Barrie: local rooms, events and more

Photo: Ernest Iliiasov from Barrie, Canada · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Metro area · Ontario · 212k people

Barrie

“The Bay City”

The Bay City: a city that hugs the bay

Barrie Colts RedLake BlueCottage Green

Welcome to Barrie, where the lake is our backyard and the winters are part of the charm. Whether you're here for the festivals or just to enjoy the waterfront, you'll find a friendly community. Drop a line and say hi!

Clubs for Barrie

No clubs for Barrie yet.

The room

Barrie Quiet now The Bay City: a city that hugs the bay

One room for everyone around Barrie. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

Ask the neighbours

All

A good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.

Coming up

No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.

Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Barrie. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

Spirit Catcher Iconic kinetic sculpture on the waterfront, a symbol of Barrie.
Barrie Waterfront Main gathering spot with trails, beaches, and festival space.
Sunnidale Park Large park with gardens, trails, and a historic barn.
Ardagh Bluffs Forested area with hiking and mountain biking trails.
Sadlon Arena Home of the Barrie Colts hockey team.
Heritage Park Scenic park with a bandshell and views of Kempenfelt Bay.

Outdoors Walk or bike the waterfront trail
Outdoors Fish on Lake Simcoe
With kids Visit Centennial Beach
With kids Explore Sunnidale Park
Evenings Downtown Dunlop Street bars and pubs
Evenings Live music venues
Locals love Waterfront parks
Locals love Marinas and boat launches

Through the year

Kempenfest August long weekend One of Ontario's largest outdoor arts and music festivals, held on the waterfront.
Barrie Waterfront Festival July Family-friendly festival with food vendors, live music, and activities.
Barrie Winterfest February Winter celebration with ice sculptures, sleigh rides, and outdoor fun.
Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival July Multi-day music festival featuring local and touring jazz and blues acts.
Barrie Fair September Agricultural fair with midway rides, livestock shows, and exhibits.

Barrie has four distinct seasons: cold snowy winters, mild springs, warm summers, and crisp autumns. The lake moderates temperatures slightly, and the best time to be out is summer for the waterfront and festivals. Best: Summer is the best time to be out, with warm days perfect for the waterfront and festivals.

Talk like a local

“the lake”: Lake Simcoe
“cottage country”: The surrounding cottage region
“up north”: Going to the cottage or up north
“the beach”: Wasaga Beach (used informally)

Getaways

Wasaga Beach World's longest freshwater beach, great for swimming and sand.
Collingwood Skiing in winter, hiking and shopping in summer.
Orillia Historic town on Lake Couchiching with arts and culture.
Midland Gateway to the Thirty Thousand Islands and Georgian Bay.

Local flavour

Teams

Barrie Colts OHL
Barrie Baycats IBL

Also rooting for Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), Toronto Blue Jays (MLB), Toronto Raptors (NBA), Toronto Argonauts (CFL), Toronto FC (MLS)

Eat and drink

Lake Simcoe fish and chips Fresh pickerel or perch from the lake, often served with chips.
Poutine Canadian classic with cheese curds and gravy, widely available.
Butter tarts A Canadian pastry staple, common at local bakeries and markets.

Where people go

Waterfront parks and trails
Marinas and boat launches Points of access to Lake Simcoe for boating, sailing, and fishing.
Cottage country Nearby lakes and forested areas that define the region's recreational lifestyle.
Farmers' markets Local markets like the Barrie Farmers' Market, offering regional produce and crafts.

Heritage and traditions

Barrie is proud of its vibrant waterfront on Lake Simcoe, its role as the gateway to Ontario's cottage country, and its strong community spirit, celebrated through festivals like Kempenfest and the Barrie Colts hockey tradition.

This time of year in Barrie

Fall colours in Ardagh Bluffs Fall Hiking to see the autumn foliage.

Say it like a local: “toque” — A knitted winter hat.

Festivals

Barrie Pride June A celebration of the LGBTQ+ community with a parade and events.
Barrie Film Festival November An annual festival showcasing Canadian and international films.
Elmvale Maple Syrup Festival April A community festival celebrating the maple harvest with syrup and treats.
Simcoe County Museum Maple Syrup Festival March A taste of maple syrup season with demonstrations and pancakes.
Cookstown Winter Carnival February A winter celebration with outdoor activities and family fun.

Landmarks with a story

Barrie Armoury A 19th-century military drill hall that now serves as a community centre.
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church A historic church in downtown Barrie with beautiful stained glass.
Simcoe County Museum A heritage museum showcasing the region's history, including pioneer life and Indigenous culture.
Cookstown Heritage Conservation District A well-preserved 19th-century village with heritage buildings.

Food traditions

Ice fishing and fish fry In winter, locals drill holes in Lake Simcoe to catch fish and cook them right on the ice.
Maple syrup season In early spring, sugar shacks in the surrounding area open for pancake breakfasts and syrup tasting.
Craft beer tasting Barrie has a growing craft beer scene, with breweries offering tours and tastings.
Cottage country barbecue Summer weekends often feature backyard barbecues with local meats and produce from farmers' markets.

Music and arts

Barrie Symphony Orchestra A community orchestra performing classical music.
Theatre by the Bay A professional theatre company staging plays in the summer.
Kempenfest One of Ontario's largest outdoor arts and crafts shows.
Barrie Art Club A local group of artists promoting visual arts.

A little history

1833 Barrie founded
1853 Northern Railway arrives
1959 Barrie becomes a city
Pre-contact Huron-Wendat presence
1970s Commuter growth

Game day Barrie Colts hockey games
Game day Barrie Baycats baseball
Outdoors Ice fishing on Lake Simcoe
Outdoors Skating on the outdoor rink at City Hall
With kids Visit the Simcoe County Museum
With kids Go to the Barrie Public Library

Barrie residents speak with a standard Canadian accent, using common Canadian expressions. They often refer to Lake Simcoe as 'the lake' and use cottage-country terms like 'up north'.

Only here

The Spirit Catcher sculpture, a kinetic sculpture originally created for Expo 86, now stands on Barrie's waterfront.
Barrie is known as the 'Gateway to Cottage Country'.
The Barrie Colts are a major junior hockey team with a passionate fan base.
Kempenfest is one of the largest outdoor arts and crafts shows in Ontario.

New here? A few tips

Barrie is pronounced 'BARE-ee'.
Expect cold, snowy winters; invest in a good winter coat and winter tires.
Traffic on Highway 400 can be heavy, especially on weekends as people head to cottages.
The waterfront is the heart of the city; spend time there.
Try the local fish and chips, especially from places near the lake.

Make this page better

Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.

Nearby

Every area

EssaOntarioHome to friendly faces and endless fields.OrilliaOntarioLakeside charm and sunshine days.Wasaga BeachOntarioWhere the sand meets the sky and summer never ends.MidlandOntarioWhere the bay meets the shield Simcoe CountyOntarioWhere the bay meets the countryside.CollingwoodOntarioWhere the escarpment meets the bay.Kawartha LakesOntarioWhere every lake has a story and every sunset is a postcard.TorontoOntarioA world within a city, where every culture finds a home.

Barrie. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.