Food Day Canada spotlights the nation’s agricultural heritage, and the cultural and economic importance of today’s multi-billion-dollar agro-food industry.
Elora’s Longest BBQ – 2023: Even bigger and tastier than ever this year!
According to the official news release, “Food Day Canada (FDC) is a grassroots movement celebrated by thousands of individuals and partners from coast to coast. The event is free and inclusive, aiming to engage and inspire everyone to shop, cook, and dine Canadian. Initially created as the World’s Longest Barbecue by Anita Stewart, Food Day Canada supports Canadian beef farmers and ranchers and promotes Canadian food culture through media, social media, and events.”
A cross-campus ‘fair’
The day is marked across the University’s vast campus. Turning the site into something more akin to a county fair. And it’s exploded in size since I graduated… Some time back. It now encompasses not only the University-proper, the Ontario Agricultural College and the Ontario Veterinary College, but a huge, diverse Agriculture Canada research facility.
Elora’s Longest BBQ
The official World’s Longest BBQ record has been eclipsed many times over since the original event first ran more than 20 years ago. (In fact, the current Guinness Record holder is a whole town in the Philippines. The people of Bayambang created an 8,000 m / 20,246 ft. mega-grill to celebrate it’s 400th anniversary, back in 2014.)
Nevertheless, the Canadian event persists, now headlined ‘Elora’s Longest BBQ’ after the small town just outside Guelph where it takes place. It runs the length of Elora’s Main Street, through the town core, from 4 pm to 9 pm, tomorrow – July 30. And it’s regarded as the epicentre of Canada Food Day observances.
An hour away…
If I still lived just an hour away from my alma mater, I’d be planning to go out tomorrow and take in the Food Day Canada festivities. And, of course, the food… Alas, I’m now planted (with deep roots) in Ottawa, which is about 5.5 hours away…
But if you’re anywhere in Southwestern Ontario or the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), FDC is an ideal day-trip destination!
~ Maggie J.