INSIDER Spring June 2023

“Exploring ~ Spotlighting ONTARIO Communities and Events Since 2007″

Open Marketing Programs

Ontario Communities

Almonte

Bala

Barrie

Bayfield

Bobcaygeon

Brockville

Brussels

Chesley

Clinton

Cobourg

Coldwater

Dorset

Durham

Elora

Goderich

Summer! (Or Almost Summer)!

We got “lost” yesterday! That’s right, we got “lost, but we found a place that we had never visited before! That’s what summer (almost summer) is all about, exploring Ontario’s vast beauty. This summer we hope to get LOST a lot and, on our journeys, we hope to find plenty of “lost” Ontario treasures.

Scoop (Judi) and I hope that you start the summer (almost summer) right, by getting “lost” in Ontario’s “beauty”!

In this month’s issue of the INSIDER, we are exploring all the wonderful Ontario communities we have visited over the past 16+ years. Our video is a tapestry of our travels and discoveries.

Now, as we continue our explorations, new partner joins us in spotlighting Ontario communities. All-Purpose Realty is Canada’s leading referral service, helping real estate buyers and sellers since 1996. All-Purpose will introduce you to a top real estate agent in your area and you can earn AIR MILES® or Cashback Rewards. All, at no cost to you! You can learn more at https://www.facebook.com/allpurposerealty. Tell them that the NOMAD sent you!

Finally, there’s a new “festival in town”! The town is Simcoe Ontario and the new festival is the “Fairgrounds Festival”. It all takes place on June 9^th and 10^th and Norfolk County Fair’s Angela Hogeveen will tell you all about it.

The Parking Lottery…

Article by Gary McWilliams (aka Festival Nomad) Original Artwork by K.C. (Susan) Caron

Here’s an idea, I think really busy festivals and events should offer to sell potential attendees “Parking Lottery” tickets. This way, attendees would at least have a chance for a “decent parking spot”. Whenever we go to a busy festival or event, it’s always a “challenge” to find a convenient “parking spot”! I can’t tell you how many times we have driven around for what seems like hours and miles to find a decent spot. It’s very “frustrating”.

There was one time, when I drove all the way to Toronto, I drove around the event area for over an hour, trying to find a spot, that wasn’t miles away. Finally, after much driving and looking I gave up and drove home. But don’t feel too sorry for the “old Nomad”. I have had some incredible luck too! Take the time I drove, again, to Toronto. This time it was to the Beaches Jazz & Blues Festival. Now, for any of you who have visited the Beaches area, you will know that finding a parking spot, even at non peak times, is an adventure! So here we were on a busy Saturday morning during the largest event of the year. We entered the Beaches area from Woodbine and turn east onto Queen Street. Traffic was at a crawl! The festival was taking place at Kew Beach. Slowly we edged our way along Queen Street. After what seemed like hours, we reached the festival park. Just opposite was a street running north. As I looked up the street, I saw an empty spot. I blinked; I could believe my eyes. I thought it must be a no parking zone! I am sure everyone else who saw the spot thought the same! I turned anyway. It wasn’t much of a spot, but it wasn’t in a “no parking” zone. With the help of my passengers, I edged my way into the spot. We were good for the day and “legally parked”! We were lucky this day, but as I have said, more times than not we have driven around in circles trying to find a spot. Some of the more thoughtful events, provide “off-site parking” plus a “shuttle service” (good for them!) but for those who don’t, a “parking lottery” just might work. And it could rise to few “bucks” to boot! There is, of course, a downside to a lottery. They would have to deal with those who paid good money and didn’t win! I wouldn’t want to be the one to tell them that they still had to drive around for hours! Okay, maybe a “parking lottery” isn’t such a great idea after all.

Happy festivaling (new word I just made up!) and remember the Festival Nomad’s mantra “DO I FEEL LUCKY TODAY”!

Ontario Communities…

As I mentioned earlier, Judi and I have been discovering and exploring Ontario communities for over 16 years. Over that time, we have visited more than 150 Ontario communities. There are 120 articles, including original photos and exclusive videos, posted on the “Communities to Explore” section of the website, and more are being added continually.

The video shown below contains only a few of the amazing communities we have experienced.

Ontario Community Spotlight ~ Beaverton

This month’s Ontario Community Spotlight, presented by All-Purpose Realty and Ontario Visited, is the Community of Beaverton.

The Community of Beaverton is located on the shores of Lake Simcoe.

We were in Beaverton to visit their annual agricultural fair. But first, we wanted to visit their downtown. As I mentioned, Beaverton is located on Lake Simcoe, and has a beautiful waterfront. The waterfront area has a great waterfront park. With plenty of things to do for the whole family. Including a store where they sold Ice Cream! The park is also located on the Beaver River, where boats sail and cruise onto the lake.

From the Beaverton Harbour/Marina. From the park and downtown, we headed back to the Beaverton Fairgrounds. There were lots to see and do at the fair.

Beaverton is a community you and your family should visit. It’s located in Durham Region, part of York, Durham, Headwaters.

Beaverton is full of history and interesting things to do and see. Of course, part of the “adventure” of visiting Beaverton is getting there!

If you are looking for an interesting place to visit, take a trip to Beaverton and enjoy all if has to offer!

Click HERE for the Google Map of Beaverton.

Read more about this great Ontario community by clicking HERE.

Inaugural Fairgrounds Festival in Norfolk County this June…

by Angela Hogeveen (NCAS general manager)

Running from June 9 to 10, 2023, Fairgrounds Festival is hosted by the Norfolk County Agricultural Society (NCAS), a historic institution that is deeply entrenched in the community, thanks, in part, to the long-running Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show.

Over the course of two nights, festival-goers can enjoy some of our finest Canadian content, with headlining performances by The Beaches, Finger Eleven, Bif Naked and Sloan.

It’s a massive lineup of JUNO Award winning artists with multi-generational appeal.

“To be able to solidify the Saturday lineup of Bif Naked, Sloan and Finger Eleven is sort of a throwback to some of the greatest Canadian rock artists of recent time, and then to be able to complement that on the Friday night with The Beaches, who are on this trajectory in their career, it gives a great balance,” says Angela Hogeveen, NCAS general manager.

In addition to the stellar musical lineup, which includes performances by incredible local talent as well, the popular Norfolk Night Market will also be open throughout the festival weekend. Launched just last summer, Hogeveen says the Fairgrounds Festival is actually an evolution of last year’s event.

It’s a vision Kristina Kett and her fellow Edward Jones associates Dana Hicks and Jane Bradley share as well. As a longtime partner of the Norfolk Country Fair and Horse Show, Kett says it was only natural that the Edward Jones team offers its support to the Fairgrounds Festival as a presenting sponsor.

Tickets for the Fairgrounds Festival concerts are on sale now, starting at just $25 for a reserved concert seat. For those who are looking for a day full of fun and family-friendly activities, the night market featuring vendors, food trucks, beer, wine and cider, and live local entertainment opens at 3 p.m. and access is just $10.

For more info or to purchase tickets, visit fairgroundsfestival.ca.