Thanks to a FedDev grant, organizers of this year’s Hike Haliburton say they are offering an “enhanced” festival for 2025.
Tourism manager Angelica Ingram said, “we’re excited because we have a lot of hikes this year, a lot of different kinds of hikes than we’ve had in previous years, and a lot of musical themes tied in to the festival.”
She added they have two Indigenous events they’re enthusiastic about, that are “a new offering for Hike Haliburton.”
On Friday, Sept. 19, from 7-9 p.m. at Haliburton Forest, Jared Bigcanoe is hosting a campfire. Bigcanoe is a Coldwater Ojibwe artist, entrepreneur, and healer. He is also a skilled rapper and poet. He will share Indigenous stories, songs, drumming, and demonstrations.
On Saturday, Sept. 20, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Bigcanoe will join the Forest’s Tegan Legge on the Chessel’s Pond Trail to discover forest-sacred medicines and how they are used for healing.
Ingram said the two offerings are a means of “seeing the Highlands and the festival through an Indigenous lens.”
The tourism manager added they have another new hike featuring the Haliburton County Folk Society at Abbey Gardens. On Friday, Sept. 19, from 3-5 p.m. Folk on Foot hikers will encounter four local singer/ songwriters who sing in, and for, nature.
Ingram said the FedDev funding also allowed them to change their registration system and update their website. She said in the past, people would reserve spots for hikes and not show up, which was frustrating for hikers and hike leaders.
The new system makes registrants more accountable for attendance. She added there are still spaces for many hikes.
“We’re just really excited. The weather forecast looks great. I think it’s going to be a good year. Lots of family-friendly ones, challenging ones, lots at the Frost Centre, it’s neat going back there.”
Established in 2003, the Hike Haliburton Festival is Canada’s largest hiking festival.
Colourfest
Colourfest coincides with Hike Haliburton this year, being held Sept. 20 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Head Lake Park.
Andrea Mueller, manager of programs and events for Dysart et al, said new this year is The Haliburton Curling Club bringing outdoor curling to the park.
“It’s pretty cool; it’s a big curling sheet with inflatable edges they’ll put on the lawn. It simulates curling. Someone can be at one end and take a rock and actually try to get it in the house at the other end.
“It’s great because it gives people a chance to try an activity that may be of interest to them but also to help promote registrations,” Mueller said.
She said it is a way for the curling club to get more involved in the community as well.
They’ve also invited The Critters of Wooley Wonderland Farm.
“They’re bringing a variety of animals; most of them are going to be miniature versions or babies of farm-type animals. It’s kind of exciting, and people can go in and pet them or sit with them. And we’ve purposefully asked for the grass to be left longer in the one area so they can munch away and take care of the grass for us.”
