• May 17 to 19, 24 and 25. Lilacs peak in colour and fragrance in late May, which is the perfect time to check out Burlington, Ont.'s Lilac Festival at the Royal Botanical Gardens, the largest collection of these beautiful and aromatic flowers in the world.
www.rbg.ca
• June 20 and 21. Yellowknife takes advantage of the longest day of the year – and there's 24 hours of light that far north – for its Solstice Festival.
www.solsticefestival.ca
• June 21 and 22. Watch hundreds of teams plow through Vancouver waters at the 20th anniversary Alcan Dragon Boat Festival.
www.adbf.com
www.montrealjazzfest.com
• July 1. Celebrate Canada Day in the nation's capital, where some of the best festivities are found. If you can't make it there, you can show your red and white pride anywhere in Canada.
www.canadascapital.gc.ca/canadaday
• July 3 and 4. This year marks Quebec City's 400th birthday. The celebrations will climax July 3 and 4, the anniversary of the founding of Quebec City by Samuel de Champlain in 1608.
www.monquebec2008.com
• July 4 to 13. Slap on a cowboy hat and Western boots for the Calgary Stampede, a quintessential Canadian event. Take in the rodeo, agriculture exhibits and daily entertainment.
www.calgarystampede.com
• July 10 to 18. The Winnipeg Folk Festival is an intimate weekend of blues, Celtic music, bluegrass, world music and other contagious rhythms on seven stages. www.winnipegfolkfestival.ca
• July 17 to 26. Edmonton's Capital Ex, formerly Klondike Days, features some of Canada's top musicians, a midway and a talent search.
www.capitalex.ca
• July 25 to 27. Hillside Festival in Guelph, Ont., is an environmentally friendly experience packed with music, crafts, dance and community workshops. www.hillsidefestival.ca
• July 23, 26, 30 and Aug. 2. Vancouver won the 2007 Celebration of Light trophy for its waterside fireworks and music. Check website for competition days.
www.celebration-of-light.com
• Aug. 8 to 17. Many of the world's best street performers gather in Halifax for
10 days for the city's International Busker Festival, which, true to form, is free. www.buskers.ca
• Aug. 10. The Northwest Passage Marathon Races on Somerset Island in Nunavut are North America's most northerly marathons and are held under the 24-hour Arctic sun.
www.nunavuttourism.com
• Oct. 10 to 18. The Cape Breton Island–wide Celtic Colours International Festival is rich in art, music and tradition, and is the largest celebration of Celtic culture in North America.
www.celtic-colours.com
• Year-round. Pick up some fresh Ontario produce at Hamilton Farmers' Market, the largest in Canada. With 176 indoor stands, you'll find everything you need for a locally grown feast.
www.myhamilton.ca
Read more:
Cross-Canada travel guides
Eat your way across Canada
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