Fans of Canada’s beloved dessert-like mini pies, mark your calendars! The largest butter tart festival in the world will soon take over an Ontario town, in attempts to crown the winner of this year’s best butter tart in the province.
Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival returns this weekend for its 12th year on June 14, 2025 to Midland, just under a two hour drive from Toronto.
Presented by Chapman’s, the award-winning festival has been recognized by Festivals and Events Ontario as one of the Top 100 Festivals and Events in the province.
Since its debut in 2013, the festival’s popularity has soared. That first year, vendors sold out of 10,000 butter tarts by 11 a.m. Now just last year in 2024, festival-goers enjoyed over 300,000 butter tarts, with more than 60,000 visitors attending the one-day event.
You’ll find countless flavours to choose from, such as plain, raisin, pecan, walnut, Skor, maple, bacon, coconut, chocolate covered, PB&J, s’mores, gluten-free, vegan, nut-free, cheesecake, pumpkin, and so many more!
In addition to the butter tarts, there will be a variety of other themed treats, drinks, and gifts to purchase at the festival, guaranteeing there is something for everyone.
Enjoy free entertainment like live music and buskers, a free bike valet service, a free shuttle service to bring you to and from various points of town, and a Kids Zone for the little ones to play at.
Throughout the day, the Egg Farmers of Ontario Butter Tart Contest will award prizes for the Best Butter Tart in Ontario, which is open to both professional and amateur/home bakers. Categories include both Traditional and Wild Style, judged by celebrities, chefs, food and travel bloggers, and even local dignitaries.
Last year, Toronto bakery The Pie Commission took the top prize for the Best in Show and 1st Place Professional Traditional Winner. The winner for Professional Wild Style was The Maid’s Cottage Black Forest Mocha.
This year’s festival will take place from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at King Street, David Onley, and Harbourside Parks in Midland.