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This Pride month, we recognize Durham Region businesses that create welcoming spaces as part of the Rainbow Registered accreditation program. The national program recognizes those organizations that are committed to providing a safe, inclusive space for 2SLGBTQI+ people to visit, work, and feast.

In Durham Region, the Robert McLaughlin Gallery and Safari Zoo Camp at Jungle World are both Rainbow Registered, having met a stringent set of standards to ensure all customers feel accepted. Business owners who want to know more about the program should contact Durham Tourism or visit the Rainbow Registered website.

Is your business hosting a farm event or festival this fall? We want to feature you! This fall, Durham Tourism is partnering with Destination Ontario to help promote all the farm fun our region has to offer—including pumpkin fields, apple picking, corn mazes and more. 

If your business is hosting a farm event between September 2 and October 12, let us know! Contact Durham Tourism with the following information: 

• Event title
• Dates 
• Details 
• Link (if applicable) 

Visit DurhamTourism.ca/gather to view our list of farm events from last year to see how your business could be featured. The deadline to apply is June 30.

Durham Region Business Owners: Count your Business in!

The Region’s annual Business Count is underway. Data collected through the Business Count will be used for municipal planning and analysis, programming to grow our local industries, and to help plan for business services to build a stronger local economy.

  

All businesses, including home-based businesses, non-profit organizations and farms, are encouraged to participate.

Join Durham Tourism in making Ontario Culture Days 2025 a vibrant and unforgettable experience in Durham Region. Running from September 19 to October 12, Culture Days is an annual celebration. All events are free, giving the public a chance to explore the vibrant world of artists, historians, curators, and designers.

Durham Tourism is encouraging all interested participants to register their events on the provincial Culture Days website and the Durham Tourism calendar of events in order to be a part of both local and national marketing campaigns. There is a provincial registration deadline of July 31 and the last day to register events for the online calendar is September 18.

To be eligible, events must be participatory or interactive, take place during the Culture Days celebration, and be free to attend.

Exciting updates are brewing! The Durham College (DC) Centre for Craft Brewing Innovation has officially been renamed the DC Centre for Craft Beverage Innovation (CCBI). The name change reflects CCBI’s expanded focus on all fermented craft beverages, including beer, hard cider, wine, seltzers, kombucha, and steeped beverages.  

For over a decade, CCBI at Durham College has provided state-of-the-art facilities, lab testing, expert guidance, and hands-on support to help craft beverage makers avoid common mistakes, improve quality, and turn ideas into reality. 

Whether you're enhancing your existing operations for better efficiency and consistency, or developing a brand-new product, CCBI can help you take the next step in craft beverage innovation.

Durham Region Health Department has sent out its latest Animals in Public Settings Information Package to petting zoo and open farm operators. The information package has gone digital this year and provides essential guidelines for maintaining a safe and healthy environment for both visitors and animals.

Operators must complete and return the Petting Zoo Operation Notification Form found in the information package and adhere to standards outlined by Durham Region Health Department and the Ontario Ministry of Health. These measures help prevent illness and ensure best practices in animal care and public safety. Contact EHL@durham.ca for more information.

Vendor applications are being accepted for the Newcastle Harvest Festival, taking place October 4.

The Newcastle Harvest Festival has been welcoming visitors for over 30 years and offers free family fun including kids' activities, displays, musical performances and a marketplace along Newcastle’s main street. 

Vendor applications and payment are due August 30, and space is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Toronto is set to host six matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Games are scheduled from June 12 to July 2, 2026, and the overall tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026. 

The monumental event will bring a large influx of visitors to the GTA, and while the spotlight will be on Toronto, hotels throughout Durham Region can anticipate much higher occupancy rates and increased demand. Local businesses are encouraged to prepare for this surge—think about extended hours, staffing adjustments, or special promotions. If you are planning other major events or conferences during these dates, it may be worth exploring alternative scheduling to avoid congestion and ensure the best possible experience for all visitors. 

Stay tuned for more tips on how your business can best prepare and make the most of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Tyrone Mills near Bowmanville has been named Best Bicycle Friendly Business in the York Durham Headwaters region in this year’s Ontario By Bike awards. Loved for their apple cider donuts and wood fired pizzas, Tyrone Mills was recognized by Ontario By Bike for their efforts at welcoming and providing services to cyclists as well as supporting cycling within their community.

Pingle’s Farm Market and Applewood Farm Winery have been named two of Ontario’s top strawberry picking spots by Culinary Tourism Alliance. Pingle’s in Hampton offers pick-your-own berries and other goodies and family activities, while Applewood in Port Perry offers strawberry picking alongside award-winning fruit wines, ciders and meades.

Looking for a tasty new way to explore Downtown Whitby? Food Tours are a great place for locals and visitors to begin their next culinary adventure! Taste local ingredients, discover history, and learn about the people behind the food. Explore Downtown Whitby’s food scene through its guided Downtown Whitby Walking Food Tour! Stay tuned to Whitby BIA for tickets.

Current News & Trends

Sundays, a new farm-to-table bistro in Uxbridge, is the latest venture from the former owners of a popular Toronto diner. Ben Denham and Ashley Lloyd have shaped Sundays’ menu with produce from their own farm, White LIly Farms, alongside other locally grown or made ingredients and products. Toronto Life finds out why they made the move from Toronto to Uxbridge.

From buttery, golden croissants to delicate sweets, food lovers are traveling far and wide for the ultimate bite. Read all about the rise of bakery tourism. Then set off on your own pastry pilgrimage with these Durham Region cafes and bakeries. 

The City of Oshawa is gearing up to celebrate Canada Day on July 1. From 2 to 10 p.m. at Lakeview Park, enjoy this free event of live music, performances, food trucks, a family zone with games and activities, and a spectacular fireworks display. Learn more at Oshawa.ca/Canada Day. 

In the age of short-form video content, TikTok has emerged as a powerful force shaping the future of travel and tourism. Read this article from the Global Tourism Forum to understand how the platform isn’t just about dance trends—it has become a top source of travel inspiration. 

With its bright pink food truck, Chica Banda is turning heads and filling bellies in Oshawa with its lineup of mouthwatering Mexican street eats. Chica Banda has been serving familiar favourites and new takes on classics since mid-May. Get a taste of the action. 

This summer is all about a digital detox and embracing the Martha Stewart aesthetic according to the 2025 Pinterest Summer Trend Report. Pinterest says searches for Martha-inspired living have skyrocketed as people look to channel her iconic lifestyle.