Calling all local restaurants
Apply to participate in Vaughan’s newest food festival this summer!
Searching for other opportunities to get diners through your doors? If so, look no further than Vaughan Flavours, our new food festival!
The City of Vaughan is launching this brand-new dining experience for residents and visitors to enjoy delicious food at some of Vaughan’s most popular restaurants. And we’re calling on local restaurants to help bring this culinary event to life!
Designed to help support the local restaurant economy while showcasing the city’s diverse culinary landscape, Vaughan Flavours is a two-week food festival that will run from Monday, July 21 to Monday, Aug. 4, taking place at participating restaurants across Vaughan, offering three-course prix fixe menus at a variety of price points.
From family-friendly eateries to upscale dining experiences and everything in-between, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
If you own a restaurant in Vaughan that offers dine-in options, we invite you to learn more, review the criteria and apply to participate in Vaughan Flavours by Wednesday, May 14 at visitvaughan.ca/VaughanFlavours. Participation in Vaughan Flavours is FREE, however, participating restaurants will be required to provide a fully refundable deposit of $500 returned upon completion of the program.
And for all the foodies who are excited to add this event to their summer itineraries, a list of participating restaurants will be announced early this summer. Stay tuned!
Vaughan Flavours is the City’s latest initiative created to further support local businesses in response to sweeping U.S. tariffs. It comes from Mayor Steven Del Duca’s and Ward 2 Councillor Adriano Volpentesta’s Member’s Resolution directing staff to develop a pilot program encouraging residents and visitors to dine in Vaughan. On April 23, Vaughan Council approved a staff report to proceed with the Vaughan Flavours pilot.
Vaughan became the first municipality in Ontario to ratify a policy that bans U.S. suppliers in early March. In April, the City began offering businesses free ‘Vaughan Strong. Support Canadian’ welcome packages filled with materials to help identify local and Canadian-made goods in stores, removing the guessing game for shoppers at the checkout counter. To request a welcome package for your business, contact the Economic Development team at ed@vaughan.ca.
QUOTE
“We are blessed to have so many incredible restaurants here in the city of Vaughan that offer a wide range of delicious cultural cuisines for residents and visitors to savour. Through the newly created Vaughan Flavours program, we will promote and support local restaurants and encourage people from our city and beyond to come enjoy the best of what Vaughan has to offer. If you are a local restaurateur, I encourage you to apply to participate in this program. It’s a chance to open your doors to new and existing clientele and showcase a special menu to diners. I want to thank Ward 2 Councillor Adriano Volpentesta for his work to bring this program forward for the residents and businesses in Vaughan. This program is another opportunity to show we are Vaughan Strong, and we will continue to support businesses and entrepreneurs here in Vaughan as they navigate these challenging economic times in the face of tariffs from the United States. I look forward to everyone enjoying the flavours of Vaughan, and hope to see you all around the table this summer!”
- Mayor Steven Del Duca
“It is so important to support our small businesses here in Vaughan, and, through initiatives like the Vaughan Flavours program, we are able to showcase our city’s amazing restaurants for everyone to come and enjoy while supporting our local economy. Let’s bring the community together to celebrate with family and friends the important contributions of local eateries to our city and the lasting impact they continue to have in Vaughan. I want to thank Mayor Steven Del Duca for his leadership and support in bringing this program to life.”
- Councillor Adriano Volpentesta, Ward 2
QUICK FACTS
The City of Vaughan will launch Vaughan Flavours this summer, taking place for two weeks from Monday, July 21 to Monday, Aug. 4.
Participating restaurants will offer dine-in experiences, featuring a three-course prix fixe menu.
- Interested restaurants can learn more and apply to participate by Wednesday, May 14 at visitvaughan.ca/VaughanFlavours.
- On March 25, Vaughan Council approved Mayor Del Duca and Ward 2 Councillor Adriano Volpentesta’s Member’s Resolution to direct staff to develop a pilot program encouraging residents and visitors to dine in Vaughan.
- On April 23, Vaughan Council approved a staff report to deliver a pilot program encouraging residents and visitors to dine in Vaughan.
- On March 25, Vaughan Council approved Mayor Del Duca’s ‘Vaughan Strong’ Member’s Resolution to further support and protect Vaughan, Ontario and Canadian businesses.
- On March 4, Vaughan Council unanimously approved City staff’s procurement strategy to prioritize Canadian goods and services at a Special Council meeting. This strategy bans U.S. suppliers from bidding on municipal contracts. Vaughan was the first municipality in Ontario to ratify a policy that bans U.S. suppliers.
- At the Feb. 5 Committee of the Whole (Working Session), Vaughan Council unanimously endorsed a Member’s Resolution from Mayor Del Duca directing City staff to develop a procurement strategy to prioritize supporting Canadian-owned businesses in the wake of then potential tariffs being imposed by the U.S.
- The City’s Economic Development department is committed to helping local businesses navigate challenges brought on by the U.S. tariffs.
LEARN MORE
- visitvaughan.ca/VaughanFlavours
- Mayor Del Duca and Ward 2 Councillor Adriano Volpentesta’s March 18 Member’s Resolution: Vaughan Restaurant Festival
- April 8 Staff Report: Vaughan Restaurant Festival – Summer 2025 Winter 2026
- vaughanbusiness.ca/VaughanStrong
- Tourism Vaughan’s webpage
- Tourism Vaughan’s eNewsletter
- Economic Development department’s eNewsletter
- Economic Development LinkedIn
