It’s no secret that food brings people together. Food allows us to experience different cultures and gain a greater understanding of the world in a delicious way. While you may not think of Sudbury as a foodie destination, our restaurant guide begs to differ! Armed with a variety of tasty culinary businesses and restaurants, these food festivals in Sudbury need to be on your radar. Sample all the eats and treats you can as there’s no shortage of fun to be had at these Sudbury food festivals!
Taste of Sudbury
Kick off the festival year in the tastiest way possible by celebrating some of the best food and drink to be found across the city! Taste of Sudbury is a one night event that highlights over 25 restaurants, eateries and food providers all under one roof.
The Caruso Club will be a buzz of energy, especially since a number of the businesses participating have a friendly competition going amongst themselves! Come with a healthy appetite as there is no shortage of food and drink to be consumed! While this is very much a sampling event, the servings are not to be scoffed at. You will certainly leave satisfied and with a greater appreciation of Sudbury’s culinary talents!
Also make sure your taste buds ready to judge as you vote for the most unique eats, most unique beverages and your personal favourite to crown who will be the People’s Choice Award winner. You won’t want to miss the delicious eats numerous catering businesses bring to the table as this may be one of the few times you can get a taste of their delicious concoctions since they don’t have a storefront!
While eating and drinking are certainly the main focus of Taste of Sudbury, don’t hesitate to bring your dancing shoes. You’ll enjoy live performances from local talent as well as a DJ spinning some rocking beats later in the night. With a variety of raffles, a photo booth and more, it’s no wonder this event continues to sell out so get your tickets early come 2025!
As if the night couldn’t get any better, proceeds from Taste of Sudbury will support Inner City Home of Sudbury. This organization provides emergency food bank services to over 1200 homes scattered across Greater Sudbury every month. Helping the community while eating well? That’s a win-win in our books!
Taste of Sudbury Information
What to Try: Boy Gorgeous’ Sliders
Date of the Festival: Thursday, January 18th, 2024
Location: Caruso Club – 385 Haig St, Greater Sudbury, ON [map]
Sudbury Rib Fest
When the Labour Day weekend arrives, carnivores in Greater Sudbury rejoice as it means Sudbury’s Rib Fest has arrived!
Your mouth will water as you smell the delicious scents wafting from the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre in Bell Park. Soak up the last days of summer as you sink your teeth into fall of the bone ribs while overlooking Ramsey Lake.
If you’re looking to devour some delicious meats, you’ll want to come hungry as 7 vendors vye to be crowned the best ribs in Sudbury. Texas Rangers took the title home in 2023 – can they do it again in 2024?
Not a fan of ribs? Don’t worry, there are plenty of other eats to be had as well! Indulge in delectable corn on the cob, blooming onions, and other carnivorous eats like barbeque chicken, sausages, brisket and more.
Folks of all ages are welcome so bring the little ones and check out the family zone with plenty of activities for the kids! Did we mention there’s live music all weekend long? What better way to enjoy the last long weekend of summer than on the shores of Ramsey Lake rocking out to local talent!
Sudbury Rib Fest is free to attend and you only pay for what you consume. Proceeds from the event go to support the Downtown Sudbury Clean Up Program as well as the YMCA of North Eastern Ontario.
With 2024 being Sudbury Rib Fest’s 15th year, it’s bound to be bigger and better than ever. You won’t want to miss it!
Sudbury Ribfest Information
What to Try? Ribs, Ribs and More Ribs
Date of the Festival: Friday, September 6th to Sunday, September 8th, 2024
Location: Bell Park – Paris St, Greater Sudbury, ON [map]
View this post on Instagram
Sudbury Blueberry Festival
Considering their infamous hockey team is the Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs (where our Shoresy fans at?!), it’s no surprise that Sudbury has a Blueberry Festival!
Celebrate all things blueberry as the third week of July rolls around at its new home, the Autumnwood Mature Lifestyle Communities. Started back in 1987 by the mayor of Sudbury at the time, Peter Wong, the festival will be heading into its 33rd season. There was a time where its future was in doubt but this local tradition is going strong once again!
Throughout the course of the seven days, both locals and visitors alike can enjoy blueberry pancake breakfasts, pie eating contests, blueberry hikes and more. Keep your eyes peeled as mascots Sud-berry and Sudbrina Bear make appearances that the kids will adore. They love having their photo taken so don’t be afraid to stop them to snap a picture!
We can’t forget to mention that numerous businesses throughout Sudbury hop on board to show their love of blueberries during the week. With treats like blueberry shortbread sundaes from Flurples and blueberry popsicles from Papaya Pops as well as savoury eats like blueberry grilled “cheese” from Beaucoup Vegan, you never know what concoctions local restaurants will come up with!
More details about the festival will be announced as it gets closer so we recommend checking the Blueberry Festival’s website periodically.
Sudbury Blueberry Festival Information
What to Try? Blueberry Shortbread Sundae
Date of the Festival: Third Week of July, 2024
Location: Autumnwood Mature Lifestyle Communities – 1385 Regent St, Greater Sudbury, ON [map]
View this post on Instagram
Sudbury Poutine Fest
It may have originated from Quebec but the entire country has adopted a love of poutine – and Sudbury is no different!
Throughout the August long weekend, sample everything from your classic squeaky cheese curds and gravy to out of this world concoctions you won’t find anywhere else. You never know what you’ll find on top of these fries! Lobster mac and cheese poutine anyone? How about a pizza poutine? Or maybe a taste of Thanksgiving with some turkey and stuffing?! The possibilities are endless!
Besides the obvious draw of eating your weight in poutine, the festival offers an array of activities throughout the weekend. Unleash your inner artist at the craft station, meander through the vendor village to check out various local artisans, dance along to great jams with live music performances and let the little ones frolic in the kids zone.
For the big kids (aka those 19 years of age and older), Friday and Saturday evenings offer a licensed beer garden where you can enjoy a variety of adult beverages along the shores of Ramsey Lake. This is the place to be during the August Long Weekend so to ensure you can snag a seat for your crew, you’ll want to get there early. The beer garden starts at 8:00 pm sharp!
Stay tuned for a full line up as the summer rolls around but until then, keep an eye on the Sudbury Poutine Fest website for updates.
Sudbury Poutine Fest Information
What to Try? Lobster Mac and Cheese Poutine
Date of the Festival: August Long Weekend, 2024
Location: Bell Park at the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre – Paris St, Greater Sudbury, ON [map]
Italian Festival
Along with the Taste of Sudbury in the winter, the Caruso Club hosts the Italian Festival. For over 50 years the festival has brought friends and families together for a taste of Italy.
Held every July, the Italian Festival is one of the best summer food events in Sudbury. The annual summer festival takes place over 3 days.
Sudbury is home to one of the largest Italian clubs in northern Ontario. So, you are guaranteed to find all the best Italian food and fun at this festival.
The Italian Festival’s main focus is around food. You’ll find a long list of vendors, cook-offs, and an incredible ticketed dinner. You might want to wear your stretchy pants!
Plus, it’s not just pasta! This festival boasts an array of Italian cuisine that includes sweet treats to classic pizza. We highly recommend you try Sudbury’s unofficial top dish, the infamous porchetta sandwich!
This family-friendly event also features a variety of fun things to do beyond eating! Visitors will find a weekend full of live entertainment that includes everything from wrestling to music. So, make sure to bring your dancing shoes!
Between bites, test your skills at their outdoor bocce ball court and foosball table. And don’t miss out on playing the uniquely Sudburian card game, Porchetta Bingo!
Families will love the Kid’s Zone! In addition to face painting and games, there’s a bouncy castle. Plus, they’ll acquire some new moves with lessons in southern Italian folk dance.
Italian Festival Information
What to Try? Porchetta Sandwich
When? July 5, 2024 – July 7, 2024
Where? The Caruso Club at 385 Haig St, Sudbury, ON
View this post on Instagram
Greek Festival
Another fantastic cultural festival in Sudbury is the Greek Festival. It takes place every July, a couple of weeks after the Italian Festival, making July one of the best times to visit Sudbury!
Held at the Hellenic Center, the Greek Festival is one of the best Sudbury festivals for foodies. For 30 years, it celebrates all the best in Greek culture.
Taking place over 3 days, you’ll want to come hungry! One of the big draws is the authentic Greek dinner. Meal options include souvlaki, moussaka and vegetarian spanakopita. All of which come with a mighty big Greek salad.
In addition to the big dinner, visitors will find a number of other great Greek foods to try. One tent features saganaki, which is a pan-seared Greek cheese appetizer, as well as ouzo, a flavourful Greek liqueur. There’s also a gyro tent!
With the heat, you’ll also find plenty of drinks to keep you hydrated, like imported Greek beer. Plus, we highly recommend grabbing a frappe. This Greek iced coffee is incredibly refreshing in the summer.
Beyond the food, the Sudbury Greek Festival boasts live performances and a children’s tent. Bring your dancing shoes and take part in traditional dancing, with performances are from both local and professional dancers.
Plus, we highly recommend taking advantage of a tour of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. It’s stunning, both inside and out.
Greek Festival Information
What to Try? Moussaka and Frappe
When? July 26, 2024 – July 28, 2024
Where? Hellenic Center at 486 Ester St, Sudbury, ON
Ukrainian Garlic Food Festival
The Ukrainian Seniors Centre hosts the Sudbury Ukrainian Garlic Food Festival every August. When it started, over 30 years ago, the festival was the first of its kind in Canada
After all these years, its still one of the top festivals in Sudbury, especially for foodies!
Many of the local farmers from Greater Sudbury and beyond come to share their garlicy offerings at the festival. You’ll find Big Ass Garlic from Dorset and Langside Organic Farm from Bruce County. Alongside them are local producers like Off the Bee’tn Path and Black Fox Farm from Sudbury.
Along with all the fresh garlic, the festival is home to all the best Ukrainian dishes. Popular ones to try are cabbage rolls and pyrohy, which are Ukrainian pierogies.
For the more adventurous, the Ukrainian Garlic Food Festival also has some unique garlic flavoured items to try. There’s garlic fudge, garlic ice cream and garlic butter tarts.
Amongst the food, you’ll find a variety of vendors selling everything from knitting to hand-crafted soaps. In addition, this one-day event has live music, activities for the kids, and more fun things to do.
Ukrainian Garlic Food Festival Information
What to Try? Pierogies
When? August 25, 2024
Where? Ukrainian Seniors Centre at 30 Notre Dame Ave, Sudbury, ON
So Many Great Food Festivals in Sudbury!
Are you drooling yet? We sure were as we crafted this delectable round up! Plus we absolutely love that Sudbury has food festivals all year round, meaning there’s always a scrumptious event to look forward to. Which of these food festivals in Sudbury are at the top of your list to experience?
If you’re visiting and unable to attend a festival or are just looking for more ideas of where to grab a bite to eat in the city, take a look at our Sudbury restaurant guide! If you need some caffeine to stay fueled for your foodie adventures, don’t miss our guide to the top coffee shops in Sudbury.
While we do our best to keep the information on Eat Local Ontario up to date, we sometimes miss things. If you notice something that needs to be updated, please comment or send us an email at eatlocalontario[at]gmail.com and we’ll look into it as soon as we can. Thank you!
