Macaron Day in Toronto is an annual celebration of those colourful melt in your mouth meringue confections that French bakeries do so well. Taking place this Thursday, March 20th, the one-day event coincides with international celebrations in Paris and New York.

In Toronto and across the GTA there are 22 participating patisseries and Parisian cafes serving up complimentary samples with just the mention of Macaron Day. A portion of all macaron sales from the day will be donated to charities like the Red Door Family Shelter and Sick Kids.

Here's my top picks for where to get in on the fun in Toronto.

Nadege, 780 Queen Street West and 1099 Yonge Street
The regular roster of flavours will be doubled, feature flavours du jour will be blueberry vanilla, cayenne pepper and passionfruit chocolate. Beating to their own drum, Nadege is donating 50% of all macaron sales from the day to SickKids.

La Bamboche, 1712 Avenue Road
Free flavour: Nori wasabi
Pick up extras for a good cause in unique flavours like yuzu sake, orange cardamom and green tea with mango.

Bobbette & Belle, 1121 Queen Street East
Free flavour: Your pick
Choose from 11 signature French macarons in flavours like chocolate mint, passion fruit, cassis and milk chocolate caramel.

Butter Avenue, 3467 Yonge Street
Free flavour: Sea salt caramel
Macarons will be the only thing on the menu come Thursday, purchase extras from 25 flavours in support of a worthy cause.

Sweet Escape, 55 Mill Street, Building 47, Suite 102
Free flavour: Buttered popcorn
Mention Macaron Day for the free feature at this Distillery District bake shop.

Frangipane Patisserie, 215 Madison Avenue
Free flavour: Strawberries and cream
The corner patisserie at Dupont and Spadina stocks popular flavours like pistachio, salted caramel, raspberry and passionfruit.

MoRoCo Chocolat, 99 Yorkville Avenue
Free flavour: Marshmallow or cotton candy
Among the most popular macarons at this Yorkville confection shop are the sugar doughnut and salted caramel.

Yorkville Espresso Bar, 3 Yorkville Ave
Free flavours: Pick from hazelnut Nutella, vanilla bean or passion fruit
For purchase they'll also have mint chocolate, sea salt caramel and chocolate coconut.

J'adore Cakes Co., 3308 Danforth Avenue
Free flavours: Your pick
Choose from flavours like blood orange, black sesame, strawberry balsamic, peanut chocolate, yuzu, red velvet, hazelnut, green tea and chef's special.

Daniel et Daniel, 248 Carlton Street
Free flavour: Salted Earl Grey
About eight additional flavours will be available for purchase in seasonal flavours like raspberry, pistachio, lemon, chocolate, blood orange.

Patachou, 1120 Yonge Street and 835 St. Clair Avenue West
Free flavour: Your pick
Both locations are set to close in May but will be offering flavours like pistachio, salted caramel and mocha for their farewell Macaron Day.

Other bakeries and cafes of note

• Aren't We Sweet, St Lawrence Market - 95 Front St E. Lower Level
• Patisserie La Cigogne, 1626 Bayview Avenue and 1419 Danforth Avenue
• Patisserie 27, 401 Jane Street
• Ruelo Patisserie, 550 Highway 7 East and 463 McNicoll Avenue
• Petite Thuet, 1162 Yonge Street and 1 King Street West
• Ma Maison, 4243 Dundas Street West
• Rahier Patisserie, 1586 Bayview Ave.

Lead photo of Nadege