Expect a very busy Muskoka Lakes this weekend amid the Bala Cranberry Festival.
The festival starts Friday at 10:00 a.m. and runs until 3:00 p.m. Sunday in the community’s downtown core.
“We have a ton of food, gift items, crafts, there’s an art exhibit, live performers, just really an absolute ton of stuff,” says Dave Skoric, co-chair of the festival’s board. “It is one of the biggest events of the year in Muskoka. Tens of thousands of people come. And we’re really just looking forward to having a great time.”
According to Skoric, this year also sees the return of the Portage Landing Farmers’ Market, as well as Duck Races down Bala Falls. He says last year’s festival was a significant jump in popularity coming out of the pandemic, and this year is even bigger.
“We are really excited about this year,” says Skoric. “Obviously last year was kind of the first year of really starting to be back post-COVID. But now we’re getting a really big return of both guests and vendors. We have over 130 vendors lined up for the weekend, which is fantastic.”
Last year also earned the festival a spot in the “100 Best Festivals in Ontario,” which Skoric says means a lot to organizers. “It was such an honour to get that, and it certainly warms the heart of all of our volunteers who put so many hours every year into making this happen. To have made that list last year was just such a morale boost for everybody.”
As a not-for-profit event, Skoric says proceeds from the festival go towards a number of community groups around Muskoka, as well as scholarships and bursaries for local students. He adds that the paid parking lots around town will be run by charitable groups that will keep those funds.
Tickets are $10 for those 13 and older, $5 for kids, and free for those under four, available both online and at the gate.