Things to do this Labour Day Long Weekend in Barrie
Friday, September 1 – Monday, September 4, 2023
Labour Day long weekend events & activities including free, fun family & kids’ activities, live music, theatre & performing arts, exhibitions and more.
I. Family & Kids Activities this weekend
Port of Orillia Pirate Party
This amazing family fun-filled weekend features in-water Pirate displays, a Pirate Village with live re-enactors and demonstrations and a “plank walk” where the pirates send local politicians and business leaders into the water. Details
September 1 to 3, 2023
Port of Orillia , 50 Centennial Dr, Orillia
Free
Memories of Summer
Get ready for an entertainment-filled evening. The music starts with an opener from the Carpet Frogs, and featuring headliner April Wine. The night will finish off with a bang at our spectacular fireworks show. Details
Sunday, September 3, 2023 | 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Fireworks | 10:00 PM
Beach One -Wasaga Beach Ontario , 87 Beach Drive, Wasaga Beach
There is no charge for General Admission, VIP Admission $27.95
Long Weekend Escape
Spend Labour Day Weekend at Friday Harbour and soak up every last bit of summer! Enjoy fireworks, local vendor market, DJ, face painting, food trucks, and more. Details
August 31 to September 4, 2023
Sunday Fireworks | 10:00 PM
Friday Harbour Resort, 3999 Friday Dr., Innisfil
Free
Chappell Farms Summer Festival
Chappell Farms offers Summer Festival and Zoo until September 5th! Come visit our animals, ride on the tricycle track, walk our new walking trail and learn about agriculture. There is plenty of room to just run and play in the fresh air!
Friday-Monday, until September 4, 2023 | 8;00 AM – 4:00 PM
Chappell Farms, 617 Penetanguishene Road, Barrie
General $13.50 per person including tax; Children under 23 months Free
Sunflower Experience and Ranchland Fun
Enjoy everything Rounds Ranch has to offer PLUS 8 acres with 32 stunning varieties of Sunflowers for you to enjoy. Guests can walk among fiery orange starbursts, dark crimson reds, lemon yellows, and “Teddy Bear” puff-ball-shaped flowers. Take a scenic wagon ride to Sunflower Field and enjoy taking selfies with our Sunflowers! Details
Until September 4, 2023
Tuesday – Friday & Holiday Monday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturdays | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Rounds Ranch, 1922 County Road 92, Elmvale
$13.49 to $24.99
Elmvale Jungle Zoo
Discover an exciting and educational outdoor adventure at the Elmvale Jungle Zoo. Walk along shaded and winding trails. View majestic white lions and tigers. Delight in the playful antics of monkeys and lemurs. Watch the mischievous baby animals play. Admire the beauty of rare and exotic birds and other wildlife in the natural surroundings of the zoo’s 30 acres. Details
Daily | 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM (Last admittance 1 hour before closing)
Elmvale Jungle Zoo, 14191 Simcoe County Rd 27, Phelpston
$16.95 – $23.95; Children 2 yrs & under are FREE
PYO at Barrie Hill Farms
Visit the Barrie Hills Farms for pick your own Fall strawberries, apples, corn, and fall raspberries. Details
Monday-Friday | 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Hours may vary)
Saturday – Sunday & Labour day Monday | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Hours may vary)
Barrie Hill Farms, 2935 Barrie Hill Rd., Springwater
No admission charges. PYO charges: vary
Treetop Trekking Barrie
Plan a fun-filled day climbing and zipping from tree to tree in the spectacular Copeland Forest, at Treetop Trekking Barrie. Details
Weekends, Holidays, and most weekdays
Treetop Trekking Barrie, 1101 Horseshoe Valley Rd., Barrie
20 Minutes North of Barrie at Horseshoe Resort
Varies with activity
Labour Day Picnic
The Barrie and District Labour Council is proud to be hosting this labour-friendly day of food, fun, and beautiful weather! Enjoy free family fun! Details
Monday, September 4, 2023 | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Heritage Park, Simcoe Street, Barrie
Free
Sunflower Fields and Mazes in Ontario
A visit to a sunflower farm is surely a cause for a smile, photo ops, and plenty of sunshine. Walk on a path through a sea of yellow flowers and purchase a specialty product from a store on-site to commemorate your summer experience. In Ontario, these flowers bloom for about two weeks only from early to late August/early September. Details
If you are going just for sunflowers, do call the farm to know more about the bloom condition.
Corn Mazes in Ontario
Get lost at world-famous corn mazes or at the one nearest to you for a memorable experience with the family or your bestie. Most of these farms also have a whole bunch of other great activities so you can enjoy the entire day picking pumpkins, milking goats, cuddling bunnies and so much more! Details
II. Live Music
Summer Sets Series
Enjoy live music alongside our beautiful beachfront weekly as part of our Summer Sets series from 6-8pm on Friday’s and Saturday’s! Details
Friday, September 1, 2023 | 6:00 PM | Jamie Drake and The Thunderstealers
Saturday, September 2, 2023 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Mariachi Fuego
87 Beach Drive, Wasaga Beach, ON
Free
Abbamania
They are the world’s number one production of Abba! An all-Canadian cast that has been touring all over the globe since 1999, performing over 200 concerts a year! Ages 12+. Details
September 1 & 2, 2023 | 8:00 PM
The Historic Gayety 161 Hurontario Street
Collingwood
$45
III. Theatre/Performing Arts
Jeff Dunham: Still Not Canceled
Jeff Dunham is bringing his Still Not Canceled Tour to Orillia’s Casino Rama Resort on September 1st. Details
Friday, September 1, 2023 | Doors 8:00 PM
Casino Rama Resort
5899 Rama Rd, Orillia
$68/$78/$88/$98/$108 + Taxes & Service Charge
Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Journey back to the ancient land of Canaan for an enchanting story of faith and forgiveness as the biblical tale of Joseph is chronicled with sparkling wit, irreverence, and imagination. When Joseph’s father gives him a fabulous coat of many colors, his 11 jealous brothers hatch a devious scheme to sell him into slavery. But Joseph rises above his bleak circumstances due to his ability to interpret dreams, and becomes one of the most powerful men in Egypt. Details
August 10 – September 3, 2023
Kings Wharf Theatre, 97 Jury Drive, Penetanguishene
$34 – $55
Bobbie
Bobbie Presented by Am Shalom Synagogue Written by local playwright Trudee Romanek and directed by Lynn Weintraub. Bobbie follows the story of Fanny “Bobbie” Rosenfeld, a true Canadian sports icon. The play follows her family’s journey as they fled from the violence and turmoil of Russia to the safety of Barrie, where she developed a passion for sports. She would then go on to become an Olympic Champion, representing Canada at the Olympic Games in 1928. A moving story about adversity and resilience against all odds. Has mature themes. Not suitable for under 14s. Details
August 30 – September 10, 2023
Five Points Theatre, 1 Dunlop Street West, Barrie
$28.25 – $33.90 plus $4.50 fees
Halfway There
There’s no such thing as a secret in Stewiacke, Nova Scotia. Not when the gossips meet for coffee every day at the local diner. Vi, Rita, Mary Ellen, and Janine are all as close as can be — and they know everybody’s business. But when Sean, a heartbroken doctor, moves in to take a temporary job at the clinic, he tips the Maritime town (that’s famous for being halfway between the North Pole and the equator) off its axis! Details
Friday, September 1, 2023 | 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Orillia Opera House Lightfoot Theatre, 1 West Street North Orillia
All Seats $38.00
Meaford International Film Festival
The Meaford International Film Festival is the Meaford Culture Foundation’s flagship cultural event, held annually on the Labour Day Weekend at the premier arts venue in Southern Georgian Bay, the Meaford Hall & Cultural Centre. The 17th annual festival will again offer a unique cultural experience featuring award winning films while promoting local restaurants and caterers. Details
August 31 – September 3, 2023
Meaford Hall, Meaford
Varies
Drive-in Movies
Spend an enjoyable time with family watching a movie under the stars.
Movies at Sunset Barrie Drive-In
For ideas see, Check out the Drive-In Theatres in Ontario
Various dates
IV. Sports
Barrie Colts
Preseason game.
vs. Owen Sound Attack on Monday, September 4, 2023 | 6:00 PM
Sadlon Arena, Barrie
Go Hiking or Visit Nature Areas
Parks and pathways, Provincial parks and conservation reserves are great places to enjoy some time with nature.
Enjoy a leisurely walk with the family at any of these locations:
- 25 Fabulous Scenic Lookouts to Visit in Ontario
- 100 Adventures in Ontario Provincial Parks
- 25 Nature and Wilderness Adventures in Ontario
V. Exhibitions, Festivals & Other Events
Le Burger Week
Throughout the week, burger aficionados everywhere are called upon to indulge in their city’s LBW burgers and vote for their favourite one! Details
September 1 to 14, 2023
Participating Restaurants
Varies with restaurants
South Simcoe Railway Scenic Excursions
Take in a scenic journey through the Beeton Creek Valley, in classic 1920s passenger coaches pulled by one of our historic locomotives. You’ll travel in restored 1920s coaches over the rails of a century-old branch line that once connected Hamilton with Barrie and Collingwood. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the vintage locomotive as you travel through the rolling countryside. Details
September 3 – 4, 2023 | 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 1:30 PM, 3:00 PM
Mill Street west in downtown Tottenham
$9 to $17
Garden Follies
Garden Follies are ornate garden structures devoid of a practical function. At the height of their popularity in the 1700s and 1800s, their main purpose was symbolic, built into the landscape to signify a landowner’s wealth, importance, and control over the landscape. Details
June 17 – October 22, 2023
maclarenARTcentre, 37 Mulcaster Street, Barrie
pay-what-you-can donation
Art_Trees of Oro-Medonte
Experience the beautiful landscape, natural assets and culture of Oro-Medonte through the stories one can find when visiting the Art_Trees of Oro-Medonte. These tree sculptures were designed and fabricated locally by David Smith of Oro Design. Following a call for artists and a juried competition, seven local artists were selected to visually enhance the metal trees. The Township encourages residents and visitors to stop in Craighurst to explore the public art, tour the shops and enjoy the local restaurants. Details
Until October 2023
Various Venues, Craighurst
Free
Guided Canoe Tours
Join our Naturalists on a 1-hour guided voyageur-style canoe tour of the Marsh channels. Tours are offered on a first come, first served basis – no pre-registration is required. Details
Daily | 10:30 AM, 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM & 3:30 PM
Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre, 16160 Highway 12 East, Midland
No pre-registration. General admission, plus an additional $8+HST per person
Discovery Harbour Ghost Tours
Join us for a lantern-lit guided tour revealing the supernatural side of Discovery Harbour! Missing artifacts that mysteriously reappear, chess pieces that move, and the image of a small child in a window… these are just some of the unusual happenings that occur at Discovery Harbour. Details
Saturday, September 2, 2023 | 8:00 PM, 8:15 PM, 8:30 PM & 8:45 PM
Discovery Harbour, 93 Jury Drive, Penetanguishene
$12.00 per person (includes HST)
Boating Old Brewery Bay
Daily | 10 AM – 4 PM
Stephen Leacock Museum, 50 Museum Dr., Orillia
Regular admission: $5/person, $15/family
Kayak Ecotours
Get off-trail and experience Wye Marsh from a different perspective! This three-hour guided tour will take you well beyond the limits of our walking trails, providing you with the best opportunity to fully explore the beauty of Wye Marsh. This is an exciting opportunity for those looking for a unique and active outdoor experience. Details
On pre-booking
Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre, 16160 Highway 12 East, Midland
$65 + HST per person, 3 person minimum, and 6 people maximum.
Patiolicious
Collingwood embraces the outdoor dining experience for the 4th Annual Patiolicious! Explore a fresh way of experiencing the taste of Collingwood at one of our many restaurants, eateries, cafes and craft breweries on their expanded patios. Details
Participating locations, Collingwood
Go Hiking or Visit Nature Areas
Parks and pathways, Provincial parks and conservation reserves are open for people to enjoy some time with nature.
Enjoy a leisurely walk with the family at any of these locations:
- 25 Fabulous Scenic Lookouts to Visit in Ontario
- 100 Adventures in Ontario Provincial Parks
- 25 Nature and Wilderness Adventures in Ontario
Farmers Markets
- Barrie Farmers Market on Saturdays | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM @ Outside Barrie City Hall, 70 Collier Street, Barrie. Details
- Bradford Farmers’ Market – Saturdays | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM @ Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library Parking lot, 425 Holland Street West, Bradford. Details
- Midland Farmer’s Market on Sundays until Thanksgiving weekend | 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM @ 526 Bay Street, Midland. Details
- Orilla Fairgrounds Farmer’s Market on Saturdays | 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM @ Orilla Fairgrounds. Details
- Collingwood Downtown Farmers’ Market on Saturdays | 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM @ Municipal parking lot at the corner of Second and Pine Streets. DetailsGo Fishing
You can cast a line and reel in that big catch at Ontario Provincial Parks.
We do try to make the listings as accurate as possible, but there may be typographical/oversight errors or events may be cancelled or postponed without any notice. Verify all details from concerned event Websites/officials.
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