NEWS RELEASE
FORT WILLOW CONSERVATION AREA
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SPRINGWATER TOWNSHIP - Take a journey back in time at the Festival at Fort Willow on Saturday, Sept. 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fort Willow Conservation Area at 2714 Grenfel Rd. in Springwater Township.
Historical re-enactors will bring to life the daily activities of British soldiers, camp followers and indigenous people living in Simcoe County in the early 19th century. Visitors can muster-up and march in the King’s army, learn about traditional blacksmithing, carpentry and candle making, and listen to the cannons roar. The Simcoe County Museum, Barrie Art Club, wandering minstrels and cavalry will add to the festivities.
The Friends of Historic Fort Willow, Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority, Township of Springwater and Rotary Club of Barrie are proud to host this event, which celebrates the significance of Fort Willow in the history of our nation.
Admission is free. Artisan crafts will be available for sale (cash only.)
Visitors are reminded that there is no parking at Fort Willow. Free parking and shuttle bus to-and-from the site are available at the Grenfel Community Hall at 1989 Sunnidale Road.
For more information on the Festival at Fort Willow, visit here.
This year, the festival is pleased to be part of Doors Open Simcoe County. Each year, communities across Ontario take part in the Doors Open program, which provides free access to cultural and heritage locations. On Sept. 29, more than 50 sites across Simcoe County, including Fort Willow and the festival, will be open, showcasing the best of the area's history.
Fort Willow is recognized as both a national and provincial historic site. Established at the half-way point between Kempenfelt Bay and the Nottawasaga River, the Fort enabled a continuous trade and transportation route from Lake Ontario through to Georgian Bay. During the War of 1812, the British military used the fort as a strategic supply depot along the Nine Mile Portage route at a time when the lower lakes were occupied by the Americans.
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