Bruce Peninsula, Southern Georgian Bay & Lake Simcoe

Places To Experience The 2024 Eclipse

ToDoOntario - Places to experience the eclipse

All eyes will be on the sky on April 8 when a spectacular, once in a lifetime celestial event will take place – a total solar eclipse.

As the moon aligns perfectly between Earth and the Sun temporary darkness will sweep across the country. Ontario hasn’t witnessed a total solar eclipse in over 50 years (the last was in 1972), and the next won’t take place for another eight decades, in 2106. 

We’re warned not to look directly at a total solar eclipse with appropriate protective glasses, but the solar eclipse is an extraordinary event that deserves to be celebrated, not feared. There are opportunities to safely – and memorably – embrace this awe-inspiring celestial phenomenon.

You can put the following destinations and organized events on your Ontario Eclipse ToDo list.

2024 Solar Eclipse in Prince Edward County

ToDoOntario - The Waring House, Total Eclipse 2024
 
Mark your calendars and prepare for an out-of-this-world experience as The Waring House proudly presents The Solar Eclipse Extravaganza. Set against the stunning backdrop of Prince Edward County, this event promises to be an unforgettable celestial celebration for the whole family.
 
Time: Starts at noon (Eclipse predicted to start at 3:21)
Where: The Waring House, Picton
Tickets: $10 if purchased ahead of time by calling (613) 476-7492. $12 at the door, children are free.
 
What’s Included:
 
Eclipse viewing glasses
Workshop for decorating glasses
Guided experience with an Astronomy Ambassador from Queen’s University
An experience crafted by The Department of Illumination (more info to come!) 
Lawn games and activities for all ages
Eclipse-Themed Menu: Indulge in our specially curated eclipse-themed casual food and drink menu, featuring delicious treats and refreshing beverages inspired by the cosmos.
 
Join the Fun: Whether you’re a seasoned stargazer or simply looking to witness the magic of a solar eclipse for the first time, The Solar Eclipse Extravaganza offers something for everyone.
Bring your friends, family, and sense of wonder as we come together to marvel at one of nature’s most awe-inspiring phenomena. Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to witness a solar eclipse in style at The Waring House. Secure your tickets today and prepare for an unforgettable celestial experience.
 

2024 Solar Eclipse in Niagara Falls

Join Niagara Parks on an extraordinary cosmic journey with an exclusive lineup of events leading up to the highly anticipated solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, happening directly over the iconic Niagara Falls. Visit the Niagara Parks website and you’ll find information about their listing of designated viewing areas and upcoming programming. Don’t miss your chance to be part of history.

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Niagara Parks (@niagaraparks)

Free Concert & Fireworks | Monday, April 8 | Queen Victoria Park

Enjoy a free concert at Queen Victoria Park to celebrate the awe-inspiring celestial event happening over Niagara Falls! This free concert, presented by Niagara Falls Tourism, will take place before and after the eclipse, making it the perfect way to spend an unforgettable day in Niagara Parks.  

The full lineup includes The Glorious Sons, JJ Wilde, New Friends, The Boneheads, and a special performance from the Niagara Symphony Orchestra. The entertainment will kick off with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra playing the prelude to the total solar eclipse and resuming once totality is reached when the moon fully eclipses the sun–a truly epic moment. A special fireworks display over Niagara Falls will officially conclude the concert at 10 p.m.

CLICK TO LEARN MORE


Make it a getaway and take advantage of a spring vacation package and start exploring Ontario today.

ToDoOntarioPlaces To Experience The 2024 Eclipse
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Best Things to Do During Spring in Ontario

ToDoOntario  - Cherry Blossoms

These Are The Best Things to Do During Spring in Ontario (2023)

Ontario plays a vital role in Canada’s $19.5 billion tourism industry, attracting over a million international tourists every year. That’s a sure sign that it’s an interesting place to explore for both local and foreign travelers.

Many of these adventure seekers visit Ontario during the beautiful winter months when they can enjoy exciting snow-centered activities. Yet the period from March to June holds many delights for those looking to maximize springtime in Ontario, too.

If you’re planning to visit this province soon, or you’re a resident looking for interesting spring activities in Ontario, keep reading. Here’s a round-up of the top things to do in spring in Ontario.

Easter Events Galore

The long weekend commemorating the Christian Easter celebration is a great time to explore the best of spring in Ontario 2023. You’ll find no shortage of family fun at these events, so check out this list of top Easter attractions:

Apart from these major events, you’ll also find Easter egg hunts at local parks and indoor venues across Ontario. The province is also home to sweet celebrations of a different kind in the springtime.

Savor the Sweet Delights of Springtime

ToDoOntario - Windlee Maple Farm - maple syrup

As the world’s top maple sugar producer, Canada is awash with festivals to celebrate the arrival of maple season in the spring, and Ontario dishes up a good helping of these enjoyments.

Maple Weekend is already confirmed for April 1 to 4 this year, along with a host of other maple-themed events.

Natural Attractions in Ontario

ToDoOntario - forest of trilliums

Around the globe, spring is a time for blossoms and blooms, and you’ll find many beautiful specimens to admire across Ontario.

Visit Awenda Provincial Park for a spectacular display of Ontario’s provincial flower, the trillium. These lovely, lily-like blooms come in five varieties ranging from red to white. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see them all.

You can enjoy over 30 miles of trails in this park, and there are five gorgeous beaches to explore, too.

The Tulip Festival is on May 12 to 22 at Commissioner’s Park in Ottawa, where you can admire a mass display of over 300,000 tulips.

You can enjoy over 30 miles of trails in this park and there are five gorgeous beaches to explore, too.

Don’t miss the chance to enjoy the beauty of cherry blossoms all over Ontario. Toronto’s High Park is one of the best places to visit in spring in Ontario if you love these dramatic floral displays.

Oshawa Botanical Gardens is another pristine location to enjoy mild spring days surrounded by magnificent blooms. There are always a host of free family-friendly activities happening during the annual Peony Festival, as well as excellent artisan eats up for grabs.

As the snow melts, Ontario’s many waterfalls are at their best, so enjoy them before the smallest ones dry up in the summer. Hamilton has over 120 of these water features, so it’s an excellent place to start your waterfalling adventures.

Warmer weather means this is a great time to enjoy Niagara Falls’s beauty, outdoor activities, and attractions. These include bike trails, events, and restaurants with the best views.

Find Your Favorite Patio

ToDoOntario - Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery, summer patio

Relaxing with a delicious meal and a craft beer on a warm spring day is one of the best things to do in Ontario for couples. These are some of the best restaurants for long lunches or lazy afternoons in the sunshine:

If you love fine wines and dining, head to Prince Edward County for a taste of the finer things in life. This beautiful destination has much to offer spring travelers, including wine tasting, hiking, exploring nature, and shopping in quaint small-town stores.

Take a Trip to Toronto

ToDoOntario - Toronto, Kensington Market

Toronto is awash with things to do in Ontario for families, couples, and solo travelers. You’ll find some of the best activities in Ontario available in this bustling city, as well as plenty of things to fill a rainy weekend.

These include:

Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada

This 6-million-liter aquarium is home to 450 species of water-dwelling creatures, with 20,000 different specimens on display.

The Discover Center is an excellent attraction for children wanting a hands-on experience, while Planet Jellies is a fascinating otherworldly exhibit.

Buy Tickets Now

Kensington Market

This is Toronto’s top destination for photographers and those in search of unique finds. It’s packed with clothing boutiques, eateries, bars, and diverse people.

CN Tower

Toronto’s most recognizable feature, the CN Tower, is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Buy a ticket to scale its heights and reward yourself with a meal at the LookOut Level, or get your adrenaline pumping on the thrilling EdgeWalk.

Hockey Hall of Fame

Sports lovers young and old enjoy this collection of 15 different exhibits showcasing memorable moments in the history of hockey. With over 50% of the NHL comprising Canadian players, you’ll find many familiar faces in the onsite Hockey Hall of Fame, too.

Toronto Islands

This collection of 15 islands in Lake Ontario offers much to amuse the adventurous. Enjoy the action at Centreville Amusement Park, lap up the views of the city, or lounge on one of the many beaches.

Extra Things to Do in Spring in Ontario

Rain or shine, Ontario overflows with fun things to do for couples, singles, and families. It’s a wonderful time of year to celebrate renewal and rediscover your zest for life.

Don’t let this season pass by without discovering where to go in Ontario for the best spring activities. Browse our website for more exciting things to do in spring in Ontario, or at any time of the year.

ToDoOntarioBest Things to Do During Spring in Ontario
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Things To Do on Easter Weekend in Ontario

10+ Events & Activities Hoppening on Easter Weekend

ToDoOntario - Easter Bunny in sunnies eating an ice cream

Easter 2024: March 29th (Good Friday) – April 1st (Easter Monday).

Are you looking for fun things to do Easter Weekend in Ontario? Whether celebrating with family or friends, there’s plenty to see and do across the province. Ontario has something for everyone, from family gatherings to outdoor adventures and cultural experiences. This guide gives you ideas for making the most of your long weekend and celebrating Easter in style. Get ready to hop into the holiday spirit and explore all Ontario offers!

Easter Brunches

ToDoOntario - Fairmont Chateau Laurier, brunch

Gather your family and friends and treat yourselves to a decadent brunch this Easter. Restaurants, hotels and resorts across Ontario will be putting on their best Easter displays of food, florals and fun. 

Check out these featured brunches and make your reservation today before it’s too late. Most are taking place Sunday, March 31st, please confirm and reserve directly with the host.

Bayview Wildwood Resort 
City/Town: Severn Bridge 

Sherwood Inn
City/Town: Port Carling

JW Marriott the Rosseau Muskoka
City/Town: Minet

Nottawasaga Inn Resort
City/Town: Alliston

Hockley Valley Resort
City/Town: Mono

Christie’s Mill & Spa
City/Town: Port Severn

Rawley Resort & Spa
City/Town: Port Severn

Cobble Beach Resort
City/Town: Owen Sound


Create Unforgettable Moments at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada

ToDoOntario - Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, Toronto

Things to do Easter weekend won’t be complete without exploring Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. With various exhibits, attractions, and activities, there’s something for everyone at this amazing aquatic wonderland.

The mesmerizing Stringray Experience is a must-see experience at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. Step into a wonderful world as you face these graceful creatures in their natural habitat. They’ll amaze you with their elegant movement and unique personalities as you learn more from the knowledgeable staff.

Click here to buy tickets.


Break from Your Busy Life with Haliburton Highlands Spring Getaway

Girl Driving, Arm out Sunroof

Take a trip to the Haliburton Highlands region and break from your busy life and unwind in the peaceful natural surroundings. Explore the stunning Minden Wild Water Preserve, which features rapids, waterfalls, and breathtaking scenery. You can take a leisurely hike, bike ride along the trails, or paddle on the river if you feel adventurous.

If you’re interested in history, visit the Minden Hills Cultural Centre, which houses exhibits on the area’s logging and mining industries. Explore the town’s quaint shops and restaurants, or take a scenic drive through the countryside.

Click here to learn more.


Easter Brunches, Splash’n Boots, Tegan & Sara, Big Sugar and more at Deerhurst

ToDoOntario - Deerhurst Resort, Splash n Boots, Easter

As the snow starts to give way to spring sunshine and the lake ice begins to melt, the first long weekend of spring turns extra sweet! Kids will love a special appearance by colourful and engaging children’s entertainers, Splash’N Boots, an indoor fun zone with fun and games plus an Easter Egg Hunt, maple treats, arts & crafts and more.

Click here to learn more.


Tap into Maple Ontario’s Lake Country 

To Do Ontario - Tap into Maple, Ontario's Lake Country

Between March and April, take the self-tour through lesser-traveled routes to working sugar shacks. You will get a first hand view of the maple syrup process.

Learn More

Friday Harbour Easter Events

ToDoOntario - Friday Harbour Resort, Easter

LOOKING FOR SOME EASTER FUN?

Join family and friends on Sunday March 31st to celebrate an egg-citing weekend at Friday Harbour Resort with lots of festive activities for kids and adults alike, to ring in Easter and the official start of

Spring. Take part in a traditional Easter egg hunt, participate in creative spring crafts and enjoy live performances, balloon twisting, face painting, warming lounges and a surprise visit from the Easter Bunny! Indulge in delicious treats on the Promenade as you participate in a variety of family-friendly activities.

Learn More

Head For the The Blue Mountains at Scenic Caves

Scenic Caves Nature Adventures and Blue Mountain Village are open and offer a ton of activities for the family. At Scenic Caves you can hike, snowshoe, play and take in the best Georgian Bay view from the 420′ Suspension Bridge. 

EASTER IN THE VILLAGE

ToDoOntario - Blue Mountain Village, Frost the Fox at Easter

Celebrate Easter in Blue Mountain Village with scavenger hunts, horse and wagon rides, and more great family activities. Weather permitting, you can ski or snowboard and take in some fresh spring skiing before the ski season is over. 

Learn More

Weekend Maple Syrup Experience & Maple Syrup Museum

Easter Egg Hunt in the Museum!

ToDoOntario - Elliott Tree Farm, Maple Syrup Museum, Maple Syrup Experience

The Elliott Tree Farm Maple Syrup Experience includes entry to the Maple Syrup Museum of Ontario, all you can eat pancakes and a side of bacon and breakfast sausage with their award-winning Ontario pure maple syrup, and a walk on the sugar shack trail to their maple sugar shack to see maple syrup being made firsthand while tasting maple taffy over snow, maple sugar, sap and syrup.

The event runs from Family Day weekend to Ontario Maple weekend (first weekend of April). 

Click here to LEARN MORE


Maple Mayhem at the Cranberry Farm

To Do Ontario, Maple Mayhem at Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery

Highlights:

 
  • Wagon Tours to the Sugar bush
  • Tutored Wine Tasting
  • Instagram Scavenger Hunt – an Easter hunt for grown ups!
  • Log Sawing Contest (on Saturday)
  • Cranberry Pancakes
  • Maple Taffy
  • Fire Side Adventures
  • Maple Cheddar Fondue
  • Book Here

Click here to LEARN MORE


Experience The Splendour of Spring at Fairmont Royal York Hotel

ToDoOntario - Fairmont Royal York Hotel Easter Egg 2023, rose

From elegant Afternoon Tea served under the glow of the clock to decadent buffet brunches served in REIGN’s dining room, review RYH’s offers for the month of April and Easter weekend. Or pop in the lobby while you’re downtown Toronto and revel in the enchanting Easter egg. You won’t be disappointed. 

Learn More

Treetop Trekking Activities

ToDoOntario - Treetop Trekking, treewalk village

EASTER: Open Friday-Monday in Hamilton & Stouffville (Treewalk Village, Discovery Kid’s Course in Hamilton, and UPLA in Stouffville)

Facepainting in Stouffville from 12-3 pm on March 30th and April 1st in Hamilton

Scavenger hunt in Treewalk Village Hamilton & Stouffville all weekend

Bunny hop (first 100 guests receive free faux bunny ears) in UPLA Stouffville

Click here to LEARN MORE


Continue to Keep MAPLE in Your Celebrations

ToDoOntario, pancakes and maple syrup

Get into the flow of maple season. Spring weather makes it easy to spend time exploring where maple syrup comes and how it’s made. Mid-April continues to be a time to visit maple farms, taste Ontario maple syrup and have some sticky sweet fun. 

Whether it’s a festival, a pancake breakfast or a maple infused menu, you can find it here, on the maple festivals and events page.

Make Your Day Memorable with these Things to Do Easter Weekend

Ontario offers various interesting activities and events to make your Easter weekend memorable. From the stunning natural beauty of Minden to the delicious Easter brunches at Deerhurst Resort, you can find multiple ways to enjoy the holiday with your loved ones. Why not take a break from your daily routine and spend this Easter weekend exploring all that Ontario has to offer?

more easter events more easter getaways
ToDoOntarioThings To Do on Easter Weekend in Ontario
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Tap Into Maple hits the sweet spot in Orillia & Lake Country

PRESS RELEASE
February 28, 2024 – Orillia & Lake Country, ON

Tap Into Maple hits the sweet spot in Orillia & Lake Country

ToDoOntario - Tap into Maple, maple producer

It’s that sweet time of year again, as Orillia & Lake Country presents the ever-popular Tap into Maple experience. Running March 1 to April 7, the program is an opportunity to visit the region’s maple syrup producers, enjoy special maple-themed experiences, and indulge in local maple-inspired cuisine.

This year’s Tap into Maple program truly showcases the deep roots of maple in our region with 18 participating locations including 8 maple syrup producers offering an array of sugar bush experiences. Take a self-guided tour through lesser-traveled routes to working sugar shacks that offer a firsthand view of the maple syrup process, from harvesting and boiling to enjoying. Additionally, experience the many ways maple is celebrated by shopping for maple products, enjoying a maple infused craft brew or dining out on maple featured menus.

Warmer temperatures have meant an earlier start to Orillia & Lake Country’s popular maple season. The sap has been flowing through the region’s sugar bushes to the sound of rushing tap lines and dripping buckets as producers start some of their earliest seasons on record. This year’s Tap into Maple producers include Elsie’s Creek Farm, The Farmgate, Hewitt’s Maple Syrup and Farm Market, Hutchinson’s Maple Syrup, Maple Grove Syrup, Shaw’s Maple Syrup, Sugar Sweet Farm, and Windlee Farm Maple Syrup. Walk through a tap lined sugar bush, see the different processes from small scale sugar shacks to larger facilities, meet the producers who work year-round to ensure the best product, and pick up the freshest maple syrup of the season. Be sure to check TapIntoMaple.com for visiting hours at each site.

Be sure to stop at Chelsea Chocolates in Oro-Medonte, Copperpot Nuts in Severn, and DWN Craft Chocolatier and Susie Q Fudge & Gifts in Orillia for even more maple inspired products. All of these shops have developed partnerships with local maple syrup producers to infuse their sweet treats – including maple chocolate bars, maple-infused nuts, and maple fudge. On Saturday mornings the Orillia Farmers’ Market also welcomes vendors and producers celebrating all things maple this season. In Rama First Nation, Rama Cannabis offers maple infused items, showcasing the connections of both cannabis and the maple tree (ininaatig) to Anishinaabe culture.

Orillia & Lake Country’s culinary scene is also ready to celebrate all things maple. Off-Eleven Pizza + Eats, by the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport is offering two dishes featuring Hutchinson’s Maple Syrup. G&O Bistro at Best Western Plus Mariposa Inn will be offering a three-course specialty dinner menu highlighting maple and Canadiana flavours. Three of Casino Rama Resort’s restaurants will have maple-infused treats: maple snacks at Cedar Express, breakfast at The Weirs, and dinner and maple infused cocktails at Simcoe Yard House. At Lagoon City Pier One Resort, maple syrup from The Farmgate, made just down the road, makes it onto their delicious pepper maple glazed pork loin dinner. Finally, top off the end of a self-guided tour through the region with a maple-infused craft brew at Quayle’s Brewery along with great food and on-site activities for the whole family.

Mark your calendars for two family fun events to cap off the Tap into Maple experience. On March 23rd and 24th the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre hosts the 34th Annual Sweetwater Harvest Festival with loads of family fun activities, delicious food and educational opportunities alongside their partner site, Saint-Marie Among the Hurons. At the grand finale of Tap into Maple, the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association presents Maple Weekend on April 6th and 7th. Many Tap into Maple producers will offer extra events, activities, and treats on site-during the weekend to kick-off the spring sales of maple products in our area.

Tap into Maple has something for everyone. Check out each location for details about hours of operation and booking ahead. Visit TapIntoMaple.com for more information on all of the participating producers, businesses and activities.

– 30 –

Media Contact:
Shannon Hawke, Marketing & Sales Coordinator Orillia & Lake Country Tourism
705-325-9321
[email protected]

ToDoOntarioTap Into Maple hits the sweet spot in Orillia & Lake Country
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Ontario Festivals Returning in 2024

It’s time to dust off your festival shoes and get ready to celebrate all the things.

Summer Festivals aren’t the only festivals either. The list below contains fall, spring and winter festivals too. 

There are so many festivals in Ontario to choose from. You really need to read the full list. From Ontario’s largest country music festival, Boots & Hearts to small and quaint small town festivals, you’ll find something to do and won’t be disappointed.

Stay tuned to this list as more festival announcements are made. 

2024 Festivals in Ontario

Outdoor Adventure Show

Celebrating: Outdoor activities and gear, adventure travel
Location: International Centre, Mississauga

ToDoOntario - Outdoor Adventure Show, Toronto

Date: February 23 – 25, 2024

Learn More 

Sweetwater Harvest Festival

Celebrating: Maple Syrup
Location: Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre & Sainte Marie among the Hurons, Midland

To Do Ontario - Sweetwater Harvest Festival

Date: March 23 – 24, 2024

Learn More

Tap into Maple

Celebrating: Maple Syrup
Location: Various (Orillia & area region)

ToDoOntario - Orillia & Lake Country Tourism Tap into Maple

Date: March – April

Learn More

Beerhurst-at-Deehurst Craft Beer Festival

Celebrating: Ontario Craft Beer
Location: Deerhurst Resort, Huntsville

ToDoOntario - Beerhurst at Deerhurst Craft Beer Festival

Date: March 4 or weekend package March 1 – 3, 2024

Learn More

TO Food & Drink Fest

Celebrating: Food & Drink
Location: Toronto

ToDoOntario - Toronto Food & Drink Fest

Date: April 5 – 7, 2024

Learn More

Roots North Music Festival

Celebrating: Live Music
Location: Various venues across Orillia

ToDoOntario - Roots North Music Festival

Date: April 18 – 21, 2024

Learn More

Forest Festival

Celebrating: Women in Music
Location: Haliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve

ToDoOntario - Haliburton Forest Wildlife Reserve, Forest Festival

Date: TBA

Learn More

Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival

Celebrating: Butter Tarts
Location: Downtown Midland

ToDoOntario - Town of Midland, Ontario's Best Butter Tart Festival

Date: June 8, 2024

Learn More

Blue Mountain Village TD Salsa Festival

Celebrating: Salsa Dance
Location: Blue Mountain Village

ToDoOntario - Blue Mountain Village, TD Salsa Festival

Date: TBA

Learn More

Mariposa Folk Festival

Celebrating: Folk (+) Music
Location: JB Tudhope Park, Orillia

ToDoOntario - Mariposa Folk Festival

Date: July 5 – 7, 2024

Learn More

Festival du Loup

Celebrating: Francophone Culture in Ontario
Location: Lafontaine, Ontario

ToDoOntario - Festival du Loup

Date: July 13, 2024

Learn More

Rama Pow Wow

Celebrating: Indigenous dancing and culture.
Location: Rama, Ontario

ToDoOntario - Rama Powwow

Date: August 24 – 25, 2024

Learn More

Tweed Stampede

Celebrating: Horse stampede, Country & Western
Location: Tweed, Ontario

ToDoOntario Ontario - Tweed Stampede

Date: Labour Day Weekend 

Learn More

Gussapolooza Music Festival

Celebrating: New, emerging, independent artists
Location: Cookstown, Ontario

ToDoOntario - Gussapolooza Music Festival

Date: TBA

Learn More

Country Live Laugh Love Music Festival

Celebrating: Country Music
Location: Barrie, Ontario

ToDoOntario, Live Laugh Love Festival

Date: TBA

Learn More

Other Ontario Festivals Happening in 2024

Toronto St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Date: March 19

Niagara Falls 420 Expo
Date: April 22

Doors Open Toronto
Date: May 27 – 28

Tall Pines Music & Art Festival
Date: June 16 – 17

TD Salsa on St. Clair Festival
Date: July 8 – 9

Luminato Festival
Date: TBA

TD Toronto Jazz Festival
Date: June 29

PRIDE Toronto Festival Weekend 
Date: TBA

Toronto Caribbean Carnival
Date: July – August, finale week August 3 – 7


Ottawa Bluesfest
Date: July 6 – 16

Ottawa Bluesfest Getaway Package @ Fairmont Fairmont Château Laurier

ToDoOntario - Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Ottawa

With its close proximity to LeBreton Flats, Fairmont Château Laurier is your perfect homebase during RBC Bluesfest.

BOOK NOW


Rock the Park Music Festival
Date: July 12 – 15

Festival of the Sound
Date: July 19 – August 5

Hillside Festival
Date: July 28 – 30

Toronto Food Truck Festival
Date: August 4 – 7

Kempenfest
Date: August 4 – 7

Boots and Hearts Music Festival
Date: August 10 – 13

TD Toronto JerkFest
Date: August 10 – 13

Alliston Potato Festival
Date: August 11 – 13

Taste of the Danforth
Date: TBA

CNE (Canadian National Exhibition)
Date: August 18 – September 4

TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival)
Date: TBA

Bala Cranberry Festival
Date: Weekend after Thanksgiving

Click Here For More Ontario Events


Festival Accommodations in Ontario

Some of the festivals in Ontario have on-site camping. However in some cases for multi-day festivals you might need to find accommodation. 

Many Ontario accommodations have great packages and offers. Packages that would help save you money or include activities.

Make sure to check the nearby hotels and resorts and see if they have any festival rates.

Check out these great Ontario Getaway Offers by season

Summer Getaway Offers 
Fall Getaway Offers
Winter Getaway Offers
Spring Getaway Offers


Are You Ontario Experienced? Find more things to do this summer in Ontario and read the ‘Are You Ontario Experienced  – Summer Edition blog‘. 

ToDoOntario - Are You Ontario Experienced - Summer Edition


Best Internet Rates at ChoiceHotels.com

ToDoOntarioOntario Festivals Returning in 2024
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After Dark Activities To Do in Ontario

The world is transformed after the sun dips below the horizon and night settles. Familiar experiences become new, new experiences enhanced.

The change from day to night impacts our senses. Since our vision is impeded, our sense of hearing is heightened, especially in a moonlit wild space. Every rustling branch or soft crunch of the snow is that much more intense. During a nighttime snowshoe trek or ski, pause and listen closely; that faint noise may well be an owl roosting above or the padding of a fox on the hunt.

In the right conditions, nighttime equally appeals to our sense of vision. When you escape the light pollution of urban areas the sky above suddenly becomes more expansive and more brilliant, the stars like billions of Christmas lights illuminating the night. Dining in an enclosed ice globe while gazing up at the brilliant constellation and surrounded by a moonlit landscape, for example, is one of the most memorable experiences you’ll ever enjoy. At night, events become more intimate, cozier.

But you don’t have leave urban areas to enjoy the appeal of night. You can explore cities through a whole new lens after the sun settles and streetlights pop on. Nightlife creates a whole new vibrancy, one of concerts and fine dining and the arts.

Experience all that Ontario offers after dark with this Ontario Nightlife ToDo List:

Scenic Caves Guided Night Snowshoe Hike

ToDoOntario - Scenic Caves Nordic Centre, night snowshoe hike

An unforgettable experience with experienced guides, trail pass, showshoes, headlamps.  Experience forest trails, lookout points and trek across Southern Ontario’s longest Suspension Bridge taking in the night sky over Georgian Bay and Collingwood.  Upon returning to the lodge, relax by the firepit enjoying a hot cider or hot chocolate with your fellow snowshoe hikers. Should there not be enough snow, guided night hikes will still run.  Guests will be provided with ice cleats, and a longer hiking experience exploring more of the trails. Dates:

Dates: Saturdays at 6pm in January and February.

January 20, 27 – February 3, 10

Saturdays at 6:30pm in March

March 2, 9, 16

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE & TO BOOK


Saturday Nights at the Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery

ToDoOntario - Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery Skate Trail at Night

Light the Night Skate Pass  
Fire Lounge – outdoor propane fire table with 4 Muskoka Chairs  
Porch-Side Fire Pits – wood burning fire pits with 5 Muskoka Chairs near Café  
Ice Trail Fire Pits – trail-side, skate up, wood burning fire pits with benches (seats 6)  
Cheese Fondue & Wine  
Café – open 10 am to 9 pm (hot food ends at 8 pm)

 

All activities (besides shopping) can be booked up to a day ahead. The host will accommodate drop-ins when they can, but have limited capacity. Bookings are highly recommended to avoid disappointment.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE & TO BOOK


Uncorked: A Winter Culinary Experience

ToDoOntario - Adamo Estate Winery, Uncorked

Adamo Estate Winery invites you to embark on a journey of culinary delight with Uncorked – a winter experience like no other! Overlooking the vineyards, you’ll savour a cicchetti-style dinner in a cozy winter setting. Dress warmly, bring your favourite company, and prepare for an unforgettable evening. Uncorked is the perfect date night idea, promising warmth, flavour, and memories.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE & TO BOOK


Snow Globes at Hockley Valley Resort

ToDoOntario - Hockley Valley Resort, snow globes dining

Experience this culinary theatre, the Snow Globes. Enjoy a farm to table, 5 course meal with wine pairings. Twinkling lights, your own music, faux fur throws, a heater (to take the chill off) and candlelight complete the setting.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE & TO BOOK


Snow Valley Resort Night Snow Tubing, Snowboarding & Downhill Skiing

ToDoOntario - Snow Valley Resort, night skiers

Whether it’s a family activity, a gathering of old friends or a company social, snow tubing or playing on the ski hills at Snow Valley creates unique experiences and enjoyable times, especially at night. Night tickets cover 3 pm – 9 pm.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE & TO BOOK


Guided Evening Snowshoe & Cookout @ Snow Valley Resort

ToDoOntario - Snow Valley Resort, moonlight snowshoe & chilli cookout

Ready for a magical night under the stars? Join Snow Valley Resort for an enchanting 1.5 to 2-hour guided snowshoe hike through a sparkling, snow-laden forest!

Torchlit Self-Guided Snowshoe Hike

Enjoy a self-guided Torchlit Snowshoe hike through the forests of Snow Valley. Over two hundred torches will light your way. Cozy up with your friends next to the bonfire to enjoy some complementary tasty treats.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE & TO BOOK


Hockley Valley Resort Night Skiing

ToDoOntario - Hockley Valley Resort, entrance in winter

Just a short drive north of Toronto, you can enjoy the night lights on the hills of Hockley Valley Resort. 

Operating Hours

Monday                              1:00pm to 9:00pm

Tuesday to Saturday           9:00am to 9:00pm

Sundays                              9:00am to 5:00pm

Holidays                              9:00am to 9:00pm

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE & TO BOOK


The Skate Escape at Friday Harbour Resort

ToDoOntario - Friday Harbour Resort, The Skate Escape

Embrace the best of the winter season at Friday Harbour with ice skating, outdoor recreation offers, live entertainment, and more! 11 AM – 8 PM

    • Free Ice Skating in the Piazza
    • Skate and Equipment Rentals available
    • Après Skate Domes serving hot chocolate and handcrafted cocktails
    • Enjoy classic favourites and sweet treats from the FH Cabins, or dine at Lake Club Restaurant
    • Special activities and entertainment on the Promenade
    • Visit the Winter Outdoor Adventure Centre or join a game with our Recreation Team
    • Tee off at the Harbour Master Building on our TrackMan Golf Simulator
    • Shop and dine on special offers from our collection of Restaurants and Retail on the Promenade

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE & TO BOOK


Beach Club After Dark @ Friday Harbour Resort

ToDoOntario - Friday Harbour Resort, Beach Club After Dark

Beach Club transforms into an after-dark lounge! Featuring DJ Donovan, dancing a late-night menu, and bottle service. Doors open at 9:00pm. Admission is free.

  • After Dark – Feb 10
  • After Dark – March 16

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE & TO BOOK


Sharks After Dark at Ripley Aquarium of Canada

ToDoOntario - Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, Sharks After Dark

Starting at 5:00 p.m., guests can save $5.00 on tickets to experience all the wonders of the aquarium after dark. Whether you’re exploring Planet Jellies or watching the sharks swim in the Dangerous Lagoon, this opportunity is the perfect chance to visit outside of our peak hours!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE & TO BOOK


Blumination at Blue Mountain Resort

ToDoOntario - Blue Mountain Village, Blumination Trail

Blumination Light Trail -DAILY | DUSK TO 10PM
Embark on a mesmerizing journey through the Village Light Trail, where every step unveils a new spectacle. Adorned with dazzling lights, this immersive pathway leads you through a winter wonderland, creating an enchanting atmosphere that captures the spirit of the season.

Woodview Mountain Top Skating – DAILY | 10AM-8PM*
Glide under the moonlight on our breathtaking mountaintop skating rink. Surrounded by the majestic snow-capped peaks, experience the magic of skating beneath a canopy of stars with friends and family. A perfect blend of adventure and romance awaits on the ice! Play-All-Day Pass Required. *Weather Permitting

Candelight Dining – VILLAGE WIDE
Indulge in a culinary delight with a Candlelight Dining experience. Savor delectable dishes in the warm glow of candlelight at Blue’s cozy village restaurants, offering an intimate and charming atmosphere that complements the winter night. It’s not just a meal; it’s a symphony of taste and atmosphere.

Night Skiing – DAILY | 3:30-9PM*
Blue Mountain Resort has the slopes open for night skiing, an exhilarating adventure for those seeking the adrenaline rush of carving through the snow under the moonlit sky. Experience the mountain in a whole new light! Valid Lift Tickets & Passes Required. *Weather Permitting

Shopping – DAILY | 10AM-7PM (9PM WEEKENDS)
Discover unique treasures as you shop under the stars at our charming village boutiques. Find the perfect gifts or treat yourself to a special memento from over 25 storefronts! Explore the best of brand-name designs and one-of-a-kind finds, all while surrounded by the magical ambiance of Blue Mountain Village. 

Night Tubing – DAILY | 12-8PM*
For an exhilarating rush, don’t miss a chance to experience Night Tubing at Blue! Slide down illuminated lanes under the starry sky, and let the laughter and thrill create memories that will last a lifetime. It’s tubing like you’ve never experienced before! Play-All-Day Pass required. *Weather Permitting

Winter DJ Series Presented by Liquid I.V. 
Feel the beat, embrace the rhythm, and dance like nobody’s watching at the Winter DJ Series presented by Liquid I.V.! Under the open sky, these DJs will turn the night into a pulsating, electrifying experience. Get ready to move and groove in the snow-covered paradise.

Fireside Grab n’ Go -DAILY 
Cozy up by the fire with Fireside Grab n’ Go. Indulge in winter treats and hot beverages that will keep you warm and energized for the night’s adventures. It’s the perfect pitstop to refuel and enjoy the crackling warmth of the fire.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE & TO BOOK


Taste of Oakville

ToDoOntario - Taste of Oakville 2024

More than thirty-five restaurants from across Oakville will showcase an array of mouthwatering dishes via multi-course prix fixe lunch and dinner menus. Prices range from $20-$35 for lunch and $30-$65 for dinner.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE & TO BOOK


Marsh by Moonlight Snowshoe Series

ToDoOntario - Wye Marsh, Moonlight Snowshoe February 2024

Snowshoe through the Wye Marsh on a frosty night, under sparkling stars and moonlight. Warm up by a cozy fire. Sip some cedar tea or hot chocolate. Take home memories that will last a lifetime, plus a unique Marsh by Moonlight souvenir.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE & TO BOOK


Canada’s Most Unique Ice Bar

ToDoOntario - JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Crystal Head Vodka Icebar

Prepare to be entertained in a -15°C Ice Bar where guests will experience signature flights of Crystal Head Vodka expressions: Crystal Head Original made from Canadian corn, Aurora from English wheat, and Onyx crafted from premium Blue Weber agave.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE & TO BOOK


Fireside Après

 

ToDoOntario - Cobble Beach Fireside Après

Available every Friday and Saturday from 11:00am – 8:00pm. Nothing says Après quite like gathering around a crackling fire table in the brisk winter air with your closest friends. Bundle up and enjoy stunning winter views, delicious sharable food items and specialty hot beverages.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE & TO BOOK


These are just a few of things you can do in Ontario. ToDoOntario.com is the best place to find events, activities and getaway packages to help you explore our great province all year long. 

ToDoOntarioAfter Dark Activities To Do in Ontario
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The Sweet History of Maple Syrup in Ontario

What is the history of maple syrup production in Ontario?

Read on to find out!

ToDoOntario - Maple Sugar Shack

Nothing says spring in Ontario like the maple harvest. Like the melting of snow, the first crocuses poking their heads above ground, and the singing of early returning robins, it’s a sure sign that the seasons are changing.

The harvesting of sap from red and silver sugar maple trees to produce sweet, delicious syrup is a beloved tradition in rural Ontario. And for many of us, spring wouldn’t be spring without experiencing the sweetness of maple season in some manner – a tour of a sugar bush, delightful maple-inspired dishes, a family-friendly festival celebrating the season.

Mother Nature dictates the timing of maple season. For sap to flow, the sugarbush must be in a midst of a freeze/thaw cycle where temperatures are below freezing at night but warm to above freezing during the day. The freezing temperatures at night cause negative pressure in the tree. Essentially, the tree turns into a vacuum so that it sucks up water from the roots. On its way in, that water gathers sugars stored in the tree. During the day, warmer temperatures create positive pressure that pushes the water, now sap, down to the bottom of the tree. This is what they mean when they say the sap is running.

When does maple sap run?

ToDoOntario - maple sap buckets, forest

This perfect confluence of environmental conditions typically lasts about four-six weeks, in Ontario generally from early March to late mid-April (depending on the region).

Of course, collecting maple sap for sugar was not the invention of European settlers. Woodland First Nations had been practising it for centuries before the first white man even appeared on the shores of the New World. Some historians have postulated that at some point in the distant past First Nations people, in a desperate attempt to ward off starvation after a harsh winter, began cutting bark off maple trees to reach the cambium, the edible part between the hardwood and bark. Cuts that went too deep, penetrating the hardwood, produced leaking sap that was surprisingly sweet. And thus, maple water was discovered. First Nations peoples each have their own distinct lore as to what led to the discovery.

When was maple first used in Ontario?

To Do Ontario, The Art & Syrup of Maple with Yours Outdoors

Whatever manner by which it was discovered, maple sap became an important part of First Nations life. They drank it as a fortifying tonic – modern studies have confirmed what they long knew; that maple sap served as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. They also would have used it to cook – Bannock, a sort of unleavened bread used as a provision on long journeys, was made from corn flour, bear fat, and maple sugar.

First Nations’ methods of making maple sugar were relatively crude by modern standards, but ingenious, nonetheless. Blades were used to gash a maple tree in a slanted direction, cutting through the bark into the wood beneath. Into this wound was inserted a wooden chip along which the leaking sap would run, eventually dripping into birch pails or into hollowed out logs resting on the ground below. The sap was then boiled down in earthenware pots over a fire or by adding red-hot stones into a sap-filled a trough.

Experience the maple season through a First Nations lens at the Wye Marsh Sweetwater Festival, held jointly at Wye Marsh and Sainte-Marie among the Hurons. Enjoy Indigenous storytelling, roast bannock on a stick, watch historical demonstrations, and learn how the Huron-Wendat traditionally welcomed spring.

Early European settlers, first in Quebec, as early as the 17th century, and then in Ontario learned from First Nations the value of tapping maple trees. The settler methodology of making maple sugar was on a far larger scale than that practised by First Nations people, but at first largely similar. Gashes were made into trees and a round wooden spout was inserted an inch into the wood. Pails were placed below to collect the dripping sap. The collected sap was then boiled down in large iron or copper kettles.

The 19th century saw an evolution in maple syrup harvesting. In the 1870s, metal taps began to take the place of wood. Then, in 1889, the evaporator was invented and patented in the United States. The evaporator represented a significant investment, so while harvesters on a commercial scale quickly adopted them kettles remained in use by small-scale producers well into the 20th century.

Harvesting maple sap was an important yearly rite in rural Ontario, an example of typical pioneer ingenuity in using local resources to provide for one’s needs. Unlike today, comparatively little maple syrup was produced; instead, settlers used the sap for manufacturing maple sugar. At the time cane sugar, what we commonly call white sugar, was expensive because it had to be imported from the Caribbean. Maple sugar, painstakingly manufactured from the sweet springtime sap of maple trees, was an ideal substitute.

Additionally, settlers used sap to create maple butter. The name of this product is a bit of a misnomer. There’s no dairy whatsoever in maple butter. Instead, it’s maple syrup that is heated to 100 degrees, quickly cooled, and then whipped into a smooth spread that would be added to cakes or put on bread.

Harvesting maple sap was time consuming and tiring. Consider that it takes 50 gallons of sap to make just 1 gallon of syrup, and that it takes two or three trees to produce that quantity of sap over the course of an entire season, and you begin to get an idea of how many trees had to be tapped. The bush might be covered in wet, heavy snow, and where it wasn’t the ground would be soft mud – in either event, you returned home at the end of the day wet and exhausted. And then you headed out again the next day.  

As the 20th century dawned, sugar was becoming cheaper and more readily available throughout Ontario. The harvesting of maple sap became rarer, and those who continued did so with an eye largely towards supplying the growing demand for maple syrup rather than for sugar.

Modern-Day Maple Syrup Production

ToDoOntario, maple sap boil

Modern methods of harvesting sap are far removed from the days of manually emptying buckets. Today, food grade tubing stretch through the woods, connecting hundreds of trees to the sugarhouse. Aided by a vacuum pump, sap runs through the tubes to the storage tanks in the sugarhouse. Once enough sap has been collected it is pumped to a reverse osmosis machine that concentrates all the sap by removing approximately 75-80 % of the excess water. When enough concentrate has been collected, the sap moves to the evaporator to be turned into syrup. Ontario Maple regulations state the density of maple syrup must be a minimum of 66% sugar. Once the correct sugar density is reached the syrup is ready to be filtered and then packaged.

Experience the methods behind the harvest for yourself with the Yours Outdoors Maple Magic program – pancakes included! 

Celebrating Maple Season in Ontario

To Do Ontario - Tap into Maple, Ontario's Lake Country

In Ontario, hundreds of producers continue to embrace maple season today. Maple syrup is produced commercially wherever maples are found, from the southern tip of the province to Thunder Bay in the northwest. With a production level of close to a million litres per year, Ontario is the second largest producer of maple syrup in the country next to Quebec. Maple is generally considered to be the first agricultural crop of the year.

Many farms open their sugar bushes for tours and other sweet experiences. Among them is Windlee Farms near Midland, a family-operated business which taps 500 trees and has an onsite store.

‘Sugar bush season’ has been increasingly popular. And why not? It is a great way to shake off winter and embrace spring, to get out into nature, and to enjoying local, sustainable agriculture. And while a tour of a sugar bush may be a highlight, there are many more experiences to enjoy – maple-themed dining, soothing maple spa treatments, savoring maple themed beer, shopping in quaint shops for maple candles and other novelty items, and more.

Setting aside a day or weekend to make your own maple memories has never been easier. Orillia and Lake Country Tourism hosts an annual Tap into Maple program, running March 3 to April 2 (2024) with 20 participating locations.  Muskoka has a similar tour, the Muskoka Maple Trail, culminating in the Muskoka Maple Festival in Huntsville on April 27 (2024).

ToDoOntario - JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka, maple themed dishes

You’ll need a place to rest your head if you plan to make a weekend of your adventures. There are plenty of resorts in the region that embrace the maple season. In addition to warm hospitality, Bayview Wildwood Resort, Sherwood Inn, and Christie’s Mill Inn and Spa all offer maple-themed dining. All three are charming, tranquil, and historic – a recipe for a memorable stay.

The culinary team at  JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort likewise creates sweet dishes, but this resort also offers maple experiences of their own. JW Marriott The Rosseau offers maple-infused spa treatments at its award-winning HydroSpa Muskoka, maple campfire treats, and a sugar-tent where you can learn about the history of maple syrup production.

Maple sap runs for only a brief window, and so too does the opportunity to savour the bounty of the springtime forest at one Ontario’s varied maple farms and maple experiences.


Article written by Andrew Hind.

 

 

ToDoOntarioThe Sweet History of Maple Syrup in Ontario
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Things To Do on March Break: Ontario 2024

Welcome to the best Guide to March Break in Ontario!

Ontario is one of the best destinations to go to during March Break, thanks to the variety of activities and events available.

Big cities and small towns in Ontario have so much to offer to keep children busy over the March Break Holiday. Furthermore, attractions, outdoor activities and the beginning of maple season all make March Break and exciting and fun time for everyone. 

Here are some of the ways you can enjoy March Break in Ontario in 2024:

Things You Can Do in Ontario on March Break

March Break Day Camps

ToDoOntario - Snow Valley Resort, little downhill skier

Children love to go to camps with their friends and to make new friends. March Break kids camps in Ontario can offer a ton of great activities for kids like art camps, ski camps, nature camps and indoor and outdoor play camps. Parents can find camps near their homes or even while away discovering Ontario. 

Tip: Check the ski hills, museums and outdoor attraction for March Break camp programming. 

Learn More


March Break Vacation Packages + SAVINGS 

ToDoOntario - Deerhurst Resort, boy watching show in a crowd

SAVE UP TO 15% OFF YOUR MARCH BREAK VACATION AT DEERHURST RESORT

BOOK BY FEBRUARY 21 USING CODE “TODO” AND RECEIVE UP TO 15% OFF YOUR GETAWAY!

From campfires, magic shows and indoor fun zone to outdoor fun like skating, snowshoeing or downhill skiing and snowboarding next door at Muskoka Ski Club, the whole family will have a blast on March Break in Muskoka.

2024 March Break Magic Stay Includes:

  • Magic shows and workshops with illusionist Ron Gudel – one of our most popular performers! 
  • Indoor Fun Zone with fun and games
  • Hiking, Cross Country Ski & Snowshoe trails
  • Use of cross country skis, snowshoes and kick sleds
  • Outdoor skating rink. Skates are available but best to bring your own if you have them.
  • Winter Disc Golf 
  • Daily campfires 
  • NEW Deer Scout Series programs include Nature Arts & Crafts and Muskoka-inspired demos
  • Family Trivia & Bingo
  • 19+ Trivia & Karaoke
  • Maple syrup treats & tastings
  • Treehouse Children’s Playspace, indoor pool and fitness room
  • Sonshine & Broccoli children’s show March 14th @ 2pm

BOOK A DEERHURST RESORT MARCH BREAK GETAWAY NOW


Family & Kid Friendly March Break Events

Many attractions come to life during March Break, helping to fill Ontario with things to do on March Break. Special events and trade shade also start filling our calendars with things to do or things to plan to do. Spring and summer start to feel like they are around the corner, so you better be ready!

You will have no shortage of events to choose from over March Break that will be perfect for your kids and family.

March Break Activities @ Blue Mountain Village

ToDoOntario - Blue Mountain Resort, kids skiing

Get ready for days filled with adventure and fun on and off the slopes! March Break is family time at Blue Mountain with activities, live music, interactive performances and more.

Learn More


March Break Escape @ Friday Harbour Resort

ToDoOntario - Friday Harbour Resort, skating rink

Embrace the best of the winter season at Friday Harbour with ice skating, outdoor recreation offers, live entertainment, and more!

  • Free ice skating in the Piazza.
  • Skate and equipment rentals available.
  • Après Skate Domes serving hot chocolate and handcrafted cocktails.
  • Enjoy classic favourites and sweet treats from the FH Chalet Cabins, or dine at the Lake Club Restaurant.
  • Special activities and entertainment on the Promenade
  • Visit the Winter Outdoor Adventure Centre or tee off on the TrackMan Golf Simulator at the Harbour Master Building. 
  • Shop and dine on special offers from the FH collection of restaurants and retails on the Promenade. 
  • Note that some activities are weather dependant.

Learn More


March Break Escape @ Haliburton Forest & Yours Outdoors

March Break is a breeze with one of Haliburton Forest or Yours Outdoors pre-planned itineraries. Or pick and choose your own activities!
PLUS save 25% off your accommodations this March Break with promo code: 25MBFUN
 

 

Learn More


Have fun in the Treetops – Treetop Trekking

ToDoOntario - Treetop Trekking, winter Treewalk Village

Keep your family happy, healthy, and active this March Break with a visit to Treetop Trekkin’s tree-house adventure parks in Hamilton and Stouffville

Learn More


Start of Maple Syrup Season in Ontario

To Do Ontario, Maple Mayhem at Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery

Sticky, sweet, delicious and fun! Since maple syrup season has officially started, check out a maple event or activity near you. You can visit a sugar shack and see maple production from the tree to the bottle. Additionally, there are lots of on-site activities to keep the kids active and busy. Many Ontario restaurants will also start to offer special maple menus to try. Watch for those! 

2024 Weekend Maple Syrup Experience & Maple Syrup Museum

ToDoOntario - Elliott Tree Farm, Maple Syrup Museum, Maple Syrup Experience

The Elliott Tree Farm Maple Syrup Experience includes entry to the Maple Syrup Museum of Ontario, all you can eat pancakes and a side of bacon and breakfast sausage with their award-winning Ontario pure maple syrup, and a walk on the sugar shack trail to their maple sugar shack to see maple syrup being made firsthand while tasting maple taffy over snow, maple sugar, sap and syrup. Starts Family Day weekend 2024. 

The event runs from Family Day weekend to Ontario Maple weekend (first weekend of April). Click here to LEARN MORE

Tap into Maple in Orillia & Lake County region

ToDoOntario - Tap into Maple, maple producer

This March Break take the self-tour through lesser-traveled routes to working sugar shacks. You will get a first hand view of the maple syrup process. Click here to LEARN MORE

Find More Maple Events


Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada – Toronto

Dive into Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada and experience the waters of the world up close and personal like never before this March Break.

ToDoOntario - Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, Toronto

Visit the Ripley’s Aquarium website to learn more about March Break programming and to buy tickets. 

Learn More

Sea the Sky Combo Ticket – Two Great Attractions, One Low Price!

ToDoOntario - Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, Sea the Sky Combo Ticket

The Sea the Sky package includes general admission to the CN Tower and Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada.

FROM THE SKIES…

At the CN Tower, take in stunning views of Toronto as you travel 346 metres skyward aboard a high-speed glass-fronted elevator in a mere 58 seconds!

Once you reach the Main Observation Level, elevate your experience using the free Viewfinder app! Use it to identify the city’s most famous landmarks and points of interest as you take in the 360-degree view. On a clear day, see as far as 160 kilometres all the way to Niagara Falls and into New York State!

… TO THE SEA!

At Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, explore the waters of the world from the heart of downtown Toronto!

Go on an underwater adventure alongside 20,000 aquatic animals, including sharks, jellies, turtles, and octopuses! This awe-inspiring attraction boasts more than 5.7 million litres of water, North America’s longest underwater viewing tunnel, and more than 100 interactive opportunities. Carefully curated galleries showcase an incredible variety of saltwater and freshwater environments from around the world, starting with species from Toronto’s backyard!

BUY NOW


Downhill Skiing/Snowboarding – Double check conditions before you go.

ToDoOntario - Blue Mountain Resort, family downhill skiing

Mountain destinations can be found all over Ontario, and they are great places for skiing and snowboarding. Visit Snow Valley Resort for activities the family can enjoy. You can also spend time at the luxurious Blue Mountain Resort, filled with March Break activities. Skiing and snowboarding are go-to activities during this time as the weather is calmer than in previous months. While you’re there, check out other fun activities like mountain top skating, fat biking, snowshoeing and more!

Learn More


ToDoOntatrio, Family Winter Getaway Offers

If you’re looking for value-packed deals, then getting a getaway package in Ontario may be the best option for you. These packages contain numerous unique activities that have accommodations for you and your loved ones.

Learn More

Ontario comes to life this season thanks to fun March Break activities. Stay tuned to our website and social for more fun things to do ideas.

ToDoOntarioThings To Do on March Break: Ontario 2024
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Best Maple Festivals & Events in Ontario

Guide to Maple Season in Ontario 2024

You have landed on the ultimate ToDo list of maple syrup festivals and events in Ontario.

Decidedly, you can use this page as your ultimate Ontario Maple Season Guide. This way you won’t miss out on any of the sweet fun of spring. 

Maple Celebration season in Ontario starts in March. Trees can be tapped sometimes as early as February, depending on the weather.

Read on below to find the ultimate list of maple themed events and festivals in Ontario. If you’re looking for the maple production, sugar shack or maple farm to visit, you can find them here

Featured Festivals & Events

Tap into Maple
Ontario’s Lake Country – March – April, 2024

To Do Ontario - Tap into Maple, Ontario's Lake Country

Between March and April, take the self-tour through lesser-traveled routes to working sugar shacks. You will get a first hand view of the maple syrup process.

Learn More

Maple Weekend – Windlee Maple Farm
April 6 – 7, 2024

ToDoOntario - Ontario Maple Weekend

Windlee Farms Maple Syrup Hosted by Peter & Anne Lorriman

Address: 10 Baseline Rd North, Tiny, ON

Hosted by Peter & Anne Lorriman

Windlee Farms will be opening their sugar bush and sugar shack by letting the public come and experience what maple syrup is all about.

Come taste pure maple syrup, smell it boil, and learn how maple syrup is made, from tree to bottle. This is what Maple Weekend is all about at Windlee Farms Maple Syrup, Tiny.

Explore the trails and take a wagon ride to the sugar bush to see the miles of pipeline and listen to the arborist in the maple bush. Windlee Farms Maple Syrup is a family owned and operated craft maple syrup producer located in Tiny, Ontario. Maple syrup has been produced from our sugar bush at Windlee Farms for over 30 years.

The property spans over 150 acres, with approximately 20 acres dedicated to the sugar maple bush.

Click here to LEARN MORE


2024 Weekend Maple Syrup Experience & Maple Syrup Museum

ToDoOntario - Elliott Tree Farm, Maple Syrup Museum, Maple Syrup Experience

The Elliott Tree Farm Maple Syrup Experience includes entry to the Maple Syrup Museum of Ontario, all you can eat pancakes and a side of bacon and breakfast sausage with their award-winning Ontario pure maple syrup, and a walk on the sugar shack trail to their maple sugar shack to see maple syrup being made firsthand while tasting maple taffy over snow, maple sugar, sap and syrup.

The event runs from Family Day weekend to Ontario Maple weekend (first weekend of April). 

Click here to LEARN MORE


MUSKOKA MAPLE TRAIL

MARCH 8 – APRIL 26, 2024

The most Canadian of culinary trails, the Muskoka Maple Trail features stops across Muskoka that have infused locally harvested maple syrup into their culinary offerings. From maple drizzled waffles to smoky-maple ribs, discover the incredible depth of Canada’s most beloved natural product on the Muskoka Maple Trail.

ToDoOntario features the following stops of notable mention, be sure you don’t miss these stops along this trail.

Muskoka Maple Trail Stop @ Christie’s Mill Inn & Spa 

To Do Ontario - Muskoka Maple Trail

Enjoy “Maple Inspired” restaurant features each day of the Muskoka Maple Trail! Enjoy “Maple Inspired” restaurant features at the waterfront restaurant each day of the Muskoka Maple Trail!

Learn More

Muskoka Maple Trail Stop @ Sherwood Inn

Enjoy maple inspired dining at Sherwood Inn. Enjoy a maple cocktail and maple crème brûlée at Sherwood Inn!

Learn More

Muskoka Maple Trail Stop @ Deerhurst Resort

Enjoy a 3 course Muskoka Maple Trail table d’hote menu at Compass Restaurant from March 8 – April 26 with a special maple smoked old fashioned feature cocktail.

Also enjoy the popular Lookout Trail that will have a mini maple route set up with tapped trees and signs with facts to learn all about maple season.

Learn More

Muskoka Maple Trail Stop @ Bayview Wildwood Resort

2024 TBA

Get sapped with a maple inspired menu. Click to learn more about this delicious menu at Bayview Wildwood Resort in Muskoka. 

Learn More

Maple Menu & Spa Services @ JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka – Stop on Muskoka Maple Trail

ToDoOntario, JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka, Maple dolce

2024 TBA From feisty beverages and hearty meals to decadent desserts and relaxing spa treatments, JW Marriott The Rosseau Resort is infusing the goodness of maple into everything!

Click here to LEARN MORE.


Maple Mayhem at the Cranberry Farm

To Do Ontario, Maple Mayhem at Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery

Highlights:

 
  • Wagon Tours to the Sugar bush
  • Tutored Wine Tasting
  • Instagram Scavenger Hunt – an Easter hunt for grown ups!
  • Log Sawing Contest (on Saturday)
  • Cranberry Pancakes
  • Maple Taffy
  • Fire Side Adventures
  • Maple Cheddar Fondue
  • Book Here

Click here to LEARN MORE


Maple Magic Experience in Haliburton
Yours Outdoors, Haliburton Highlands 

ToDoOntario - Yours Outdoors Maple Syrup

Ready to make maple memories with your loved ones? Then this experience is for you! Maple Magic is geared towards families, kids of all ages and anyone who has a sweet tooth! During this ~2 hour experience, you’ll hear the ins and outs of maple syrup production, follow the impressive journey from sap to syrup, check out a real sugar shack,  and eat a pancake meal and of course!

Click here to LEARN MORE


Sweetwater Harvest Festival 
March 23-24, 2024 

ToDoOntario - Tap into Maple, Sweet Water Harvest Festival

Join the Friends of Wye Marsh and Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons for an awesome celebration of maple syrup this spring.

he Sweetwater Harvest Festival is the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre’s biggest fundraiser of the year – and ONE ticket gets you access to TWO fantastic sites. 

Learn More

20+ Of The Sweetest Ontario Maple Festivals & Experiences

Ontario Maple Weekend (Across Ontario)
April 6 – 7, 2024 

Weekend Maple Syrup Experience at Elliott Tree Farm  (Hillsburgh)
Opening Family Day 2024 

Spring Tonic Maple Syrup Festival (Barrie)
TBA 2024 

Elmvale Maple Syrup Festival 
April 27, 2024

Pefferlaw Creek Farms Maple Weekends 
March weekend and first two weekends of April, 2024 

Proulx Farm Maple Fest (Cumberland)
TBA 2024

Holstein Maple Syrup Festival 
TBA 2024

Wintergreen Maple Syrup & Pancake Barn
TBA 2024

Festival of the Maples (Perth)
April 27, 2024

Maple at the Village (Toronto)
TBA 2024

Muskoka Maple Festival (Huntsville)
April 27, 2024

Wheelers Maple Harvest Season (Lanark Highlands)
TBA 2024

Elmira Maple Syrup Festival
April 6, 2024

Sunderland Maple Syrup Festival
April 6 – 7, 2024

Warkworth Maple Syrup Festival
March 9 – 10, 2024

Maple Madness (Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area)
TBA 2024

Powassan Maple Syrup Festival 
April 27, 2024 

Sugar Bush Maple Syrup Festival (Terra Cotta Conservation Area)
March 9 – April 7, 2024

Brooks Farms Maple Sugar Festival (Mount Albert)
Weekends in March + March Break

Maple Syrup Tours on the Farm (Stouffville)
TBA 2024

Taste the Countryside (Waterloo region)
TBA 2024

Maple Trail @ St. Jacobs Market 
Month of March

Sweet Maple Festival
April 13, 2024


Maple Syrup Facts

ToDoOntario, pancakes and maple syrup

Maple Syrup is one of Canada’s 4M’s that goes with Canada’s Moose, Mountains and Muskies! Ontario has more Maple Syrup production than most other provinces.

Maple Syrup Health Facts

The most important information you need to know is that maple syrup is good for you (within reason of course). Over 50 beneficial compounds are found in maple syrup.

The Sweetest Ontario Maple Getaway Offers 

>> FIND A MAPLE VACATION <<

If you’re looking to buy Ontario maple syrup >>these producers offer online ordering and shipping<<

ToDoOntarioBest Maple Festivals & Events in Ontario
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Celebrate Love This February in Ontario

Love is Definitely in the Air: Celebrate With These Winter Activities in Ontario

ToDoOntario - love words, hearts

February in Ontario presents two holidays that are meant to celebrate love. Valentine’s Day and Family Day mean you get to celebrate love in Ontario and what better way to do with any one of these fun winter activities. 

Did you know that around 80 percent of Canadians celebrate Valentine’s Day every year?

From buying flowers to popping a bottle of champagne over a candlelit romantic dinner, there are a lot of ways that people celebrate love! Not just romantic love, either, with Family Day coming up soon after Valentine’s it’s a time to show everyone who means something in your life how much you value them.

If you’ll be in Ontario for Valentine’s Day or Family Day, you’ll be spoilt for choice in terms of winter activities. It’s the perfect place to show someone just how much you appreciate them – or to have some alone time and self-love!

Take a peek at some of our top picks and find something that will make those important in your life happy, even if that means you!

Get Your Adrenaline Pumping With Cross Country Skiing

Activity Good For: Couples, Families

ToDoOntario - winter cross country skiing

Cross country skiing is a super fun, wintery way to spend Valentine’s Day, Family Day, or just enjoy something by yourself. If your loved ones love to get outdoors and spend time in nature, it’s a really thoughtful gift that they’re guaranteed to appreciate!

If you’re looking for things to do in February in Ontario, we recommend taking your skis to Sudbury’s Windy Lake Provincial Park, where you’ll uncover two km of trails and 15 km more just across the road at Onaping Falls Nordic Ski Club. Make sure to tell your loved ones that some Olympians began their careers right under your feet, so you may be buying them a ticket to a gold medal!

Other places ToDo cross country skiing:

ToDo Cross Country Skiing Venues ToDo Cross Country Skiing Packages

See What You Can Catch At Ice Fishing

Activity Good For: Couples, Families

ToDoOntario - WyeMarsh, Ice Fishing Dawn

Get your friends, family, or even yourself hooked on ice fishing (sorry, we couldn’t help the pun!) in Haliburton Highlands. Not far from downtown Toronto, this frozen haven is not just an incredible sight to behold but also offers the chance for some adrenaline-fuelled guided fishing.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a professional angler to join in with the fun! People who have never even held a fishing rod before can come along for a go. 

Guided Ice Fishing in the Haliburton Highlands:

Whether you’re a seasoned angler chasing that next big trophy or a beginner hoping to wet a line through the ice for the first time, the Haliburton Highlands is a beautiful and productive ice-fishing destination. From hard fighting Lakers, Rainbows, Brook Trout & Splake to Walleye and bruiser rod-bending Northern Pike, this area has open winter seasons for them all.

One of our knowledgeable guides will increase your chances of catching fish.  Trips can be provided from any lake in the Haliburton Highlands provided there’s suitable legal access and ice is deemed safe.

Choose from half and full-day adventure tours. Click here for more information and too book your tour.

Please stay off the ice if you are not with a guide or outfitter. 

Book an ice fishing getaway NOW

Valentine’s Day Dinner at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada

Activity good for: Couples

ToDoOntario - Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, Dinner Table

It’s that time of year to reel in the one you love and take a trip beneath the waves to share an intimate dinner along some most spectacular exhibits. Make them turn to jelly with dinner options at a tropical Rainbow Reef exhibit, dine with friendly rays at Ray Bay, or be dangerously in love seated below an epic shark tunnel! 

Buy Tickets Now

Sea the Sky Combo Ticket

Activity Good For: Couples, Families

ToDoOntario - Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, Sea the Sky Combo Ticket

The Sea the Sky package includes general admission to the CN Tower and Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. 

ABOUT THE PACKAGE

  • Visit two great Attractions, the CN Tower and Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, for one low price!
  • CN Tower tickets can be used anytime within 30 days of purchase and guests can join the next available time slot on the day of their choice.
  • Ripley’s Aquarium ticket can be used anytime within 30 days of purchase.
  • You are not required to visit both attractions on the same day — explore Toronto at your leisure!
Buy Tickets Now

Go (Frozen) Waterfall Chasing

Activity Good For: Couples, Families

ToDoOntario - Blue Mountain Adventure Tours, snowshoes & waterfalls

Whether you’re on the hunt for a self-love activity you can do on your own this Valentine’s Day, a romantic adventure for you and your partner, or a family day of fun, frozen waterfall chasing has got you covered! 

In our opinion, there’s no better time to hunt waterfalls than in the icy winter. You don’t have to worry about waterfalls that have dried up in the sun, and seeing the flows frozen in time will blow you away. These ice formations are the perfect spot for a family picture or two, as well, or the ideal spot to get down on one knee and pop that special question…

Find a Waterfall

SHERWOOD INN VALENTINE’S DAY PACKAGE

Activity Good For: Couples

ToDoOntario - Sherwood Inn, entrance in winter

Muskoka Valentine’s Day Special

Travel to Sherwood Inn this Valentine’s Day and celebrate with an evening that includes a special Valentine’s Day inspired menu. When you spend the night under this special you will also save 20% on accommodation. It’s all about culinary excellence and romantic escapes at Sherwood Inn.

BOOK NOW

Visit Muskoka Hydrospa at JW Marriot Rosseau Muskoka

Activity Good For: Couples

ToDoOntario - JW Marriott The Rosseau Hydrospa

If you’re on the hunt for things to do in Ontario for Valentine’s Day and Family Day that are a little more relaxing, what about a day at the spa? This is perfect for those who don’t love the cold, too! Or, perhaps you’ve spent the day doing something outside in the winter chill, and the evening is the perfect time to wrap up warm at Muskoka Hydrospa. The JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka also has amazing family and children’s programs to keep the children busy while a parent sneaks off to the Hydrospa. 

Boost your body and mind with this hot-cold routine. When you leave, you’re guaranteed to feel refreshed! It’ll be a real treat for your loved ones, too.

BOOK NOW

Head To Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery to Snowshoe or Ski & Après

Activity Good For: Couples

ToDoOntario - Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery, porch

This is another Ontario vacation activity for those who love to get outdoors, even in the cold and frosty winter! Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery is one of the most spectacular snowshoe trails in Ontario and comes highly recommended. It’s a beautiful place throughout the year, but during winter there’s something especially magical about the landscape.

Take your snowshoes and trail through a cranberry bog for a unique experience that won’t soon be forgotten. When it comes to how to do love, this is the peak (literally).

Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery Snowshoe Trails More Snowshoe Venues & Getaway Packages

Start Your Maple Season Early

2024 Weekend Maple Syrup Experience & Maple Syrup Museum

ToDoOntario - Elliott Tree Farm, Maple Syrup Museum, Maple Syrup Experience

The Elliott Tree Farm Maple Syrup Experience includes entry to the Maple Syrup Museum of Ontario, all you can eat pancakes and a side of bacon and breakfast sausage with their award-winning Ontario pure maple syrup, and a walk on the sugar shack trail to their maple sugar shack to see maple syrup being made firsthand while tasting maple taffy over snow, maple sugar, sap and syrup. Starts Family Day weekend 2024. 

The event runs from Family Day weekend to Ontario Maple weekend (first weekend of April). Click here to LEARN MORE


Get Romantic Under The Stars

Activity Good For: Couples, Families

The Ontario winter is famous for its incredible night skies, and we can’t think of much that’s quite as romantic. Hop in the car with your loved one and drive away from all the lights to a more remote, peaceful spot. Or, head to one of the 19 dark sky preserves around Ontario for a spectacular viewing point.

You can stay in the warmth of your car, bringing a hot chocolate and some tasty treats to make the night extra special, or get out and have a wander under the vast starry sky, spotting the constellations above. Whatever you choose, be sure to spend plenty of time looking up and taking in the breathtaking beauty of our very special universe. 

This isn’t just a romantic activity, either, but one for everyone! Little children will love being told about the stories of the stars, friends will enjoy a night out together, and if you just need some time to appreciate your own company, what better way than with an evening of stargazing?

Ice skating outdoors at night under sparkling lights would be something to do for both couples and families. Read our best places to skate outdoors and all you have to do is grab your skates and go. 

Spend the day and stay overnight at an Ontario Park open in the winter. Cabin and yurt camping are available a lot more comfortable than you might think. The wildlife you’ll see ranges from birds to furry friends of many kinds. This is a great trip to help you enjoy winter and have fun.


Uncover More Winter Activities For You and Your Loved Ones

ToDoOntario - girls throwing snowballs

Whilst winter might not seem like the best time to get outside and look for activities, it actually is! There’s so much going on, and with both Valentine’s Day and Family Day coming up, you can find plenty of activities to show your loved ones how much you care.

Check out this great Ottawa getaway package to the Fairmont Chateau Laurier

Embrace the Season Getaway Package

ToDoOntario - Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Winterlude, skating canal

Explore Downtown Ottawa for a family escape where there is something each family member loves to do. The Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel is located close to museums, the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Byward Market. 

Package: Ottawa Family Escape

Book two guest rooms at Ottawa’s castle and receive 50% off your second room.

Package Includes
  • Nightly accommodations in two (2) luxurious guest rooms or suites 
  • 50% off our Daily Rate for the second room (for children under 18 years of age)
BOOK NOW

Check these out:

>>Click here<< for more Valentine’s Day weekend things to do. 

We have tons of great things to do in Ontario throughout the year, for all occasions. Take a look at more of our couple’s activities or family fun activities to fill your 2023 calendar with lots of adventures, fun, and romance.

ToDoOntarioCelebrate Love This February in Ontario
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