Downtown Belleville is proud to announce that its culinary event program, Savour The Series, has received an OBIAA Awards of Excellence in the Event category.
Presented by the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA), the Awards of Excellence recognize innovative, impactful, and community driven initiatives from Business Improvement Areas across the province.
Originally built from the long standing success of Savour the Chill, the Downtown Belleville BIA expanded the concept into a four season culinary strategy in 2025, introducing Savour the Sips, Savour the Heat, and Savour the Flavour alongside the beloved February event.
The series was designed to increase year round visitation to Downtown Belleville restaurants while positioning the downtown as a regional culinary destination. Throughout 2025, the events collectively featured more than 15 participating businesses per event and generated over 12,300 samples sold across the series.
“This award is an incredible honour for our downtown and our business community,” said Danielle Hanoman, Executive Director of the Downtown Belleville BIA. “Savour The Series was created to support our restaurants, encourage people to explore downtown, and create memorable experiences that bring the community together. To now be recognized provincially for that work is something we are extremely proud of.”
In addition to strong in person participation, the series generated more than 551,000 social media views across Facebook and Instagram in 2025, significantly expanding Downtown Belleville’s reach and visibility beyond the local community.
Downtown Belleville extends its sincere thanks to all participating businesses, sponsors, volunteers, judges, and attendees who helped make Savour The Series an award-winning initiative.
The celebration continues this weekend with the next installment in the series, Savour the Heat, taking place Saturday, May 9. The event will feature bold flavours, heat-inspired menus, and exciting culinary experiences from participating downtown businesses.
For more information about Savour the Heat and upcoming Downtown Belleville events, visit Downtown Belleville’s social media channels and website.
For more information, visit DowntownBelleville.ca
