The Tourism Industry Association of the Yukon (TIA Yukon) has announced the first ever multi-day, territory-wide culinary festival to be held in the Canadian territories.

The Yukon Culinary Festival: A Celebration of Local Food and Homegrown Cuisine will run June 20-24. It will feature culinary-themed activities throughout the Yukon, with a focus on areas in and around Whitehorse and Dawson City.

Coordinated by TIA Yukon, the event will highlight how Yukon foods and Yukon-based products are produced, harvested, stored and prepared, by showcasing the farms, restaurants and other businesses that are responsible for bringing these goods to the table.

"The Yukon has so much to offer in the way of local food and culinary expertise; the potential for growth is amazing,” said Blake Rogers, TIA Yukon's executive director.

"This festival is an opportunity to promote the Yukon's culinary scene by showcasing our local foods and Yukon-based culinary products.

"It's also an opportunity to enhance the connections between the Yukon's agriculture industry and the various sectors of the Yukon's tourism industry.”

Toronto-based chef Christian Pritchard will team up with Yukon culinary experts to help facilitate activities during the festival.

"Pritchard will bring his energetic personality and profile to the event to help bring more exposure to the Yukon's food culture, while providing a visitor's perspective about many of the things that make the Yukon's approach to food so special,” said TIA Yukon.

The event has been made possible due to the contributions of the partner sponsors: Air North, Yukon Brewing, the Coast High Country Inn and Outside the Cube.