrontfest.com with any questions.
Is there parking?
Parking is limited on the waterfront, we recommend taking a ride share, taxi, public transit, biking or walking if possible. If driving, check out this great list that the Waterfront BIA put together HERE.
Where do I find a schedule?
An entertainment schedule is available on our home page and you can also find it HERE
What else is happening on Toronto's Waterfront that weekend?
After visiting our festival each day, we encourage you to check out the rest of Toronto’s Waterfront. Visit HERE.
Empire Sandy Sail Aways
Enjoy an exclusive sailing experience through the Toronto harbour and out onto Lake Ontario. Take stunning photos against the backdrop of incredible views of the city skyline onboard Canada’s largest Tall Ship. Food and drink available for purchase during each cruise. See below for times and schedule. All Sail Aways leave from Sugar Beach, 11 Dockside Drive.
Don’t miss this very unique opportunity to sail on Canada’s Largest Tall Ship!
Friday, June 27, 2025 *PARADE OF SAIL*
• Boarding at Sugar Beach at 10:00am
• Muster at 11:00am outside the Eastern Gap
• Parade of Sail at 12:00pm
• Return to the dock at Sugar Beach by 1:00pm
Saturday, June 28, 2025
• Boarding at 10:00am. Sail 10:15am – 12:15pm
• Boarding at 12:45pm. Sail 1:00pm – 3:00pm
• Boarding at 3:30pm. Sail 3:45pm – 5:45pm
• Boarding at 6:15pm. Sail 6:30pm – 8:30pm – Sunset Sail
Sunday, June 29, 2025
• Boarding at 10:00am. Sail 10:15am – 12:15pm
• Boarding at 12:45pm. Sail 1:00pm – 3:00pm
• Boarding at 3:30pm. Sail 3:45pm – 5:45pm
• Boarding at 6:15pm. Sail 6:30pm – 8:30pm – Sunset Sail
Purchase tickets HERE
What is the PARADE OF SAIL on Friday June 27th?
For Parade of Sail ticket holders:
• Boarding at Sugar Beach at 10:00am
• Muster at 11:00am outside the Eastern Gap
• Parade of Sail at 12:00pm
• Return to the dock at Sugar Beach by 1:00pm
For those looking to see the ships sail in:
On Friday June 27th around 11:30AM, the ships will be sailing in from the Eastern Gap to do a parade along Toronto’s Waterfront before docking at Sugar Beach. For those that want to experience this very unique parade, we recommend going anywhere along the east end of the waterfront as well as the Toronto islands for the best vantage points. Please note the festival site will not have anything happening on Friday June 27th and the official event opens at 10AM on Saturday, June 28th.
Tall ships rules, regulations, and accessibility information
Due to the nature of their construction, ships do not have wheelchair access, and there is limited access to people with mobility restrictions.
Tripping hazards are unavoidable aboard sailing vessels and the highest degree of care is expected of all visitors.
Proper footwear must be worn by anyone boarding the ships (ex. rubber sole shoes & sneakers). Leather sole shoes are slippery and dangerous on deck.
No spike heels are permitted aboard any ship.
Smoking or vaping tobacco and cannabis are not permitted aboard any ship. Beverages (alcoholic & non) and food (including chewing gum) are strictly prohibited.
Handrails must be used by visitors when boarding and departing the ships.
Visitors may not run, jump or bounce on the gangways or deck of the ships.
No bags more than 14 inches long permitted on the ships. No glass containers, cans, pets, strollers, umbrellas, motorized vehicles, bicycles, skateboards, roller blades or weapons.
Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
The purchaser ASSUMES ALL RISKS BEFORE, DURING OR AFTER THE EVENT INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, INJURY FROM SPECTATOR AREAS, ON OR OFF THE SHIPS, ACCIDENTS OR INJURY FROM FIRES, and agree that Water’s Edge Festivals & Events, its members, subcontractors and the City of Toronto, owners and lessors of property used in connection with the event, all event participants, sponsors, sanctioning bodies, and any of their employees, agents, officers and directors are hereby RELEASED from any and all claims arising from the event. You grant permission to use your voice, image, and/or likeness in connection with any photograph, live or recorded display of the event, without any compensation. You agree that images and sounds of the event obtained by you, will not be broadcast, published or used for any commercial purposes. All disputes relating to the ticket shall be governed by Ontario Law.