Built in 1936, it hosts the annual music program of the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) and is also used for festivals and picnic events, for which the "Bandshell Park" can be rented from the City of Toronto.

Inspired by the Hollywood Bowl, the Art Deco-styled shell was built in 1936 according to designs prepared by the Toronto architectural firm of Craig and Madill.

[5] Highlighting the initial musical program was the Kneller Hall Band of Great Britain and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

The list of acts includes Salman Ahmad,[8] Louis Armstrong, Glen Campbell, Blondie (band), Johnny Cash, The Diamonds,[9] Esther Ghan Firestone,[10] Bob Hope,[7] Quincy Jones,[11] Guy Lombardo,[7] Don McLean,[12] Joni Mitchell,[7] Bob Newhart, Salt-N-Pepa,[7] Neil Sedaka,[13] The Stampeders, The Glorious Sons The Guess Who,[7] Tommy James and the Shondells.

More recently the likes of America, April Wine, Frankie Avalon,[14] Susan Aglukark, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Big Sugar,[12] Chubby Checker, Benny Dayal, José Feliciano,[15] Foghat, Herman's Hermits, Monster Truck, Moxy Früvous, The New Pornographers, Leroy Sibbles, Rick Springfield, The Tea Party, Tokyo Police Club and Trooper have played the open-air venue.

[16] In 1967, for Canada's Centennial, the Bandshell was enclosed in a "One Hundredth Birthday Cake", with 10 ft (3.0 m) tall candles, at a cost of CA$50,000 (equivalent to $433,978 in 2023).