Press Release
Think You Know Ontario? Think Again. Ontario Culture Days Reveal 25 Local Adventures With ‘ON Culture Guides’
Toronto, ON (February 18, 2025) – Ontario Culture Days, a province-wide not-for-profit organization that highlights artists and cultural groups in local communities, has released its list of comprehensive travel guides. The two-to-three-day guides help readers to explore hidden cultural gems in 25 communities across Ontario, from the Saugeen Region to Pelee Island to Temiskaming. Turn 2025 into your year for discovering all that Ontario has to offer.
The free ON Culture Guides are a go-to online resource for unique, cultural recommendations on what to see and do. Designed to be family-friendly, these guides feature local shops, dining spots, and must-visit attractions created in collaboration with local experts. Whether you’re planning a day trip, a weekend escape, or exploring your own backyard, the ON Culture Guides offer inspiring ideas for every adventure.
“In Ontario, we’re fortunate to live in a province where every corner is filled with visionary artists, delicious food, and rich history. With so many small towns and larger communities nearby, it’s easy to take fun and memorable trips to explore these hidden gems,” said Ruth Burns, Executive Director of Ontario Culture Days. “The ON Culture Guides were designed to inspire cultural enthusiasts to explore, with budget-friendly adventures that highlight local communities.”
ON Culture Guides provide travel itineraries for the following communities: Belleville and Bay of Quinte, Brampton, Caledon, Temiskaming Shores and Cobalt, Durham Region North, Durham Region South, Guelph, Halton Hills, Georgetown and Glen Williams, Hamilton, Manitoulin Island, Milton & Halton Parks, Niagara: Black History Tour, Oakville, Ottawa, Owen Sound: Path to Freedom, Peterborough, Prince Edward County, Sault Ste. Marie, Six Nations of the Grand River, St. Catharines, The Saugeen Region: Hanover, Minto, Wellington North, Thunder Bay, Toronto: Theatre Guide, and Windsor Essex Pelee Island.
HIGHLIGHTED REGIONS
WINDSOR, ESSEX, AND PELEE ISLAND – Explore Canada’s southern-most destination and discover both urban diversity and country charm with the Windsor Essex Pelee Island Guide. Experience Indigenous, Francophone and Black-Canadian histories with rich cultural experiences at sculpture parks, small town museums, and food festivals. The temperate climate plus a long growing season makes this region of Ontario unique in its farm-to-table offerings and flourishing wineries.
BRAMPTON – Brampton is celebrated for its culinary gems and cultural diversity, from festivals to a lively local creative scene. Just west of Toronto, the Brampton Culture Guide will help visitors discover the city’s restaurants, from Italian trattorias to Caribbean grills, and find entertaining activities such as ziplining at Heart Lake Conservation Park or taking in a performance from one of the city’s many arts associations.
SAUGEEN REGION – From quaint breweries to kayaking adventures, the Saugeen Region is the perfect undiscovered gem in Ontario for a day trip. The Saugeen Region Guide will assist in planning the best route for exploring the historic downtowns, fresh local produce and the great outdoors. The towns of Hanover, Minto and Wellington North happen to be a bit of a road less travelled — just waiting for you to explore.
TORONTO – The province’s capital is home to the world’s third largest theatre district, after London’s West End and New York’s Broadway. The Toronto Theatre Guide will help visitors navigate five of the city’s top theatres and their neighbourhoods, to find a performance worthy of a standing ovation.
TEMISKAMING SHORES AND COBALT – Rocky Canadian shield, vast lakes, majestic forests — discover Ontario’s north with the Temiskaming Shores and Cobalt Guide. Indigenous peoples have inhabited these lands for centuries and Lake Temiskaming, at the headwaters of the Ottawa River, makes it an historic region for transportation and trade. Then there’s the extraordinary history of Cobalt’s silver rush in 1903, resulting in headlines around the world. No wonder the region provided inspiration for artists like the Group of Seven.
There’s never been a better time to support local tourism. Let the ON Culture Guides take the hassle out of planning and help you craft the ultimate itinerary for your next road trip adventure.
For more information, visit onculturedays.ca/guides.
For media images, click here.
About Ontario Culture Days:
Ontario Culture Days is a not-for-profit organization that celebrates artists and cultural groups in our communities.
The Ontario Culture Days festival is an annual celebration of arts, culture and heritage taking place each fall across the province. Each year, we work with organizers of all disciplines to produce this province-wide festival. Organizers host programs throughout Ontario and invite the public to participate for free. The next Ontario Culture Days Festival will take place between September 19th to October 12th, 2025.
Ontario Culture Days lives at the local level. We support organizers from the smallest hamlets to the largest cities, while coordinating with other national and provincial Culture Days partners. We support the success of our sector colleagues through resources and network development, while highlighting the breadth and diversity of Ontario’s arts and culture to the wider public.
A sincere thanks to Ontario Culture Days’ supporters, including the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), VIA Rail Canada, Arterra Wines Canada, Destination Northern Ontario, and the Toronto Star.