Wasaga Beach prepares for sizzling summer ahead, event lineup announced

The Wasaga sign is shown in Wasaga Beach, Ont. (CTV News)

Summer at the beach just got sweeter.

Wasaga Beach is preparing for a busy summer season, promising plenty of fun for everybody.

The Town has released its summer lineup that involves more than 80 live music performances and some brand-new events.

Debuting this summer is the Wasaga BeachLife Festival, a four-day event featuring live music from the official touring band of The Guess Who, The Carpet Frogs and a Foreigner tribute band, Jukebox Heroes. Visitors will also get to experience classic Wasaga Beach traditions and activities like paddleboard lessons and rentals, yoga on the beach, breakfast on the boardwalk and sunset midway rides. It will take place July 23 to 26.

In partnership with Nancy Island Historic Site, the Town is also planning for the first time a Canada Day Symphony Fireworks and FIFA World Cup watch party. The fireworks display will be along the shores of Georgian Bay and set to an all-Canadian soundtrack of legendary musicians spanning decades including The Beaches, The Weeknd, Maestro Fresh Wes, Brayan Adams, The Tragically Hip and The Guess Who. Daytime activities will take place at Nancy Island Historic Site. Guests are invited to immerse themselves in historic tours and interpretive programming surrounding the War of 1812 and events that took place more than 200 years ago.

The award-winning festival, Memories of Summer, recognized as one of Ontario’s Top 100 Festivals and Events Ontario, will return to wrap up the summer season over the Labour Day long weekend from Sept. 3 to 5. The free event captures the beach town’s summers across the decades with live music spanning from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s featuring Legends of Motown, The Yacht Rock Show and Wing Night. The weekend will wrap up with a fireworks display reflected off Georgian Bay.

The summer season is meant to celebrate the iconic beach town’s storied history wrapped in countless memories.

“As Wasaga Beach continues to evolve, what remains timeless is the feeling people get when they come here in the summer,” says Wasaga Beach Mayor Brian Smith. “The energy along the waterfront, live music carrying across the beach, fireworks over the bay, families gathering together — these are the experiences that define Wasaga Beach and keep people coming back year after year. This summer’s lineup is all about celebrating that.”

The longest freshwater beach in the world brings in roughly two million tourists year-round.