Raise a Toast to the Greatest Little Town in the World!
July 9, 2018 – MUSKOKA ON
One year after Canada rang in its 150th birthday celebration, Bala is celebrating its own 150!
Nestled between the Moon River and Lake Muskoka, the quaint town of Bala has become a destination for anyone looking to trade in the hustle and bustle for a more relaxed and friendlier time.
There are so many things that make Bala one of the greatest little towns in the world; from its small-town feel, to its eclectic shopping scene, from nights spent at The Kee to Bala to a shared affection for cranberries, Bala is a truly special place to visit.
In 1868, Thomas Burgess sailed Lake Muskoka (likely aboard the Wenonah) to the headwaters of the Moon River, where he and his family opened up a sawmill and store to serve the pioneers attracted by Muskoka’s free land grants. Unsure of what he may even call his new home, he settled on naming it Bala, the same name of the town where his family vacationed in Wales. Fast forward a century and a half and Bala has carved its own identity from its humble beginnings.
Gerry Dunn’s concert hall on the water played a big role in this. Known affectionately today as The Kee to Bala, this concert hall has brought people to town for over 75 years and is one of the most beloved Muskoka traditions. Many legends have taken the stage over the years including Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, The Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo, Kim Mitchell, and even Snoop Dogg.
Another major piece of the Bala identity is of course cranberries! Safe to say, when Thomas founded Bala 150 years ago he likely didn’t expect his small settlement to turn into the Cranberry Capital of Ontario.
Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery, founded in the 1950’s, is now a year-round tourism destination with a winery, guided tours (so special they have been designated as a Canadian Signature Experience), an ice skating trail in the winter, a photo opp in the berries that has become a social media phenomenon and so much more. The town of Bala has gotten behind its beloved cranberries, so much so that they host an annual fall harvest festival that has become the largest festival in Muskoka. Always the weekend after Thanksgiving, the Bala Cranberry Festival welcomes 25,000 people to town annually to celebrate their beloved berry.
There are other staples in town that make Bala the special destination it is today. The Balacade is a retro arcade experience that is too extraordinary to descible, other than ‘I can’t believe magical places like this exist‘. A guided museum tour of Bala’s Museum with Memories of Lucy Maud Montgomery is an experience that is one-of-a-kind and HIGHLY recommended. The screened-in porch at the Moon River Lookout is a great place for dinner on the weekends, and people drive from great distances for the baked cookies at Cottage Cravings. And the crowds always get fired up fired up at the SWS Waterski Show in Windsor Park, Tuesday nights in the summer.
Add it all up, and you have one pretty amazing little town. Be sure to stop in and say happy 150th birthday to Bala in 2018!
You are Invited
Come celebrate everything that makes Bala cherished by so many on Saturday, July 21st with a full afternoon of events, a community BBQ, and an evening concert put on by the Bala Legion featuring music of the 60s.
For more information on the celebrations, visit their website
Share Your Bala150 Story
If Bala is full of anything, it is stories! Countless memories have been made in Bala over the years and Bala150 wants to hear them.
Visit Bala150.com and add a memory
Stay and Play
Make the most of your Muskoka experience and check out our top recommendations for places to stay and perfect getaway packages.
