While outstanding wine, food, and craft beverage experiences await visitors to Niagara throughout the year, the region also boasts annual food- and beverage-focused festivals and events that are well worth planning a trip around. Here’s just a selection of the foodie fun happening in Niagara throughout the year
January through March
The start of a fresh new year in Niagara also marks the arrival of Icewine season. January’s Niagara Icewine Festival fun includes a winery touring passport program, a sparkling Icewine village in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and the glamorous Cool As Ice Icewine Gala.
In February and March, the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake share cozy pairings every weekend to guests who visit with a Chocolate and Cheese touring passport. In the Niagara Benchlands, Love The Bench offers wonderful wintry experiences, including fireside flights, seasonal pairings, wine domes, and more at a collection of wineries.
April through June
On weekends in May, the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake fire up their barbecues for a touring program that pairs bold red and crisp white wines with flame-kissed bites through their Sip and Sizzle touring passport.
Fallsview Casino Resort’s Food & Drink Fest each June offers guests the opportunity to mingle with celebrity chefs and savour the latest food and drink trends.
Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers honours June’s World Gin Day with The Juniper: A Spectacle of Gin, a delicious afternoon featuring signature cocktails from favourite Niagara mixologists, delectable bites from local chefs, music, and more.
Graze The Bench is a June tradition in the Niagara Benchlands, where a cluster of boutique wineries partners with local chefs, shares new vintages, and welcomes guests to sip in the sunshine while listening to amazing live music.
Niagara Wine Festival’s Wine Country Tailgate Party is a can’t-miss vineyard gathering at the end of June or early July that blends wine, delectable bites, and live music at a favourite local winery.
Niagara’s vibrant Supper Market scene also kicks into high gear beginning in June, offering weekly sunset soirees across the region that blend local flavours with music and fun.
July & August
In early July, Brunch by the Lake brings together a collection of Niagara’s top chefs who pair up with local wineries to compete in a Top Chef-style brunch battle set on the shore of Lake Ontario.
July’s International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration is an unparalleled wine weekend that brings together dozens of the world’s leading cool-climate wine producers to share their favourite wines with guests at tutored tastings and signature events like Friday Night Flights and the Chardonnay In The Vineyard World Tour and Tasting Dinner.
September Through December
September ushers in Grape & Wine Festival season in Niagara, a favourite local tradition to celebrate the grape harvest that includes three weeks of wine touring, parades, concerts, and a massive tasting experience in St. Catharines’ historic Montebello Park.
In October, Sip Niagara brings a whole bevy of food and beverages to Charles Daley Park, including the world’s largest Caesar bar!
In November, the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake deck their halls on weekends with the Taste The Season touring passport program, which showcases carefully curated holiday-inspired food-and-wine pairings. Niagara Benchlands Wineries also host a delicious wine-and-food touring program called Get Wrapped Up in November.
FAQs
Q: When is a good time to visit Niagara if I want to attend a wine- or food-focused festival or event?
A: Every season in Niagara offers unique wine- and food-themed events and festivals. Checking the Visit Niagara Canada Events Calendar is a great way to see the diverse range of offerings.
Q: Do Niagara wineries offer touring programs?
A: Niagara has a wide range of winery touring programs offered through Niagara Wine Festival, Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Niagara Benchlands Wineries that offer passport holders wine and food pairings at a collection of wineries.
Q: Are there Niagara wine country experiences suitable for people who do not drink alcohol?
A: Several of Niagara’s winery touring programs offer alcohol-free beverage pairing options for designated drivers and visitors who do not drink alcohol.
