More than 1,500 performers, colourful floats, marching bands and thousands of spectators are expected as the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival brings one of Ontario’s most established harvest traditions back to the streets.
ST. CATHARINES, Ontario — Niagara wine country is preparing for one of its most anticipated weekends of the year as the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival brings its signature fall celebration to downtown St. Catharines, highlighted by the 74th Grape & Wine Grande Parade on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
The parade is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., transforming the downtown core into a major outdoor celebration of Niagara’s harvest season, community spirit and wine-making heritage.
More than 1,500 performers are expected to participate, including marching bands, dancers and colourful floats, while the Grande Parade traditionally draws tens of thousands of spectators to the streets of St. Catharines.
A Niagara tradition takes over downtown
This year’s parade will travel through James Street, Church Street, Ontario Street and St. Paul Street, giving visitors several opportunities to experience the procession from different parts of downtown St. Catharines.
But the September 26 celebration extends well beyond the parade.
After the morning procession, attention will shift toward Montebello Park, where the Wine & Culinary Village will operate from 12 p.m. until 11 p.m.
Admission to the park on Saturday is free, giving visitors an opportunity to experience a celebration built around Niagara-produced wine, regional food, live entertainment and the people behind one of Ontario’s best-known wine regions.
Wine, local food and hours of live music
The festival is showcasing more than 100 Niagara VQA wines, accompanied by food from local culinary businesses and chefs.
A wide range of Niagara wineries are participating, including Inniskillin, Jackson-Triggs, Peller Estates, Trius, Wayne Gretzky Estates, Pillitteri Estates and Konzelmann, among others.
Music will also play a major role throughout the weekend, with organizers advertising more than 25 hours of live performances.
Saturday’s program includes VinylFlux, New Rising Sun, Stone House Road, Big Shiny Tunes, The Postmen and Jonesy, with performances scheduled throughout the afternoon and evening at Montebello Park.
An opportunity to experience and support Niagara
Beyond the entertainment, the festival represents an opportunity for visitors to discover the people, businesses and traditions that have helped shape Niagara’s identity.
Local wineries, restaurants, artists, musicians, tourism operators and other businesses all form part of an economy closely connected to the region’s reputation as one of Canada’s most recognizable destinations.
For that reason, La Verdad Express encourages Ontario residents and visitors to experience the celebration, discover Niagara’s local culture and support the communities and businesses behind the event.
Attending major local events is not only about entertainment. It can also mean discovering new businesses, supporting regional tourism and participating in the traditions that give Ontario’s communities their individual character.
Whether visitors come for the Grande Parade, the food, live music, Niagara wines or simply the atmosphere of harvest season, the festival provides an opportunity to experience the region at one of its most vibrant times of the year.
Families are part of the celebration
Although wine is naturally at the heart of the festival, the weekend is not designed exclusively for adults.
The Family Fun Zone will operate from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on September 26 and 27, with activities including inflatables, face painting and crafts. Some individual activities may require a small fee.
Families with visitors under the age of 19 are welcome at Montebello Park until 6 p.m. daily. Alcohol service is restricted to guests who meet Ontario’s legal drinking-age requirements.
The celebration will continue Sunday, September 27, with the Pied Piper Parade at 2 p.m., followed by the Mayor’s Invitational Grape Stomp at 2:30 p.m., where teams will compete by crushing Niagara grapes in one of the harvest season’s most recognizable traditions.
More than a wine festival
Over the years, the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival has developed into much more than a showcase for local wineries.
It is also a celebration of the agricultural heritage, tourism industry and communities that have helped establish Niagara as one of Canada’s most recognized wine-producing regions.
For people travelling from elsewhere in Ontario, the September weekend provides another reason to visit St. Catharines and explore the wider Niagara region during harvest season.
The main Montebello Park celebration runs September 24 through September 27, with free admission on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Thursday’s opening concert is a ticketed event.
But on Saturday morning, before the celebrations move into the park, the streets will belong to the community.
With more than 1,500 performers preparing to take part, thousands of visitors expected and generations of Niagara tradition behind it, the Grape & Wine Grande Parade on September 26 is set to become one of Ontario’s major fall celebrations once again.
For La Verdad Express, events like this represent something worth celebrating: communities coming together, local businesses being discovered and Ontario traditions continuing to create experiences that residents and visitors can share.
Leave a Reply