2023 FESTIVAL HUBS
Hubs are local partners that act as a community lead for the festival. From regional galleries to your local culture department, these expert organizations are a friendly face during our festival. Be sure to visit the hub partners for their own cutting-edge arts programming, get connected to the local community, and start your festival adventure.
ELORA/FERGUS
Nestled within Centre Wellington are the picturesque hamlets of Elora and Fergus. Resplendent with natural beauty and historical charm, these communities are known for unique shops, delicious dining, and of course, a plethora of art experiences.
GANANOQUE
Famously referred to as the Gateway to the 1000 Islands, this waterfront region, which stretches east along the St. Lawrence River, shines in the summer and has plenty to do during the cooler months too.
GUELPH
Known as The Royal City and nestled between the Speed and Eramosa Rivers, Guelph is a gem of Southwestern Ontario. The city is famed for world-class arts festivals, as the birthplace of poet John McCrae, and for its craft beer, leading some to declare the city “brewtiful.”
HALTON
Along the Niagara Escarpment, in the northwest end of the Greater Toronto Area, you’ll find Halton. Its natural beauty, historic hamlets and charming villages have captured the hearts of artists, encouraging many of them to call this place home.
OTTAWA REGION
Located in eastern Ontario, Canada’s capital city presents you with impressive “big-ticket” possibilities, like Parliament Hill and national museums. Visit for a rich cultural experience, a palette of diverse cuisine, and creativity from all corners of the nation’s capital.
SAULT STE. MARIE
As a natural highway into the Great Lakes, the Soo is forever linked to its river, the “Bawating” as named by the Ojibwe people. And as a gateway to the further-north, the city is a vibrant hub for arts and culture in Northern Ontario, including a rich Indigenous artist community.
SCUGOG
Scugog is a sweeping township skirting a lake by the same name, with its largest population anchored in Port Perry. From artisan workshops to performances responding to local history, this hub northeast of Toronto and just north of Oshawa is the perfect creative getaway out of the city.
SOUTH GEORGIAN BAY
South Georgian Bay’s sun and ski destinations draw visitors year-round. From Wasaga Beach to Collingwood and Blue Mountain, the area enjoys one of the largest concentrations of artists in Ontario. Artists in the region amplify the beauty of the natural environment and create events that allow locals and visitors to gather, create, and celebrate community.
ST. CATHARINES & NIAGARA
St. Catharines grew into a bustling city after the construction of the Welland Canal in 1820. Since then, St. Catharines has also become a thriving centre for the arts and includes the Niagara Artists Centre, the St. Catharines Museum and the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.
THUNDER BAY
Stunning landscape meets unique history in Thunder Bay, on the traditional territory of the Anishinabek. This city is rich with history, artists, and landmark institutions including the Thunder Bay Art Gallery and the Thunder Bay Museum.
TORONTO QUEEN WEST
There are free events in every corner of the city, celebrating Toronto’s many different and diverse communities. This year, the focus will be on the Queen West neighbourhood, its many artists within, and the annual Queen West Art Crawl.
VAUGHAN
Vaughan is a creative city that integrates art into its public realm – a city where art is accessible to all people and valued as a placemaking catalyst for conveying Vaughan’s unique identity. Vaughan is home to the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, featuring more than 6000 works by artists across Canada.
WINDSOR
Windsor, stretching along the Detroit River, is a vibrant cultural destination and a starting point for visitors to the province. Ontario’s southernmost city is storied with transportation innovation and labour history, making Windsor’s tale ripe for the art scene to explore.