If planning out your entire summer is your forte, you can get out to a number of key events in Bruce, Grey & Simcoe Counties.  If on the other hand you’re more impulsive with your plans, bookmark this page and return when you’re ready to go exploring.

Whether you’re headed up this way from Southern Ontario & beyond, or twiddling your thumbs staring at Georgian Bay, you’ll want to note the unmissable festivals & events on this list. Some are big festivals, some small, but (apologies for the cliché) there’s something for everyone.

CULTURAL Festivals & Events in Bruce, Grey & Simcoe  (June 2012 - Sept 2012)

Salsa at Blue - Blue Mountain - June 22-24 - http://www.bluemountain.ca/salsa_weekend.htm

P.R.A.N.C.E. - Southampton - July 5 - http://southamptoncraftshow.com

Mariposa Folk Festival - Orillia - July 6-8 - www.mariposafolk.com

Sights & Sounds - Hanover  - July 23-29 - www.sights-sounds.ca

Collingwood Elvis Festival - Collingwood - July 26-29 - www.collingwoodelvisfestival.com

150th Emancipation Festival - Owen Sound - Aug 4 - www.emancipation.ca/the-festival/

Kempenfest - Barrie - Aug 4-6 - www.kempenfest.com

OTHERfolk - Owen Sound - Aug 16 - http://otherfolk.com

Music in the Fields - Lucknow - Aug 24-25 - http://www.musicinthefields.ca/

Beatles Festival - Orillia - Sept 14-15 - www.orilliabeatlescelebration.com

SPORT Festivals & Events in Bruce, Grey & Simcoe  (June 2012 - Sept 2012)

Bruce Manitoulin Passage - June 2 & 3 - www.sharetheroad.ca

Holstein Rodeo - Holstein - July 12-15 - www.holsteinrodeo.com

Centurion - Horseshoe Resort - July 14-15 - http://centurioncycling.com

Wakestock - Collingwood - August 10-12 - www.wakestock.com

Bruce Peninsula Multisport Race - Wiarton - Aug 11 - www.brucepeninsulamultisportrace.ca

Splash Series SUP Final - Sauble Beach - Aug 17 - http://ontariosupseries.com

Ontario Trailblazing Festival - Oro Station - Aug 18-19 - www.mtbonfestival.com

Tough Mudder - Mount St. Louis, Moonstone - Aug 18-19 - www.toughmudder.com

Salmon Spectaular - Owen Sound - Aug 26-Sept 2 - www.sydenhamsportsmen.com/derby

KiteJam - Oliphant - Sept 21 - www.kiterider.ca

AGRI-CULINARY Festivals & Events in Bruce, Grey & Simcoe  (June 2012 - Sept 2012)

Alliston Potato Festival - Alliston - Aug 10-12 - www.allistonpotatofestival.com

Savour Simcoe - Minesing - Aug 26 - www.simcoecountyfarmfresh.ca/savoursimcoe

Ribfest - Owen Sound - Sept 14-16 - www.owensoundribfest.com

Scarecrow Invasion & Family Festival - Meaford - Sept 28 - www.meaford.ca

Pumpkinfest - Port Elgin - Sept 29-30 - www.pumpkinfest.org

HONOURABLE MENTION

SoupFest - Holland Marsh - date TBA - www.hollandmarshsoupfest.com

Summerfolk Music & Craft Festival - Owen Sound - Aug 17-19 - www.summerfolk.org

Tom Thompson Canadian Spirit Arts Festival - Owen Sound - Details TBA

SandFest - Sauble Beach - Aug 10-12 - www.saublebeach.com/sandfest.html

Warrior Dash - Horseshoe Resort - July 21-22 - http://warriordash.com

Met Con Blue - Blue Mountain - June 1 - 3 - http://metconrace.com

Bike the Bruce O-Cup - Wiarton - July 22 - www.bikethebruce.com

Your Local Farmers Markets - Your Town - All summer

Bruce, Grey and Simcoe Counties are only a couple of hours drive from Toronto and have been recently united under one flag in provincial tourism efforts.  To celebrate, the above is a succinct, geographically-diverse list of 10 featured “Cultural”, “Sport” and 5 “Agri-culinary” events, chosen and compiled independently by GriggSport.

What did we miss?  What festival are you most excited about?  Are you traveling from afar to hit up one of these events?  Tweet us @GriggSport to let us know!

Sources: explorethebruce.com, visitgrey.ca, experience.simcoe.ca, owensoundtourism.ca

Photo Credit: Carlo Obillos