You butter believe it – the tarts are back!

Media Release

You butter believe it – the tarts are back!

For Immediate Release

(May 30, 2025, Midland ON) The sweetest day of the year is almost here! More than 300,000 butter tarts will be up for grabs in Midland at Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival presented by Chapman’s on June 14.

The festival begins at 9 a.m. with the ceremonial Piping of the Tart by the Midland Pipes and Drums and opening remarks from Mayor Bill Gordon.

"Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival presented by Chapman’s is more than just a celebration of one of Canada’s favourite treats,” said Mayor Gordon. “It’s an event that brings people together, and we’re proud to share it with the tens of thousands of people who visit Midland for this special day."

The award-winning festival, which first began in 2013, is the original and largest butter tart festival in Canada, drawing 60,000 visitors for the one-day event. 

“One of the things that makes the festival a must-visit for butter tart lovers is the incredible variety of butter tarts available,” said Karen Mealing, Manager of Culture and Community with the Town of Midland. “There will be at least 300,000 butter tarts available from classic flavours like plain and pecan to non-traditional butter tarts like cheesecake or chocolate peanut butter, there really is a butter tart for everyone.”

In addition to butter tarts, the festival showcases more than 200 vendors offering everything from handcrafted goods to clothing and unique gifts. A variety of food trucks will be stationed throughout the festival grounds, ready to tempt foodies with delicious eats. Many of downtown Midland’s businesses also participate, setting up their products on the sidewalks in front of their establishments.

Chapman’s, the festival’s presenting sponsor, will be providing samples of their newly introduced Super Premium Plus Butter Tart ice cream. Festival visitors will find Chapman’s on Elizabeth St, outside the Midland Cultural Centre, where they can relax and chill while enjoying their ice cream.

The admission-free festival also includes all-day live entertainment, with performances from talented buskers, street performers, and a lineup of bands on the main stage. Bands include Sydney Riley, Gracie Jet, Broadtree, Barstool Academy, 93 North, and Bustin Loose. This family-friendly event also features a dedicated kids’ zone in Harbourside Park—the same location as the stage—with tickets available for purchase at the entrance.

The Egg Farmers of Ontario Butter Tart Contest returns this year, where one butter tart will earn the coveted title of Best in Show. The competition is open to both professional and amateur/home bakers and takes place in Rotary Hall within the Midland Cultural Centre. 

Contest categories include Traditional butter tarts, such as plain, raisin, pecan, or walnut, and Wild Style—a butter tart with a non-traditional ingredient or two.  Anyone eager to sample the same tarts as the contest judges can purchase mixed six-packs of contest butter tarts for $15. 

Visitors can enjoy a free ride to the heart of downtown Midland sponsored by the Great Canadian Meat Company. Due to road construction on Yonge St this summer, visitors entering town from County Road 93 are encouraged to drive to Hugel Avenue and hop on the shuttle from the parking lot at Georgian Bay District Secondary School.

Cycle Simcoe will be at the festival with a free bicycle valet for those who wish to attend by bike and the Town transit will be free on the day of the festival.

Visitors looking for more information about the festival, including free shuttles and accessible parking, should visit www.buttertartfestival.ca and follow the festival on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

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Festival quick facts: 

Date: Saturday, June 14, 2025

Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Location: Downtown Midland, plus David Onley Park and Harbourside Park 

Admission: Free

Vendor Marketplace: Downtown businesses and festival vendors will be selling everything from butter tarts to clothing to jewellery to handmade items. Food trucks will also be onsite selling other yummy delicacies. 

Live Music: Sydney Riley, Gracie Jet, Broadtree, Barstool Academy, 93 North, Bustin Loose. 

Other Entertainment:  

Kids Zone in Harbourside Park 

Buskers and performers circulating throughout the festival 

Egg Farmers of Ontario Butter Tart Contest: Categories include Traditional and Wild

Style, open to both professional bakers and amateur/home bakers.   

Traditional category will be judged from 9:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

Wild Style will be judged from 1 to 3 p.m.   

Best in show is judged at 3:15 p.m. 

All winners are announced at 3:30 p.m.   

Judging takes place in Rotary Hall at the Midland Cultural Centre, 333 King Street.

Great Canadian Meat Shuttle: Free shuttles from designated parking lots beginning at 8:45am with the last bus leaving the festival at 5:15 pm. Visitors can access the shuttles from Georgian Bay District Secondary School at 925 Hugel Avenue and Wye Valley Storage at 1000 Wye Valley Road.

Construction on Yonge Street:

There is construction taking place on Yonge St., one of the arterial roads in Midland with detours in place. Visitors are strongly encouraged to use the shuttles to avoid the detours and any potential congestion due to the construction.

Other modes of transportation: 

Free bike valet with Tourism Simcoe County/Cycle Simcoe 

Free Town of Midland transit service 

Free shuttle from Town of Penetanguishene