Summer is just around the corner and a full lineup of festivals is on tap for 2023. We're highlighting some of our favourites from around the region from heritage and culture to music and family fun. Did we miss your festival? Shoot us a note at info@brucegreysimcoe.com and we will add it to the blog. Want to add your Festival or Event to our website? Visit the Submit your event page to start adding events.
Heritage, Culture and Food Festivals
Huron Fringe Birding Festival
May 26 to May 28 and June 1 to 4, 2023
MacGregor Point Provincial Park
The Huron Fringe Birding Festival is a celebration of birds, birding and nature that has it's home base at MacGregor Point Provincial Park but includes locations along the Huron Fringe along Lake Huron's shoreline, to the Bruce Peninsula and including other significant natural areas in Grey and Bruce Counties. Birders come together for the banquet and keynote speaker on opening day and can enjoy 90 events over two weekends.
Blue Mountain Film Festival
June 1 to 4, 2023
Blue Mountain Village/Blue Mountain Resort
BMFF presents 25 inspiring films over 4 days, including award-winning stories from around the globe and breakthrough Canadian films. Along with exceptional films and an industry creative forum, the festival goes beyond great cinema with events, parties, and outdoor activities. Book your tickets now.
Ontario's Best Butter Tart Festival
June 10, 2023
Midland, Ontario
The sweetest day of the year in Midland is coming soon! Head to the city centre for Ontario's Best Butter Tart festival on June 10th. With over 200 vendors and food trucks, the butter tart varieties will blow you away. From plain to raisin, pecan, walnut, skor, maple, bacon, coconut, choclate covered, PB&J, s'mores and more, there's a buttertart for everyone. Come and watch as Ontario's best bakers square off. Find out more.
National Indigenous People's Day at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons
June 21, 2023
Midland, Ontario
This one-day celebration highlights the achievements of Indigenous peoples on this longest day of the year. Running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., admission is $12 per person. Activities include drumming, singing and dancing demonstrations, corn husk doll and okies workshops, canoe and wigwam work, lacrosse speed net testing, fire starting techniques and more. See the
complete event info.
Salsa at Blue
June 23 to June 25, 2023
Blue Mountain Village
Head to Blue Mountain Village for Salsa at Blue - a weekend of Latin life filled with pulsating music, passionate dancing and vibrant culture.
Theatre Collingwood Porchside Festival
Various dates July 2023
Collingwood, Ontario
This unique festival brings 36 performances to amazing porches around Collingwood. Bring your lawn chair and experience each performance in its own intimate setting.
See the full lineup right here.
The Sound Waterfront Festival
June 30 and July 1, 2023
Owen Sound, Ontario
This two-day multi-cultural event will feature arts, entertainment, music, education, history, fireworks, and more!. June 30 is Youth Day at the Owen Sound Visitor's Centre while on July 1 the celebration takes places at Kelso Beach at Nawash Park.
Visit the website.
Kincardine’s Phantom Piper and Pipe Band Parade
Kincardine, Ontario
Phantom Piper - Most evenings at sunset except Saturdays
Pipe Band Parade - Every Saturday in July and August beginning at 8 p.m.
This Kincardine tradition is back! Head to downtown Kincardine and join the
pipe band parade downtown each Saturday night beginning at 8 p.m and finishing at Victoria Park.. On most other summer evenings, listen for the
Phantom Piper playing along the shoreline at sunset.
Alongside this family favourite, Kincardine is also hosting a
Scottish Festival July 7 to 9, the
Bruce Telecom Lighthouse Blues Festival from July 14 to 16 and the
Gathering of the Bands on August 26.
See their full event lineup.
Orillia Scottish Festival
July 14, July 15, July 16, 2023
Tudhope Park, Orillia, Ontario
The longest running Scottish Festival in Orillia celebrates 45 years at its new location in Tudhope Park this summer. With everything from Scottish dancers to pipe bands, Scottish Military bands and live music on stage, get the details on this Scottish celebration here.
Marine Heritage Festival / Chantry Island Tours
Saugeen Shores, Ontario
July 21 to July 23, 2023
The Marine Heritage Festival returns for it’s 11
th year on the shores of Lake Huron. Take a tour to Chantry Island and enjoy a full weekend of family fun. Stay tuned to the
Marine Heritage Festival Events list. Tours to Chantry Island are available all summer and must be
booked in advance.
Pirates of the Bay at Discovery Harbour
August 5, 2023
Penetanguishene, Ontario
Pirates of all ages are welcome to head to Discovery Harbour on August 5th. See the pirate ships, make a pirate hat, enjoy sea shanties and pirate songs, practice your aim with the water cannons and more.
Plan y'ar visit.
Neyaashiinigmiing PowWow
August 18, August 19, August 20, 2023
Cape Croker Park, Ontario
Head to beautiful Cape Croker Park for the 37th Annual Neyaashiinigmiing PowWow. The event kicks off with an open mic and fireworks Friday night and continues with Grand Entries at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m on Saturday and again at 12 p.m. on Sunday.
Rama PowWow
August 26 and August 27, 2023
Ramara First Nation, Ontario
Held at John Snake Multipurpose Grounds on the Ramara First Nation, the Rama PowWow is a celebration of world-class singing and dancing alongside food, arts and craft vendors. Grand Entries are August 26 at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. and August 27 at 12 p.m.
Meaford Scarecow Invasion and Family Festival
September 29, 2023 (Scarecrows on display mid-September to mid-October)
Meaford, Ontario
This tiny town on the shores of Georgian Bay is transformed each year by hundreds of scarecrows lining the streets and hanging from the lightposts. It all culminates with the annual Family Festival and Parade on September 29.
Make your own scarecrows and learn more here.
Pumpkinfest
September 30 and October 1, 2023
Port Elgin, Ontario
Last year's winning pumpkin was 1888.5 pounds! Come on out to Port Elgin's Pumpkinfest and see some giant vegetables and enjoy the family fun. Stay tuned for event info.
Pumpkinferno at Discovery Harbour
October 4 to October 29, 2023
Penetanguishene, Ontario
Experience fall magic with hundreds of artificial hand-carved pumpkins lighting up the pathways of Discovery Harbour. Test your courage at Grim Reaper's Cove. Drive thru and walk thru experiences available.
Get in the Halloween spirit.
Music Festivals
Mariposa Folk Festival
Orillia, Ontario
July 7 to July 9, 2023
The biggest folk festival on Lake Simcoe, Mariposa is back with a big lineup for 2023. From Tegan and Sara, Feist, KT Tunstall and Rufus Wainwright, you’ll enjoy live music in a beautiful setting with the folk festival atmosphere you love.
Buy tickets and get all the details.
Four Winds Music Fest
July 14 to July 16, 2023
Riverstone Eco Retreat
Durham, Ontario
This inaugural event, Four Winds Music Fest, brings some amazing live music to the beautiful grounds of Riverstone Eco Retreat in Durham. With Sarah Harmer, Danny Michel, Alysha Brilla, Freeman Dre and Mountain Head giving nightly shows and a full lineup of drumming, dance and tours and cooking classes filling your day, this is one brand new event you won't want to miss.
Music at the Market
Owen Sound Farmers' Market
Thursdays at 5 p.m. and Fridays at 12 p.m. from July 6 to August 25, 2023
Bring your blanket, a buddy and buy your lunch or dinner downtown for Music at the Market. New this year, Music at the Market has an evening show at 5 p.m. on Thursday's in addition to their popular lunch time shows on Fridays at 12 p.m. Head to the Owen Sound Farmers' Market for a live musical performance, an extended lunch break or a post work celebration.
Get the full artist lineup.
TD Harbour Nights
Owen Sound, Ontario
Sunday at 7 p.m. from June 18 to August 21, 2023
Another amazing opportunity to see live music in Owen Sound free of charge. TD Harbour Nights runs Sundays at 7 p.m. from June 18 to August 21 at the Owen Sound Visitor Centre (or the Owen Sound Legion in the event of rain). Bring your lawn chair or a blanket and
enjoy their complete musical lineup.
Paisley Blues Festival
Paisley, Ontario
June 2 to June 4, 2023
This admission-by-donation blue festival features a great lineup of local artists from The MacKenzie Blues Band to Josh Ritchie, The Rob Elder Trio and Coco Love Alcorn. Running from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday night, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and wrapping up with live music from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday,
head to Paisley Rotary Park to enjoy.
Get all the details.
Symphony in the Barn
July 28 to August 6, 2023
Glencolton Farm, Durham
Where culture meets agriculture, Symphony in the Barn at Glencolton Farm brings together music and performance installations with the tastes and sounds of idyllic farm life on Canada's leading biodynamic farm. Get your tickets for this year's performance, Beethoven Evolution: Preparing the Ground.
Kempenfest
Barrie, Ontario
August 4 to August 7, 2023
This classic Barrie festival has another solid lineup that will have you rocking on the shore of Lake Simcoe. Featuring arts, crafts, antiques, and live music on the OLG Stage, this downtown Barrie favourite is a family favourite. This year's lineup includes Finger Eleven, Tom Cochrane, Jade Eagleson and Brian Neale and the Northern Neighbours among others.
Get all the info here.
Boots and Hearts
Burl’s Creek, Ontario
August 10 to August 13, 2023
Dust off your cowboy boots and head to Burl’s Creek for Boots and Hearts. From August 10 to August 13, you can catch NIckelback, HARDY, Bailey Zimmerman, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Travis Dennig and more artists at this amazing outdoor festival.
Pick up your tickets.
Summerfolk Music and Arts Festival
Kelso Beach Park, Owen Sound
August 18 to August 20, 2023
In their 48
th year, Summerfolk offers an amazing folk festival lineup at the beautiful Kelso Beach amphitheatre on the shores of Georgian Bay accompanied by a curated selection of local artisans in the crafts village. With headliners Loreena McKennitt, Serena Ryder and Matt Andersen alongside an incredible list of performers, you can buy your
weekend passes and day passes here.
Sweetwater Music Festival
Owen Sound, Ontario
September 12 to September 17, 2023
For classical, jazz and contemporary fans, the Sweetwater Music Festival offers four days of amazing musical performances. With five mainstage concerts, three community concerts and lots of fun, free music-based activities throughout the community, you can
pick up your tickets online.
Stonebridge Wasaga Beach Blues Festival
Wasaga Beach, Ontario
September 15 to September 17, 2023
The Stonebridge Wasaga Beach Blues Festival runs September 15 to 17 in Wasaga Beach. Featuring an
incredible blues lineup you can
pick up your tickets.
Looking for more local events?
Check out the links below