Townships of North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich Partner with Wellington-Waterloo Community Futures to Launch 2025 Taste the Countryside Harvest Meal and 10-day Dining Trail

The award-winning Taste the Countryside initiative returns for its fifth year, celebrating local food, community, and culinary creativity across North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot, and Woolwich Townships. This year’s edition will feature two signature experiences: the annual Harvest Meal on Monday, September 15, and the 10-Day Dining Trail, running September 25 to October 5, 2025.

A Celebration of Farm-to-Table Excellence

The Taste the Countryside Harvest Meal is a collaborative, full-course dining experience that brings together local chefs from across the four townships. Held in an interactive setting, this unique event highlights the region’s rich farm-to-table story, celebrating the abundance of local ingredients and the people behind them.

New this year: A portion of ticket sales will support local food banks, including It Takes a Village Ayr, Wellesley Food Cupboard, Wilmot Family Resource Centre, and Woolwich Community Services Food Bank, helping strengthen food security across the region.

Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

Discover the Region’s Flavours: 10-Day Dining Trail

From September 25 to October 5, diners are invited to explore Waterloo Region’s culinary scene through fixed-price, harvest-themed menus at participating local restaurants. Each menu will feature ingredients grown right here in our region.

Guests can browse participating restaurants, view personalized menus, and plan their culinary journey by visiting the interactive map at tastethecountryside.ca.

Ways to Get Involved

For Local Businesses:

Businesses in North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot, and Woolwich are encouraged to be part of this exciting initiative. Opportunities include:

• Participating in the 10-Day Dining Trail
• Sponsoring the 2025 Harvest Meal
• Promoting the campaign through your channels using our Media Toolkit

For Community Members:

• Dine locally during the 10-day dining trail and support your neighbourhood restaurants
• Enter the giveaway for a chance to win a locally curated food basket
• Join the online conversation by tagging your posts with #TasteTheCountrysideWR, #10DayDining, and #FarmToTable

For more information, visit tastethecountryside.ca and follow the journey as we celebrate Waterloo Region’s thriving countryside and culinary culture.

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Media contact:

Rae Ann Bauman, Corporate Communications, Township of Woolwich
Phone: 519-669-6021 | Email: communications@woolwich.ca

For more information, contact:

Name: Kurtis Wells, Economic Development and Tourism Officer, Township of Woolwich
Phone: 519-669-6020 | Email: kwells@woolwich.ca

Name: Jenna Deboer, Executive Director, Wellington-Waterloo Community Futures
Phone: 519.846.9839 x223 | Email: jenna@wwcf.ca

Name: Samantha Sernoski, Executive Administrator, Township of Wellesley
Phone: 519-699-3940 | Email: ssernoski@wellesley.ca

Name: Brett O’Reilly, Communications Specialist, Township of Wilmot
Phone: 519-634-8519 x9229 | Email: brett.oreilly@wilmot.ca

Name: Michelle Poissant, Recreation & Community Services Coordinator, Township of North Dumfries
Phone: 519-632-8800 x102 | Email: mpoissant@northdumfries.ca