Ontario’s Cranberry Capital Comes Alive for the Harvest
The reasoning of course, is none other than its annual harvest of the beloved cranberry. Visitors flock to the Cranberry Capital of Ontario throughout the entire month of October to see the stunning fall colours, and to experience the annual harvest in all of its glory! The fall colours in Bala are seemingly even more beautiful with the addition of the bright and cheerful cranberry red!
From September 24 until the end of October, Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery comes alive with excitement as thousands flock towards the famous marsh to get up close and personal with the cranberries. The bog to bottle tour is a must during the harvest, taking in the fascinating history behind Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery and this unique crop that put Bala on the map. All tours will finish with a tutored wine tasting of the delicious fruit wines from Muskoka Lakes Winery. On most weekends, visitors can take wagon tours, helicopter rides, or do the always popular ‘photo opp in the berries’. The photo opp is available September 30 – October 15, and October 21 – 22.
Visitors to the marsh also love to shop at the Cranberry Emporium, picking up their supply of cranberries, or finding a great cranberry inspired product they can bring home and try. Mrs. J’s Cranberry Chutney is a popular treat, as is Cranberry Vanilla Chai Tea, and their Cranberry Honey – a unique product that is actually made using cranberry pollen from the cranberry blossoms. This is a hot seller and always gets scooped up quick!
Of course, you can always pick up a bottle of their award-winning fruit wines! Take their tutored wine tasting, find your favourite, and bring it home to try with family and friends at your next gathering. Their Red Maple Dessert Wine is very popular, a perfect blend of tart red cranberries and sweet maple syrup. This dessert wine is an excellent nightcap for a large family meal (i.e. Thanksgiving).
The cranberry fun isn’t just reserved for the marsh! The whole town of Bala gets caught up in the cranberry festivities!
One of the best places for lunch in Bala (and quite possibly Muskoka), Cottage Cravings Cafe & Gift Shop proudly gets caught up in the cranberry craze. Every fall Henny bakes up a whole line of cranberry goodies, using cranberries that come from Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery. Some of the home-baked treats include cranberry butter tarts, cranberry/apple muffins, the incredibly popular oatmeal cranberry & white chocolate cookies, and the one-of-a-kind Mile High Cranberry Pie – think lemon meringue pie, but more delicious and baked with cranberries instead. Stop in for lunch and try one of their hearty homemade soups and specialty sandwiches, before finishing off with one of these cranberry goodies. The Mile High Cranberry Pies are sold by the pie only, so order ahead and bring it home with you to share with family and friends.
Even the local grocery store gets in on the fun, with their popular fresh cranberry sausages made in-store. These sausages are always a hit, so pick up a package to grill on the barbeque!
Of course the entire harvest leads up to Muskoka’s largest fall festival, the Bala Cranberry Festival. This year the festival will be from October 14 – 16, with many great new additions to the festival weekend. Whether you haven’t missed a single festival, haven’t been in a few years, or have always wanted to go and never made it, mark your calendars and make sure you attend this year’s event. You won’t be disappointed!
Click here for more information on the Bala Cranberry Festival
Find a place to stay nearby:
Hotels & Motels
Crestwood Inn
Bed and Breakfasts
House on the Hill Bed and Breakfast
Resorts
JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa
Sherwood Inn
Cottage Resorts
The Muskokan Resort Club
Shamrock Lodge
