Fire & Fun

Here comes the long weekend! And with it, comes Firefest, THE big fireworks event for our neighbouring town of Dwight. It is always held on the Saturday of the long weekend in August, starting at 5:00 pm on Dwight Beach and wraps up about 10:00 pm with a fireworks show from a barge in the bay. It’s also a fundraiser for the local volunteer fire department. If you’re in Muskoka for the long weekend, it’s a great event with live music, fun activities, great food and, of course, fireworks!

Closer to home (as in our own backyard) you can enjoy fire of a different sort. Throughout the summer we have a campfire for our guests to enjoy. We regularly host corn roasts— there’s nothing quite like corn on the cob roasted over an open fire—and ‘smores nights. Or if a plain, ole marshmallow is your thing, you can roast those, too! Join us and relax fireside for a great end to a summer day. 

Young guests enjoying Friday night 'smores.

Summer is also the time for a classic summer sight: fireflies. They sometimes make an appearance at Colonial Bay, much to the delight of our guests. They may be small, but they elicit almost as many smiles as seeing a moose or a bear. And you can catch & release them (unlike moose and bears). Apparently this year has produced a bumper crop in Ontario, but this weekend may be your last chance to see them. They’re usually gone by early August.

The fireflies may be gone, but we won’t be! You can see the availability of our waterfront cottages here. There’s still more than a month left of summer and then we’re into the beautiful colours of fall. We hope you’ll visit us soon!

The Howell Family

Corn Roasts and Marshmallows and ‘Smores, Oh My!

A campfire makes everything taste better. Maybe it’s the fresh air, maybe it’s that little bit of smoky taste or maybe it’s the good times that go along with it. Whatever the reason, a visit to Colonial Bay isn’t complete without a night spent hanging out by the campfire, making new friends and eating some of the delicious goodies that come out of the fire.

First, there’s the classic roasted marshmallow, speared on a stick and slowly browned to perfection or flaming, blown-out, crispy-on-the-outside-and-soft-on-the-inside goodness.

Then there’s the marshmallow’s more elaborate cousin, the ‘smore. There are lot of variations (strawberry-banana ‘smores anyone?), but we prefer the basic but oh-so-good, Graham Cracker, Marshmallow and Milk Chocolate variety.

For something different, try a Banana Boat: a whole banana, sliced down the middle to make a pocket, stuffed with mini-marshmallows and chocolate chips, wrapped in foil, and nestled among the coals until it’s ooey-gooey good.

And then, of course, there’s our world-famous (okay, Muskoka-famous? Colonial Bay famous?) corn roast. Fire-roasted, butter-slathered, fresh cobs of corn. Yum.

What’s your favourite campfire treat? Let us know and if it’s one we haven’t tasted, we can try it the next time you’re here.

Until we see you again!

The Howell Family