Huntsville is set amidst one of Canada’s most beautiful landscapes, with sparkling lakes, dramatic granite bluffs and towering trees, making it the ideal destination for events large and small. And nowhere in Huntsville will you find more venue options – from beautiful indoor event spaces, to meeting and training rooms, to parks and sports venues – than at the Town of Huntsville.
Add to that the Town’s Special Event Advisory Team (SEAT), which works with other Town departments to secure the necessary permits and approvals, and it’s a one-stop shop for event organizers.
Beautiful parks
“We have more than 40 parks alone,” says Greg Pilling, Manager of Sales and Customer Service for the Town. “Add to that the variety of multi-purpose facilities and rooms, some with catering facilities, and staff who can help with any permits you might need. We’re a one-stop shop for events both large and small.”
With summer approaching, outdoor venues are popular locations for weddings and photos, birthday parties, staff appreciation barbecues, and larger public events.
“River Mill Park is the most well-known of Huntsville’s parks, but there are many other gems where you can host events,” says Pilling.
A good example is Camp Kitchen. It has a beautiful view of Fairy Lake from the mouth of the Muskoka River. There’s enough space for a small crowd and event guests can arrive on the Portage Flyer. In the event of rain, the nearby Active Living Centre can be used as a backup location.
(Clockwise from left) Camp Kitchen, Orchard Park, and River Mill Park are just a few of Huntsville’s dozens of beautiful outdoor spaces
Active outdoor fun
If you’re planning a casual outdoor party, the pavilions at both Hutcheson Beach and Avery Beach can be rented for a day of waterfront fun.
Or you’ll find all kinds of sporty fun at the McCulley-Robertson Recreation Park, either for an organized tournament or casual use. With three soccer fields, four baseball diamonds, a disc golf course (see the PDF map here), a skateboard park, a dog park and a sheltered picnic area, there’s plenty for everyone to do.
You can drop in and use the facilities if they’re available, or rent them to be sure you can use them when you want to. Be aware of other park users, though. “Park space is always shared,” explains Pilling. “You can rent a specific area but there may still be other people in the park.”
Don’t forget about Huntsville’s many trails and playgrounds, too. Find a full list of parks, trails and outdoor facilities here.
(Clockwise from above left) Hutcheson Beach, the McCulley-Robertson Recreation Centre, the Avery Beach Trail on Hunters Bay, and Pitman’s Bay are ideal places for outdoor fun
Take it indoors
No matter what type of event you’re planning – a conference, a wedding, sports tryouts or a family celebration – the Town of Huntsville’s facilities can accommodate just about anything.
Take the Waterloo Summit Centre for the Environment, for example. With catering facilities, meeting space and dorm-style accommodations, it’s an ideal venue for educational conferences, corporate retreats or training, and youth events. “It’s an affordable location for team building or training,” says Pilling. “And if extra meeting space is needed, the Active Living Centre, which has a full catering kitchen and bar area as well as large and small multipurpose meeting rooms, is just down the road.”
Adjacent to the Active Living Centre is the Canada Summit Centre, which has two arenas that can be rented for a variety of events. “In the spring and summer when the ice is out, it could be used for sports tryouts, ball hockey, indoor volleyball, or even a kids’ birthday party. Or you could have a pool party, rent a private room for cake and presents, and your house remains intact!”
There are also a variety of theatres and halls available, from the beautiful Algonquin Theatre and its Partners Hall in downtown Huntsville, to community centres like the one in Port Sydney adjacent to the beach.
(Clockwise from upper left) The Waterloo Summit Centre for the Environment, a wedding ceremony in the Active Living Centre, the Canada Summit Centre, the Algonquin Theatre, and a trade show in the Don Lough arena.
Take a SEAT
Not sure what permits or approvals are needed for your event? The Town of Huntsville’s Special Event Advisory Team (S.E.A.T.) are ready to help.
“If your event will require road closures, electrical hook-ups, sound amplification or fireworks, for example, or if you’ll be selling food to the general public or serving alcohol, we can help you navigate all of the required approvals with one easy application,” said Pilling. Download the S.E.A.T. guidelines here (Word doc) and download the application form here (Word doc).
For more information on event approvals and facility rentals, visit the Town of Huntsville website here or download the Facilities PDF.
This is a sponsored story paid for by the featured advertiser.
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