Things to do in Simcoe County in June
June signals the start of summer, and what better way to kick off the season than by taking in some lakeside fun, sunshine and events that draw family and friends together. Pack your sunscreen, throw on some shades and check out some of these events happening around the region in June.
Georgian College Auto Show
When: June 1 – 3
Where: Georgian College, Barrie
What Is It: Spend the day at this spectacular outdoor auto show featuring over 20 manufacturer brands, a Pfaff stunt track, Yamaha mini bikes, electric car demonstrations, children’s centre and more.
www.georgiancollege.ca/news-events/all-events/auto-show
Georgian Bay In-Water Boat Show
When: June 2 – 4
Where: Wye Heritage Marina, Midland
What Is It: Spend the day viewing new and used brokerage boats at the docks in Midland. Shop from many parts and accessories vendors and grab a bite to eat from festival food trucks. Enjoy a free boat ride for kids or take your try at stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking. Admission is free.
http://inwaterboatshow.ca
Kids Fishing Derby and Bike Rodeo
When: June 2
Where: Midland Town Dock
What Is It: During the In-Water Boat Show weekend, kids can enjoy a morning of fishing and bike riding with fun for the whole family.
www.midland.ca/quick-links/events
Soap Box Derby and Classic Car Show
When:June 2, 8:30 am – 2:00 pm
Where:Midhurst Community Centre
What Is It:Enter into this classic soap box derby. Just $10 per entrant. Then admire hundreds of classic cars gathering at the show and shine.
www.springwater.ca/cms/one.aspx?pageId=1044
Wing Ding
When: June 2, 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
Where: Downtown Cookstown
What Is It: Celebrating its 35thyear, the town of Cookstown opens up to host the annual wing ding. Peruse the main streets and neighbourhoods for treasured garage sale finds, visit the children’s fun zone, grab a bite to eat or an ice cream cone from local vendors and enjoy the sounds of live music.
www.cookstown.ca
Celebrate Barrie
When: June 2, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Where: Centennial Park, Barrie
What Is It: Kicking off a summer on fun-filled festivities, Celebrate Barrie offers fun for the whole family. Enjoy live entertainment, a heritage village, inflatables, displays, a vendors market, food vendors and so much more.
www.barrie.ca/celebratebarrie
Lord Simcoe Series Hunter Jumper Shows
When: June 2
Where: Essa Agriplex, Thornton
What Is It: The Lord Simcoe Series celebrates the world of show jumping, hunter and dressage horses bringing spectacular shows and competitions to Essa Township. A true spectacle for equine enthusiasts.
www.lordsimcoeseries.com
Edenvale Aerodome Open House
When: June 2, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Where: Edenvale Aerodome, Stayner
What Is It: Come and experience everything that the Edenvale Aerodome has to offer. Check out aircraft, enjoy a snack, admire the landscape and more.
www.edenflight.com
Barrie Concert Band Presents The Classics
When: June 2, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Where: Hi-Way Church, Barrie
What Is It: The Barrie Concert Band brings you an unforgettable evening of music. Discover a wide range of repertoire from classical pieces to modern-day masterpieces. Students $10, Adults $20, Children under five free.
www.barrieconcertband.org
KOOL FM Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival
When: June 7 – 18
Where: Downtown Barrie
What Is It: For the 23rdyear running, the Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival presents thousands of talented musicians from across North America at dozens of local nightclubs, pubs, restaurants, and free music in the park events. running for 12 days, there’s plenty of time to check out the many talents of the jazz and blues community.
www.barriejazzbluesfest.com
36th Annual Spring Automotive Flea Market
When:June 7 – 10
Where:Burl’s Creek, Oro-Medonte
What Is It: Canada’s best automotive flea market and a car lover’s dream. Visit the Car Sales Corral, the Sunday Auto Auction, show and shines and thousands of vendors. Shop auto parts, collectibles, antiques and more.
www.thebafm.com
Spring Boat, Cottage and Outdoor Show
When:June 8 – 10
Where:Port of Orillia
What Is It:Since the 1990s, this well-established boat show is a treat for outdoor enthusiasts and boaters. Offering a collection of pre-owned boats of all sizes from inflatables to fishing boats and cruisers. Browse numerous vendors offering locally made goods and handcrafted items.
www.orillia.com/index.php?id=23
Butter Tart Trot
When: June 9, 8:00 am
Where: Sainte Marie Among the Hurons
What Is It: In conjunction with the Midland Butter Tart Festival, come out for a 1 km kids fun run, 5 km, 10 km, or ½ marathon race at Sainte Marie Among the Hurons. Proceeds support Camp Quality Canada. Enjoy butter tart swag, a butter tart sale, and butter tart sampling along the course. Yum.
www.buttertarttrot.ca
Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival
When: June 9, 9am – 5:00 pm
Where: Downtown Midland
What Is It: A free, family friendly festival celebrating the deliciousness of the butter tart. Local businesses and vendors offer plenty of mouth-watering products including over 150,000 butter tarts. Sample, shop and stay for a visit along the waterfront.
http://buttertartfestival.ca
Wheels and Tracks
When:June 9 – 10
Where:Simcoe County Museum, Minesing
What Is It:Experience Simcoe County’s largest sandbox as it comes alive. Discover bull dozers, graders, crushers and more all in operation throughout the grounds.
http://museum.simcoe.ca
A Taste of the Town
When: June 10, noon – 3:00 pm
Where: Sunset Point Park, Collingwood
What Is It: The Rotary Club of Collingwood delivers the 16thannual Taste of the Town. Savour food and drink prepared by local chefs from over 20 of the finest restaurants in Georgian Bay. Featuring mouth-watering flavours from around the world.
https://collingwoodtasteofthetown.brownpapertickets.com/?cookie_header=1
Tottenham Bluegrass Festival
When: June 15 – 17
Where: Tottenham Conservation Area
What Is It: Experience three days of exceptional bluegrass music performed in the natural amphitheater of the Tottenham Conservation Area. Next to the waters of the village pond, this year’s lineup draws some of the most popular artists and bands from the United States and Canada. Camping is free with a weekend event pass.
www.tottenhambluegrass.com
Innisfil Ribfest
When: June 15 – 17
Where: Innisfil Recreation Complex
What Is It: The second annual Innisfil Ribfest brings together 5 of North America’s top rib teams from Texas, Florida, Alabama, BC and Ontario.Enjoy award winning and mouth-watering fall-off-the-bone ribs and classic festival favourites. There’s fun for the whole family with a midway, carnival games, marketplace, artisans, live entertainment and more.
http://ontariofestivalgroup.com/event/innisfil-ribfest-2018
Waterfront Festival
When:June 16 – 17
Where:Wasaga Beach
What Is It:A fantastic Father’s Day event at the beach. Beach area one transforms into a family fun festival offering a wacky boat regatta, sand castle building, Kitefest, Ploverpalooza, exhibitors, live entertainment and more.
www.wasagabeach.com/Pages/events.aspx
Barrie Boat Show
When: June 16 – 17
Where: Barrie Waterfront
What Is It: Central Ontario’s premium in-water boat show hosted on Kempenfelt Bay. This visitor experience is as close to a boating test-drive as you can get.
http://barrieboatshow.com
MEC Paddlefest
When:June 16 – 17
Where:Centennial Beach, Barrie
What Is It:Spend a fun-filled afternoon celebrating the enjoyment of canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boarding. Enjoy workshops, demonstrations, vendors and more. Open to paddling enthusiasts of all skill levels.
http://events.mec.ca/node/217966
Tay Bike Day
When:June 16, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Where:Bridgeview Park, Waubaushene
What Is It:Enjoy a day of biking with family and friends along with numerous activities for all ages. Participate in a scavenger hunt, safe riding rodeo, helmet clinic, best decorated bike contest, farmers and artisans market and more.
www.tay.ca/en/calendar/events/default.aspx
Food Truck Rally
When: June 16, noon – 4:00 pm
Where: Victoria St, Alliston
What Is It: Savour delicious eats and treats from 10 top local food trucks. Featuring authentic cuisine, craft brews, live entertainment, a classic car show and shine and fun for all ages.
www.allistonbia.com/events
Party On The Dock
When: June 16, 7:00 pm
Where: Midland Town Dock
What Is It: This giant dock party makes the start of summer official. Join hundreds of like-minded partiers for music dancing and more. Enjoy live entertainment from this year’s musical headliner “The Dirty Little Swing Thing.”
http://partyonthedock.ca/default.htm
An Evening with the Stars
When: June 16, 8:00 pm – midnight
Where: George Richardson Park
What Is It: The York Simcoe Amateur Astronomers (YSAA) deliver an unforgettable evening of star gazing. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs. Telescopes will be set-up for an up-close look at the twinkling night lights, Jupiter and its moons, Venus, Saturn and Mars.
www.newmarket.ca/events
National Indigenous People’s Day
When: June 21, 1:00 pm
Where: Sainte Marie Among the Hurons
What Is It: Celebrate Canada’s Aboriginal culture and the Huron-Wendat community paying tribute to Canada’s First Nations with drumming, dancing, singing and activities.
www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/celebrate-canada-days/aboriginal-day.html
Tay Canada Day Celebration
When:June 22 – 24
Where:Oakwood Community Arena, Victoria Harbour
What Is It:Celebrate Canada Day “Under the Big Top”. Featuring artisans, local vendors, live entertainment, an exotic petting zoo and activities for all. Proceeds support Radio for Cardiology, Hospice Huronia and St Vincent de Paul Food Bank. Wear your best beach party attire for the chance at winning a prize.
www.taycanadaday.ca
Wasaga Cruisers Fun Run
When: June 22 – 23
Where: Playland Lot, Wasaga Beach
What Is It: The Wasaga Beach Cruisers invite you to join their annual fun run. Participate in a poker run and BBQ on Friday followed by a Classic car show on the beach on Saturday. Two days of fun and excitement.
www.wasagabeachcruisers.org
Tiny Marsh BioBlitz
When:June 23 @ 6:00 am – 4:00 pm
Where: 500 Tiny Flos Townline, Elmvale
What Is It:Celebrate National Aboriginal Day at this free event.Join expert naturalists and discover the amazing diversity of birds, insects, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and plants…all of which live within the marsh, forest and fields of Elmvale.
http://tinymarshbioblitz.eventbrite.ca
Heroes Festival
When: June 23 – 24
Where: Beach Area 1, Wasaga Beach
What Is It: A family friendly festival paying tribute to and honouring Canada’s Military and First Responder Heroes. Enjoy interactive military and first responder displays where kids can climb on a fire truck, sit in a police car, lie on an ambulance stretcher, watch jets and more. A highlight of the festivities will be a CF-18 Demo Hornet, Skyhawks parachute team and aerobatic performers.
https://heroesfestival.ca
Cottage Country Comic Con
When:June 23 – 24
Where:Rotary Place, Orillia Sports Complex
What Is It:Comic Con comes north of the city delivering a spectacular event for comic and action hero fans. View popular movie and show vehicles, memorabilia, shop collectors items and meet the talents behind the industry.
www.cottagecountrycomiccon.com
Coldwater and Area Studio Tour
When:June 23 – 24
Where:Various Locations Throughout Coldwater
What Is It:Celebrating its 18thyear, this is an exciting weekend to experience the works and talents of over 30 local artists and artisans.
www.coldwaterstudiotour.ca
Kids Fishing Day
When: June 24, 9am – 1pm
Where: Heritage Park, Barrie
What Is It: Come out to Barrie’s waterfront for a fun-filled day of family excitement. Kids will enjoy the opportunity to learn about fishing and conservation courtesy of the Kempenfelt Rotary Club.
https://kempenfeltrotary.ca/event/kids-fishing-day-2018
Christmas in June
When: June 24, 1:00 pm
Where:Port of Orillia
What Is It:Come down to the Port of Orillia to experience an on-water Christmas spectacle as numerous boats participate in a festive decorated boat contest.
www.orillia.com/index.php?id=32
Midland Ribfest
When:June 29 – July 1
Where: Midland Town Dock
What Is It:Celebrate your love for BBQ and craft beer. The Northern Heat Rib Series is bringing the best BBQ in Canada to Midland. Enjoy a weekend full of food, fun and entertainment.
https://northernheatribseries.ca/midland
Promenade Days
When:June 30 – July 2
Where:Dunlop St, Downtown Barrie
What Is It:Enjoy the Canada Day long weekend din a celebration of events all weekend long. Enjoy live music, children’s activities, street performers, food, a midway and more.
http://downtownbarrie.ca/events
Collingwood Festival for Canada
When: June 30 – July 2
Where: Downtown Collingwood and Harbour
What Is It: Come out to celebrate Canada’s birthday with special events throughout downtown Collingwood at the harbour. Enjoy live entertainment, on-water activities, a pancake breakfast, gigantic birthday cake and more. There’s fun to be had for the whole family.
www.collingwood.ca/canadaday
Georgian Triangle Music Festival
When: June 30
Where:Various Locations Throughout Wasaga Beach
What Is It:This multi-genre and multi-venue festival has brought together over 150 musical performers since it first began in 2013. Enjoy the musical talent of local up and coming artists at various locations throughout the region.
www.georgiantrianglemusicfest.com