It is once again the time of year when Muskoka comes together to celebrate the noble cranberry.
This weekend the annual Bala Cranberry Festival will draw thousands of guests to the village of Bella for food, fun, entertainment and a celebration of the cranberry harvest.
The event this year runs on Friday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
The weekend’s entertainment will include musical performances from artists both local and abroad, including Sean Cotton, Breyer Summers and Sweet Jake. There will also be a live cooking show on the community center stage taking place throughout each day.
There will be vendor markets, an art exhibition with Bala Plein Air, Scales Nature Park will be on hand and amusement rides including the ferris wheel, berry-go-round and trackless train.
The Bala Cranberry Festival was established in 1984 and has been run by a dedicated group of volunteers ever since. The original purpose of the cranberry festival was to extend the summer tourism season and improve the quality of life in the community by providing financial assistance to organizations and individuals in need.
It’s estimated that since its inception more than half a million people have attended the Cranberry Festival, and hundreds of local community groups and nonprofit associations have been supported. They’ve also handed out more than $100,000 in scholarships.
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