The Bala Cranberry Festival
Celebrating the harvest of Muskoka’s ruby-red berry
Every year the weekend after Canadian Thanksgiving, thousands of folks make the trek to Muskoka to celebrate the annual Bala Cranberry Festival. Known as “Ontario’s Cranberry Capital,” the charming town of Bala is home to not one but two cranberry marshes, and for almost three decades locals and visitors alike have paid homage to the native fruit with a weekend party that’s not to be missed.
This fall, the Bala Cranberry Festival takes place from Friday, October 18 to Sunday, October 20, 2013.
Against a backdrop of spectacular fall colour, the Bala Cranberry Festival is a weekend packed with food, music, outdoor adventuring, shopping and the restorative feeling that comes from a weekend getaway to one of the most beautiful destinations in Ontario.
This year’s entertainment includes Sean Cotton, the Swells and reggae band Too Nice. You’ll find artisans and crafts people, helicopter rides, mechanical bull rides, pancake breakfasts, a “Cran-Anne Lookalike Contest” (hosted annually by the Bala Museum – a tribute to Lucy Maud Montgomery and Anne of Green Gables) and, of course, guided tours and product tastings at 
Canada’s hot spot for all things associated with these berries, Johnston’s Cranberry Marsh. (Visit their emporium and be amazed by just how many delicious edibles are created using cranberries: preserves, sweets, soaps, candles…you name it.) Head out onto the marsh property for a picturesque fall walk on their managed trails.
And be sure to visit the on-site Muskoka Lakes Winery – vintners of award-winning wines they create using premium fruits that are indigenous to Muskoka, including cranberries and blueberries.
Plan to attend the annual Bala Cranberry Festival October 18-20 to pay homage to the ruby-red berries of fall, and discover why thousands of people return to Muskoka year after year to celebrate the harvest in the “Cranberry Capital of Ontario.”
For information on local accommodations, click here. For additional upcoming events in the Explorers’ Edge region, click here. For more info on what to see and do in Muskoka while you’re here, visit Muskoka Tourism.
