Winnie's Hometown Festival

08/25/2026

🎉 THANK YOU FOR AN INCREDIBLE FESTIVAL WEEKEND! 🎉

What a weekend! Thank you to everyone (550+ people!!) who joined us to celebrate the 38th Annual Winnie's Hometown Festival! 🎈 Bear hugs to our amazing community, visitors, and volunteers who filled the weekend with hometown spirit, laughter, and unforgettable memories.

This festival wouldn't be possible without the incredible support of our generous sponsors. A massive thank you to all of our partners and YOU! 💛

Our Festival Committee and wonderful Festival Coordinator are taking a well-deserved, much-needed break! 😴✨ But don't worry—the gears are already turning, and we have big plans brewing for next year!

Mark your calendars! 🗓️ We can't wait to welcome you back for the 39th Annual Winnie's Hometown Festival, August 20–22, 2027!

See you all then! 🐻🍯❤️

_____ _____
Our AMAZING Partners:
🍯 Hunny Pot Hero
A&W, One Stop (Esso), WR Bar & Grill, Real Tree Cannabis
Albert and Sons Service Centre, Robin's Donuts/2-4-1 Pizza, Buddy Bears Travel Centre/XTR, Continental Motel & Dining Lounge

💖 Piglet’s Big-Heart Partners
Hemlo Mining Corp.

🦉 Wise Old Owl
Silver Lake Resources

🌧️ Eeyore’s Loyal Friends
Cain Safety Fire Protection Inc., Kresin Engineering Corporation, Wesdome,
Northern Neighbours Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic, CFNO, JJAM FM, White River Forest Products Ltd., Vector Freight Systems Inc., Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg, NWMO, Manroc Developments Inc.

🌳 Hundred Acre Hunny Helpers
Tbaytel for Good, Northern Lights Ford, North Central Co-Op, Bert's Trucking, Wilderness Helicopters, Belisle Builders, ITEC, RF Contracting Inc., Jo's Cavern, Manitoulin Transport, Nawiinginokiima Forest Management Corporation, White River Motel / Subway, RPM Hydraulics & Pneumatics, White River Pharmacy

🎈 Christopher Robin’s Dear Friends
Kerry Funeral Home Ltd., Walkerville Brewery, Wawa Campground, Superior North Mobile Veterinary Services, Algoma Highlands, Northern Emporium

A special shoutout to the Community Development Corporation (White River CDC) for their generous donation of 3D-printed festival merchandise to help us raise funds for future festivals!

08/25/2026

⁉ Did You Know ⁉

On this day in 1914, the real-life Winnie-the-Pooh story began right here in White River, Ontario!

While en route to Europe during WWI, Canadian veterinarian and soldier Lt. Harry Colebourn stopped at the White River train station and purchased an orphaned black bear cub for $20 from a local trapper. He named her "Winnipeg" (or "Winnie" for short) after his adopted hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Winnie became the cherished mascot of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade before finding a safe home at the London Zoo during the war. It was there that a young boy named Christopher Robin fell in love with her—inspiring his father, A.A. Milne, to write the world-famous stories! 🍯🎈

08/16/2026

08/15/2026

🎆 What an incredible night in White River! 🎆

​A massive thank you to our amazing White River Fire Department volunteers for putting on another fantastic block party and a breathtaking fireworks show!

Your hard work and dedication to our community do not go unnoticed. 🚒✨
​We also want to send a huge shoutout to Hemlo Mining Corp. for generously donating their BBQ and supplies to help feed the crowd tonight. We truly appreciate your support! 🍔🌭

​Now it's time to rest up, recharge, and get ready for a full day of festivities tomorrow. See you all out there! 🎉🇨🇦

08/14/2026

🔔 Quick Heads-Up for Festival Attendees! 💵

Planning your visit? Please keep in mind that CASH ONLY will be accepted for:

🎟️ Festival Admission
🍺 Beer Gardens
🛍️ Merch Table
🎟️ Festival Events

Note: Individual vendors may offer alternative payment options, but we recommend bringing cash along so you don't miss out on any of the fun!

We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
See you all soon! 🐻✨

08/13/2026

🎉 The countdown is almost over! We are so excited for the start of the 38th Annual Winnie's Hometown Festival tomorrow! 🎈✨

​Get ready for an incredible lineup of community fun, local traditions, and unforgettable memories. Grab your friends and family—you won't want to miss a single moment of the celebration!

​📅 When: Starts tomorrow!
🌐 Check out all the details & schedule: www.winnieshometownfestival.ca

​We can't wait to celebrate with all of you! See you there! 👋💛

​

08/11/2026

🍯 Get Ready for the 38th Annual Winnie’s Hometown Festival! 🎉

​The countdown is on for a magical weekend packed with family fun, community spirit, and Hundred-Acre Wood charm! Grab your passes, check out the highlights below, and get ready for an unforgettable time.

​🎟️ Grab Your Weekend Passes!
​Want maximum fun for the best value? Lock in a Weekend Pass:
​Adult Weekend Pass (Ages 19+) – $40: Includes admission to the Friday & Saturday Tradeshows, the Block Party, and the Adult Dance!

​Kids' Weekend Pass (Ages 4-18) – $20: Includes admission to the Friday & Saturday Tradeshows, Funland, and the Block Party!

​Children Ages 3 & Under – FREE!

(Prefer individual events? Individual pricing and free activities are listed throughout the schedule!)

​📅 Weekend Highlights & Schedule Sneak Peek
​Friday, August 14: Kick-off Day!
​11:30 am – 2:00 pm: Seniors Winnie Luncheon (Complete with homestyle perogies, ham, salad, and desserts!)
​4:30 pm: Shirt Tail Parade (Start at the Train Station in your favorite PJs with your Pooh stuffies!)
​5:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Bear-a-Fair Tradeshow
​6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Talent Show (Show off your skills—prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place!)
​7:00 pm – 2:00 am: Block Party featuring Thunder & Light Entertainment
​Dusk (~9:30 pm): Breathtaking Fireworks at Little Lake by Robin’s Donuts!

​Saturday, August 15: Family Festival Day!
​8:00 am – 11:00 am: Pancake Breakfast at the Legion
​11:00 am: Winnie-the-Pooh Parade (Celebrating "Happy 100 Years Winnie-the-Pooh"!)
​12:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Winnie’s Funland & Bear-a-Fair Tradeshow (Inflatables, foam party, rock climbing, games, and music!)
​12:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Winnie’s Co****le Cup (Ages 14+)
​4:00 pm – 6:00 pm: White River Fire Hall Grand Re-Opening & FREE BBQ!
​9:00 pm – 1:00 am: Adult Dance featuring Silent Nin9 (Age of Majority 19+ required)
​Plus continuous stage entertainment, music & puppet shows, quizzes, and meet-and-greets all day long!

​Sunday, August 16: Family Festival Day!
​11:00 am – 3:00 pm: Family Fish Derby at Crocker Lake (Bait supplied, free BBQ, and prizes awarded!)
​Don't miss out on the Backyard Oasis Raffle, Festival Quizzes, Scavenger Hunt, and Bear Raffle Penny Table!

​Visit our website at www.winnieshometownfestival.ca and stay tuned to our page for all the latest updates! See you there! 🐻🍯✨

08/09/2026

🎈 JOIN THE WINNIE’S HOMETOWN FESTIVAL PARADE! 🎈

Calling all businesses, community groups, families, and creative minds—it’s time to build those floats and show off your festival spirit! 🍯✨

Whether you’re planning an elaborate float or just want to spread some fun, we want YOU in this year’s lineup!

📝 How to Register:
Sign up online: www.winnieshometownfestival.ca/FloatSignup

Forgot to sign up ahead of time? Don't worry! Just be lined up by 10:45 a.m. on parade day, and we'll make sure to add your float to our official judging list! 🏆

📅 Parade Details:
• Date: Saturday, August 15th
• Time: 11:00 a.m. (Lineup by 10:45 a.m.)
• Start: White River Information Centre
• Finish: Community Complex

Let’s make this year’s parade the best one yet! Tag your friends, share this post, and start planning your float today! 🥳👇

08/07/2026

🐻🎈 THE COUNTDOWN IS ON! 🎈🐻

We are officially 7 DAYS AWAY from the 38th Annual Winnie's Hometown Festival! 🎉✨

Gather your friends, family, and a pot of honey because a weekend full of fun, community, and celebration is almost here! 🐝💛

Stay in the loop so you don't miss a single update, schedule drop, or event announcement:
🌐 Website: www.winnieshometownfestival.ca
📱 Social Media:

08/05/2026

🍯 Think you know everything about the Hundred Acre Wood? Put your knowledge to the test! 🍯

Join us for our Winnie-the-Pooh Quizzes on August 15, 2026! We have fantastic prizes lined up for two age categories:

🎮 Under 18 Prize: Meta Quest 3S Virtual Reality Headset
🛋️ 18 & Over Prize: A 3-Night Stay at Touchstone Lodge in Bracebridge, ON!

💡 How to Prep:
Brush up on your Winnie-the-Pooh trivia! Questions will cover Books and Movies —and you can find all the study materials right here at the White River Public Library! 📚📺

Mark your calendars, start reviewing, and get ready to win big! ✨