Visit the Rose City and see the place where "rails and water meet" in Welland, Ontario. A regional municipality of Niagara, Welland is the place where railways from Buffalo and Toronto meet, as well as the Welland Canal and River meet.
First settled in 1788 by United Empire Loyalists, the city also played an important role in the War of 1812, repelling the American attacks and ending the war on Canadian soil. The Welland Canal was the first canal to reach Lake Erie in 1833. A wooden aqueduct was built to carry the canal over the Welland River, and was known as an aqueduct, leading to the area being named the same. A town formed around this area, originally called Merrittsville, after William Hamilton Merritt, who helped create the Welland Canal. Today, the city is notable for its large francophone, or French speaking, population. It is one of the few communities in southern Ontario where the percentage of French speaking people exceeds the average of the province. It is well known for hosting the annual Niagara Food Festival which is appropriately nicknamed "The Peninsula's Tastiest Party."
The Niagara Food Festival is a two-day family event held annually. Over 40 of the Niagara Region's best vendors participate in the Food Festival, preparing their best dishes for guests to enjoy. No meal would be complete without the perfect wine to pair it up with, so local wineries bring out their best wines to accompany the foods offered. In addition to the fantastic food and wine offered at the Food Festival, live entertainment is performed throughout both days.
Events at Downtown Welland near Niagara Falls, Ontario
This annual family festival includes a variety of events for everyone to enjoy, ranging from the coveted Rose Show to the exciting Lobsterfest, all located throughout the nearby city of Welland.
