Niagara is well known for its flourishing wine industry. As Canada’s largest wine growing region, Niagara produces 30 per cent of Ontario’s wine, amounting to 6.5 million litres in 2024. The escarpment’s wine makers take pride in their ability to craft remarkable vintages year after year.
This pride is no better shown than at the annual Grape and Wine festival — a sprawling, weekend long celebration of the harvest season, local talent and the region’s signature drink. It’s also the largest wine festival in the country, drawing tens of thousands of visitors each year.
For Brock students, it’s a rite of passage: a chance to swap textbooks for tastings, get acquainted with the best Niagara’s food and wine scene has to offer, all while experiencing one of the community’s most beloved traditions.
Montebello Wine & Culinary Village
Situated in the heart of the historic downtown St. Catharines, Montebello Park serves as the festival’s homebase. Annually the park transforms with elaborate decorations, wine, tents, food stalls and entertainment.
Starting Friday, Sept. 26 at 5 p.m., Montebello Park will be the prime destination for wine and food lovers. Offering various wine samples from esteemed wineries and a chance to try some of the best food from around Niagara all in one spot.
Entry is free, so even if you’re just heading down to snap some photos and soak in the atmosphere, Montebello Park is the place to be. With the village running late into the evening and continuing through Saturday and Sunday, there’s plenty of time to enjoy the offerings.
Music all weekend long!
Wine may headline the festival, but music is the heartbeat. The weekend kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 25 with Montebello Rocks!: a ticketed concert experience featuring a night of blues and essential Canadian rock. Advanced tickets are $20 online and $25 at the door.
The lineup features international and Canadian born talent: Vinyl paradise, a blues/rock trio touring from Malta; Lowest of the Low, offering defining Canadian alternative ‘90s rock; and The Watchmen, one of Canada’s most successful bands of the late ‘90s with a career spanning over three decades.
Friday and Saturday won’t see the Montebello stage quieting down either. Friday will feature a lineup of funk fueled DJs to liven up the night, while Saturday will bring a range of Canadian artists from varying genres like indie, blues, rock and more with a lineup throughout the afternoon and into the evening.
Whether you’re looking for a night to rock out or an aesthetic Saturday afternoon, the festival has got you covered.
The Grande Parade
No Grape and Wine Festival is complete without its showstopper, the Grande Parade. Dubbed Niagara’s favourite tradition, the parade floods the downtown core with more than 1,500 performers, marching bands, dancers and elaborately decorated floats filling streets with sound and color.
Entering its 74th year, the parade kicks off at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27. For many locals, it’s the highlight of the weekend. If you’re planning to watch, be sure you find your spot on St. Paul, Church or James Street before the parade begins.
Something for everyone
On Sunday, Sept. 28, the festival winds down with Family Fun Day, offering your last opportunity to taste the wine and food options with a slate of kid-friendly activities. Inflatable games, hands-on crafts and live entertainment create a more relaxed atmosphere, perfect for families or for those looking to enjoy the festival at their own pace.
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Niagara’s Grape and Wine Festival is more than a weekend of food and drinks; it’s a showcase for the region’s best in show hospitality, culinary scene and vineyards. Whether you go every year or you’re new to Niagara and still discovering downtown St. Catharines, the festival offers an opportunity to embrace Niagara and all it has to offer. Take the bus, bring some friends and celebrate the end of the summer in style.