What’s the best way to shake off one of the dreariest winters on record? Soak up the spring sunshine with a generous serving of delightful things to sip and snack on at one of Niagara’s most beloved outdoor festivals.
The big event that has Niagara buzzing this spring is all about brunch! On June 25th, a talented crew of Niagara’s top chefs will team up with local wineries for Niagara Grape and Wine Festival’s Summer Series Brunch By The Lake. The guests are the true winners in this friendly competition pairing Niagara wineries with 10 top wine country chefs in an all-out battle to create the crowd’s favourite brunch pairing!
Niagara Grape And Wine Summer Series Brunch By The Lake
June 25, 11 am – 2 pm in Jordan Station
Get Brunch By The Lake Tickets
Want to keep the wine-themed fun going after brunch? A Discovery Pass is your ticket to an amazing afternoon of even more delicious wine and food pairings at six area wineries!
Brunch By The Lake is just one of many can’t-miss fresh air festivities taking place in Niagara this May and June. Here are some others you’ll want to add to your calendar.
Rock The Bench
June 2, 3, 4, at Thirty Bench Wine Makers
Ring in summer’s arrival on the Beamsville Bench at this three-day festival that brings seven incredible wineries (Thirty Bench Wine Makers, Angels Gate Winery, Fielding Estate Winery, Hidden Bench Winery, The Organized Crime Winery, Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery and Rosewood Estates) together with local chefs serving fabulous food, live music, and stunning spring vineyard views. Musical guests include Broken Cadence, The Postmen, J.I.N., Vinyl Flux, and soul trio Rogers, Parisien and Moore. Ticket sales are brisk, with Saturday tickets already sold out, so buy soon to avoid disappointment.
The Handmade Market
June 2, 3, 9, 10 at 13th Street Winery
The eleventh edition of this beloved Canadian maker’s market rolls into Niagara for two weekends this June with over 200 vendors. Sip on wine by the glass, fresh-squeezed lemonade, or an artisan roast coffee as you stroll and shop for one-of-a-kind handmade products that include everything from jewellery and clothing to home décor, art, candles, food, and so much more. A deliciously diverse selection of food trucks will also be on-site to keep shoppers satiated with tasty treats. When it’s time to take a rest from the retail, head to the big tent, where a selection of local musicians will be sharing their talents. As there is no box office on site, be sure to purchase your tickets online in advance.
Buy The Handmade Market tickets
The Juniper at Dillon’s: A Spectacle of Gin
June 10, 2 pm – 7 pm at Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers
The stars have aligned, and this fun festival celebrating all things gin returns to Dillon’s Distillery on World Gin Day! After a three-year hiatus, big plans are in the works to celebrate this special day in style with cocktail and food stations, lawn games, live music, and a friendly cocktail competition with awards for People’s Choice and Judge’s Choice. Tickets include a take-home Dillon’s Gin Cocktail.
Buy The Juniper at Dillon’s tickets
Summer Solstice Concert
June 10 at Tawse Winery
Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy returns for another night of fantastic live music in the vineyards, and this year he’s bringing along some friends! Niagara favourites, Sleepy Jean and rising star, Georgia Harmer, will join Jim for this highly anticipated concert event. In addition to a wide selection of Tawse wines, cocktails, cider and beer, local food vendors will be on-site with a sensational spread of concert snacks.
Buy Summer Solstice Concert Tickets
Firepit Fridays at ‘The Crush’
Starting June 2 through October 6, 4 pm – 8:30 pm at Niagara Custom Crush Studio
Enjoy wine by the glass featuring our growing team of boutique wine producers making their best bottles at The Crush. Book your firepit online and enjoy culinary offerings inspired by traditional Mexican Street foods provided by our new culinary partner Nacho Pablo. Top off the evening with a s’mores kit by the fire and enjoy the sunset on our garden patios or fireside in our Muskoka chairs
Fielding Estate Winery Pop-Up Brunch Café and Mimosa Bar
Sundays from 9 am – 12 pm, May 14 – September 3 at Fielding Estate Winery
Bruce Trail hikers and Niagara Wine Route cyclists have a fabulous new rest stop to make their Sunday morning adventures even sweeter! Fielding Estate Winery’s Vineyard Lounge will celebrate the bounty of the Niagara Benchlands each Sunday morning with an array of seasonal muffins, cinnamon buns, and cookies that visitors can enjoy with freshly ground coffee, organic teas, Fielding’s award-winning wines or a signature mimosa crafted with locally pressed juices.
Yoga lovers will want to bring their mats and pair their brunch with Fielding’s Sunday morning vineyard yoga class. Reserve a spot for the 9:30 am class in advance, as spaces for this sixty-minute stretch will book up quickly.
Get More Details About Fielding’s Sunday Morning Offerings
As more and more events get added to the calendar, you’ll want to watch our Niagara Benchlands Facebook and Instagram feeds for all the delicious details on even more foodie fun on the horizon this spring!