Eat, drink, horses and fun in Norfolk; big winners in Top 100 Festivals

   One-Tank Trip for March 13-16

 

   (c) By Jim Fox

   The Norfolk County Fair organization has reason to celebrate after winning several honours in this year’s list of Top 100 Festivals & Events in Ontario.

   Eat & Drink Norfolk next month and the fall Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show were among the esteemed top events named by Festival and Events Ontario (FEO).

   As well, it won for having the Best Promotional Campaign and Best New Single Sponsorship Opportunity, said publicist Wendy Brick.

   “These Top 100 recipients represent festivals and events that excel within the industry,” said Nichole Fogarty, FEO marketing and communications coordinator.

   So, for a good time, check out some of the best of the best in entertainment across the province.

Food, drinks and fun in Simcoe

    Eat & Drink Norfolk takes place on April 7 and 8 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and April 9, noon to 10 p.m., at the fairground auditorium at 172 South Drive in Simcoe.

   This is a celebration of local wineries, breweries, restaurants and food producers with live musical entertainment and activities.

Say "cheese" at Norfolk Eat & Drink

    Tickets are $10 on April 7 and $12 on April 8 and 9 while tasting tokens are $1 each (admission restricted to those 19 and older).

   Meanwhile, the Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show from Oct. 4 to 10 is in its 176th year and is the fourth largest fair in Ontario. Norfolk event details: norfolkcountyfair.com; (519) 426-7280

Monstrous-sized veggies are on view at the Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show. (Jim Fox photo)

   Also next month is Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny, a 10-kilometre race along the Ganaraska River to “commemorate the 1980 flood” that hit Port Hope’s downtown area.

   Start times on April 16 are 10 a.m. for canoes and kayaks and 11 a.m. for “crazy craft.” floatyourfanny.ca; (905) 885-2004

   Next up are SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival, May 7 to 15, and the Carassauga Festival in Mississauga, May 27 to 29.

Sandi “Castle” Stirling creates sand art at the Cobourg Sandcastle Festival (Photo by Stephen Della Casa)

    Things get busy in June with the Barrie Automotive Flea Market (Oro-Medonte) and the Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival, both from June 2 to 5.

   There’s the Dundas International Buskerfest and Streetsville Founders’ Bread and Honey Festival (Mississauga), both from June 3 to 5; and the Re-Enactment of the Battle of Stoney Creek, June 4 and 5.

   Go fish

   The Dunnville Mudcat Festival, June 9 to 12, is named after the renowned fish found in the Grand River.

   The event attracts some 60,000 visitors and features a parade, midway, street dance, competitions, children’s entertainment and a “massive fireworks display” at dusk, said Carolyn Chymko, coordinator. dunnvillemudcatfestival.ca; (905) 774-3183

Visitors to the Canal Days fest can book passage on the tall ship Empire Sandy.

   Things continue with the Oshawa Peony Festival, June 11 and 12; and the Mississauga Waterfront Festival and Salsa at Blue Mountain, both from June 17 to 19.

   The Carrousel of Nations in Windsor is June 17 to 26; Kirkland Lake’s Homecoming, June 24 to July 1; the Toronto Fringe Festival, June 29 to July 10; and Toronto Ribfest (Etobicoke), from June 30 to July 3.

   Most of the top events take place throughout the summer and into the fall (more details in a future column) including the TD Sunfest: Canada’s Premier Celebration of World Cultures in London, from July 7 to 10.

   London also has the Home County Music and Art Festival from July 15 to 17.
   They’re having the Teddy Bears’ Picnic in Thunder Bay, July 12, and the Mount Forest Fireworks Festival, July 15 to 17.

   We can’t forget the “king,” with the Collingwood Elvis Festival returning from July 20 to 24, and the Tweed Tribute to Elvis Festival, Aug. 19 to 21.

Competitors put on a fast-paced show at the Kapuskasing Lumberjack Festival, one of Ontario’s Top 100 fests.

    Kapuskasing has its Lumberjack Heritage Festival, July 22 to 24, and there’s the Cobourg Sandcastle Festival on July 30.  

   Everything’s ship shape

   Watch ships passing in the day and night at the Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival in Port Colborne, July 29 to Aug, 1.

   Vessels, including tall ships and the E.M. Cotter Fire Boat, gather for the festival that marks the history and heritage along the Welland Canal.

Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival in marks the history of the Welland Canal. (Barbara Fox photo)

   Also in August is the TD Kitchener Blues Festival, Aug. 4 to 7; the Kingston Sheep Dog Trials Festival, Aug. 5 to 7; Jerk Food Festival in Toronto, Aug. 6 and 7; and the Tecumseh Corn Festival, Aug. 25 to 28.

   For more details about all the events: festivalsandeventsontario.ca (519) 742-2226

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Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com

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