You'll fall for these food festivals, says Andrew Coppolino

September means back to school and a return to the more usual routines following the summer months.

• More from CBC K-W food columnist Andrew Coppolino

It is also time for the bounty of fall harvest and a smorgasbord of food festivals and events that take place in Waterloo region, Wellington and Perth counties.

In many neighbourhoods, block parties, campouts and community barbecues are taking place, so here are a few events to keep your calendar full for the month of September.

Eid al-Adha celebration and potluck dinner

Sept. 9, Victoria Hills Community Centre on Chopin Drive and Westmount Road, Kitchener

This celebration takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The timing of Eid al-Adha corresponds roughly with the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Islam's holiest city.

Stratford Kiwanis Garlic Festival

Sept. 9-10, Stratford

There will likely be no vampires to be found during the weekend of the annual and pungent garlic festival. But you will findmusic, information sessions and presentations by chefs about cooking with garlic over the course of the two days.

• Stratford Garlic Festival website

Best Bites

Sept. 10, Shade's Mills Conservation Area, Cambridge

From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., this garden party features about two dozen local restaurants and food purveyors, along with wineries and breweries, combining at a beautiful location in support of the Cambridge Memorial Hospital Foundation.

• Best Bites website

Taste Local! Taste Fresh!

Sept. 10, Steckle Heritage Farm, Bleams Road, Kitchener

Now in its 14th year, Taste Local! Taste Fresh! is a fundraiser for Foodlink Waterloo Region. This "barn event" takes place between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Your passporttakes you through an afternoon of taste samples by teams of 17 local restaurants and 20 farmers.

• Taste Local! Taste Fresh! web page

Pollinator workshop

Sept. 16, St. Agatha

This isn't a tasting event, but the Grand River Conservation Authority is hosting a pollinator workshop and tour from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The premise: Much of our food fruits, nuts, oilseeds and many vegetables require insect pollination, and bees play a critical role. Landowners with properties greater than five acres may be eligible for funding for tree planting or naturalization projects.

• Promoting Pollinators workshop page

Food Fest in the 'Burg

Sept. 23, New Hamburg

New Hamburg is hosting their inaugural Food Fest in the 'Burg. It's two events in one: The new Hamburg-er Burger and Beer Festival features burgers and local beer. Itstarts earlier in the day followed by a Medieval-style long harvest table communal dinner on Mill Street beginning at 5:30 p.m.

• FacebookFood Fest'Burg event page

Equinox Barn Celebration

Sept. 24, Hillsburgh

Miijidaa restaurant in Guelph and Zocalo Organics present this event with the Guelph Symphony Orchestra from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The hors d'oeuvres, three-course meal along with beverages will be set amidst the music of Aaron Copland and Conductor Judith Yan. The event will be held at Zocalo Organics in Hillsburg, Ont. Proceeds go to Grand River Conservation Foundation.

• Miijidaa event page

Fall Farm Day

Sept. 30, Ayr

To round out the month, you can head to Oakridge Acres Country Meat Store on Greenfield Drive in Ayr between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to learn about their farming techniques and sample food from their suppliers. Admission is a donation to the Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank, if you can.

• Oakridge Acres website

Taste Real fall rural romp

Sept. 30, Guelph and Wellington county

A self-guided tour ofGuelph and southern Wellington County farms and markets. You'll meet local farmers, eat delicious food and learn about local agriculture businesses and how they are important to our communities.

• Taste Real Fall Rural Romp site

More food columns from Andrew Coppolino

• Tiny, baby vegetables a growing trend
• Mobile greenhouse demonstrates Ontario's indoor industry
• Pickles enjoy a Renaissance