Summer is the time for celebration, adventure and enjoying time outside with family and friends. And what better place to do all of it than at a local festival? The good news is, Barrie and the surrounding area have no shortage of exciting events to explore.
5 events you can’t miss in and around Barrie
Here are the top 5 festivals to check out this summer in and around Barrie …
1. Ontario's Best Butter Tart Festival
Date: June 14 from 9 AM to 5 PM
Place: Downtown Midland
Cost: Free to enter
Get ready for the sweetest day of the year! Downtown Midland and its scenic waterfront parks will host Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival, proudly presented by Chapman's.
Recognized as one of the Top 100 Festivals and Events in Ontario, this delicious celebration draws over 60,000 visitors and features 200+ vendors and food trucks offering everything from mouth-watering butter tarts to unique, handmade items.
The festival showcases an incredible variety of butter tarts – classic and creative – like maple, bacon, Skor, s’mores, vegan, gluten-free, and many more. In 2024 alone, over 300,000 butter tarts were sold!
Festival highlights include:
- The Egg Farmers of Ontario Butter Tart Contest, open to both professional and amateur bakers, with categories for Traditional and Wild Style butter tarts. Judging takes place at the Midland Cultural Centre, culminating in the announcement of the Best in Show winner at 3:30 PM.
- Live music all day on the Entertainment Stage at Harbourside Park.
- A Kids Zone, buskers, and family-friendly activities throughout the festival grounds.
- Free amenities like bike valet, town transit, and shuttle service via the Great Canadian Meat Shuttle from select Midland locations.
- Special sales and treats from downtown Midland merchants.
2. Troubadour Festival Summer Concert Series
Date: June 14 to September 6, 2025
Place: Meridian Place Amphitheater
Cost: FREE
Experience the magic of live music and community camaraderie at the Troubadour Festival Summer Concert Series! Set against the vibrant backdrop of Meridian Place, this four-part celebration is set to ignite your summer with unforgettable performances by acclaimed Canadian artists. Featuring an exciting new Local Opener Series, this year's event guarantees a season of music that's bigger, louder, and more inspirational than ever before.
The 2025 Lineup For The Troubadour Festival
- Saturday, June 14 – DEAN BRODY
- Saturday, July 26 – THE 99s
- Saturday, August 16 – HAWKSLEY WORKMAN
- Saturday, September 6 – BRETT KISSEL
Local openers will perform before each show from 5 to 8 PM with the headliners hitting the stage at 8:30 PM.
3. Mariposa Folk Festival
Date:July 4 to 6, 2025
Place: Tudhope Park
Cost: Day passes starting at $154; Weekend passes for $239
Mariposa is a decades-old folk festival that celebrates song, story, dance and craft. A local resident with a love of folk music organized the first event in 1961.
For the first 3 years, the festival took place in Orillia but after 1963 the festival was banned. After this the Mariposa Folk Festival moved around for a few decades before ending up back in Orillia in 2000.
Today, the 3-day festival features 11 stages with 100+ acts from established and emerging artists. This year’s lineup includes Iron & Wine, Waxahatchee, The Sheepdogs, Serena Ryder, and The Papr Kites.
The Mariposa Folk Festival also has:
- An Artisan Village
- Pub Tent
- Food Trail with multiple vendors
- Community Village
- Folk Play Area for kids
- Lakeside Wellness Activities
- And more
Camping is available on site at the Pete Seeger Memorial Campground from July 3 to 7.
4. Kempenfest
Date: August 1 to 4
Location: Barrie Waterfront
Cost: Free to enter
Kempenfest is one of Ontario’s biggest and best waterfront festivals with nearly 500 exhibits.
While the event started in 1971, it didn’t move downtown until 1975. Today, it takes over 2 kms of the Kempenfelt shoreline for 3 days every summer.
One of the major draws for Kempenfest is the art & crafts vendors with over 300 artisans and craftspeople. The market includes handmade wares, products from the kitchen, and innovative new products not yet sold at retail.
The annual antique show, with vendors from across Ontario, is almost as big a draw as the arts & crafts. But at this show the vendors can’t sell reproductions. Only antique, vintage and collectible items are allowed.
Kempenfest also features live music from local bands and top Canadian talent. Saturday and Sunday during the day you can take in free shows at one of two stages. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, as well as Monday afternoon, the main stage hosts ticketed shows. This year, Shawn Desman, Colin James, The Washboard Union and more will be playing at the OLG Main Stage.
Another popular draw for Kempenfest is the Kids Village, which offers:
- Live performances at the Kool FM & Rock 95 Community Stage
- Interactive games and activities
- Face painting (for a fee)
- Art stations for kids
- And more
Families can also enjoy fun games and rides on the midway.
5. Barrie Dragon Boat Festival
Date: August 16
Location: Heritage Park
Cost: Free to watch the races
The annual Barrie Dragon Boat Festival is a major recreational and cultural event. It promotes community spirit, vitality and unity. Hosted by The Barrie Public Library, the event also offers family literacy activities
Each year, teams of paddlers enter into the race for a fun-filled, adrenaline pumping competition on Kempenfelt Bay. 20 paddlers in a canoe like boat with a drummer upfront and a steerer in the stern, try to win a 300 meter race.
4 teams race at a time through several heats and each race takes about 2.5 minutes. At the end of the final race, several awards are handed out.
Practice season begins in June so you may even see teams out on the Bay before the festival.
Events In Barrie
There are tons of great events going on in Barrie and the surrounding area every summer.
If you’re looking for an exciting place to be, make sure you visit these festivals! You won’t want to miss out on the excitement, entertainment and celebration that all these festivals offer. Not to mention, delicious food and one-of-a-kind vendors.
