Wasaga Beach – Wasaga Beach is finishing up its 2025 summer season on a positive note: tourism has risen by over 15 percent compared to 2024, bringing visitor numbers back to their highest levels in years, even with construction and infrastructure upgrades taking place along Beach Drive.
What’s new? As tourism continues to thrive, the latest data shows a change in Wasaga Beach’s seasonal visitation trends. In 2019, peak visitation occurred in August with 348,156 domestic visitors, while peak visitation in 2025 took place in July with 446,667 domestic visitors. Visitor numbers have been steadily increasing in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Thanks to unprecedented backing from the Ontario government in 2025, the Town is actively investing in improving infrastructure, festivals, and events while supporting local businesses and experiences to establish Wasaga Beach as a leading tourism destination. To create a more resilient community and reimagine Wasaga Beach as a year-round destination, the Town is also moving ahead with its first community-led waterfront master planning process ever.
What’s next? Wasaga Beach is swapping flip flops for cowboy boots to keep tourism booming. Here are three fall festivals and events you won’t want to miss:
1. Hootenanny Fall Festival and inaugural Mayor’s Charity Rodeo, October 4-5
The preparations for the Town’s annual Hootenanny Fall Festival alongside the first-ever Charity Rodeo are underway! These two events will happen together, offering two days filled with family fun.
This year’s Hootenanny Fall Festival will feature a variety of free activities for families such as inflatable mazes, fun-house slides, hayrides, axe throwing, hover ball archery, and obstacle courses – while the inaugural Mayor’s Charity Rodeo will entertain residents and visitors with classic rodeo action like bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, barrel racing, bull riding, pole bending competitions for juniors and more!
The entry to the Fall Festival is free. Rodeo tickets are available now: adult admission costs $39; youth (ages 6-12) $20; children aged five and under are just $5. Proceeds from rodeo ticket sales will benefit the Hospice Georgian Triangle Foundation and Collingwood General Marine Hospital Foundation.
2. Olympic Gold Medalist Jennifer Jones launches new WBSE. ca speaker series on October 7
On October 7th , Jennifer Jones-one of Canada’s most famous curlers-will take guests behind-the-scenes of her extraordinary career by sharing stories from her new book titled Rock Star: My Life On and Off the Ice. Attendees will hear firsthand about her journey toward Olympic gold medal success along with defining moments throughout her career and valuable lessons learned along the way. This exciting event is scheduled from 7 PM – 9 PM in the RE/MAX Room at Wasaga Stars Arena; tickets can be purchased now at WBSE. ca.
3. Pumpkin Trail returns November 1st , turning old Halloween pumpkins into something magical!
<p Invite friends and family for an enchanting evening as Oakview Trail at 1724 Mosley Street lights up with hundreds of jack-o-lanterns shining brightly on November 1st from 6 PM to 9 PM.
For over one hundred years now, the Town of Wasagabeachhas been Ontario’s iconic summer playground-a placeforpeopletocomeandhavefunwhile creating lasting summer memories. Today, we’re committedtobecominganiconic four-season recreationand nature-baseddestination. Investinginyear-rounddestinationeventsand marketing, builiding Destination Wasagabeach, andreimaginingourmaincommercialareaat Beach Area1 supports Council’s priorities: creatingopportunitiesfordiversifyingthe economy, growingtourismcreatingjobs, andbuildingacompletecommunity. Thispartofthe Town’splanaimstopromoteleadershipinsustainabilitycreativityinnovationandfun. Aplacewithexpandingbusinessesandsafeinclusivecomplete neighborhoods. Aplacewherewecelebrateourrichhistory, culturaldiversity, naturalbeautyincluding Nottawasagariver Georgian Bayandthelongestfreshwaterbeachintheworld. -30-
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Quick facts
In what was considered a pre-pandemic benchmark year for global tourism-2019-Wasaga Beach drew over 1.5 million visitors. By comparison, in2022, the visitor count had dropped downto1.1 million-a decreaseof4.4%. In2018, the town sawa notable uptickintourismwithnearly2millionvisitors, a20.9%increasecomparedtoits2019benchmark. Thisdemonstratesstrongrecovery, andthevisitationcontinuesitssteadyclimbthroughout2023 through2025. Between Januaryand Augustof2025-withthisyear’sfalltourismseasonjustbeginning-the numberofdomesticvisitorscountedwas2 ,060 ,833 people; this representsa15%increasefrom lastyear.Related news
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About Wasaga BeachFor over one hundred years now, the Town of Wasagabeachhas been Ontario’s iconic summer playground-a placeforpeopletocomeandhavefunwhile creating lasting summer memories. Today, we’re committedtobecominganiconic four-season recreationand nature-baseddestination. Investinginyear-rounddestinationeventsand marketing, builiding Destination Wasagabeach, andreimaginingourmaincommercialareaat Beach Area1 supports Council’s priorities: creatingopportunitiesfordiversifyingthe economy, growingtourismcreatingjobs, andbuildingacompletecommunity. Thispartofthe Town’splanaimstopromoteleadershipinsustainabilitycreativityinnovationandfun. Aplacewithexpandingbusinessesandsafeinclusivecomplete neighborhoods. Aplacewherewecelebrateourrichhistory, culturaldiversity, naturalbeautyincluding Nottawasagariver Georgian Bayandthelongestfreshwaterbeachintheworld. -30-
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