A "loud, fun, dancing-shoes-only festival in the heart of Toronto."
That's how Sathish Bala describes the vibe of DESIFEST, a free music and arts festival in Toronto that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of South Asia and usually draws about 50,000 people.
"The lineup was a beautiful blend of languages from different performers – Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Gujarati – with sprinkles of English," said Bala, the festival's founder and creative director.
The festival took place on June 14 in Sankofa Square (formerly Yonge-Dundas Square), with performances that started at 11 a.m. and wrapped up at 11 p.m. There were 20 food vendors and a variety of crafts and artistic creations to peruse.
Families tend to arrive earlier in the day, Bala said, while younger attendees usually arrive later and stay into the evening.
DESIFEST is one of dozens of free and low-cost music and culture festivals happening in several provinces in Canada this summer that are sponsored by TD through the TD Ready Commitment, the Bank's corporate citizenship platform.
Helping people feel more included in and connected to their communities by supporting events that can bring diverse groups of people together is one way the Bank strives to deliver on its purpose to enrich lives.
This year's festival celebrated 19 years of South Asian music and culture. It featured genre-defying sets from Master-D and Landy Garcia, a groundbreaking fusion by JUNO-nominated Yanchan Produced, the soulful stylings of Achanté Music, the powerhouse vocals of Queens of Bollywood, and a special performance by guitar legend ShallumX, Bala said.
The festival's lineup was 100% Canadian this year, Bala said, a milestone he and his festival partners have worked hard to reach.
Many of these performers are new to Canada, he said, but they aren't new to music. They're already big names in the industry in their home countries and are working hard to gain recognition for their music in Canada, he said.
DESIFEST is proud to give them a platform, he said.
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"We get to see what I'd call the taxi-cab stereotype playing out in the music industry," Bala said. "We have these newcomer acts on stage here in Toronto, but back home, they're selling out venues with 20,000 seats."
Many of the performers paid homage to the history of their Bhangra or Bollywood music, lyrics, and instruments, Bala said, while showing the audience their new interpretation of it.
"Those artists don't necessarily have a place in the music industry because they aren't chasing a spot in the charts or catering to the wedding industry," he said. "DESIFEST has become the celebration of and stage for these outliers."
Cultural traditions and music don’t have to be static, he said. They can be built upon or adapted.
"Each generation should take their culture and their music, put their fingerprints on it, and pass it on to the next generation,” he said.
Bala – who hosted the show over the course of the 12-hour festival – has a hard time picking his favourite memories from past festivals, but he particularly loves what he calls "unscripted moments."
"What's unique to this festival is that anybody in the crowd, at any time, could find themselves on stage," he said.
"You might see a performance and then after a five-minute break, I'm on stage looking for a singer out of the crowd. We've discovered some amazing talent that way.”
Summer festivals in Canada 2025
Check out 15 other festivals happening across Canada this summer, each of which is sponsored by TD through the TD Ready Commitment. This is how each organization describes its festival in its own words:
Alberta
Edmonton International Jazz Festival
June 20 – 29, 2025
Edmonton
The Edmonton International Jazz Festival is a 10-day summer music festival, showcasing international and regional artists at various indoor and outdoor events around the city. This event provides opportunity for artists and music-lovers to connect through music, exploring jazz and jazz-influenced presentations from around the globe.
To learn more, visit edmontonjazz.com
Canmore Folk Music Festival
Aug. 2 – 4, 2025
Canmore
The Canmore Folk Music Festival is Alberta's longest-running folk music festival, celebrating 48 years of music, community, and creativity. Held annually over the August long weekend, the festival brings together a dynamic lineup of local, national, and international artists, drawing an audience of over 5,000 people each day to the stunning Rocky Mountain town.
To learn more, visit canmorefolkfestival.com
British Columbia
Concerts at the Pier
July 3 – Aug. 28, 2025
White Rock
Set against the picturesque backdrop of White Rock beach, Concerts at the Pier is a free, outdoor concert series that takes place over five nights in July and August. Concert-goers are encouraged to make reservations or order take out at one of White Rock’s restaurants, as well to bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy the show.
To learn more, visit whiterockbia.com/td-concerts-for-the-pier
Korean Cultural Heritage Festival
Aug. 2, 2025
Burnaby
The Korean Cultural Heritage Festival is a family oriented one-day event completely free of admission to the public taking place at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby. The festival offers a platform to showcase Korean heritage, arts, and traditions, fostering mutual respect and unity among the broader community.
To learn more, visit kculture.ca
Manitoba
Manitoba Filipino Street Festival
Aug. 16 – 17, 2025
Winnipeg
The free Manitoba Filipino Street Festival is committed to ensuring that the festival brings together not only the Filipino community to celebrate our culture and heritage, but also to share it with the greater community so that everyone can come and celebrate.
To learn more, visit manitobafilipino.com
New Brunswick
Harvest Music Festival
Sept. 9 – 14, 2025
Fredericton
The Harvest Music Festival is the largest festival of its kind east of Montreal. With a musical selection ranging from jazz, folk, rock, funk, Americana, and R&B, Harvest Music Festival offers something for everyone. The festival features an incredible array of programming for all ages, family-friendly events, and interactive workshops.
To learn more, visit harvestmusicfest.ca
Ontario
Festival of South Asia
June 19 – 20, 2025
Toronto
The Festival of South Asia celebrates the diversity of South Asian culture with a multi-cultural experience of tastes, sounds, and sights of South Asia, as well as arts and culture. It returns in 2025 for two jam-packed days of family fun activities, food, shopping, live entertainment, and more.
To learn more, visit festivalofsouthasia.ca
Niagara Jazz Festival
June 20 – 29, 2025
Niagara
Niagara Jazz Festival is an award-winning not-for-profit music festival dedicated to celebrating jazz and world music throughout the year, with a summer festival in June. The festival aims to inspire, educate, and develop jazz audiences by combining live music with an immersive Niagara experience: food, wine, culture, attractions, and natural wonders.
To learn more, visit niagarajazzfestival.com
Taste of Asia Festival
June 27 – 29, 2025
Markham
The Taste of Asia Festival has evolved over the past two decades into one of Canada’s most beloved and anticipated cultural events. What started during the 2003 SARS outbreak as a way for the Asian community to showcase their rich culture has blossomed into Canada’s largest Asian festival, drawing over 200,000 visitors throughout the years and gaining recognition across the country and beyond. It offers three days of cultural events, family-friendly attractions, and food.
To learn more, visit taste-of-asia.ca
Newmarket Music Series
July 3 – Aug. 21, 2025
Newmarket
The Newmarket Music Series is a free, summer-long event that features high-quality, professional tribute bands every Thursday evening from July 3 to August 21 at Newmarket Riverwalk Commons, located in the heart of downtown.
To learn more, visit newmarket.ca/musicseries
Sunfest
July 3 – 6, 2025
London
Sunfest, a music and jazz festival,is the ultimate summer celebration that fills the heart of London, Ont., with joy and vibrant energy. Since its founding in 1995, Sunfest has blossomed into a magnificent festival that radiates positivity and celebrates the diverse rhythms of the world.
To learn more, visit sunfest.on.ca
Carivibe Festival
July 25 – 27, 2025
Ottawa
Carivibe's programming is designed to reflect the diversity of Ottawa's Caribbean community, offering a range of activities that cater to various age groups and interests, and a range of artistic practices that reflect the richness of the Caribbean heritage in the area.
To learn more, visit facebook.com/CarivibeFestival/
Afro-Carib Fest
Aug. 23 – 24, 2025
Scarborough
Afro-Carib Fest brings a diverse group of people together through free shared experiences such as live performances from local and international artists, dance, and drum workshops, supporting local vendors and engaging with the community.
To learn more, visit afrocaribfestival.com
Quebec
Festival International Nuits d'Afrique
July 8 – 20, 2025
Montréal
From July 8 to 20, the 39th edition of Festival International Nuits d’Afrique will sweep you up in a whirlwind of musical discoveries, with more than 700 artists from over 30 countries coming to welcome you into their world. Throughout the 13 days of indoor concerts and the six days of free outdoor programming from July 15 to 20, prominent international and national artists as well as emerging talent will take to the stage to deliver a broad array of spectacular performances.
To learn more, visit festivalnuitsdafrique.com
Festival Orientalys
Aug. 8 – 11, 2025
Montréal
Orientalys is a free festival fully devoted to the meeting of Eastern and Western cultures, celebrating a diverse, avant‐garde, and open-minded Montreal.
Every year in summer, the Old-Port moves to the beat of bold fusions and original shows crossing three continents from North Africa to China, by way of Spain, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Cambodia, India and Japan as well as many other Eastern countries! Performances, workshops, animations, exhibitions and activities for children and adults are on the program each year.
To learn more, visit festivalorientalys.com