Visit Bala
Plan your visit to Bala, Ontario for great Muskoka experiences and lots of dining and shopping choices all year round.
Aerial photo by Chamber Member Drone Apocalypse Photography
Have you visited Bala lately?
Shopping
Coming in from Gravenhurst, remember to cruise Bala Falls Road to see shops such as Jack & Stella and Pure Muskoka. Right in the centre of town are a variety of shops all within walking distance of each other. Chamber Member shops include Overboard, Bala’s boutique for beautiful women’s clothing and gifts (same side of Highway 169 as the LCBO). Across the street, Twig offers stunning home and cottage decor. A few steps away, there’s more to be found – decor, clothing and jewelry – at Birchbark at the corner of Highway 169 and Maple Street, and don’t miss the delicious artisanal chocolatier creations at Cacao Boys. In Portage Landing, a visit to the famous Don’s Bakery is a must. And don’t miss the great gift ideas in uptown Bala at Pharmasave Bala and check out Kasa Cana for your cannabis related needs. For home needs and hardware, you can always count on Weismiller’s TimberMart or Muskoka Lumber and you can find gorgeous window and door solutions at Lakeland Windows and Doors. Use our Member Search to find Chamber member stores, restaurants and experiences in Bala. In nearby Glen Orchard, check out The Smithy and the Glen Orchard General Store and Mobil gas station. Tip: outside of high season, call ahead to make sure of opening hours. On 38, you can gas up at What A Convenience, now with even more pumps to serve you.
Services
Need a painter, cleaning service, plumber or carpenter? Maybe you’re looking for help with your website. Shopping local also means finding a Chamber member nearby who is ready to serve a wide variety of your needs at your home, office or cottage. Browse below or use our Member Search and enter a key word to find members offering the service you need.
In town, we have several restaurants that are Chamber Members, offering everything from breakfast to ice cream and coffee to fine dining.
Food and Dining
Check out Bala Falls Pub, Moon River Lookout, Bala Bay Takeaway – Pizza Nova, The Hook and Ladder, Lakeside Bala, the Ghost Kitchen at the historic Bala Bay Inn and The Pearl Muskoka Snack Bar (beside the Inn and open May-October). In summer and spring/fall weekends, Don’s Bakery is famous for its wide array of excellent baked goods. For all your food needs, Bala Freshmart is found in the centre of town and Oliver’s Coffee is in the same building. Heading toward 400 on 38? Check out the award-winning Mrs. H’s Fish and Chips. You can also grab snacks when you gas up at What A Convenience. Just outside of Bala in downtown Torrance is Clear Lake Brewing Co., and you can get food and drink at Muskoka BeerSpa, too. Across the highway is The Torrance General for coffee, sandwiches, food to go and unique cottage supplies.
Experiences
Johnston’s Cranberry Marsh at Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery, just outside of town, is open every day except Christmas and Boxing Day. Together with the award-winning Bala Cranberry Festival, the marsh has put Bala on the map as the Cranberry Capital of Ontario. Bala is also famous for The Kee to Bala – a music must visit hot spot for over 75 years. For the sporting enthusiast, Bush’s Watersports Park serves up Muskoka’s only cable wakeboard park, the “What Wake Park”. Bala’s Museum, also known as the Anne of Green Gables Museum, offers up the history of Bala and memories of Green Gable’s author Lucy Maud Montgomery’s stay that helped inspire her novel, The Blue Castle. You can pick up Heritage Walk maps from the Chamber and learn more about Bala through a series of historic plaques. A picnic in Margaret Burgess Park gives you a view of the north Bala Falls as they tumble into the majestic Moon River. You can see the south Bala Falls from the Bala Stone Church or Shield parking lot. And if you want to gear up for fishing, drop in to Purk’s Place in the centre of Bala or Bait, Tackle and More in nearby Glen Orchard.
Bala is also famous for The Kee to Bala!
A must-visit musical hot spot for over 75 years.
Bala is over 150 years old
Bala celebrated its 150th birthday with events all throughout 2018. Everyone was invited to our big birthday bash on Saturday, July 21 with a massive group photo in front of the Bala Community Centre on Maple Street. Many who have lived here, cottaged, visited, enjoyed or just love Bala, were invited to this Come Back to Bala Birthday Bash. Show us your love for Bala by visiting our Bala150 page by clicking here and submit your favourite memories of Bala.
Thank you for taking part in the
Bala Season Opener (may return in 2025)
Shop Bala and You Could Win. See you
Watch this space for news about our 2025 Season Opener Support Local, Shop Small Event.
Entry ballots can be dropped in to the Chamber black mail box anytime during the Shop Event day or until (DATE TBD).
We all Win when We Support Local. You could Win $500 Bala Bucks
Businesses in Bala kick off the summer into super high gear in June! Fill your ‘baseball card’ Entry Ballot by visiting at least 10 businesses and you can enter to win the Grand Slam Prize of $500 Bala Bucks, donated by Bala Freshmart! S Pick up your Entry Ballot from your first stop or from the Chamber and drop ballots off at the Chamber office after the event. We’ll pull the winner later that day.
Thank you to our Bala Season Opener Partners: their support makes this Support Local Event possible
Our Presenting partner is HOME RUN HITTER Muskoka Wake
ON FIRST BASE:
Weismiller Timber Mart
AT HOME PLATE:
Bala Cranberry Festival
MEDIA PARTNER:
MuskokaRegion.com
$500 BALA BUCKS PRIZE
DONATED BY: Bala FreshMart
You could win $500 in Bala Bucks to be spent at any Bala Season Opener participant.
The Pearl Muskoka – offering free ice cream on Bala Season Opener Day (TBD)
The Pearl – Bala’s new artisanal country market and snack bar.
Find gourmet provisions, fine foods and craft beverages, available for take-out or dine in on the beautiful 40-seat outdoor patio. The perfect place to stop in for a bite with family, dine with friends, or pick up some gourmet goodies to go. The Pearl also offers catering services for delivery or pick up.
See These Offers From our MVP Stores, Restaurants and Accommodators – Check out sample images of Specials below – you have to shop us (Date TBD) to enter to win:
Bala Bay Takeaway: $5 voucher towards next purchase when you spend $10 or more.
Bala Bed & Breakfast: Gift basket with stay.
Bala Boutique: $35 Bala Bundle, choose 5 from Eco Bath Pouff, Large Bath Bomb, Soap Bar, Bamboo Soap Dish, Soap Saver Bag.
Bala Pharmasave: 20% off storewide (excluding prescriptions, M&M products, and gift cards).
Birchbark: We pay the tax.
Cacao Boys: Free 25g Belgian Chocolate Bear Paw Lollipop with any chocolate purchase. WIN A DELICIOUS SURPRISE: Enter your name for a chance to win a chocolate gift basket worth $60.
Clear Lake Brewing Co.: Spend $100 before tax on food, beverage and retail items during this event and get a complimentary day pass to Muskoka BeerSpa.
Don’s Bakery: Buy one cake loaf, get one cake loaf 50% off.
Hook & Ladder: Buy 1 pound of wings and a beer, get a free side of fries or parm cheese bites.
Jack & Stella: $6 draft beer, 15% off in our Balacade’s Home Décor store.
Lakeside Living Design: In Store Furniture Raffle. Visit them and you could WIN an EXTRA GREAT PRIZE!
Lake Wear Muskoka: 50% off storewide. Get your Bala and Muskoka gear here.
Moon River Lookout: $5 voucher towards next purchase when you spend $10 or more.
Overboard: Free gift with purchase. What will your gift be? A variety of unique gifts to delight you.
Potbelly’s: $9.99 for a peameal sandwich and a pop or bottle of water.
Pratt’s Garden Centre: 8” Coloured pots for $10 consisting of dahlias, geraniums, and begonias.
Pure Muskoka: 15% off and gift with purchase.
Suzie’s Fabric Attic: 20% off storewide, refreshments and a raffle for a beautiful gift basket. This is a SPECIAL opportunity to visit Suzie’s Fabric Attic, which sells online or by appointment. ADDRESS for SEASON OPENER: 1032 Gordon Street (street beside Liquor store and keep going straight until you see it!)
Streamliner Café: $4.99 for a pastry and a medium drip coffee.
The Picket Fence Candle Co.: Stop and Smell their Candles and receive a free scented soy tealight! See them at Bala Boutique.
The Pearl Muskoka: Free soft serve ice cream (one per person).
Torrance General: Join us on the lawn at the store for a free Yoga class beginning at 10:00am courtesy of Stephanie Mills. Please RSVP to – betteroneastbayroad@gmail.com or at the General Store. All are welcome.
Twig: Free gift with purchase.
Weismiller Timber Mart: When shopping at Weismiller’s, be sure to put your name in the draw for a $50 gift certificate and thank them for being a major funding partner in the Bala Season Opener shop local event.
SHOPPERS: HERE ARE THE RULES OF THE BALA SHOP LOCAL GAME (aka HOW IT WORKS)
Visit Bala (date TBD) and shop the entire town of Bala and nearby Torrance. The fun starts at 10am and goes until 5 (with some stores and restaurants staying open longer)
To enter prize draws:
1) Visit any participating business (listed above) to get your Entry Ballot or pick it up at the Chamber office – or our next door neighbours LakeWear Muskoka or Lakeside Living.
2) At participating businesses, spend time shopping (we know you’ll find things you want) and browsing. Ask them to stamp your Entry Ballot. No purchase necessary to get a stamp.
3) All done? Plan to stay for dinner at one of Bala or Torrance’s amazing restaurants. Make a day of it. Just remember to drop your Entry Ballot into the Black Mailbox at the Chamber office door at 3181 Muskoka Road 169, Unit 5 (between Bala Pharmasave and Lakeside Living). ENTRY DEADLINE: Noon, (Date TBD).
4) The Chamber will share winners on social media and call the winners of course.
WHAT IF YOU WIN THE $500 in BALA BUCKS? We’re so glad you asked!
Thanks to Bala FreshMart which donated $500 to make Bala Bucks a winning addition to this support local event. If you win Bala Bucks, you can use them at any participating Bala Season Opener business (they had to a participant). You’ll receive a list of where you use these bucks. Spend as much of each $10 note as you can as businesses can’t give you change back.
BUSINESSES: When you take in Bala Bucks, just call the Chamber or drop by and we’ll reimburse you the full amount of the Bala Buck note(s). We all win!