Wiarton Willie Festival

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Wiarton Willie Festival

South Bruce Peninsula is home to Wiarton Willie, Canada’s famous groundhog! Celebrate this proud Canadian tradition in Wiarton!

Every Feb 2nd, the world watches for Willie’s prediction: 6 more weeks of winter or an early spring.

05/26/2026

Big congratulations to Wiarton Willie Town Crier Bruce Kruger! 🏆

Bruce recently represented the area at the Ontario Guild of Town Criers Provincial Competition held during the Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa on May 8th & 9th and brought home some impressive results! 👏

For the first round of the competition, Bruce creatively combined Santa Clause and Wiarton Willie himself in what he called the “Hometown Cry,”. The cry managed to earn him first place in that round of the competition. Bruce placed 2nd Overall in the Provincial competition.

Congratulations, Bruce, and thank you for proudly representing the community and bringing a little Wiarton Willie charm to the provincial stage! 🎉

05/07/2026

🚲 Wiarton Willie is serious about bike safety and was thrilled to help kick off the first Wiarton Bike Bus ride of the season!

You can join the every Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. Just meet the group of riders at the corner of Daniel and Gould St. and ride together to start the day.

Check out their page for all the details and updates! 🚴‍♀️🚴‍♂️

05/04/2026

🐾 Wiarton Willie showed off some serious dance moves this past Saturday as he joined the crowd from Dancing on the Bruce for the 2026 International Line Dance Flash Mob!

The event took place at the Propeller Club, where dancers came together for a full day of music, fun, and plenty of line dancing energy. 🤠

Their fancy footwork raised over $400 for the Propeller Club’s new dishwasher fund!

Congratulations to everyone involved!

04/27/2026

Our favourite forecasting groundhog was spotted getting a head start on his summer garden at Seedy Saturday, hosted by the Wiarton Ag Society! From picking out the perfect seeds to soaking up all that green-thumb inspiration, Willie is clearly ready for a blooming good season ahead 🌼

04/13/2026

You never know where a Willie might pop up! 👀

A Wiarton Willie stuffie was spotted at Saturday’s game as the Toronto Blue Jays took on the Minnesota Twins ⚾

Even John Schneider, Manager/Coach of the Blue Jays, got in on the fun!

Keep your eyes peeled… you never know where Willie might show up next? 👀

02/26/2026

The Town of South Bruce Peninsula is excited to share that the Wiarton Willie Festival has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Festivals & Events in Ontario by Festivals & Events Ontario (FEO).

Submissions from FEO members were received for consideration in the fall of 2025 and were judged by an independent panel of judges.

This recognition comes on the heels of a milestone year, as the Wiarton Willie Festival proudly celebrated its 70th anniversary marking seven decades of tradition, community spirit, and winter celebration in Wiarton.

The Wiarton Willie Festival aims to bring people together, celebrate community pride, and promote local culture and heritage. Held during the heart of winter, the festival drives critical off-season visitation, boosting accommodations, retail businesses, and restaurants during what is typically the slowest month of the year. The event engages volunteers, local groups, and schools in its planning and ex*****on, while serving as a homecoming for families and friends. It also supports local fundraising initiatives and provides family-friendly entertainment, making it an important cultural, social, and economic driver that enriches the entire community.

Read the full media release online https://www.southbrucepeninsula.com/en/news/wiarton-willie-festival-named-one-of-ontario-s-top-100-festivals-events.aspx

02/21/2026

Wiarton Willie is out and about at the Outdoor Adventure Show - Toronto connecting with some incredible local businesses while he’s there!

Be sure to check out Great Ape Empire , located just north of Wiarton at the Georgian Bay Country Market.This Canadian Veteran-Owned Outdoorsman Outfitter & Survival Training shop offers quality camping and tactical gear online and in-store.

Looking to build real confidence in the outdoors? Visit the Great Ape Empire booth to learn how to build confidence and develop essential outdoor skills like:
🔥 Fire-making
🏕 Shelter building
💧 Clean water procurement
🧭 Navigation
🥾 Safe food practices

And the best part? You’ll put those skills to the test in real wilderness environments.

02/20/2026

Our friends at Discover South Bruce Peninsula and Explore the Bruce are at the Outdoor Adventure Show - Toronto at the International Centre in Mississauga — February 20–22, 2026!

Start planning your next unforgettable getaway and be sure to visit their booth. They’re bringing along some fantastic giveaways from amazing local businesses, including:
✨ .ca
✨ Sauble River Farms Maple Syrup
✨ Seed Paper
✨ Biodegradable dish cloths
✨Wiarton Willie stuffies

Bonus: You might even spot Wiarton Willie popping by for photo opportunities! 📸

Booth staff will be proudly outfitted by Peninsula Imprint & Promo Co.

If you’re attending the show, stop in, say hello, and discover why South Bruce Peninsula should be your next adventure! 🌊🌲

02/10/2026

We love a little groundhog humour—wherever you find it!

If you spot a funny groundhog sign or display anywhere, snap a photo, tag us, and share the laughs. Let’s see what you’ve got! 📸

This funny sign can be found outside Josie's of Wiarton in downtown Wiarton, home of Wiarton Willie.

02/04/2026

Thank you to everyone, your efforts truly deserve to be commended. 👏

To our volunteer service groups who organized events all weekend for the Wiarton Willie Festival, you are the heart of this celebration. Your time, energy, and commitment are what transform the festival into a true homecoming for our community and for everyone who returns to Wiarton year after year to be part of it.

From planning and setup to welcoming faces and community pride, you create more than events, you create connection, belonging, and tradition. South Bruce Peninsula is stronger because of you.

Address

315 George Street
Wiarton, ON
N0H2T0

Telephone

+15195341400

Website

https://www.southbrucepeninsula.com/en/explore-and-play/wiarton-willie.aspx?_mid_=5550

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