With at least 200,000 butter tarts expected, Midland is getting ready for the sweetest day of the year with Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival on June 8.
The festival begins at 9 a.m. when Mayor Bill Gordon will declare the festival open following the Piping of the Tart throughout the festival with the Midland Legion’s Pipes and Drums.
“Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival is an experience like no other,” said Mayor Gordon. “Our festival is held on the shores of beautiful Georgian Bay and it’s such a great day to be in Midland, enjoying a uniquely Canadian treat. We are looking forward to welcoming festival visitors in June.”
The award-winning festival, which first began in 2013, is the original and largest butter tart festival in Canada drawing 60,000 visitors for the one-day event.
“The great Canadian debate, that may never be resolved, is should there be raisins or not in butter tarts,” said Karen Mealing, Manager of Culture and Community with the Town of Midland. “But whether you like your butter tarts plain, with raisins or pecan, with a runny or firm filling, or vegan or gluten-free, everyone will be able to find a favourite at our festival.”
In addition to butter tarts, the festival features many downtown merchants who expand their businesses onto the sidewalks in front of their establishments and more than 200 vendors selling everything from butter tarts to clothing, jewellery, home décor, personal care products, and hand-crafted items. There will also be food trucks with delicious options that will intrigue all foodies.
The admission-free festival features the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board Stage with live music all day. Bands include Late 2 Skool, a youth band, and 93 North, Gibbons & Figgs, Rick Robichaud Band, Bustin’ Loose, Unlocked and Barstool Academy.
Other family-friendly activities include a Kids Zone that will be located in Harbourside Park and there will be buskers and performers entertaining visitors throughout the festival.
The Egg Farmers of Ontario Butter Tart Contest will see one butter tart crowned the best butter tart in Ontario. The competition is open to both professional and amateur/home bakers and the festival will accept entries until May 24, unless the maximum number of entries is received before this date.
Contest categories include Traditional butter tarts such as plain, raisin, pecan, or walnut and Wild Style, which is a butter tart with a non-traditional ingredient or two. Those interested in sampling the same tarts as the contest judges will be able to purchase mixed six-packs of contest butter tarts for $15.
Visitors will enjoy the free shuttles that will allow them to park offsite and travel to the festival. Tourism Simcoe County and Cycle Simcoe will be staffing a free bike valet, Town of Midland transit will be running at no cost that day and there will also be a free festival shuttle from the Town of Penetanguishene.
Visitors looking for more information, including free shuttles and accessible parking, should visit Ontario's Best Butter Tart Festival's website and follow the festival on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The admission-free festival also includes food trucks, all-day live entertainment, free shuttle service and a free bicycle valet provided by Cycle Simcoe. There is a kids’ zone located in Harbourside Park with a ticket fee.
For more information about the festival, visit Ontario's Best Butter Tart Festival's website.
