The much-anticipated Bowmanville Butter Tart Festival is returning this Saturday, March 28, 2026, officially kicking off the butter tart festival season in Durham Region. The event, taking place at the Garnett Rickard Arena from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., brings together top bakers from across Ontario to celebrate and showcase the best of the quintessential Canadian sweet treat.
The Bowmanville Butter Tart Festival is one of the first major events of the year, with the Ontario Championships set to take place in Midland this June. The festival is a deliciously sweet tradition that draws in food lovers and dessert enthusiasts from Bowmanville, Oshawa, Pickering, and beyond. Butter tart fans can indulge in trays of ooey-gooey butter tarts, gourmet pastries, giant pretzels, and more. The event offers something for everyone, with a variety of flavors and variations of the beloved butter tart, including classic, raisin, and nut options.
One of the featured participants at the festival is Lisa Filion, the baker behind BETTER Tarts, based in Orono, just north of Bowmanville. Filion turned professional during the pandemic and has since won five Best-in-Show awards at butter tart festivals across Ontario, including in Barrie, Burlington, Georgina, Elmira, and Pickering. However, she has yet to win in her hometown of Bowmanville, though she’s hopeful that this will be her year. “For sure! Always,” she said with a laugh when asked about her confidence in winning. Filion is still deciding what to enter this year, but she’s considering switching it up from her usual raisin tart entry.
BETTER Tarts is a popular vendor at local festivals, and Filion doesn’t have a storefront. She travels to events and farmers’ markets, including a regular stop at the Clarington Farmer’s Market in Newcastle during the outdoor season. She will join about 50 other vendors at the Bowmanville Butter Tart Festival this Saturday, offering her delicious tarts to festival-goers.
In addition to BETTER Tarts, other past winners like Doo Doo’s Bakery from Bailiboro (north of Port Hope) and Ace of Tarts from Etobicoke will be part of the festival, competing for top honors in categories like Best Overall, Best Crust, Best Filling, and Best Presentation. The festival is a delightful celebration of local talent, and it promises to be a fun and flavorful event for everyone.
Last year, the Bowmanville Butter Tart Festival sold more than 300,000 tarts, demonstrating the community’s passion for this iconic Canadian dessert. So, whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned tart connoisseur, the festival is sure to provide plenty of sweet treats and fun for all ages.
