#1 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event (up from #6)
Canada’s largest foodservice trade event returned to the Enercare Centre this year and held a Nations Feast to celebrate Canada 150. Attendance grew by 14 percent to 16,200 chefs, owners, managers, and buyers in 2017, and Stella Artois returned as a show partner. Next: February 25-27, 2018
#1 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event (up from #3)
About 130,000 nocturnal noshers were expected over three nights at the authentic Asian food market in 2017. TD Canada Trust returned as the title sponsor this year, and the event’s charitable partner was homelessness organization Raising the Roof. Next: July 2018
#3 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
Attendance remained steady at about 40,000 guests for last year’s event, where highlights included the TD Bank Pride Night V.I.P. Social and the national finals for the Mott’s Clamato Best Caesar in Town competition. Post Media Network has signed on as the media sponsor for 2017. Next: November 16-19, 2017
#4 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
Tickets for the sudsy celebration sold out for the past three years in a row—with 32,000 people attending—and were expected to again in 2017. The Canada 150 Pavilion will feature beers from across the country, and entertainment will include Sloan and Alan Doyle performing at Exhibition Place’s Bandshell Park. Next: July 28-30, 2017
#5 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
About 1,000 chefs, sommeliers, restaurateurs, and writers attended the symposium in 2017 at the Art Gallery of Ontario. The theme this year was Canadian Cuisine, with a focus on First Nations programming. Next: April 2018
#6 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event (up from #9)
TD becomes the presenting sponsor, and Grace Foods remains the title sponsor, of this year's celebration of meat and music at Centennial Park. Attendance is expected to hold steady at about 75,000, and a Thursday night boat cruise with R&B singer Freddie Jackson is new this year. Next: August 10-13, 2017
#7 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event (up from #10)
The largest vegetarian festival in North America grew to 38,000 conscientious eaters in 2016 when 140 vendors offered up vegetarian and vegan ice cream, donuts, burgers, and smoothies. The location remains the same, at Harbourfront Centre. Next: September 8-10, 2017
#8 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
Krinos remains the title sponsor for the 1.6 million-person Greek food festival and street party. This year the sports zone will have activations and challenges from the Maple Leafs, Raptors, and Toronto FC, as well as a kids’ zone and three entertainment stages. Next: August 11-13, 2017
#9 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
Attendance declined slightly this year when the four-day festival, held again at Fort York, hosted 24,000 for a “Friends Who Feast” theme. More than 60 food and drink presenters and 20 restaurants were on hand, and American Express Canada and Eithad Airways returned as sponsors. Next: June 2018
