Ottawa's Festivals are a Culinary Delight – Festival Fun & Delectable Foods – The Tasty Summer Getaway
There are so many outstanding festivals in Canada's capital this summer, the hardest part will be choosing which ones to attend! While the festivals range from an environmentally friendly party thrown for the Rideau Canal to the laidback riverside vibe of the Ottawa Folk Festival to "living a day the Greek way" at Greekfest, there are two things in common–good food and good times.
The food festival season, which began earlier this summer and runs through the fall, boasts a calendar filled with fairs, carnivals and fêtes. And befitting Ottawa's rising popularity as a culinary destination, all of this year's festivals have a strong food component in their programming. Five festivals this summer and fall that should draw hungry tourists to Ottawa are as follows:
Rideau Canal Festival – August 1-4, 2008
The historic Rideau Canal links the Ottawa River with Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, a brand new festival has been launched this year to honour this famous waterway. For four days there will be eco-friendly happenings on and beside the Canal. There will be colourful flotillas, a celebration of the building of the Canal, an environmental fair, and of course… food!
An army of Ottawa-area chefs, farmers and food producers are joining together during the Rideau Canal Festival to take the Enbridge 100 km BBQ Challenge. The challenge? All the ingredients used in their recipes must be obtained within a 100 km radius of Ottawa and be prepared in the spirit of the Festival’s "no waster" initiatives. Celebrity hosts will "appoint" official tasters from the audience at daily demonstrations. www.rideaucanalfestival.ca
Perth Garlic Festival – August 9-10, 2008
Perth is a 40-minute drive from Ottawa, yet in early August, when the wind is right, you might smell the pungent aroma of their Garlic Festival. For two days, thousands of visitors will be living, breathing and eating all things garlic. There will be town hall lectures on the health benefits of cooking with garlic, cooking demonstrations and more. Children under 12 are free, admission for adults is $5 — bring your own breath mints! www.perthgarlicfestival.com
Ottawa Greekfest – August 14-28, 2008
Visitors to Ottawa are encouraged to "live a day the Greek way!" from August 14th to August 28th–and that means taking part in a free celebration of Greek culture, fine cuisine and exciting dancing.
There will be evening cooking demonstrations throughout Greekfest. Rather just order the food? Gyros, Pikilia and Souvlaki on a Pita are just three of the dishes that will be created and served by master chefs on the grounds of the Hellenic Centre along the scenic Prince of Wales Drive in Ottawa. www.ottawagreekfest.com
Feast of Fields – September 14, 2008
What happens when you pair local organic farmers with edgy young local chefs in Ottawa? Magic, that's what! Feast of Fields takes place under a tent in the beautiful Vincent Massey Park–an environmentally friendly introduction to delicious local foods. www.cog.ca/ottawa/feast_of_fields
Carp Fair – September 25-28, 2008
For the past 144 years people have been coming to the Carp Fair–one of the best in eastern Ontario–to enjoy home-cooked goodness and to celebrate the local agricultural community. This year's 145th Carp Fair will be no different. There's also a midway, a strongman competition and entertaining shows and farming exhibitions. www.carpfair.ca/fairinformation/attractions.htm
Visitors wanting information, tickets, lodging reservations or to book a getaway package can visit www.ottawatourism.ca, a powerful website operated by Ottawa Tourism and supported by the region's thriving tourism industry.
Ottawa Tourism provides destination marketing, strategic direction and leadership in cooperation with members and partners to service the travel media and attract visitors, tours and conventions to Ottawa and Canada's Capital Region. Its vision is to build recognition of Ottawa as an outstanding four-season tourism destination.
July 30, 2008
Posted in: Canada