Destinations: Friday Harbour’s September

September 10, 2026

In the excitement over Muskoka Lakes, Peterborough Lift Lock and the Great Lakes and other endless waterways in Central Ontario, Lake Simcoe sometimes doesn’t always get the flowers it deserves.

There are some 35 marinas on Simcoe; it’s a big water at roughly 16 x 19 miles with a wide variety of boating from big cruisers to sailboat racing.

We were reminded of that by the people at Friday Harbour (note the Canadian ‘u’) who wrote – North America’s largest inland freshwater marina, is inviting boaters, cottagers, and day visitors to experience Lake Simcoe from the water. The Marina offers full-service amenities, watercraft rentals, and direct access to Friday Harbour’s restaurants, shops, recreation, and seasonal programming. 

Boaters can also take advantage of up to four hours of complimentary visitor docking without a reservation, making it an easy option for a day trip, lunch by the water, or an afternoon exploring the resort. That’s a handy idea because the September calendar includes a packed schedule of shoreside happenings.

Bavarian-inspired fun at CIBC pier

Saturday, September 19 | 12:00 p.m.

–11:00 p.m. | CIBC Pier

Friday Harbour’s annual Harbourfest returns to CIBC Pier for a full day of Bavarian-inspired music,food, and beer by the lake.

Live entertainment includes The Happy Wanderers from 1:00–3:00 p.m. and 5:00–7:00 p.m.

Open to all, with no tickets or advance reservations required.

The Market at Friday Harbour: autumn edition

Saturday, September 19 | 12:00–6:00 p.m.

Sunday, September 20 | 11:00 a.m.

–4:00 p.m. | Piazza

The Market at Friday Harbour returns for its Autumn Edition, bringing a seasonal collection of local artisans and specialty vendors to the Piazza.

Friday Harbour Foodie

Fall weekends at Friday Harbour extend well beyond the event calendar, with a collection of dining experiences throughout the Resort.

Boat in and check it all out.

Related Articles


Bennington 22 MSB

By Andy Adams

If you’ve already had firsthand experience with a pontoon, you will easily understand the appeal of the Bennington 22 MSB. But if you haven’t, let’s start by reviewing a few of the reasons why pontoon boats have become top sellers in markets across North America.

Pontoon boats began in the early 1950s as basically four steel drums lashed to a frame. They were not unlike the log rafts of ancient cultures and not much more sophisticated at first.

Read More


Destinations

The Best of Two Worlds

By Mathew Channer

Interior British Columbia might not be as famous for recreational boating as Canada’s Great Lakes, yet it is no less a world-class boat­ing destination. The mountains offer their own flavour of marine adventure with their series of long, deep ribbon lakes, and there is perhaps no area that embodies this more uniquely than the iconic Okanagan basin in southern B.C. One could be forgiven for assuming this valley was purpose-built for nautical fun, with a few delightful perks thrown in to make the area entirely irresistible (wine-tasting, anyone?).

Read More