Ten unmissable cultural road trips within two hours of Toronto
The Camping Trip
WAYHOME
Burl’s Creek Event Grounds, Oro-Medonte. July 22 to 24.
Diehard music fans pitch tents at this summer carnival, which features outdoor art installations and sets from Arcade Fire and the Killers. A $600 VIP package buys coddled urbanites raised and shaded seating, custom cocktails, access to late-night parties, and, for the sore and stinky, luxe massages and shower services.
PIT STOP: Dickey Bee Honey in Innisfil for apiary tours and wildflower honey.
The Drama Destination
STRATFORD FESTIVAL
Stratford. To Oct. 30.
The Bard bonanza goes meta this year with the North American premiere of Shakespeare in Love, a stage adaptation of Tom Stoppard’s sweet and salty costume drama. Also worth checking out: the Stratford Summer Music Festival, which features outdoor sunrise concerts and music on a barge.
PIT STOP: The Berlin, a new farm-to-table spot in Kitchener from ex–Langdon Hall super-chef Jonathan Gushue.
The Bucolic Concert Hall
WESTBEN BARN
6698 County Rd. 30 N., Campbellford. July 1 to 31.
The stunningly rustic timber-frame barn was designed with acoustics in mind. This summer, it hosts the premiere of The Pencil Salesman, a whimsical chamber opera starring Met baritone John Fanning.
PIT STOP: The Mary Poppins–esque antique carousel in Roseneath, which holds 40 basswood horses and dates back to 1906.
The Hootenanny
HAVELOCK JAMBOREE
10 Country Rd. 48, Havelock. Aug. 18 to 21.
The annual hoedown is more Deep South than southern Ontario. RVs, steel-toed boots and line dancing prevail, along with performances from sibling trio the Band Perry and American Idol superstar Scotty McCreery.
PIT STOP: Oshawa’s Hollywood Cone for a Mutant Milkshake (they’re blended with Skor bars, pie slices, funnel cakes and other delicious monstrosities).
The Art Party
DRAKE DEVONSHIRE
24 Wharf St., Wellington. To Oct. 30.
True to its Queen West roots, the quaint and quirky Prince Edward County hotel hosts an outdoor art extravaganza, featuring giant murals, interactive installations and playful steel sculptures scattered all over the grounds.
PIT STOP: A romp through the fields at Prince Edward County Lavender. The on-site boutique sells luscious soaps and lotions.
The Boozy Film Festival
MOVIE NIGHT IN THE VINEYARD
1249 Niagara Stone Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake. Various dates.
The classiest movie theatre in Ontario is at Trius Winery, where guests chill on lawn chairs and sip rosé. The 2016 schedule includes Spectre for Bond fans and The Force Awakens for BB-8 groupies.
PIT STOP: A dip in the swimming hole at DeCew Falls, a secluded Shangri-La with a 70-foot waterfall.
The Can-Rock Cathedral
JACKSON-TRIGGS AMPHITHEATRE
2145 Niagara Stone Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake. June 9 to Sept. 9.
At the winery’s glowing coliseum, showgoers drink pinot while taking in mellow sets. Among them: renaissance man Bahamas, troubadour Dan Mangan and indie faves Stars.
PIT STOP: The Ice House Winery, which serves up wildly refreshing icewine slushies.
The Rural Revue
4TH LINE THEATRE
779 Zion Line, Millbroo. Aug. 2 to 27.
This theatre troupe stages original Canadian dramas on a patch of farmland, using the barns and paddocks for scenery. The standout is The Bad Luck Bank Robbers, which recreates a real-life TD Bank heist from 1961.
PIT STOP: Mercury Chocolates in Port Hope, which makes truffles in such fab flavours as pink peppercorn, key lime and cherry shiraz.
The Edwardian Spectacle
SHAW FESTIVAL
Niagara-on-the-Lake. To Oct. 23.
This year, the picturesque theatre fest breaks away from George Bernard Shaw’s prim comedies of manners with a production of Stephen Sondheim’s gruesome gorefest Sweeney Todd and a trippy new take on Alice in Wonderland.
PIT STOP: The Kowalik family’s roadside market for bushels of just-picked cherries, apricots and peaches.
The Barn Bash
HAYLOFT DANCEHALL
344 Salmon St., Picton. Various dates.
Last year, the owners of the Dakota Tavern on Ossington transformed an abandoned barn in Picton into a fairy-lit country fantasy with craft beer and live music. On the roster this summer: shows from indie stalwarts the Sadies, Yukon Blonde and Mounties.
PIT STOP: Dead People’s Stuff, a weird and wonderful antique shop in Bloomfield stocked with kitschy Canadiana.
Correction
An earlier version of this post contained an incorrect closing date for the Westben Arts Festival Theatre.
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/culture/10-culture-road-trips-within-two-hours-toronto/&title=Ten unmissable cultural road trips within two hours of Toronto&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/wayhome-festival-feat.jpg&description=The Camping Trip
WAYHOME
Burl’s Creek Event Grounds, Oro-Medonte. July 22 to 24.
Diehard music fans pitch tents at this summer carnival, which features outdoor art installations and sets from Arcade Fire and the Killers. A $600 VIP package buys coddled urbanites raised and shaded seating, custom cocktails, access to late-night parties, and, for the sore and stinky, luxe massages and shower services.
PIT STOP: Dickey Bee Honey in Innisfil for apiary tours and wildflower honey.
[caption id="attachment_383591" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Stratford's Festival Theatre.[/caption]
The Drama Destination
STRATFORD FESTIVAL
Stratford. To Oct. 30.
The Bard bonanza goes meta this year with the North American premiere of Shakespeare in Love, a stage adaptation of Tom Stoppard’s sweet and salty costume drama. Also worth checking out: the Stratford Summer Music Festival, which features outdoor sunrise concerts and music on a barge.
PIT STOP: The Berlin, a new farm-to-table spot in Kitchener from ex–Langdon Hall super-chef Jonathan Gushue.
[caption id="attachment_383587" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Westben Barn.[/caption]
The Bucolic Concert Hall
WESTBEN BARN
6698 County Rd. 30 N., Campbellford. July 1 to 31.
The stunningly rustic timber-frame barn was designed with acoustics in mind. This summer, it hosts the premiere of The Pencil Salesman, a whimsical chamber opera starring Met baritone John Fanning.
PIT STOP: The Mary Poppins–esque antique carousel in Roseneath, which holds 40 basswood horses and dates back to 1906.
[caption id="attachment_383595" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Havelock Jamboree.[/caption]
The Hootenanny
HAVELOCK JAMBOREE
10 Country Rd. 48, Havelock. Aug. 18 to 21.
The annual hoedown is more Deep South than southern Ontario. RVs, steel-toed boots and line dancing prevail, along with performances from sibling trio the Band Perry and American Idol superstar Scotty McCreery.
PIT STOP: Oshawa’s Hollywood Cone for a Mutant Milkshake (they’re blended with Skor bars, pie slices, funnel cakes and other delicious monstrosities).
[caption id="attachment_383596" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Drake Devonshire.[/caption]
The Art Party
DRAKE DEVONSHIRE
24 Wharf St., Wellington. To Oct. 30.
True to its Queen West roots, the quaint and quirky Prince Edward County hotel hosts an outdoor art extravaganza, featuring giant murals, interactive installations and playful steel sculptures scattered all over the grounds.
PIT STOP: A romp through the fields at Prince Edward County Lavender. The on-site boutique sells luscious soaps and lotions.
[caption id="attachment_383590" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Movie Night in the Vineyard.[/caption]
The Boozy Film Festival
MOVIE NIGHT IN THE VINEYARD
1249 Niagara Stone Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake. Various dates.
The classiest movie theatre in Ontario is at Trius Winery, where guests chill on lawn chairs and sip rosé. The 2016 schedule includes Spectre for Bond fans and The Force Awakens for BB-8 groupies.
PIT STOP: A dip in the swimming hole at DeCew Falls, a secluded Shangri-La with a 70-foot waterfall.
[caption id="attachment_383593" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Jackson-Triggs Amphitheatre.[/caption]
The Can-Rock Cathedral
JACKSON-TRIGGS AMPHITHEATRE
2145 Niagara Stone Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake. June 9 to Sept. 9.
At the winery’s glowing coliseum, showgoers drink pinot while taking in mellow sets. Among them: renaissance man Bahamas, troubadour Dan Mangan and indie faves Stars.
PIT STOP: The Ice House Winery, which serves up wildly refreshing icewine slushies.
[caption id="attachment_383597" align="alignnone" width="1000"] A 4th Line Theatre show.[/caption]
The Rural Revue
4TH LINE THEATRE
779 Zion Line, Millbroo. Aug. 2 to 27.
This theatre troupe stages original Canadian dramas on a patch of farmland, using the barns and paddocks for scenery. The standout is The Bad Luck Bank Robbers, which recreates a real-life TD Bank heist from 1961.
PIT STOP: Mercury Chocolates in Port Hope, which makes truffles in such fab flavours as pink peppercorn, key lime and cherry shiraz.
[caption id="attachment_383592" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Shaw Festival.[/caption]
The Edwardian Spectacle
SHAW FESTIVAL
Niagara-on-the-Lake. To Oct. 23.
This year, the picturesque theatre fest breaks away from George Bernard Shaw’s prim comedies of manners with a production of Stephen Sondheim’s gruesome gorefest Sweeney Todd and a trippy new take on Alice in Wonderland.
PIT STOP: The Kowalik family’s roadside market for bushels of just-picked cherries, apricots and peaches.
[caption id="attachment_383594" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Hayloft Dancehall.[/caption]
The Barn Bash
HAYLOFT DANCEHALL
344 Salmon St., Picton. Various dates.
Last year, the owners of the Dakota Tavern on Ossington transformed an abandoned barn in Picton into a fairy-lit country fantasy with craft beer and live music. On the roster this summer: shows from indie stalwarts the Sadies, Yukon Blonde and Mounties.
PIT STOP: Dead People’s Stuff, a weird and wonderful antique shop in Bloomfield stocked with kitschy Canadiana.){kind=link}