Six festivals in the greater Kawarthas region have made the list of Festivals and Events Ontario’s top 100 festivals and events in Ontario in 2023, with four making the list for the second year in a row.
Hike Haliburton Festival, Tweed & Company Theatre, Port Hope Arts Festival, Port Hope Candlelight Festival, Bancroft’s Rockhound Gemboree, and the Buckhorn Festival of the Arts were among those presented with the award at Festivals and Events Ontario’s annual awards gala on Wednesday (February 28) in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
The first four festivals also made the list last year.
Established in 2003, the Hike Haliburton Festival is Canada’s largest hiking festival. The main festival takes place in September, with a winter edition happening in February. Along with hikes throughout Haliburton Highlands, the festival integrates arts, culture, heritage, and foodie experiences to showcase the area.
Located in Hastings County, Tweed & Company Theatre owns and operates both the Marble Arts Centre and an outdoor stage in Tweed as well as the Village Playhouse in Bancroft. Since assuming operation of The Village Playhouse from Hospice North Hastings in 2022, Tweed & Company Theatre has greatly expanded the number of theatrical events and concerts presented at the venue.
The Port Hope Arts Festival is an annual festival taking place in downtown Port Hope during August, which is arts month in Port Hope. The Port Hope Candlelight Festival is an annual holiday festival taking place from late November to early January that include projections and light displays, outdoor vendor markets, music, wagon rides, and more.
The Rockhound Gemboree, Canada’s largest gem and mineral show, takes place in Bancroft over four days every August. The Buckhorn Festival of the Arts, originally founded as a wildlife art festival in 1979, has since grown into a world-class arts festival taking place at the Buckhorn Community Centre every August.
