Special Events, Farmers' Markets and Wild Game Dinners

Community events provide a wonderful opportunity to explore what York Region has to offer.

York Region is home to numerous special events and farmers' markets each year. Public Health inspects vendors who provide food and beverages to the public and vendors who offer a personal service (such as tattooing, body piercing, nail services, etc.,) or petting zoos. York Region Public Health supports event organizers and vendors, to ensure compliance with the Ontario Food Premises Regulation and the Ontario Personal Services Settings Regulation under the Health Protection and Promotion Act

If you are an organizer or vendor for Special Events, Farmers’ Markets and/or Wild Game Dinners in York Region, see below for information you need to know about public health requirements.

Special Events  

A Special Event can be classified as either a public or private event.

Public Special Events are temporary occasions that are open to the general public where food is sold, given, or where personal services or petting zoos are offered. Examples include fairs, street festivals, or rib fests. Event Organizers must notify York Region Public Health about upcoming events.

Private Special Events are limited to invited guests only and are not publicly advertised. These events include occasions where only family, friends and acquaintances of the hosts or permit holders are invited, such as a birthday party or a wedding. Public Health does not inspect private events.

Farmers’ Markets

A farmer’s market is a central location where various individuals operate stalls or food premises to sell a variety of products to consumers. These offerings typically include farm products, baked goods, and preserved foods. Most of the vendors are producers who primarily sell their own farm products.

According to Ontario Food Premises Regulation 493/17, "farm products" refer to items grown, raised, or produced on a farm intended for consumption as food. These include, but are not limited to, fruits and vegetables, mushrooms, meats and meat products, dairy products, honey products, maple products, fish, grains and seeds, and products made from grains and seeds.

Farmers’ markets, where more than 50 per cent of vendors operating stalls are producers of farm products and primarily selling their own farmed food products, are exempt from the Ontario Food Premises Regulation 493/17, but must comply with the Health Protection and Promotion Act

Wild Game Dinners

Wild game dinners are when wild fish or game are caught and served to the public at charitable events, with all profits directed towards that cause.

Permits

Municipalities may require special event permits. Please contact the local municipality where your event is being held prior to your event.

Mandatory Food Handler Certification

The  Ontario Food Premises Regulation 493/17 requires all food service premises to have a certified food handler onsite at all times, which includes special event vendors.

For more information on York Region’s Mandatory Food Handler Certification and how to get certified, visit the Food Handler Certification Program or visit the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care for other equivalent courses.

Organizers

If you are the organizer of an event, farmers’ market or a wild game dinner, you are required to:

If you are the organizer of a special event where personal services will be offered, you are required to:

A public health inspector will contact you before the event.

Vendors

If you are the vendor at an event, farmers’ market or a wild game dinner, you are required to:

This form is for those who are selling food.

If you are a vendor of a special event where personal services will be offered, you are required to:

  • Complete the Personal Service Settings Vendor Application Form
  • This form is for those who are providing personal services such as tattooing, body piercing, ear piercing, etc.
  • Email/fax the Personal Service Settings Vendors Application Form 20 days before the event

A public health inspector may contact you before the event.

Petting Zoos

If you are a petting zoo vendor, you are required to:

A public health inspector will contact you before the event.

Wild Game Dinners for Charitable Events

If you are hosting a wild game dinner for charity, you are required to:

  • Email/fax the Organizer Application Event Form and Food Vendor Application Event Form at least 5 days before our event
  • Keep a list of attendees of the event
  • Keep a list of the donors of the wild game meat
  • Keep wild game meat separate from inspected meat
  • Notify all attendees that uninspected game meat will be served - the notice must be printed on each ticket and posted at a conspicuous place at the entrance to the venue where the event is held

For more information please visit the Ministry of Natural Resources

Related Resources

External Resources