Welcome to Warkworth, where the lunch just keeps on going! Community suppers, church-basement chowder fests and annual village picnics are trademarks of summer in Canada. I'm sure you've been to one - or twelve – of these community events over the years. The ingredients are similar: good food, a hearty welcome, and homespun hospitality. But for the last eight years the folks in Warkworth, Ontario, have put a different spin on their annual summer fest. It's the poplar Warkworth Long Lunch (held this year on Sunday, August 21. 11:30 a.m. to 3 pm). And it's precisely that. The main street is blocked off and tables are aligned end-to-end down the centre line for what is possibly the longest lunch table you'll ever see (or chow down at). As many as 1,300 diners have pulled up chairs at this annual homemade meal, and organizers are hopeful there will be even more this year.

[caption id="attachment_5391" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="Enjoy a slice of Warkworth hospitality (Courtesy: Northumberland Tourism)"] [/caption] First off, you have to understand a little bit about the dynamic energy of Warkworth, the tight-knit community of 800 people in eastern Ontario (about 140 km east of Toronto, accessible from Hwy 401). It's home to farmers, potters, artisans and musicians. Some have moved to the area in the past decade, and others  have lived their entire lives in this rich farmland valley in the picturesque Northumberland Hills. It's where community spirit comes first. (If you enjoy the Warkworth Long Lunch, then mark off a block on your calendar for the annual Warkworth Maple Syrup Festival. It's worth another trip in the off-season.) Book the Best Table in Town Everyone pitches in to make the Warkworth Long Lunch a success, from shucking corn to baking pies to whipping up masses of potato salad - not to mention minding the BBQ set up in the parking lot of the local Royal Bank. Plus, there's music, entertainment, crafts and artists' stalls galore. But the most memorable image you'll take home: a long line of people tucking into a homemade meal, cheek to jowl, at one incredibly long lunch table, where the most formal line you'll hear is, "Pleased to meet you - now could you pass that horseradish." Pull Up a Chair, Stay a While [caption id="attachment_5358" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="Warkworth Long Lunch: Where strangers become friends just over a plate of local fare (Courtesy: Northumberland Tourism)"] [/caption] While you're here in Warkworth, why not stick around for the afternoon -- or book into a local B&B and tour the area. You can download your very own Guide to Warkworth by clicking here. [caption id="attachment_5367" align="aligncenter" width="262" caption="Dig in! (Northumberland Tourism)"] [/caption] Before I forget, you'll want to know about the grub. How does this menu tickle your fancy? Barbecued beef and pork, baked beans, corn on the cob, mouth-tingling horse radish, potato salad (just like your mother made), freshly-made dinner rolls, pickles galore (most of them from locally grown, in-season produce) and last but not least: homemade, mouth-watering, tummy-satisfying pie. For directions and tickets, visit www.warkworth.ca/. There's a lot more to do in Northumberland County. Just click here for your free Northumberland Travel Guide. I'd love to hear about your local summer and early fall feasts in your neighbourhood, town or city -- wherever you are in Canada.