Photo Credit: Taste of the Valley, Website
The second last Taste of the Valley festival of the year is about to get underway in Cobden.
Noted as a “Farmers Market on Steroids”, the event returns to where it all began. In 2007, an event was created in the town to show off all that Renfrew County and the Valley had to offer. Now, 19 years later, the 2026 Cobden Taste of the Valley is expected to be the largest in history with over 165 vendors in attendance.
That’s Scott Hamilton. He’s the Economic Development Coordinator with the County of Renfrew. He says the day will have a variety of vendors offering farm fresh meats, veggies and fruits, artisianal goods, handmade crafts and locally produced honey and syrups.
Because of the popularity of the event and the high interest from local businesses, they’re opening it up even more by expanding into the ball diamond.
Planning an event like this is not easy. There’s a lot of moving parts, amenities are needed for patrons and safety measures need to be in place to make sure everything runs smoothly. Hamilton says none of this would be possible without the help of community groups.
Taste of the Valley Cobden takes place October 17th from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Cobden Fairgrounds, 43 Astrolabe Road. The event will happen rain or shine, so dress for the weather as cool temperatures approach.
For more information on the event visit totv.ca.
The next and final edition of the 2026 Taste of the Valley Series will be the December 12th, Christmas themed event in Renfrew.
(Written by: Bob Kubbinga)
