Summer is just around the corner and a full lineup of festivals is on tap for 2024. 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
Ontario's Best Butter Tart Festival
June 8, 2024
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, 2024
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 21 to June 23, 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 2024
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 and Canada Day
June 28, June 29, June 30 and July 1, 2024
Owen Sound, Ontario
This multi-day multi-cultural event will feature arts, entertainment, music, education, history, fireworks, and more!. June 29 is Youth Day 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 from July 1 to August 30
Pipe Band Parade - Every Saturday beginning at 8 p.m. from June 22 to August 31
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 Gathering of the Bands on August 24, 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 19 to 21, 2024
Tudhope Park, Orillia, Ontario
The longest running Scottish Festival in Orillia celebrates 46 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 26 to July 28, 2024
The Marine Heritage Festival returns for it’s 12
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 3, 2024
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 16, 2024
Cape Croker Park, Ontario
Head to beautiful Cape Croker Park for the 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 24 and August 25, 2024
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.
Meaford Scarecow Invasion and Family Festival
October 4, 2024 (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 October 4, 2024.
Make your own scarecrows and learn more here.
Pumpkinfest
October 5 and October 6, 2024
Port Elgin, Ontario
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
Throughout October
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 5 to 7, 2024
The biggest folk festival on Lake Simcoe, Mariposa is back with a big
lineup for 2024. Enjoy live music you love in a beautiful setting with the folk festival atmosphere you love.
Buy tickets and get all the details.
Four Winds Music Fest
July 12 to 14, 2024
Riverstone Eco Retreat
Durham, Ontario
In it's second year, Four Winds Music Fest, brings some amazing live music to the beautiful grounds of Riverstone Eco Retreat in Durham. With an epic lineup of nightly shows and a full lineup of drumming, dance and tours and cooking classes filling your day, this is one event you won't want to miss.
Mid Week Music
Various locations in Owen Sound and the River District
Wednesday's from 4 to 6 p.m. from June 5 to September 25
Formerly known as Music at the Market, this Owen Sound series is now Mid Week Music and will be held at various accessible locations around Owen Sound and the River District.
See the full schedule here.
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 2 to August 11 at the Community Waterfront Heritage Centre (or the Harmony Centre's Greaves Auditorium n in the event of rain). Bring your lawn chair or a blanket and
enjoy their complete musical lineup.
Kempenfest
Barrie, Ontario
August 2 to 5, 2024
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.
Get all the info here.
Boots and Hearts
Burl’s Creek, Ontario
August 8 to 11, 2024
Dust off your cowboy boots and head to Burl’s Creek for Boots and Hearts. From August 8 to August 11, you can catch Thomas Rhett, Jason Aldean, Lonestar, Matchbox Twenty and more artists at this amazing outdoor festival.
Pick up your tickets.
Summerfolk Music and Arts Festival
Kelso Beach Park, Owen Sound
August 16 to 18, 2024
In their 49
h 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.You can buy your
weekend passes and day passes here.
Sweetwater Music Festival
Owen Sound, Ontario
September 11 to 15, 2024
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 13 to 15, 2024
The Stonebridge Wasaga Beach Blues Festival runs September 13 to 15 in Wasaga Beach. Featuring an
incredible blues lineup you can
pick up your tickets.
Looking for more local events?
Check out the links below