Winter is here! Brace yourself for an exciting line-up of winter events and festivals around your Ontario Cottage Rental in Cottage Country this year. From popular annual holiday events that bring out the whole family to thrilling winter sports that give you chills, there are tons of things to do during the winter. This is the ultimate guide to winter events in Ontario Cottage Country!
Bookmark this page and set your calendar to these winter events around our Ontario cottage rentals in Cottage Country. With so much to do, you’ll want more than a day to explore the many great towns and local attractions. At CottageLINK Rental Management our curated portfolio of cottage rentals in Ontario has everything you are looking for!
Winter Festivals in Ontario Cottage Country
Annual winter festivals keep spirits high in Ontario Cottage Country all season long. Experience the local winter joy at activity-filled carnivals, performances that will warm you up, and more. With all these activities, you’ll be wishing you had booked a longer stay at one of our winter cottage rentals! Check out these festivals:
Fire & Ice Festival – Bracebridge – January 25, 2025
Downtown Bracebridge turns into a clash of elements every year for the Fire and Ice Festival. Both elements go head-to-head with live performances, displays, and interactive activities.
Fire & Ice Festival is a reimagined winter carnival experience. Join the crowds in time for flaming pyro shows exhibited by fire artists, slide down Manitoba Street on the tube run, and watch overhead as fireworks erupt in the winter sky. There are so many things to do in the town of Bracebridge!
Pumpkinferno at Discovery Harbour – Penetanguishene – Oct 2 – Nov 2, 2024
Named one of Ontario’s top 100 events by Festival and Events Ontario, Pumpkinferno is fun for the whole family! Enjoy magical outdoor exhibits of artificial hand-carved pumpkins, have some bouncing fun in the inflatable haunted maze, make your way through Grim Reaper’s Grove (if you dare!), meet the talking skeleton, Dora. Be sure to drop by the Bubbling Cauldron Café before you leave!
Pumpkinferno takes place evenings from October 2 to November 2, Thursdays through Sundays, and Wednesday evenings offer an accessibility drive-through.
Dorset Snowball Winter Carnival – February 14-15, 2025
Join in at this beloved 2-day event welcoming visitors and neighbours to the annual all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast, Snowball Parade, and friendly competitions both on the ice and the snow-covered hills, gather around the campfire with your hot chocolate & lace up your skates for the family public skating event! There are so many activities to enjoy, check out the full schedule so you don’t miss a thing!
First Light at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons – Midland – Nov 21 – Dec 8, 2024
This award-winning event is now in it’s 24th year. Sainte-Marie’s First Light is a must-see holiday event featuring live musical performances and a great lineup of family activities amidst the spellbinding glow of thousands of candles.
There’s even an extensive artisan market where you can get some holiday shopping done, make some take-home crafts, view historical demonstrations such as blacksmithing, participate in kids’ activities, and wander through candlelit historical buildings and pathways decorated with beautiful seasonal greenery.
First Light was recently named one of the province’s top 100 events by Festival and Events Ontario. Make this an annual tradition, and come and experience some holiday magic!
Huntsville SnowFest – February 22, 2025
Get ready for a day filled with live music, buskers and on-ice performers, and interactive activities to keep everyone entertained. Picture yourself roasting marshmallows, sipping on hot chocolate, and marveling at the mesmerizing artistry of ice sculptors creating masterpieces before your eyes. SnowFest promises a day of joy and wonder for the whole family.
Debuting on the same day as SnowFest, Snow Village is all about family-friendly fun, featuring interactive snow activities like whimsical snow sculptures, sturdy snow forts, and a snow labyrinth. Snow Village will remain open until Mother Nature decides it’s time to bid adieu.
Christmas by Candlelight – Keene – December 7-8, 2024
Experience the merriment of the season with a traditional Pioneer Christmas at Lang Pioneer Village in Keene! Join in a carol sing, tour the village by wagon ride, meet Father Christmas and learn about the origins of the Christmas traditions we celebrate today. Delight in the sights, sounds and smells of the holiday season! Event takes place Saturday & Sunday, December 7 & 8 from 4 pm to 8 pm each night.
Severn Winterfest – 2025 Dates not yet available
Jump, skate, drink, and slide at this year’s Severn Winterfest! The ODAS Park fairgrounds become a winter wonderland the entire family will enjoy.
Severn Winterfest is a multi-day event featuring activities and events throughout the day. Get active with activities like ice skating or riding the giant slide. Cool down with a plunge in Lake ODAS during the Polar Bear Dip before warming up with drinks at the ice bar.
Port Carling Winterfest – Port Carling – 2025 Dates not yet available
Stay in Cottage Country to attend all three days of the Port Carling Winterfest—or as much of the winter fun as you can take! You’ll never run out of things to do with a line-up of family fun every day of the festival.
The locals in Port Carling have looked forward to the Winterfest for more than 50 years with horse carriage rides, face painting, pet shows, ice skating on Park Trail, and more.
Breaking The Ice Festival – Wasaga – 2025 Dates not yet available
Visit Wasaga Beach while they are Breaking The Ice on the New Library, New Ice Rink and New Beachfront this winter! Join Canadian Sport & Music icons and celebrate the town’s 50th Anniversary with concerts featuring Burton Cummings & Blue Rodeo, hockey games, a figure skating showcase champions Elizabeth Manley & Elvis Stoyko! Wrap up the 20-day festival with family friendly events happening all Family Day weekend!
Enjoy The Outdoors With These Winter Sport Events
Pack your hat, gloves, and dress in layers. Winter is a popular season to enjoy winter sports events and recreational activities. While cottage rentals are most visited in the summer, our winter cottage rentals offer fun activities and things to do for all ages! Hit the snowy trails and experience the thrills at these events:
Arrowhead Ice Skating Trail – Huntsville – Open All Season
Weekend plans in Cottage Country always include a visit to the Arrowhead Ice Skating Trail. This popular winter attraction lets you skate through the Muskoka Forest on an icy path through Arrowhead Provincial Park more than one kilometre long. See for yourself why it was named one of Travel + Leisure’s ‘Top Stunning Natural Ice Skating Rinks Around the World.’
Learn to Fat Bike – Bracebridge – Open All Season
Carve your own path through the snowy hillsides in Cottage Country with fat biking. The snowy terrain is perfect for those thick tires to shred through and take you on a wild, high-speed winter adventure.
Try fat biking on natural trails in Muskoka Forest and the Trans Canada Trail.
Midland City Forest – Trail Open During the Winter
Snow covers the rugged trails winding through Midland City Forest for hours of winter sports fun! The forest is open to the public, with built-in attractions like an ice rink. The snowy hills turn into slippery fun with toboggan races and tackle the mountain bike trails on a fat bike.
Snowmobiling – Available all Winter (Weather-Dependent)
While not an event, Cottage Country offers some of the best snowmobile trails in all of Ontario. Whether looking for the top snowmobile trails during a Haliburton cottage rental or looking for a guide to snowmobiling in Cottage Country, there is no shortage of trails to enjoy throughout the area.
Kid-Friendly Winter Events in Ontario Cottage Country
There’s no age limit to the fun in Cottage Country this winter! Give the kids something fun to do at one of these events:
Festival of the Arts – Huntsville – Spring, Summer, Fall
Three decades later, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts continues bringing culture to Cottage Country. This seasonal festival showcases music, art, literature, and entertainment for the entire family.
Downtown Huntsville, Ontario turns into the Cottage Country cultural epicentre as its local venues spotlight live artists and performers. This year, it will host events like The Nutcracker, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Alphabet of Awesome Science, and kids eprograms such as Disco Ducks, Theatre Kids, and Drama Tweens.
Muskoka Arts & Crafts Holiday Market – Bracebridge – November 2024
Don’t wait till the last minute to do your holiday shopping! The Muskoka Arts & Crafts Holiday Market brings together more than two dozen talented local artisans and vendors for unique gift ideas for everyone on your nice list!
Get your face painted and snap a silly photo for your holiday cards at the photo booth. There will even be a special appearance from Santa.
Huntsville Santa Claus Parade – Huntsville – November 29, 2024
The North Pole comes to Downtown Huntsville for the annual Christmas Parade. Gather on the Clinton Ave. sidewalk for the spectacular display. Watch as more than 80 floats soar overhead and local marching bands put on show-stopping performances that get you dancing.
Are you visiting Ontario Cottage Country this winter? Let us know which of these events and activities you’re most excited about attending! At CottageLINK Rental Management we have lots of incredible winter cottage rentals and our team is happy to find that PERFECT cottage for you and your family or friends! Shoot us a message or check out all of our cottage rentals below!
There is so much to do in Ontario Cottage Country during your cottage rental, check out even more activities to enjoy with our list of the Best Winter Activities to enjoy!
Plan Your Next Visit at One of Our Many Ontario Cottage Rentals
There’s never been a better time to plan your next cottage vacation for any season! Contact CLRM today to learn more & book your stay at one of our many great waterfront cottage rentals!
If you are interested in cottage rental management services, we would love the opportunity to speak with you and hear more about your cottage! At CottageLINK Rental Management we are focused on tailoring our services to the needs of our individual homeowners. Our cottage rental management services help maximize rental income, minimize time involvement, and offer a seamless guest experience! Our team would be happy to chat and you can learn more by submitting your contact details HERE.
