Provincial Spotlight on Goderich: Salt & Harvest Festival Wins Best Promotional Campaign
and Recognized as FEO Top 100 Event

 

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Best Promotional Campaign 2026 - Award Photo.jpg (L–R): Jenna Ujiye (Tourism and Community Development Manager, Town of Goderich), Mayor Trevor Bazinet and Amy Boyce (Compass Minerals) accept the Festival and Events Ontario award for Best Promotional Campaign at the FEO Awards Gala (February 25, 2026). 

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February 25, 2026, Kitchener, Ontario
 

The Town of Goderich is proud to announce that the Goderich Salt & Harvest Festival received two (2) provincial recognitions at the Festival and Events Ontario (FEO) Awards Gala on February 25, held during the annual FEO Conference: Best Promotional Campaign and designation as a Top 100 Event in Ontario. These honours recognize the Festival’s marketing excellence, visitor appeal, and the strength of its community and corporate partnerships.

 “This recognition is a proud moment for Goderich,” said Mayor Trevor Bazinet. “We are home to the largest underground salt mine in the world, and we’ve worked deliberately to build tourism experiences that reflect what makes our community truly unique. I also want to thank our staff and volunteers for the tremendous work behind the scenes—this award showcases their volunteer spirit and pride in serving Goderich.”
 

 The journey to establish Goderich’s salt tourism began in 2020. The inaugural Salt & Harvest Festival in 2023, championed by past Mayors Grace and Murdock, has flourished under the continued support of Mayor Bazinet and their respective Councils. Designed as a signature tourism event, the festival authentically tells a distinctive local story.  The event is funded through community and corporate support; partnerships, donations, sponsorships, and participant revenue.
 

 “This recognition reflects an enormous amount of work behind the scenes,” said Jenna Ujiye, Tourism and Community Development Manager. “Town staff lead the planning and delivery of the Salt & Harvest Festival—from building the program and logistics to marketing and on-site operations—and I’m grateful for the professionalism and commitment our team brings to this event. We also rely on strong partnerships and volunteers to make the Festival sustainable and impactful, including Compass Minerals, the Goderich BIA, Royal LePage, Parrish and Heimbecker (P&H), Coldwell Banker, and many local businesses and community supporters.”

 

The 2025 Goderich Salt & Harvest Festival took place over Labour Day weekend (August 28–31, 2025) throughout Goderich’s Downtown/Courthouse Square and waterfront, offering dozens of activities. Free events included the Salted Market, Above Ground Salt Experience, Mine Rescue Demonstrations, Salt Mine Virtual Reality, Salty Basin Beer Garden, Salt Walk, Thursday and Sunday BIA Salted Concerts, Farmers’ Market, Flea Market, petting zoo, wagon rides, family photo booth, and inflatables. Paid events included the BIA Friday Night Concert (Texas King and more), the Saturday Compass Minerals Concert featured Finger Eleven (sold out with 1,500 attendees), bus tours, food trucks, and salty menus at Goderich restaurants.
 

 The Best Promotional Campaign recognition reflects a coordinated approach across print, digital, media, and on-site storytelling, including SaltedGoderich.ca as the event hub, an eight-page program and downtown site map, cohesive signage and wayfinding, the “Hidden Treasure Below” booklet, and a 28-foot Salt History Timeline, supported by radio promotion, influencer content, and paid social advertising.
 

 Looking ahead, the 2026 Goderich Salt & Harvest Festival is scheduled for Labour Day Weekend, September 3–6, 2026, with the Compass Minerals Concert on Saturday, September 5, 2026. Further details about the 2026 Festival and the Compass Minerals Concert will be unveiled at the end of March. 
 

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For More information Contact:

Jenna Ujiye

Tourism and Community Development Manager

jujiye@goderich.ca

 

 

 

 

 

2026-BestPromotionalCampaign Graphic: Festival and Events Ontario graphic recognizing the Goderich Salt & Harvest Festival as the Best Promotional Campaign. Graphic: Festival and Events Ontario

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Goderich Salt and Harvest Festival All Awards 2023-2026 – Since launching in 2023, the Festival has received the 2023 Huron Chamber Community Impact Award; 2024 Best New Festival in Ontario; Top 100 Event recognition in 2024, 2025, and 2026; and the 2026 Festival and Events Ontario award for Best Promotional Campaign.

Check back soon for more information on the 2026 Festival. 
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The Goderich Salt & Harvest Festival to take place Sept. 3 - 6, 2026. Plans include: Free entrance to: Salted Market, Above Ground Salt Experience, Mine Rescue Demonstrations, Virtual Reality Mine Images, Salty Basin Beer Garden, Salt Walk, Farmers’ Market, Flea Market, Petting Zoo, Wagon Rides, Family Photo Booth, Inflatables, and more. Events that have fees: BIA Friday Night Concert, Saturday Compass Minerals Concert, Guided Tours & Tastings .