This Summer we will be back at the Muskoka Arts & Crafts Show in Bracebridge, Ontario. Now in its 46th year, Muskoka Arts & Crafts’ Summer Show is Muskoka’s oldest and largest outdoor art show. Set in a beautiful park, the Summer Show features 200 creative artists from across Canada. Shop for PerryWinkles Kids’ hand-smocked dresses there from July 18th to 20th.
This past weekend I participated in the 45th Annual Muskoka Arts & Crafts Show as a vendor. The experience was amazing and I’d recommend the show to anyone looking for something to do in the Muskoka area the second last weekend in July. The show took place in the picturesque Annie Williams Memorial Park in Bracebridge, Ontario and it showcased 200 talented vendors from all around Canada. It was fascinating to meet artisans from all over Canada, all with unique products to sell, ranging from beautiful woodcarving pieces, to gorgeous pottery, to unique hand blown glass items, among many many other things.
We were among the few vendors catering to children, with our hand-made smocked dresses and we found the reception great to this almost lost art in children’s clothing. Among my favourites were Chetolah Fresh Air Studio (unique every-day pottery pieces), Dreampower (costumes for kids), and Imagine Wood (beautiful and practical wood kitchen utensils). To top it all off, we were extremely lucky with the weather, which gave us nothing but sunshine all three days of the show. I hope to be back next year with my dresses!
Maria
I have just spent a week at the cottage in Muskoka with my 3 and 1 year-old daughters. We haven’t been too lucky with the weather, so this required a bit of creativity on my part to keep them occupied, as swimming and just hanging out by the lake didn’t work so well this week. Here’s my list of top things to do with kids in the area:
1. Kaleidoscope Music & Arts Summer Camp in Port Carling. www.kaleidoscopeartsined.ca My 3-year old daughter loved her mornings at this camp. She was among the youngest participants, but enjoyed it throughly. They had different activities planned for the kids (watercolours, paintings, necklace-making, jewellery-box making) and special guests most days (stone carver, dramatic artist, among other things).
2. Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. www.aspenvalleywildlifesanctuary.ca. As this beautiful sanctuary for animals, they care for injured animals until they are ready to return wild. Among the animals that we were able to see this week was a lion, wolves, a bear and 14 bear cubs! They are only open Wednesday and Sundays from 1 to 4, so it is the perfect activity for mid-week. Stop for ice cream at Rosseau on your way there or back!
3. Rosseau Farmer’s Market. This takes place every Friday of the Summer between 9 and 2. The setting is just gorgeous, right on the shore of Lake Rosseau, with a beach and playground for the kids and beautiful shopping. Have a freshly made sausage for lunch too (and ice cream up in the town later!).
4. Pick strawberries just outside of the town of Windermere and later go for brunch or lunch at beautiful Windermere House (www.windermerehouse.com).
5. Santa’s Village. www.santasvillage.ca. This place is perfect for little kids. This rides are just their size and exciting enough for them (from roller coasters to bouncy castles). The Elves Island Play Area is gorgeous and kids always love a ride on Santa’s train or his Sleigh Jetboat.
Enjoy! (Although I hope the weather improves for the rest of the Summer).
