Trip Planning

Cultural Festivals Across Canada in 2016

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Cultural Festivals Across Canada to Put on Your List in 2016

Festivals have been on the radar of RVers since the RV was invented. Good thing there are thousands (literally, thousands) of festivals across Canada to choose from. Whether you’re into clam digging, berry picking, heritage days, beer, music and dance, there is a festival for you.

With such large numbers, and to avoid getting dizzy, we dug deep into the Canadian festivals list for 2016 that celebrate Canada’s unique heritage and culture, and hand picked a few to consider.

Scotia Days Festival
Website: http://www.novascotia.com/events/festivals-and-events/scotia-days-festival/-1323
July 8-17, 2016
Mulgrave, Nova Scotia

This 10-day festivals celebrates everything ‘Nova Scotia’ and 2016 marks the festival’s 35th anniversary. Most of the events are free of charge and no doubt you’ll be happy you stopped in the town of Mulgrave to meet new friends, sample the local fare and just have fun.

Nearby campgrounds:
Hyclass Campground – 18 min away
Linwood Harbour Campground – 19 min away

New France Festival
https://www.youtube.com/watch’v=QlbFTBQfMSA
Website: http://www.nouvellefrance.qc.ca/en/
August 3-7, 2016
Quebec City, Quebec

A festival celebrating and reliving the days European settlers first set foot on North American land, the New France Festival features parades, dressing up in period costumes (who wouldn’t want to do that’), and food of the olden days. This festival just past it’s 20 year anniversary and see over 200,000 people attend each year. Sounds good to us!

Nearby campgrounds:
Quebec City KOA – 28 min away
Camping La Relâche – 28 min away
Camping du Fort De La Martinière – 39 min away

Stonetown Heritage Festival
https://www.youtube.com/watch’v=mv_WMoGjbZs
Website: http://www.townofstmarys.com/en/discover-our-town/Stonetown-Heritage-Festival.aspx
July 9, 2016
St. Marys, Ontario

Home to Canada’s Baseball Hall of Fame, and Timothy Eaton’s first store, St. Marys, Ontario hosts one of the largest heritage shindigs in the province. Everyone gathers for one day in July to celebrate with food vendors, family activities, music and fireworks, and to marvel at the Town’s historical buildings and cultural significance.

Nearby campgrounds:
Windmill Family Campground – 14 min away
Happy Hills Resort – 17 min away
Lakeside Camping Resort – 16 min away
Prospect Hill Campground – 9 min away
Nith River Campground – 38 min away

Icelandic Festival of Manitoba
https://www.youtube.com/watch’v=VgwRGOWnQuU
Website: http://www.icelandicfestival.com/
July 29, 30, 31, and August 1, 2016
Gimli, Manitoba

Labelled as the second oldest ethnic festival in North America (wow), the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba is four days of non-stop activities including Viking-esque events, beach volley ball tournament, kids games, music festival, food trucks, fun run, pancake breakfast, art show and so much more. Just don’t forget your Viking hat.

Nearby campgrounds:
Autumnwood RV Resort – 3 min
Idle Wheels RV Park – 10 min away
Wildwood Park – 10 min away
Sandy Hook RV Resort – 12 min away

Windscape Kite Festival
Website: http://www.windscapekitefestival.ca/
June 25 and 26, 2016
Swift Current, Saskatchewan

A celebration of everything Kites, the Windscape Kite Festival brings together the local and national kite community for two days of kite-flying, demonstrations, kinetic wind-sculptures and kids activities, plus accompanying Long Day’s Night Music Festival. Though not officially a heritage festival we couldn’t help but include it in this list as it clearly reflects the community’s love of everything kites!

Nearby campgrounds:
Trail Campground – 4 min away
Kilton Hill Campground – 4 min away

Adäka Cultural Festival
Website: http://www.adakafestival.ca/
July 1-7, 2016
Whitehorse, Yukon

Adäka means ‘coming to the light,’ and this cultural festival celebrates the lives of the Yukon First Nations people with music, art exhibit and workshops, lectures, films and a community feast to boot! Is this the year you make a trip up north’

Nearby campgrounds:
Hi Country RV Park – 8 min away
Mountain Ridge RV Park – 9 min away
The Caribou RV Park – 18 min away
Kluane RV Kampground – 59 Min
Kathleen Lake Campground – 2 hrs away

Reynolds-Alberta Museum Harvest Festival
https://www.youtube.com/watch’v=2Kd6iJMssrc
Website: http://history.alberta.ca/reynolds/specialevents/harvestfestival.aspx
September 3-4, 2016
Wetaskwin, Alberta

Ever wanted to know what it’s like in a small agriculture town during harvest’ Well all you’d have to do is visit Wetaskwin, Alberta during September to get a good taste of it all. Tractor rides, drive-in movies, farm equipment demonstrations, bi-plane rides, music performances and a bunch of friendly folks makes this a festival not to be missed.

Nearby campgrounds:
Prairie Breeze Inn and RV Camping – 1 min away
Pipestone Links Golf Course and RV Park – 11 min away
Whispering Spruce Campground – 30 min away
Jubilee Park Campground – 32 min away

Carving on the Edge Festival
Website: http://carvingedgefestival.com/
September 12-22, 2016
Tofino, BC

This festival celebrates the art, skills and history of the West Coast carver. Watch wood carvers in action, enjoy a feast, take in the family events or give wood carving a try for yourself with your best whittling skills. There’s something for everyone in beautiful Tofino.

Nearby campgrounds:
Bella Pacifica Campground – 6 min away
Crystal Cove Beach Resort – 7 min away
Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park – 20 min away

Photo Credit: Collin Stump

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