Under the Pines: Discovering the Heart of Buckhorn
Saturday, August 15 from 10am to 5pm and Sunday, August 16 from 10am to 4pm.
Executive Summary
For nearly five decades, the Buckhorn Festival of the Arts has welcomed visitors to one of Ontario’s most celebrated outdoor fine art festivals. Set beneath the towering pines surrounding the Buckhorn Community Centre, the festival has grown from a community fundraiser into a nationally respected celebration of Canadian art, creativity and community spirit.
Thousands of visitors return each August not simply to purchase artwork, but to meet the artists, discover new talent, reconnect with friends and experience the unique atmosphere that has made Buckhorn a summer tradition for generations. As the festival prepares to celebrate its 50th Anniversary next year, there has never been a better time to discover, or rediscover, one of Ontario’s true cultural treasures.
Where the Forest Becomes an Art Gallery
There is something almost magical about arriving at the Buckhorn Festival of the Arts.
Long before the first painting catches your eye, you become aware of the setting itself. Towering white pines filter the summer sunlight into a soft patchwork across winding pathways. A gentle breeze stirs the branches overhead while conversations drift from booth to booth. Artists greet visitors not as customers, but as guests, eager to share the inspiration behind their latest creations. Everywhere you look, colour, craftsmanship and imagination combine to create an experience unlike any traditional gallery.
Opening Ceremonies
For one weekend each August, the Buckhorn Community Centre grounds are transformed into an outdoor gallery where nature and art exist in perfect harmony. Paintings, sculptures, photography, glass, wood, pottery, jewellery and contemporary works are displayed beneath the trees, inviting visitors to slow their pace, explore and discover something unexpected.
It is this setting, combined with the warmth of the artists and volunteers—that has made Buckhorn one of Ontario’s most beloved summer traditions.
A Tradition Built on Vision and Community
The Buckhorn Festival of the Arts began in 1978 with a simple but ambitious vision: to create an event that would celebrate Canadian artists while supporting the Buckhorn Community Centre.
What began as a local initiative quickly earned a reputation that extended far beyond the Kawarthas. Through the dedication of volunteers, organizers and supporters, the festival steadily attracted some of Canada’s finest artists and became known for the exceptional quality of its juried exhibitions.
Among those whose influence helped shape the festival’s artistic direction were Edwin and Barbara Matthews. Their commitment to Canadian artists, their encouragement of excellence and their passion for fostering relationships within the art community helped establish Buckhorn as a destination respected by artists and collectors alike.
Nearly fifty years later, that same spirit continues to define the festival.
Gary McWilliams with Edwin Matthews
The Artists Who Made Buckhorn Famous
One of the festival’s greatest strengths has always been the remarkable calibre of artists it attracts.
Visitors have had the opportunity to meet internationally respected wildlife artists, landscape painters, sculptors, photographers and artisans whose work now hangs in private collections across Canada and beyond.
Judi McWilliams with Michael Dumas
Artists such as Michael Dumas brought extraordinary realism and emotion to Canada’s wildlife, while Edwin Matthews became known not only for his own artistic talent but also for his tireless support of fellow artists. Eddie LePage captured the beauty and character of wildlife with remarkable warmth, Brent Townsend’s dramatic compositions earned admiration from collectors across North America, and Derek Wicks became celebrated for portraying the energy and spirit of Canada’s natural world.
Artist Eddie LePage
Yet one of Buckhorn’s greatest gifts has always been discovery.
Many visitors arrive looking for a familiar artist and leave inspired by someone they have never met before. For emerging artists, Buckhorn has provided an opportunity to exhibit alongside established professionals. For collectors, it has become a place where lasting relationships with artists often begin.
Artist Brent Townsend
More Than Paintings
Ask anyone who has attended Buckhorn year after year what keeps bringing them back and the answer is rarely, “the paintings.”
Instead, they speak about the atmosphere.
The conversations with artists.
Judi McWilliams with Artist Derek Wicks
The excitement of discovering a new favourite.
Watching children become fascinated by creativity.
Meeting neighbours.
Artist Mia Lane and her husband Robert
Sharing lunch beneath the trees.
Returning home with a piece of art that forever reminds them of a perfect summer weekend.
The Buckhorn Festival of the Arts has never been just about acquiring artwork.
It is about creating memories.
Every painting purchased carries with it a story, not only of the artist who created it, but also of the day it was discovered and the people who shared that experience.
An Ontario Visited Perspective
Nearly forty years ago, Judi and I arrived at the Buckhorn Festival of the Arts simply because a friend suggested we would enjoy it.
At the time, we were not involved in the art business. Judi was an artist, and we both appreciated original artwork, but we came as visitors, just like thousands of others have over the years.
We were captivated.
The quality of the artwork, the welcoming atmosphere and the opportunity to meet the artists left a lasting impression on us. Before long, attending Buckhorn became one of our annual traditions.
Each year we would save our loose change in a jar so that, when festival weekend arrived, we could purchase one original work of art. Those pieces remain among our most treasured possessions—not because of their value, but because each one tells the story of a special day shared together beneath the pines.
Neither of us could have imagined where that first visit would eventually lead.
Artist Paul Murray
Over the years we developed friendships with many of the artists, worked alongside Edwin Matthews promoting Canadian art, travelled across Canada introducing Michael Dumas’ Parks Canada wildlife collection, established an art gallery and custom framing business, and eventually founded Festival and Event Services Inc. and Ontario Visited.
Looking back, it is remarkable to realize that so much of our journey can be traced to one recommendation from a friend and one unforgettable visit to Buckhorn.
Artist Michael Dumas
A Festival Guided by Volunteers
Behind every successful Buckhorn Festival of the Arts is a dedicated team of volunteers whose passion has sustained this remarkable event for nearly fifty years.
Long before the artists arrive, volunteers are planning, organizing, preparing the grounds and welcoming exhibitors. Throughout the weekend they answer questions, assist visitors, support artists and ensure that everything runs smoothly.
Their commitment is largely unseen by those enjoying the festival, yet it is their dedication that has allowed Buckhorn to flourish generation after generation.
They are the quiet foundation upon which this remarkable tradition has been built.
Gary McWilliams with BCC General Manager, Judy McWhirter
Experience Buckhorn This Summer
Whether you are an experienced collector, an artist seeking inspiration or someone simply looking for an unforgettable summer outing, the Buckhorn Festival of the Arts offers an experience unlike any other.
Come for the artwork.
Stay for the conversations.
Meet the artists.
Discover something unexpected.
Spend time beneath the towering pines.
Next year, the Buckhorn Festival of the Arts celebrates an extraordinary milestone—its 50th Anniversary. Ontario Visited will be marking that occasion with a special commemorative feature exploring the festival’s remarkable history, the artists who shaped its legacy, and the countless lives it has influenced over nearly five decades.
Until then, we encourage you to experience the festival for yourself.
After all, you never know where one visit might lead.
Artist Joan Tovey – One of the Originals
