Don’t Miss the
Festival of the Summer!
Celebrating 53 Years of Kempenfest
The annual event is one of Ontario’s largest waterfront festivals, featuring 300 arts & crafts vendors, a midway, youth village, antiques, face painters, buskers, great food, a poutine village, and two stages of live music!
Kempenfest attracts over 100,000 patrons per year, and generates over $7,500,000 in annual Tourism Induced Economic Impact for the City of Barrie. Kempenfest is also recognized in Ontario’s Top-100 Festivals & Events, as per the FEO Awards 2025.
The long-weekend event offers free entry for all-ages, to all areas of the festival, with the exception of the MainStage concerts being ticketed events between 4pm-10pm on Friday-Sunday, and 12pm-6pm on the long-weekend Monday.
Days of Music
Days of Art
KMs of Waterfront
Kids Village
HISTORY
Celebrating 53 years of Kempenfest
That first “original art only” event was juried and open to both members and non-members alike, and its success was due entirely to the efforts of Raymond Marshall and a handful of Barrie Art Club members.
As both a Barrie Art Club member and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Barrie, Marshall was eager to produce a quality art show. With an entourage, Marshall attended events across the country, collecting information from show organizers. He then coordinated all aspects of the event, and art club volunteers assisted with advertising, promotion, and creation of an application form.
Today, Kempenfest is one of the largest outdoor arts, crafts, and music festivals in North America.
By 1975, the show had outgrown its original home. The City of Barrie invited the event to move to Centennial Beach, and the entire waterfront became its present location. The Kiwanis Club joined as co-sponsor of the event, adding food to the venue. The two clubs then invited crafters to show and sell their wares. Recognizing the fundraising opportunities, other community service clubs were quick to join. Food booths, entertainment, midway, beverage gardens, and other facilities were added, and soon the show was bursting at the seams.
While each sub-group was responsible for their separate venue, they shared a common goal – to ensure the event’s success! A board was then formed to include a hands-on representative from each club. They named this governing body, Kempenfest.
Today, Kempenfest is one of the largest outdoor arts, crafts, and music festivals in North America. Featuring over 300 juried artisans and crafters, 4 days of live music on two stages, a midway, over 15 different food vendors, juried artisans, antiques, and so much fun you will want to attend every day.
Arts
One of the main attractions to Kempenfest are the arts & crafts exhibitors. Featuring nearly 300 jury-selected artisans.
Antiques
One of the biggest draws to Kempenfest – the annual antique show – attracting exhibitors from all over Ontario.
Bring your Kids!
Make sure you spend time in the Kids Village. Fun for all ages. Enjoy live music, interactive games, face painting, create art, and have fun!
Community That Connects You!
Kempenfest is comprised of a number of local not-for-profit organizations and service clubs who join forces to create the amazing weekend you enjoy each year. The weekend represents thousands of hours of volunteer planning and execution of the event.
The Kiwanis Club of Barrie joined forces with the Barrie Art Club to create Kempenfest 50 years ago, and their work continues today.
Presently, both clubs continue to work as a joint collective to bring you the “Huronia Festival of Arts & Crafts”, a juried selection of artisans and crafters from across the region and beyond.
The Kiwanis Club also operates two food booths at Kempenfest, and funds raised at the festival allows the club to continue their work and support of charitable causes. The Barrie Art Club also operates a volunteer-based gallery, which is open to the public for viewing, and a list of programs to help support local artists.
The Rotary Club of Barrie is a long-time member of Kempenfest. They host the OLG Main Stage and beer gardens on the South Shore. Profit from Kempenfest is used by the club to continue their work with Royal Victoria Hospital, YMCA, Food Bank, Christmas Cheer, and the South Shore Centre.
The Optimist Club of Barrie organizes the Optimist Antique Show featuring over 30 antique dealers. Funds raised through Kempenfest are used to support the club’s ongoing work with youth.
The Knights of Columbus host The Oasis – in the heart of the event and right up against the water’s-edge. Profits from Kempenfest are used to continue the organization’s support of those less fortunate in our community.
The Greater Barrie Chamber of Commerce is one of the original Kempenfest members. They connect the power of the Barrie business community to ensure this vital economic driver is a success.
Tourism Barrie also plays a vital role in assisting with festival tourism initiatives not only throughout the weekend, but throughout the year as a beacon in tourism support.
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