Vendors, performers and residents gathered at Harmony Square for the second annual Brantford Beats and Eats Festival on Saturday, September 12, 2026.
Over 2,000 people attended the day-long event, which grew this year, added food trucks, a live art competition, more entertainment, including a licensed patio from Shack Bar, and mobile axe throwing from Smash N Axes and a golf simulator from Brant Boys Golf.
Kara Davey, Manager of Tourism, Culture and Sport for City of Brantford, said the event was meant to draw people from nearby communities to the city while giving residents a reason to explore their own downtown.
“Many of our food trucks, vendors and entertainers are local to Brantford, which helps them reach new customers,” said Davey. “It is great to see increased foot traffic downtown throughout the event, which means attendees are exploring other restaurants and stores and staying beyond the event, which is another goal for us. It would be great if we could expand to a multi-day event to include more artists, entertainers and local businesses.”
Paul Mori, a Brantford resident who attended with his wife, Joy said the festival has drawn them to parts of Downtown Brantford they might otherwise have skipped.
“It’s great for local businesses, there are businesses here we would probably never come down and see,” said Paul Mori. “This is on a nice scale for everybody. Hamilton’s Super crawl is crazy, it can be intimidating. This isn’t.”
Michael Francis, a magician who came to the event for the second time, travelled from Kitchener and shared his experience.
“The more people that see it, the better,” said Francis. “I don’t really do too many public shows, so this is a rarity for me. It’s fun when I get to come out and do festivals like this.”
The event also featured other local vendors who promoted their artwork, clothing, and other merchandise. Zoe Curtis and Erik Vasseur were at the event for the first time and said they loved the idea of connecting with local residents and other vendors.
Monica Ponikiewska, owner of Mika Mindful Design Studio, returned for the second time, selling her sustainable clothes made from upcycled fabrics, including vintage bedsheets and tablecloths.
“It helps with exposure. What I buy from local stores, I want to give back to the community,” said Ponikiewska.
