What's Happening in October in Muskoka

It’s almost October and that means both Thanksgiving and the peak of fall colors are right around the corner.

Muskoka is truly a year-round destination and there are plenty of events to take in this month once you’ve finished oohing and aahing over one of Mother Nature’s finest shows. To catch the peak of fall colors, the first week of October is the best time to visit us at Colonial Bay, but the colors will remain beyond Thanksgiving. Our Muskoka cottages are calling you (can you hear them?).

Here’s just some of what’s happening around Muskoka in October:

• September 30-October 2 - North Words Muskoka Literary Festival
• Saturday, October 1 from 3:30-7:30 pm - Port Sydney Turkey Dinner & Fireworks at the Port Sydney Community Hall. Tickets available at the door. Fireworks at the Port Sydney Beach starting at dusk.
• Saturday, October 1 - WSE Waterski Show - Say goodbye to summer with WSE's final waterski show of the 2011 Summer Season at the waterfront at Deerhurst Resort.
• Saturday, October 8 - 1st Annual Great Muskoka Paddling Experience - Muskoka's first annual paddling race on the Muskoka River in Bracebridge. Features 12km and 20 km events. The event will be hosted out of Bracebridge Bay (by the waterfalls) and will have put-ins at Annie Williams Memorial Park (just down the river a tad). Kayak and Canoe events are scheduled. Proceeds support the Muskoka Watershed Council.
• October 14-16 - The 27th Annual Bala Cranberry Festival - For all things cranberry! Cranberry marsh tours, bazaar, petting zoo, midway and more.
• Tuesday, October 25 Stuart McLean and The Vinyl Cafe at the Algonquin Theatre. Tickets available at the box office or online.
• Monday, October 31 from 5-8 pm "Umpteenth Annual" (23rd) Great Pumpkin Trail at Muskoka Heritage Place. Trick or treating in the pioneer village, especially for the very young. $3.00 per head or $10.00 per family. Head must be attached to a body.

If you’re planning to visit our Muskoka cottages this month, why not take in one of these local events? And, of course, you can just hang out at Colonial Bay’s waterfront or relax in front of the fire. Life doesn’t get much better.

You can view the availability of our waterfront Muskoka cottages and book online here.

We hope you’ll visit us again at Colonial Bay soon!
The Howell Family

Film in Muskoka

Are you a film buff? Then it’s time to make your way to Muskoka for two film festivals happening in Huntsville in the next few weeks.

The second annual Film North is a collection of works by emerging Canadian and International filmmakers. 36 short and feature-length films will screen at Algonquin Theatre this year including two with local connections: West Wind: A Vision of Tom Thomson and The Natural Brook Trout - Lakes of Algonquin Park. Film categories include drama, documentary, comedy, horror, thriller, musical and sci-fi fantasy. There are also Q & A sessions with attending filmmakers, receptions, an awards ceremony and a closing night after-party. For ticket info, visit the Film North website.

On October 7, the Radical Reels Tour, part of the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival, makes a stop in Huntsville. The program includes short, action-packed adrenaline sport films about climbing, paddling, mountain biking, BASE jumping, skiing, and snowboarding.

Did you know that there are several movies, both for TV and the big screen, that have been filmed in Muskoka?

• The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) was partially filmed at Windermere House in Gravenhurst. (The historic building burned to the ground during the filming.)
• Sunshine Sketches of a Small Town, based on the book by Stephen Leacock, was filmed by CBC in Gravenhurst just this year.
• Purrfect Predators, a documentary on the Discovery Channel, was filmed at the Muskoka Wildlife Centre. It starred Kokanee the cougar, Yeti the lynx, Rufus the bobcat, Hyde the wolverine, Kootenay the black bear, Oreo the skunk and Peter the cotton-tail plus a supporting cast of deer, wild turkeys, pheasants, snowshoe hare, caribou, and grizzly bear. Animals from the Centre have also appeared in other TV and big screen productions.

We haven’t had Hollywood come knocking at Colonial Bay’s doors yet but with the gorgeous scenery here, it’s only a matter of time! And the next time you come to stay in one of our Muskoka cottages, why not break out your video camera for a production starring you?

Fall is almost upon us. The leaves are just starting to change colour and while the nights are cooler but our days are still warm and sunny. Perfect weather to head out for a hike and then come back to the warmth of a glowing fire.

You can view our availability and make reservations for our Muskoka cottages on Colonial Bay’s new website.

We hope to see you soon,
The Howell family

Fall fairs and food

Fall is harvest time and towns across Muskoka, as in the rest of Ontario, celebrate autumn with an annual Fall Fair. A more subdued version of big city fairs, Muskoka’s fall fairs, like those in small towns all over Ontario, offer visitors the opportunity to meet diverse local growers; peruse exhibits by local vendors, artists and students; and watch a variety of live shows. Check out these two fall fairs coming up in September:

144th Annual Bracebridge Fall Fair & Horse Show

September 16-18 at the Bracebridge Fairgrounds, 331 Fraserburg Rd.
• Midway
• Live music
• Tractor pull
• Horse and livestock shows
• Exhibits
• Chainsaw carving

Huntsville Fall Fair
September 23-25 at the Huntsville Fairgrounds, Ravenscliffe Rd.
• Midway
• Live music
• Horse and livestock shows
• Exhibits
• Contests

While you’re here, don’t forget to visit some of Muskoka’s farmers’ markets to pick up the best of the harvest. And then you can try these delicious fall recipes courtesy of Savour Muskoka and Ontario Farm Fresh.

Curried Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Soup
Pickerel with Maple, Butternut Squash and Apple Cider Glaze
Ontario Apple, Aged Cheddar and Smoked Turkey Panini
Pumpkin Maple Crème Brulée

Our mouths are watering already. How about you?

Join us this month at Colonial Bay for some gorgeous Fall colors and weather (the long-range forecast looks great!). You can view the availability of our Muskoka cottages here.


We hope to see you soon!
The Howell Family
Colonial Bay Cottage Resort

Mother Nature's Paintbrush

Muskoka is beautiful at any time of year but in the Fall, she is adorned with brilliant colors. There’s nothing quite like sitting dockside on an Autumn morning with splendid reds, oranges and yellows reflected in the lake while loons provide the soundtrack.

It’s also an ideal time to tour around Muskoka, either by car, by bike or on foot. For some gorgeous hikes, revisit our list of Muskoka hiking trails. And if two or four wheels are more your style these driving tours, which are also suitable as long bike tours, will have you ooohing and aaahing in no time.

Lake of Bays tour

From Colonial Bay, take Highway 60 east through Dwight to Highway 35.

• Turn right onto Highway 35 to Dorset. (If you have time, the hike up to the Dorset Fire Tower provides a beautiful vantage point over Lake of Bays.)


• Right onto Highway 117 to Baysville. (If you detour along Old Highway 117 to Norway Point, you can arrange for a water taxi to Bigwin Island.)


• Right onto Brunel Road in Baysville.


• Right onto South Portage Road (Muskoka Road 9).


• Left onto Highway 60 and back to Colonial Bay.

Distance: approx. 90 km (1.5 hours or more, depending on the number of times you stop)

Huntsville Chain of Lakes tour

From Colonial Bay, take Highway 60 East to South Portage Road (Muskoka Road 9).

• Right on South Portage (Muskoka Road 9) to Muskoka Road 23


• Right on Muskoka Road 23 back to Highway 60 (You have just circled Peninsula Lake)


• Left on Highway 60 to Highway 11 (Passing Fairy Lake)


• Left onto Highway 11


• Right on Ravenscliffe Road


• Left on E Fox Lake Road


• Left on Hoodstown Road (Muskoka Road 45)


• Right on South Drive (still Muskoka Road 45)


• Left on Etwell Road


• Left on Aspdin Road (You have just circled Lake Vernon)


• Right on Highway 11 to Port Sydney


• Right on Muskoka Road 10 through Port Sydney (Passing Mary Lake). Consider stopping for a picnic lunch at the public beach in Port Sydney.


• Left on Brunel Road to Huntsville (If you have time, stop at the Brunel Locks and watch the boats or at Lions Lookout above the Canada Summit Centre for a sweeping view of Fairy Lake and the Town of Huntsville)


• Right on Main Street


• Right on Highway 60 and back to Colonial Bay

Distance: Approx. 100 km (2+ hours, depending on the number of stops)

Algonquin Park Tour

From Colonial Bay, take Highway 60 East to Algonquin Park (a visitor’s pass is required for the park - you can purchase one at the West Gate)
The drive through the park is beautiful and offers abundant opportunities for short hikes or viewpoints. The viewing deck at the Visitor’s Centre (at km 43) will give you the most accessible panoramic view in the park.
Distance: Approx. 180 km to the East Gate of Algonquin Park and back (3+ hours depending on how often you stop)

And, as always, the view from Colonial Bay's dock is stunning and is only a few short steps from your door.

Some leaves have already started to turn, but the peak of autumn color is still a few weeks away. It varies from year-to-year, typically falling somewhere in the last week of September or the first week of October.

Come and join us for Mother Nature’s brilliant show.
The Howell Family