Celebrate the Harvest Season in the Cranberry Capital of Ontario
The annual Muskoka Cranberry Route is back! This 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 known affectionately 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, this year the festival is from October 18- 20, 2024.
Tour the cranberry marsh, sip craft beer, coolers and cider, indulge in baked goods, taste 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.
More Great Culinary Experiences on the Route
Affogato Café + Gelato This year on the Cranberry Route, Affogato Café + Gelato is creating a cranberry gelato accompanied by other menu items. This is a must-try cranberry treat!
Bala Bay Takeaway Items include cranberry BBQ pizza, cranberry tartar sauce with our famous halibut & chips, cranberry BBQ jumbo wings, cranberry wraps, hot and cold beverages are all a part of their year-round menu.
Blue Willow Tea Shop The current high tea menu features an assortment of cranberry filled favourites. Enjoy their cranberry chicken salad canapé or indulge in a cranberry lemon scone with clotted cream and preserves or cranberry apple parfait. Pair this high tea experience with their cranberry apple tea available hot or iced.
Cast Iron Restaurant While traveling on the Muskoka Cranberry Route enjoy lunch or dinner and sip on a red cranberry sangria.
Lakeside Bala Enjoy a fantastic cranberry dinner 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.
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 The star of the menu this fall is the cranberry glazed sweet potato steaks – Bala cranberry chutney, goat cheese crumble, cilantro pesto, Brussel sprout leaves, golden beet chips, and roasted chestnut.
JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa Will be featuring cranberry orange pavlova and cranberry breeze.
Rawley Resort Spa & Marina Experience culinary excellence at the Lighthouse45 Restaurant, where chefs blend locally-inspired flavours. Enjoy a cranberry-inspired menu with a cranberry mojito mocktail or cocktail.
Sherwood Inn Located just minutes away from Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery, meaning you can soak in the cranberry festivities during the day and return for a meal from their acclaimed restaurant. Featuring the cranberry turkey melt or a cranberry bourbon smash.
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 Enjoy a seasonal Cranberry Spiced Rum Chiller Can that they will be sampling during the cranberry route. They sell Muskoka Gourmet’s cranberry chutney, and Wild Muskoka cranberry juniper bitters in their retail store. They will also be featuring cranberry cocktail ideas weekly throughout the month of the Cranberry Route.
Muskoka Brewery This time of year marks the return of the Winter Beard Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout at the Bracebridge brewery.
Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery A winery and cidery that focuses on the fruit it grows and harvests. Cranberry is the key to most of the mouthwatering drinks and it is a huge attraction year round!
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
Rawley Resort Visit the spa during the Muskoka Cranberry Route for a Cranberry Cream Body Quench or Cranberry Cream Foot Ritual.
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.
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.
Pratts Garden Centre As you drive through Bala, make sure to stop and grab some cranberry Christmas cider.
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