Ontario Summer Fun Newsletter – Things to do in Ontario

Things to do & Places to stay in Ontario

MARCH 22, 2018

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What are YOU going to do this weekend?

All the world’s a stage (in Ontario)

One of the great things about living in Ontario is the huge selection of cultural and arts offerings available. Summer, in particular, provides loads of opportunities to enjoy live theatre and music. Book now to make sure you see the shows that appeal.

Southwestern Ontario

Southwestern Ontario is brimming with great summer performing arts options. From Port Stanley Festival Theatre which highlights Canadian works to Stratford Festival, North America’s largest classical repertory theatre company, to Blyth Festival’s original Canadian Theatre to Victoria Playhouse Petrolia which presents world class theatre in a delightful small town, you can go town to town enjoying productions all summer. If music is more your thing, Music in the City by Big Time Productions. Peterborough Musicfest has free admission summer concerts every Wed & Sat. Or Stratford Summer Music which showcases 100+ events featuring 500+ artists over a 6 week period each summer.

CENTRAL

Central Ontario also has a variety of theatre options, many of which are in scenic or historic venues. Driftwood Theatre Group brings its shows around the province with Theatre Under the Stars; every performance is unique to the particular community it is visiting. Gravenhurst Opera House did its first performance in the venue in 1901 and it is still going strong in the same place! Highlands Summer Festival Live Theatre brings 6 weeks of live theatre & concerts to scenic Haliburton. Theatre Collingwood puts more PLAY in your life with a whole summer season of shows.

GTA

In a place known as Broadway North, you have to assume that there will be a lot of theatre options. Companies like Mirvish which has been presenting theatre year round for over 50 years and Soulpepper Theatre Company which is North America’s only year-round repertory company have great options 12 months a year. However, in the summer, there are a few additional options like Toronto Fringe Theatre Festival which features 150 shows in 30 venues around downtown Toronto, including indie theatre, dance, visual art & more. Or Vaughan Celebrates! Concerts in the Park which offers FREE professional concerts select Wednesday evenings.

NIAGARA ON THE LAKE and EASTERN ONTARIO

When one talks about summer theatre festivals, it is impossible to do so without mentioning Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Originally inspired by the works of George Bernard Shaw, the Festival produces plays from his era as well as contemporary world-class theatre ln Niagara wine country. Stop at some wineries while you are there. Another Festival inspired by a single playwright is the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival in Prescott, ON. As the only professional theatre company in the St Lawrence Seaway area, it showcases Shakespeare in a unique waterfront Amphitheatre by the St. Lawrence River.

Featured Events

Muskoka Maple Trail

March 9 – April 20, 2018

Experience one of the most Canadian adventures ... explore all things maple! This a great site for planning where to venture and what to taste. Some of the maple experiences you will find include: maple sugar bush tours, pancake and maple breakfasts, maple beer and wine, maple sweets and baked goodies, and maple inspired cuisine. Pick up a Maple Trail map and start building your own Maple Adventure!

Easter Egg-citement at the Varley

Mar. 25, 1 – 4 p.m.
Varley Art Gallery , Markham (GTA)

Kids make their own Easter Egg decorations & artwork. The afternoon program ends with a fun Easter egg hunt, where kids keep all the goodies they find! For kids ages 4 – 10

Eat & Drink Norfolk

April 5-7, 2018
The AUD, 172 South Drive, Simcoe Fairgrounds, Norfolk County (SW Ontario)

Nibble and nosh your way around Norfolk County sampling forty different food producers, restaurants, wineries, and breweries, all under one roof for 3 days! Enjoy live music while you sample. One of Ontario’s Top 100 Festivals & Events. Must be 19 years or older to attend.

Featured animal attraction: parc omega

Have you ever been on safari? If not, after a visit to Parc Omega, just one hour from Ottawa, you can say you’ve done it! Drive through meadows, forests, mountains and lake country and see moose, bears, raccoons & wolves. You can even feed carrots to ‘safe’ animals who come up to your car for treats!

ONLY IN ONTARIO

Did you know that Mirvish’s Royal Alexandra Theatre was built in 1907, and that the 1,497-seat theatre is the oldest continuously operating legitimate theatre in North America? This National Historic Landmark building also has no elevators or escalators, with stair access only to the 2 balconies.

Print Edition

We've started working on the 2019 edition of Summer Fun Guide but if you are looking for a 2018 edition, email info@summerfunguide.ca to have one mailed to you. View a digital version of the print edition online here: https://www.summerfunguide.ca/print-edition.html.

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