Top 100 Ontario festivals waiting to get back on track

   One-Tank Trip for March 28/20

   By Jim Fox

   Once travel and day-trips resume around Ontario, here are 100 suggestions of what to do and see.

   There’s everything from retrofests, river fests, strawberry, corn and apple fests to jazz fests, canal days and Oktoberfest.

    They are among the events named in the Top 100 Festivals and Events by Festivals and Events Ontario.

Visitors can watch ships passing through the Welland Canal. (Barbara Fox photo)

   “These Top 100 recipients represent festivals and events that excel within the industry,” the association said.

   While Elvis has left the building for good in Collingwood and his summer festival isn’t returning this year, fans can head to Tweed, north of Belleville, to see tribute artists celebrating the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

   Among the top 100 is the Tweed Elvis Festival, 10th anniversary, scheduled for Aug. 23 to 25.

   Included in the prestigious fests are those of distinction that “represent some of the most well-known and respected celebrations in the province – celebrations which draw both an international and domestic audience.”

   Doors Open Ontario is the province-wide program, delayed this year, that normally runs from April to October, led off by Guelph.

The 1882-era president’s house at the University of Guelph can be visited during Doors Open.

    It gives visitors are look behind doors that are normally closed to the public, highlighting

special places – often hidden gems.

   When it’s rescheduled, among Guelph’s eight stops organized by the Guelph Arts Council are the University of Guelph president’s 1882-era house, Sleeman Breweries and the Hammond Museum of Radio.

   Highlighting the Southwest Ontario Tourism Region is the Norfolk County Fair, winning both for its fall fair and horse show and its Eat & Drink Norfolk weekend.

   Also in the Top 100 is Windsor’s Carrousel of Nation multicultural festival, London’s ​TD Sunfest: Canada’s Premier Celebration of World Cultures and the Western Fair.

   There’s also the Tecumseh Corn Festival, LaSalle Strawberry Festival, Amherst burg River Lights and Chatham Retrofest.

   Ships passing in the night

   In Niagara Falls and Wine Country, see huge ocean freighters squeezing into locks on the Welland Canal as part of the Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival in Port Colborne.

   In the area is known for the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival, winners also include the Winter Festival of Lights, Niagara Falls Santa Claus Parade and Canada Day, Niagara Jazz Festival and Pelham Summerfest.

   The Hamilton, Halton and Brant region has the Dundas Cactus Festival, Burlington Ribfest, St. George Applefest, Paris Fair, Winona Peach Festival and the Re-enactment of the Battle of Stoney Creek.

   Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington has the Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games, Guelph Hillside Festival, Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest and the Acton Leathertown Festival.

   Elsewhere not to be missed are the Meaford Scarecrow Invasion and Family Festival, Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival in Midland, Port Elgin Pumpkinfest, Tottenham Bluegrass Festival and Jerkfest, the Redpath Waterfront Festival and Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto.

   Big shows include the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, Toronto International Film Festival, Barrie Automotive Flea Market, Havelock Country Jamboree and the Kingston Sheep Dog Trials Festival.

   If you go, check first to ensure there are no cancellations and find a complete list of the Top 100 at festivalsandeventsontario.ca

 

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Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com

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