A Toronto summer tradition unlike anything else in the city — the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and visiting ensembles perform outdoor concerts on the grounds of Casa Loma, with the 1914 Gothic castle as the backdrop. Bring a blanket, bring a picnic, and listen to a full symphony orchestra under the open sky against one of the most dramatic architectural backdrops in Canada.
Neighbourhood: Casa Loma / Forest Hill · Address: 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto, ON M5R 1X8 · Hours: Summer concert series — Sunday afternoons June through August (check casaloma.ca for 2026 schedule) · Website: https://casaloma.ca/
Why Visit
Listening to a full symphony orchestra play open-air on the castle's terrace as the sun sets is a rare experience you can't get anywhere else in Toronto. The setting, music, and atmosphere combine for an actual summer evening out, not just background noise in a park.
What Makes It Unique
Unlike other outdoor concerts in the city, this is a real orchestral performance — not just string quartets or cover bands in a park — and the castle backdrop changes how the music feels. It's pretty wild to sit on the grass a few metres from the musicians as the 100-year-old castle glows at dusk. You don't have to pay for a pricey indoor ticket to experience the full TSO.
Symphony in the Gardens is a summer outdoor concert series held on the grounds of Casa Loma — the 98-room Gothic Revival castle on a promontory above the Annex neighbourhood — where the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and visiting performers take to a stage in the castle's formal gardens while the audience spreads out on the lawn with blankets and picnic baskets. The castle serves as both backdrop and acoustical resonator, and the combination of live orchestral music, open air, and one of Canada's most dramatic architectural settings creates an experience that has no equivalent anywhere else in Toronto.
The series typically runs from late June through August, with concerts on Sunday afternoons that often extend into early evening. The programming is deliberately accessible: alongside the TSO's own performances, the series includes chamber concerts, visiting ensembles, and themed evenings (film scores, summer classics, Canadian compositions) that make it welcoming to first-time classical audiences and devoted concert-goers alike. The outdoor format — blankets on the grass, no assigned seating in the general audience, permission to bring food and drink — removes the formality that keeps some people out of indoor concert halls.
Casa Loma's grounds provide the essential theatrical context. The castle, designed by E.J. Lennox (who also designed Old City Hall) and built between 1911 and 1914 for financier Sir Henry Pellatt, sits on a hill at the edge of the Forest Hill escarpment. From the gardens, the five-storey castle towers rise above the stage, illuminated at dusk in amber and warm white light. The formal European-style gardens — complete with terraced lawns, perennial borders, and stone retaining walls — create a natural amphitheatre with the castle at the centre of the frame.
Tickets are required and should be purchased through casaloma.ca in advance; popular summer dates sell out weeks ahead. General admission lawn tickets are the most affordable option and arguably the best experience — a good blanket, a proper picnic spread, and a few hours of live music in one of Toronto's most beautiful outdoor spaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Symphony in the Gardens at Casa Loma Toronto?
Symphony in the Gardens is a summer outdoor concert series at Casa Loma (1 Austin Terrace, Toronto). The Toronto Symphony Orchestra and visiting ensembles perform on a stage in Casa Loma's formal gardens, with the 1914 Gothic castle as the backdrop. The audience sits on blankets on the castle grounds. Concerts typically run Sundays June–August. Tickets are available through casaloma.ca.
What should I bring to Symphony in the Gardens at Casa Loma?
Bring a blanket or low folding chairs (high-back chairs are usually not permitted), a picnic spread (food and drinks are permitted on the grounds — this is one of the great picnic venues in the city), and layers for the evening (temperatures drop after sunset even in summer). Arrive 45–60 minutes early to claim a good spot on the grass near the stage. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
How do I get to Casa Loma for Symphony in the Gardens?
The closest TTC subway station is Dupont (Line 1), a 15-minute walk north up Spadina Road to 1 Austin Terrace. You can also take the 127 Davenport bus from Spadina Station. Uber/Lyft drop-off at the castle gates is the most convenient option. Street parking is available on Casa Loma's residential side streets but can fill up on concert days — arrive early or use transit.
How much are tickets for Symphony in the Gardens?
Ticket prices vary by concert and seating type. General lawn admission is typically the most affordable tier ($30–50 per person); reserved seating closer to the stage costs more. The full schedule and tickets are available through casaloma.ca. Popular dates in July sell out weeks in advance — book as soon as the season schedule is announced (usually April or May).