Celebrate the Harvest Season in the Cranberry Capital of Ontario
The annual Muskoka Cranberry Route is back! From September 26 to October 19 the self-driving tour takes in more than 30 stops across Muskoka and beyond with Ontario’s Cottage Country’s favourite fruit served up in a host of different ways. Bala is affectionately known as ‘The Cranberry Capital of Ontario’ and has been hosting one of the largest cranberry celebrations, the Bala Cranberry Festival, for more than 30 years. Always held the weekend after Canadian Thanksgiving.
Tour the cranberry marsh, sip craft beer, coolers and cider, indulge in baked goods, cranberry-inspired cuisine from some top chefs, and relax at award-winning resorts.
This cranberry adventure will take you down some of the regions most historic main streets, scenic back roads and along iconic lake side views with the leaves in full colour.
Tour the Cranberry Marsh
It is only natural to start the Muskoka Cranberry Route culinary adventure with a visit to Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery. Here, you can gain a true appreciation and understanding of how versatile cranberries really are before journeying on to the next stops.
- Take the Bog to Bottle Discovery Tour. This one-of-a-kind experience includes a tour of the farm followed by a guided wine tasting of their delicious wines. The Bog to Bottle tour runs all year and, during the fall harvest, the tour is a guided wagon ride around the South Marsh.
- Take the Cranberry Plunge, one of Muskoka’s most exciting fall experiences. Don a pair of hip waders and venture into the cranberries for that iconic candid photo of raining cranberries that will surely liven up any photo album or Instagram feed! There have even been marriage proposals in the berries (they said yes!)
- Shop the Cranberry Store for some amazing goodies to take home like fresh cranberries, wines, Mrs. J’s preserves, cranberry honey, cranberry teas and so much more cranberry inspired delicacies. A must-take-home treat is one of their cranberry ciders or cranberry splash wine spritzers
Culinary Experiences on the Route
Muskoka is home to many hidden culinary gems and deemed a worthy foodie destination by food enthusiasts. With exceptionally talented chefs committed to fresh, local ingredients (like Bala cranberries), it’s no wonder Muskoka has gained a reputation for fantastic food! Discover the amazing tastes of cranberry-inspired cuisine at these great eateries and restaurants:
Affogato Café + Gelato This year on the Cranberry Route, Affogato Café + Gelato are creating a cranberry gelato accompanied by other crantastic menu items. This is a must-try cranberry treat!
Bala Bay Takeaway Experience several cranberry products on the menu, which are available year round and a few that available seasonally. Items include cranberry BBQ pizza, cranberry tartar sauce with their famous halibut & chips, cranberry BBQ jumbo wings, cranberry wraps, and hot and cold cranberry beverages.
Blue Willow Tea Shop The current high tea menu features an assortment of cranberry filled favourites. Enjoy their cranberry chicken salad canapé on the bottom tier. Move to the second tier to indulge in a cranberry lemon scone with clotted cream and preserves. Save room for the cranberry apple parfait on the top! Pair this high tea experience with their cranberry apple tea available hot and iced.
Cast Iron Restaurant Enjoy lunch or dinner and sip on a Red Cranberry Sangria.
Lakeside Bala The cranberry offerings start with an appetizer of cranberry chowder or salad, main dishes of cranberry chicken supreme or cranberry salmon, and end with a delicious dessert of chocolate cranberry brulé or cranberry cheesecake banana bread with whipped cream.
Sherwood Inn: Enjoy the cranberry turkey melt sandwich. Made with Sherwood’s own smoked fresh turkey, grilled on an artisan walnut cranberry bread loave with Swiss and arugula served with sweet yam fries and chipotle cranberry aioli.
Taboo Muskoka Resort & Golf Cranberry cocktails and seasonal dishes at the Boathouse restaurant and a cranberry turkey club on the golf course
Hotels/Resorts Dining Options
Check out the collection of hotels and resorts offering specialty food and drink for cranberry season. Available for overnight guests or public access. Reservations recommended.
Deerhurst Resort: Cranberry glazed sweet potato steaks featuring Bala cranberry chutney, goat cheese crumble, cilantro pesto, Brussel sprout leaves, golden beet chips, roasted chestnut, or check out the
cranberry cloud cocktail.
Rawley Resort: Experience culinary excellence at the Lighthouse45 Restaurant, where their chefs blend locally flavours with innovative touches. Enjoy a cranberry inspired menu from Sep 20 – Oct 20 or sip on a cranberry mojito mocktail or cocktail.
The Rosseau – JW Marriott: Will be featuring cranberry orange pavlova and cranberry breeze during the Muskoka Cranberry Route.
Sherwood Inn: Sherwood Inn is Located just eight minutes away from Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery meaning you can soak in the cranberry festivities during the day and return to Sherwood Inn for a meal from their acclaimed restaurant. Featuring the cranberry turkey melt or the cranberry bourbon smash – cranberry simple syrup, Woodford bourbon, cranberry juice and garnished with rosemary and fresh cranberries
Craft Breweries, Winery and Distillery
Canvas Brewing Co Huntsville’s hometown craft brewery. During the cranberry harvest stop in for a thirst-quenching cranberry-inspired cocktail as well as a cranberry-infused beer.
Clear Lake Brewing Company: Find this local brewery downtown Torrance, just off of Southwood road. The Cranberry Radler is a refreshing beverage made with Muskoka cranberry juice.
Copperhead Distillery: Has a Cranberry Spiced Rum Chiller Can that they make seasonally launching mid-September and will be sampling during the cranberry route. They sell Muskoka Gourmet’s cranberry chutney, and Wild Muskoka cranberry juniper bitters in our retail store. They will also be featuring Cranberry Cocktail ideas weekly throughout the month of the Cranberry Route.
Muskoka Brewery: Enjoy the tastings of double chocolate cranberry stout.
Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery: They start with quality, local fruit to craft wines that reflect this region. The French call it ‘terroir’ – or taste of place. They make wines from dry to dessert that have won awards at national and international competitions. They’re delicious, fruit forward and perfect for every occasion! Enjoy ciders, wines and seltzers!
Cranberry Goods
Bala Freshmart Pick up some of their famous pork cranberry sausages, the perfect hearty fall BBQ headliner. The sweet and savoury combination is a match made in heaven. Available fresh or frozen.
Cacao Boys No trip to Bala is complete without a visit to Cacao Boys to sample their cranberry bonbons and chocolate bars.
Humble Pie Butter Tart Factory & Pizzeria Pumpkin cranberry scones, cranberry linzer cookies, apple cranberry pies, cranberry and dark chocolate oatmeal cookies and buttermilk scones, cranberry lemon scones – the choice is endless!
Mrs. H’s Fish & Chips/Wahta Station features home-made spreads from Laura’s Kitchen, an indigenous-owned company. All of the products are produced in Wahta and are only available at the Wahta Station store.
Muskoka Brand Gourmet Foods Ltd Stop at Muskoka Brand Gourmet’s new retail store in Huntsville. Taste the flavours of the season with the spiced cranberry chutney, or cranberry orange sauce. A perfect additions to a Thanksgiving feast.
Rich Hill Candles Visit Rich Hill Candles in Bracebridge for a variety of cranberry and cranberry blended candles
The Shipyards Muskoka Marketplace Stop at Starbucks at the Muskoka Wharf and enjoy locally-made cranberry muffins or tarts.
Experiences Along the Route
HydroSpa Rosseau Enjoy a Harvest Glow Body Scrub at the JW Marriot that features a cranberry-infused scrub that gently exfoliates, revealing a luminous and smooth complexion.
Rawley Resort Visit the spa during the Muskoka Cranberry Route for a Cranberry Cream Body Quench or Cranberry Cream Foot Ritual.
Pratts Garden Centre As you drive through Bala, make sure to stop and grab some cranberry Christmas cider.
Sunset Cruises Come aboard the Peerless II and enjoy delicious cranberry muffins and hot drinks available for purchase onboard while Captain Randy Potts shares his commentary on the rich history and stunning scenery of the Muskoka Lakes.
Overnight Packages
Muskoka is brilliant during the fall season, and a Muskoka Cranberry Route culinary adventure is the perfect excuse for a fall getaway. Stay at one of these great accommodation partners:
Bala Bay Inn Bala
Christie’s Mill Inn and Spa Port Severn
Escape North | Boutique Cottages Huntsville
Legacy Cottages on Lake Rosseau Minett
Timber Rock Cottage Utterson
Touchstone Resort Bracebridge Use code AUTUMN for 25% off midweek stays