(The September 13th Stittsville Butter Tart Festival brought large crowds to Stittsville Village Square seeking the ultimate butter tart. The fourth year of the annual Festival was another huge success. Photos: Stittsville Central)
On September 13th, Mandy Faulkner and Dan Viens of Stittsville Market at the Barn, hosted their fourth annual Stittsville Butter Tart Festival to large crowds seeking to fulfill their butter tart cravings. If you didn’t arrive early, you likely did not go home with butter tarts due to the festival’s outstanding popularity and success. Bakers at the festival had prepared countless tarts for the occasion, ranging from 300 to 3000 a vendor. An employee at Sugar Tarts said “it took our baker over two weeks to prepare for the day”.
During the day there were shows and displays from Little Ray’s Reptiles where guests saw a wide range of amphibians, reptiles and many more interesting animals. If meeting and learning about animals wasn’t your cup of tea, there was still plenty of other fun and engaging things to do at the festival besides delicious tarts. Further back and beside the barn, where Little Ray’s Reptiles shows had taken place, there were fun games and a huge tractor for people to enjoy. While enjoying the festival, guests heard the live music by Paul Crupi who returned for another year to perform a wide range of songs from artists such as Harry Styles, Coldplay, Artic Monkeys, as well as his original songs.
Butter Tarts weren’t the only items being sold at the festival. 3D printed art, flower arrangements, candles and plenty of other interesting objects were being sold. Butter Tarts weren’t even the only treat being sold. Butter Tart ice cream and more from Holmespun, brownies, scones, cookies and cheesecake had also made appearances. Different flavours of butter tarts were everywhere, classic, pecan, cranberry and even a butter tart named Ball Park were present and available for purchasing.
Judges had a difficult time voting for the best butter tart at the festival. The panel tasted each butter tart in the categories for best traditional, best signature/unique, and best traditional gluten-free and, of course, everyone could vote for the People’s Choice award.
The enthusiastic judges are aficionados of butter tart tasting and had taken up the gooey challenge to discover the best butter tart. All butter tarts, with the exception of the People’s Choice, were voted on by the panel of judges – Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Yassir Ghazi from RBC, Kaitlyn Bauer, Chris Merpaw, a frequent vendor at the Stittsville Market at the Barn, and several other tart-loving individuals.
This year, there were 15 vendors participating with their submitted butter tart entries:
- Sugar Tarts
- Specialty Cheesecakes
- Mike’s Bakery
- Loughlin’s Country Store
- Burbidge Apiaries
- Franks
- Keepin’ it Vegan
- Bitty Birds Bakery
- Coacoa & Butter
- Omi’s Gourmet Butter Tarts
- Alex’s Baked Creations
- Atomic Tom’s
- Ritual on Main
- Practically Perfect
- Folklore
Tom Burnett of Atomic Tom won the Best Gluten Free Butter Tart Award despite it being his first year making them. The Best Signature/Unique Butter Tart was awarded to Omila Tickeram of Omi’s Gourmet Butter Tarts. Chinelo Houron of Ritual on Main Coffeehouse took home the award of Best Traditional Butter Tart, a very impressive feat especially considering it was her first time ever making butter tarts. Finally, Tom Burnett of Atomic Tom took home the People’s Choice award (and remains undefeated in this category – this being his fourth year). He was very happy to be taking home both the Best Gluten Free Butter Tart and the People’s Choice awards.
When we look back to 2022, the first year of the Festival, Mandy told us, “Hopefully this will become the first of an incredible annual event”. It has definitely become the sweetest annual event in Stittsville and we look forward to next year’s Butter Tart Festival where everyone can indulge in butter tarts and pay homage to this delicious Canadian dessert.
Yummy!
Arrived early and lined up for Atomic Tom’s Maple Buttertarts. My friend and I bought 7 pkgs of tarts. With intentions to check out other vendors, it was so crowded, we ended up just leaving, with feelings of claustrophobia in such a small space with so many people. I know others who went and decided to also leave for same reason. The tarts are fantastic, but maybe consider moving to a larger location with more space between vendors, more available parking, and avoid the massive congestion on Main Street. With the success of this event to date, I see it only becoming more popular.
I agree totally. It was very difficult to move through the crowds. We left early because of this
I agree as well!
I very much agree with this comment. This was our first time and the layout was extremely overwhelming and packed in like sardines.. I was expecting it to be spread out more and easier to view and access. Sadly we left and didn’t purchase any. Will return next year, but hoping for a larger space and better layout.
We are having a butter tart festival in Englehart Ont
next year..if u have any info..or tips for a sucessful butter tart festival..it would be very helpful.Do u need food handler course certified kitchen.
Also who would be the judge.
Hi Laura, I personally don’t know the answer to your question but you can email the organizer of the event at market@atthebarn.ca. Hope this helps!
I left empty handed. I was hoping/expecting there to be samples. I wasn’t about to wait in the huge lineups to buy a pack only to not like them. Not all butter tarts are created equal. This event really needs yo be held in a much larger venue
A new venue is being looked at for next year. As was shared many times, people were asked to get there early for the samples and tarts. Who knew how successful the Festival would become when it began four years ago. Wonderful for Stittsville, along with Mandy & Dan the organizers!
We got there as we were cottaging over an hour away to enjoy this festival. We thought it was pretty chaotic with too many people, kids & dogs in such a small area. Line ups were crazy & we had no clue where to vote. Boots with no line were hidden by the lines so didn’t get a fair break. That’s whose tarys I bought & they were delish!!! More bathrooms. Hopefully a larger area & more organization of lines & vendors would be nice.