Food safety at special events

Are you planning to host a special event in Durham Region or attend one as a food vendor? Whether it’s a local street fair, a cultural celebration, or a farmers’ market, we all want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable time.

To make sure your event runs smoothly and safely there are a few important steps you need to follow, and we’ve developed a new special events food safety video to help guide you through this process.

If you're coordinating a special event, you must send your application to the Health Department at least 45 days in advance. This gives our public health inspectors enough time to review your plans and ensure everything is compliant.

Food vendors attending special events must send their application at least 30 days before the event. Meeting these deadlines is important for your setup to be reviewed and approved in time. Both coordinator and vendor applications can be filled out and submitted online at durham.ca/FoodSafety.  

All food vendors at special events or farmers’ markets are subject to inspection under the Ontario Health Protection and Promotion Act. This means you should only bring foods that have been approved by a public health inspector. This helps keep everyone safe and ensures your booth is ready to serve on the day of the event.

To learn more, visit our food safety website or call Durham Health Connection Line at 1-800-841-2729. To view the new special events food safety video, visit YouTube.ca/DurhamHealth.

Let’s work together to make every special event in Durham Region safe, fun, and inclusive for everyone.