What is the Leamington Waterfront Market Plaza? The Waterfront Market Plaza is a new year-round gathering space at 400 Erie Street South in Leamington, Ontario, featuring food and beverage vendors, a live music stage, a playground, and expanded parking right on Lake Erie.
If you’ve driven down Erie Street South toward the marina lately, you’ve probably noticed it: Leamington’s waterfront finally has the gathering spot people have been talking about for years. The Waterfront Market Plaza officially opened with a ribbon-cutting on August 12, 2026, and it’s already becoming the place to grab dinner, catch live music, and watch the sun go down over the lake.
As someone who lives right here in Wheatley and works with buyers and sellers across Leamington, Kingsville, and Chatham-Kent every day, I get asked a lot about what’s happening on our waterfront. So here’s a full rundown — what’s there now, what’s happening tonight, and what’s still coming. (If you haven’t already, check out my video on 11 Things Nobody Tells You About Moving to Leamington for the bigger picture on the town.)
(Details below are sourced from the Municipality of Leamington’s Waterfront Market Plaza page.)
Where It Is and What’s There
The plaza sits at the foot of Erie Street South, just south of Foster Avenue, right next to the Leamington Marina. It’s the centrepiece of the municipality’s Waterfront Destination Master Plan, a 15-year vision Council approved back in 2022 to turn the Leamington waterfront into a true destination.
Right now, the plaza includes:
- Expanded parking
- Public washroom facilities
- A playground and green space
- Public seating throughout
- A multi-use stage for live entertainment
- A rotating lineup of food and beverage vendors
Who’s Serving Food Right Now
The current vendor lineup at the Waterfront Market Plaza includes:
- Brew on the 42 — coffee shop and the plaza’s operational anchor, run as a two-year municipal pilot project
- Las Maria’s — Mexican food
- Nat’s Wraps and Apps
- Sweet Wheels Bakery
- Squeeze and Freeze
- Soda Co.
- The Oven Door
Hours vary by vendor, so it’s worth checking before you head down if you have a specific spot in mind.
Tonight: Waterfront Market Nights (September 11)
If you’re reading this today, here’s why the waterfront is buzzing: Waterfront Market Nights runs tonight, Friday, September 11, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the plaza. It’s a free night market with food trucks, vendors, and beverages — including alcoholic beverages — available throughout the evening.
Live entertainment tonight is produced by The Bank Theatre:
- Justin Latam and The Stride — 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
- Jody Raffoul Band — 8:30 PM to 10:00 PM
LT-Go Transit is running extended hours until 11:00 PM to help people get to and from the event, and admission is free.
Beyond tonight’s market, live music has been a regular fixture at the plaza all summer, with performances on the waterfront stage Wednesdays and Fridays through the season. Full lineup at leamington.ca/events.
What’s Next for the Waterfront
The Market Plaza is one piece of a much bigger picture. Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald has described the waterfront work as roughly year three of a 15-year plan, and there’s more in motion:
- Boardwalk expansion — A second, dedicated pedestrian boardwalk now runs parallel to the original, which has been converted into a two-lane cycling path with wider, safer turns.
- A new landmark archway — A double archway sign now marks the entrance to the boardwalk at Seacliff Beach.
- Vendor program growth — The municipality is still accepting applications from food trucks, trailers, mobile beverage units, and carts for the 2026 season, which runs through October 12. There’s no rental cost to participate.
In other words: what’s there now is really just the beginning. The Master Plan covers the marina, Rick Atkin Park, the waterfront promenade, the ferry dock and pier, Erie Street, and Seacliff Park, so expect ongoing announcements as the municipality moves through its phasing over the next several years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Leamington Waterfront Market Plaza open year-round? The plaza itself is designed as a year-round space, but the seasonal food and beverage vendor program runs July through mid-October, with live entertainment concentrated in the summer and early fall months.
Is there a cost to attend events at the Waterfront Market Plaza? No — events like Waterfront Market Nights are free to attend. You only pay for what you buy from the food and beverage vendors on-site.
Where can I find the full event schedule for the Leamington waterfront? The Municipality of Leamington posts the full music and events lineup at leamington.ca/events, which is the best source for up-to-date dates and times.
How can food vendors apply to operate at the Waterfront Market Plaza? Food trucks, trailers, mobile beverage units, and carts can apply through the municipality’s Waterfront Market Plaza Vendor Program, which runs at no rental cost through the 2026 season.
Why This Matters If You’re Thinking About Leamington
A waterfront like this doesn’t just make for a great Friday night — it’s the kind of amenity that tells you a community is investing in itself. I hear from a lot of relocators and retirees drawn to Leamington for exactly this reason: the lake, the small-town feel, and now, a genuinely great gathering space to enjoy it from.
If you’re curious what’s available near the waterfront, or thinking about what your own move to Essex County could look like, check out my Leamington relocation guide or reach out — I’d love to help.
Cheers, Linda Hakr, REALTOR®.