Plan your event in Burlington with guidance from our Festivals and Events team. Whether it's a neighbourhood gathering or a large festival, we'll help you navigate the process and ensure your event is a success.
The City of Burlington’s Festival and Events office supports community-led events which take place on municipal property and directly delivers events such as Canada Day, Santa Claus Parade and Movies under the Stars. Burlington is home to many dynamic, innovative and accessible festivals and events that celebrate our city’s culture and enrich the quality of life for our residents. These events include but are not limited to, festivals, parades, road races, live performances, tournaments, and walkathons.
An approved contract is needed to host a festival or event on City property.
Event Classifications
Event classifications help the Festivals and Events team figure out what your event needs to be successful. When you're assigned an events staff liaison, they will place your event into one of these categories.
Neighbourhood Events - Under 250 attendees |
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Neighbourhood events are events with an attendance under 250. They originate from within the community, produced by local residents, and attract local residents within the jurisdiction of the event. They have minimal economic impact to the community and are one-time events with the opportunity to occur again in the future.
Hoping to plan a smaller community gathering under 250 people? Check out Love My Neighbourhood. Are you looking to book a private party (i.e. birthday party) or picnic site? Find more information about booking your space at our facility and park rental page. Application Timeline45 days from application to completion if your event is submitted outside of the annual intake of applications |
Community Events - 250 to 4k attendees |
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Community Events are events with an attendance from 250-4,000. They originate from within the community and produced mostly by local residents or those who have ties to the Burlington community. These events can occur annually, recurring, multiple days, and they can also be one-time events. They can attract visitors from outside of the municipality, either from surrounding municipalities or a specific targeted audience. They have low economic impact to the community and low disruption, if any, to municipal services and the public. Veterans and Indigenous ceremonies would fall under this category.
Application Timeline60-90 days from application to completion if your event is submitted outside of the annual intake of applications |
Major Events - 4k to 20k attendees |
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Major Events are events with an attendance of 4,000-20,000. They can be originated from within the community, but also can be produced by individuals from outside of the community. These events usually occur annually and attract visitors from outside of Burlington and within Burlington. They have moderate economic impact to the community and have some disruption to municipal services and the public. They can be recurring events, span over multiple days, or can be one-time events.
Application Timeline8-12 months from application to completion if your event is submitted outside of the annual intake of applications |
Signature Events - 20k or more attendees |
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Signature Events are events with an attendance of 20,000 or more. They can be originated from within the community, but can also be produced by individuals from outside of the community and usually occur annually. These events are significant in nature, are a tradition to the community and reflect Burlington’s identity and culture creating a legacy in Burlington. They attract visitors from outside of Burlington and within Burlington and provide a high economic impact to the community. These events have moderate to high disruption of municipal services.
Application Timeline12 months from application to completion if your event is submitted outside of the annual intake of applications |
Mega Events |
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Mega Events are events with exceptionally high attendance, beyond signature event capacity. They are national and international in nature, and have strong involvement from local, provincial and federal governments. Mega events have the potential for infrastructure investments and development, and the possibility of multiple venues and locations across Burlington. They have significant financial implications, and the government usually offers funding for these events. Mega events have a significant tourist impact with international visitors and participation, attracting visitors from all areas. They provide a high economic impact to the community and have the potential for significant disruptions to municipal services and the public.
Application Timeline18 months+ from application to completion if your event is submitted outside of the annual intake of applications |