Taste of the Atlantic is returning for its second year later this August in Fredericton.

Partaking over the course of two weekends this year rather than one, this year’s festival will be bigger and better than before.

Taste of the Atlantic is an Indigenous-led festival that first started in 2022, with the goal to bring together communities from all around Atlantic Canada to celebrate Indigenous cuisine and culture.

“It’s a collaboration between [the Indigenous communities across] all four Atlantic provinces to put on an event that encompasses world-class dining experiences, tasting tents, workshops, demonstrations, storytellers, knowledge keepers, a mini-Powwow, and more,” says Jenna White, founder of Taste of the Atlantic.

This year, Taste of the Atlantic will be held on Aug. 18 and 19, as well as on Aug. 26. Each day will hold different events and themes that aim to share and embrace Indigenous culture.

On Aug. 18, White says that they will hold their world-class, five-course dining experience. On Aug. 19, they will have a world-class, three-course seafood dining experience, as well as a vendor market, storytellers, workshops, demonstrations and more. Finally, on Aug. 26, there will be a smoke and fire dining experience.

Along with this, on both Aug. 19 and 26, there will be taste tents open. These are a new addition to Taste of the Atlantic that allows chefs to prepare and share something that is not only of their culture but also personal to them.

“Each chef has an opportunity to bring a dish that is close to their heart or important for the community, to share with people,” says White.

Over the course of the festival, White says that there will be over 15 chefs from all four of the Atlantic provinces, including White herself, as well as hopes to have over 25 vendors present at the market on Aug. 19.

“The whole idea is to build a new appreciation for indigenous culture,” says White. “Once you see it in a new light, I think that it’s really going to help bring people together and communities together.”

Tickets are required for each dining experience and can be bought here. For all other aspects of the festival, they will be available for everyone to simply walk in and enjoy the experience.

White says that as we get closer to the event, she will share on the Taste of the Atlantic Facebook page with more details on the exact locations, chefs, and vendors that will be present.

Along with this, Taste of the Atlantic is still on the search for volunteers and sponsors who may be interested in helping with the festival. For those who are interested, feel free to reach out to White directly.