#FOOD: TORONTO COUNTRY FEST AT THE DISTILLERY

For 18 days this August, Toronto Country Fest transforms The Distillery Historic District into a downtown country fair where smoky barbecue, comfort food classics, refreshing summer drinks and indulgent sweet treats come together with live music, line dancing and western-inspired fun.

Festival guests can explore exclusive menus from local restaurants, bakeries and cafés alongside outdoor barbecue stations, specialty drinks and fair-inspired favourites while wandering The Distillery District’s iconic cobblestone streets.

Menu highlights include:

Cluny Bistro – A spectacular 50 oz Dry-Aged Black Angus Cowboy Tomahawk Ribeye served with grilled corn, roasted pepper salad and rich red-eye gravy.

Pure Spirits Oyster House & Grill – Traditional Crawfish Gumbo served over steamed rice, delivering authentic Cajun comfort.

El Catrin Destileria – The Montado Chihuas, featuring Chihuahua cheese, carne asada, bone marrow, smoky chorizo beans and salsa tatemada wrapped in a flour tortilla.

The Distillery District Courtyard Saloon (BBQ & Smoker) serves up festival favourites including:

Slow-Smoked Brisket Sandwich

Carolina Pulled Pork Sammy

Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich

Southern Fried Chicken Basket

Chili Dogs

Fire-Grilled Corn on the Cob

Deep-Fried Pickles

Giant Pretzel “Lasso” with queso and honey mustard

Fresh Hub Market & Sweetie Pie bring serious fairground comfort food with Cowboy Burgers, Brisket & Beans Poutine, Cowboy Salad, Maple Whisky Butter Tarts, Dirty Sodas (including a root beer favourite) and more.

BOKU Distillery adds Japanese-inspired flavours with crispy Japanese Karaage, colourful Chirashi Don and handcrafted fruit teas and lemonades.

Balzac’s Coffee Roasters goes country with a Funnel Cake Latte, Pecan Pie Iced Coffee, Bluegrass Sparkling Lemonade and Southern Hibiscus Sweet Tea.

The Sweet Escape Patisserie satisfies every sweet tooth with Red Velvet Cheesecake and Banana Pudding Jars, Fresh Peach, Red Velvet and Sweet Corn Ice Cream, plus Peach Custard Bars.

Pepper Palace turns up the heat on weekends with hot sauce tastings, giving adventurous guests the chance to sample everything from mild favourites to extreme heat before taking home their favourite flavours.

IZUMI, Ontario’s first sake brewery, brings a unique taste of Japan to Toronto Country Fest with its barrel-aged sake in a keepsake barrel cup. Aged in rye whisky barrels from fellow Distillery District tenant Spirit of York, this limited-edition sake is served in a mini barrel cup that’s yours to keep while quantities last.

While the culinary experience takes centre stage, Toronto Country Fest also features:

FREE Live country music every day from 1-4pm and 5-8pm

FREE Outdoor line dancing lessons Wednesdays and Fridays from 6-8pm

FREE Mechanical bull riding

FREE Nashville Nights DJ sets every Friday and Saturday 8:30-10:30

A Ferris wheel beginning August 11

FREE Family-friendly games and activities

FREE Weekend tequila and beer tastings

Western-inspired photo opportunities, including sunflower displays, oversized guitars and the “Fill Yer Boots” installation

Covered wagon artisan vendors and local makers

Whether visitors come hungry for barbecue, craving something sweet or searching for the perfect summer patio drink, Toronto Country Fest offers a flavour-packed way to experience one of Toronto’s most distinctive neighbourhoods this August. For a full rundown on programming, please visit www.thedistillerydistrict.com/toronto-country-fest-2026

Admission: Free – bull riding, carnival games, calf roping, photo ops, live music, DJs.

Some activities will require payment – Ferris wheel, face painting, food & beverage, vendor items.