Celebrating 51 Years
of Kempenfest
Kempenfest is Barrie’s signature festival event. celebrating 51 years August 4 to 7, 2023, located across two-kilometers of Barrie Ontario’s beautiful waterfront.
The annual event is one of Ontario’s largest waterfront festivals, featuring over 300 arts and crafts vendors, a midway, youth village, antiques, pace painters, buskers, great food, and two stages of live music.
This year Kempenfest was recognized as one of the Top 100 Festivals and Events in Ontario by the organization Festivals and Events Ontario.
Thank you to our organizers
The Barrie Art Club
The Barrie Art Club was founded in 1949, in the city of Barrie, Ontario. Over the past half century it has grown into a vibrant community resource for artists, professional or amateur, and artists-at-heart. The Art Club joins forces with the Kiwanis Club to form the Huronia Festival of Arts and Crafts, the centre-piece of Kempenfest for 50 years.
Rotary Club of Barrie
Rotary is where neighbors, friends, and problem-solvers share ideas, join leaders and take action to create lasting change. Our shared passion for service helps us accomplish the remarkable. Rotary runs the main beer gardens at the OLG Main Stage where our concerts take place. A massive undertaking that requires over 400 volunteer shifts.
Barrie Chamber of Commerce
Empowering Local Business by fostering a vibrant and economically sustainable region that is driven by an innovative, successful and ever-expanding business community. The Chamber holds a position on the Kempenfest Board of Directors and brings a sense of business community to the festival and a much needed resource to connecting with local suppliers.
Kiwanis
Kiwanis is a Global Organization of Volunteers dedicated to Improving the World One Child and One Community at a time. Kiwanis have been involved in Kempenfest since its inception. In addition to assisting the Art Club with the arts and crafts, the club also runs two food booths.
Optimist Club of Barrie
The Optimist Club of Barrie has been an active member of Kempenfest for many years. The club organizes the Optimist Antique Show featuring over 35 antique dealers. Funds raised through Kempenfest are used to support the club’s ongoing work with youth.
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus are a Fraternal Organization of Catholic Men committed to Spiritual support of charities within their Community. This year the Knights are hosting a new Oasis by the lake – a quiet place to enjoy a cold refreshment.