If you’ve been meaning to get out of the city, this charming small town is well worth the drive — especially if great food is part of the plan. Elora’s Longest BBQ is officially coming back on July 28. After drawing a crowd of over 12,000 people last year, this outdoor street party is taking over downtown Elorafor one unforgettable summer evening — and it’s only about a 90-minute drive from Toronto.
The event serves as the official kickoff for Food Day Canada, a national celebration honouring local farmers, fishers and chefs. To mark the occasion, the historic West Mill Street and the Jack R. MacDonald Pedestrian Bridge will be completely blocked off and transformed into a giant, open-air dining room from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m.
More than 20 local favourites and guest spots from across the province are setting up grills right on the pavement. You can expect high-end bites from local icon Elora Mill, alongside popular eateries like Ted Reader BBQ, Earth to Table: The Farm, Bardo and The Evelyn Bistro. Even Vancouver Island’s South Fire is making the trip down to cook over the coals.
To wash it all down, there is a heavy focus on Ontario-made drinks. Visitors can grab craft beers, local wines and spirits from spots like Elora Brewing Company, Cave Spring Vineyard, Elora Distilling Company, Steam Whistle and Cowbell Brewery. If you are bringing kids, there is also a new Farm to Fork discovery zone with hands-on activities to show them exactly where their food comes from before it hits the grill.
The whole evening is held in honour of the late Anita Stewart, a passionate food author and the founder of Food Day Canada, who spent her life championing homegrown Canadian ingredients. Her legacy lives on in the event’s structure, which aims to keep things community-first.
Admission to the street party is completely free, making it easy to just wander through and take in the atmosphere. Instead of a flat entry fee, you simply buy tokens online or on-site for the specific food and drinks you want to try. All the proceeds from those tickets go directly back to Food Day Canada to help them continue supporting local farmers and sustainable food programs across the country.
You can keep an eye out for menu updates and participant announcements closer to the date by following along on Instagram at @elora_mill and @fooddaycanada.