BUTTER TART FESTIVAL PROVIDES MASSIVE ECONOMIC BOOST

POPULAR JUNE 11 EVENT DREW HORDES LOOKING FOR SWEET TREATS AFTER TWO-YEAR COVID HIATUS

ANDREW MENDLER amendler@simcoe.com

Ontario's Best Butter Tart Festival drew a massive crowd to downtown MidlandonJune11andprovided a significant boost to the local economy.

"I think it was the best sales day we've ever had," said Roberta Douglas, owner of Royal Tea on King.

Douglas purchased the tea room in September 2020 and toughed her way through the COVID-19 pandemic. Last June, she expanded the business and opened a boutique.

This year's festival was her first and she was blown away by the crowds that flocked to the downtown and kept her stores busy all day long.

"I've never seen Midland like that before. Ever," said Douglas.

King Street was packed full of people from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and businesses along the street benefited from the hoard of butter tart-loving tourists excited to be back out at a large event.

"It was a wild day. Being our first year, I didn't know what to expect," said Douglas."Ididn'tstress.Ijustenjoyed the ride."

Shewasenergizedbythe massive crowd, and hopes it's a sign of things to come for a small town that relies on tourism.

"Every weekend obviously isn't going to be like the butter tart festival, but it shows that people are willing to get out, they are shopping and they are looking for experiences," said Douglas.

The Elegant Gourmet, a chocolate shop at 235 King St., was also overrun by sugar fanatics wanting to get their hands on somethingsweet.Theshop'sbutter tart ice cream, butter tart fudge and chocolatecovered butter tarts were all big sellers.

"It was a little intimidat-