Ontario Long Weekends 2026-2027: The Cottage Planner for Every Holiday
Ontario's 2026-2027 long weekends for a cottage trip: Thanksgiving (October 10 to 12, 2026), Christmas and New Year's (both on Fridays), Family Day (Monday, February 15, 2027), Easter (March 26 to 29, 2027), Victoria Day (May 22 to 24, 2027), Canada Day (Thursday, July 1, 2027), the Civic Holiday (August 2, 2027), Labour Day (September 6, 2027) and Thanksgiving (October 9 to 11, 2027). TDSB March Break is March 15 to 19, 2027.
Find a long weekend cottage Pet-friendly rentals Call 705-996-6799
Ontario long weekends 2026-2027 at a glance
| Holiday | 2026-2027 dates | Cottage notes |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving 2026 | Sat Oct 10 to Mon Oct 12, 2026 | Bala Cranberry Festival is the following weekend, Oct 16 to 18 |
| Christmas and Boxing Day | Fri Dec 25 and Sat Dec 26, 2026 | TDSB winter break Mon Dec 21 to Fri Jan 1; LCBO closed Dec 25 |
| New Year's Day | Fri Jan 1, 2027 (weekend Jan 1 to 3) | TDSB classes resume Mon Jan 4; LCBO closed Jan 1 |
| Family Day | Mon Feb 15, 2027 (weekend Feb 13 to 15) | TDSB PA day Fri Feb 12 makes it four days; Gravenhurst Winter Carnival and Parry Sound Snowfest |
| March Break | Mon Mar 15 to Fri Mar 19, 2027 | TDSB dates; other boards may differ |
| Easter | Good Friday Mar 26 to Easter Monday Mar 29, 2027 | Easter Monday is a TDSB school holiday, not a provincial public holiday |
| Victoria Day | Sat May 22 to Mon May 24, 2027 | First long weekend of the cottage summer |
| Canada Day | Thu Jul 1, 2027 | Take Fri Jul 2 off for a four-day weekend |
| Civic Holiday | Sat Jul 31 to Mon Aug 2, 2027 | Not a public holiday under the Employment Standards Act |
| Labour Day | Sat Sep 4 to Mon Sep 6, 2027 | Last long weekend of summer |
| Thanksgiving 2027 | Sat Oct 9 to Mon Oct 11, 2027 | Fall colours; see our guide |
Last checked: October 5, 2026. School dates: TDSB 2026-27 key dates; Catholic and other boards can differ, so check your own. Public holidays: Ontario's Employment Standards Act guide. LCBO closures: LCBO 2026-27 calendar.
Thanksgiving 2026: October 10 to 12
Thanksgiving Monday is October 12, 2026. Our Thanksgiving cottage guide has the details. The weekend after, the Bala Cranberry Festival runs Friday, October 16 to Sunday, October 18, 2026, and welcomes well-trained, leashed dogs in its outdoor areas. Summer Haze (1.4 km), Over the Moon (2.3 km) and Muskoka Elements (3.0 km) are all a short drive from the centre of Bala, and all three accept small pets with approval.
Christmas and New Year's at the cottage
Christmas Day falls on Friday, December 25, 2026 and Boxing Day on Saturday, December 26. New Year's Day is Friday, January 1, 2027, so New Year's is a natural three-night weekend. TDSB winter break runs Monday, December 21 to Friday, January 1, with classes back on Monday, January 4.
- Shop early. LCBO stores are closed December 25 and January 1, and many grocery stores close on statutory holidays, so do your big shop the day before.
- Lights on the drive. Sandhill Nursery near Huntsville runs its Winter Forest of Lights from November 13, 2026 into March 2027 (tickets in advance).
- New Year's Eve. Planning fireworks? Ask us before you bring any. Township rules and our house rules both apply.
- Pick a winter-ready cottage. Our Muskoka winter weekend itinerary lists the four-season cottages with saunas, hot tubs and fireplaces.
Family Day weekend 2027: the four-day winter weekend
Family Day is Monday, February 15, 2027, and the TDSB has a PA day on Friday, February 12. That gives TDSB families four days, and two of cottage country's biggest winter festivals land on the same weekend:
- Gravenhurst Winter Carnival: Friday, February 12 to Sunday, February 14, 2027 (Town of Gravenhurst). Good Times (Morrison Lake) and Woodwinds Pearl (Lake Muskoka) are both in the Gravenhurst area.
- Parry Sound Snowfest: Friday, February 12 to Monday, February 15, 2027. The Town has posted the dates; full event details are TBA, so check before you go. Hemlock Retreat is about 4.5 km by road from downtown Parry Sound.
- Arrowhead Provincial Park: the 1.3 km forest skating trail near Huntsville usually opens in January, weather permitting. Weekends get very busy; Ontario Parks lets you reserve a daily vehicle permit online up to five days ahead.
Family Day is a public holiday, so store and attraction hours vary. Check before you go. More ideas: a 2-day Muskoka winter itinerary and snow day plan.
March Break 2027: March 15 to 19
TDSB March Break runs Monday, March 15 to Friday, March 19, 2027, so a Saturday-to-Saturday week or two long weekends both work. For skating, snowshoeing and indoor backups, see our March Break in Muskoka guide and the winter weekend itinerary.
Easter 2027: March 26 to 29
Good Friday is March 26 and Easter Sunday is March 28, 2027. Easter Monday (March 29) is a TDSB school holiday but not a provincial public holiday, so some workplaces stay open. Ask us which cottages are winter-ready for your dates.
Victoria Day 2027: May 22 to 24
The May long weekend opens the cottage summer. Some cottages store docks and watercraft over the winter, so ask us whether they are back in for your dates. A cottage with a sauna is a good bet for cool spring evenings: Summer Haze, Over the Moon and Muskoka Elements near Bala all have one. Planning fireworks? Ask us before you bring any. Township rules and our house rules both apply.
Canada Day 2027: Thursday, July 1
Canada Day lands on a Thursday in 2027, so taking Friday, July 2 off turns it into a four-day weekend. Towns across Muskoka, Parry Sound and Georgian Bay host Canada Day celebrations; 2027 programs are TBA, so check the town's site before you go. If fireworks are part of the evening, keep dogs indoors. Planning fireworks? Ask us before you bring any. Township rules and our house rules both apply.
The weekend after is busy too: the Mariposa Folk Festival runs Friday, July 9 to Sunday, July 11, 2027 at Tudhope Park in Orillia, and the ACBS Vintage Boat Show is Saturday, July 10, 2027 at Muskoka Wharf in Gravenhurst.
Civic Holiday 2027: August 2
The August long weekend runs Saturday, July 31 to Monday, August 2, 2027. It is not a public holiday under Ontario's Employment Standards Act, so stores, offices and services may be open as usual. It is the classic multi-family weekend: Good Times and Bayside each sleep 12. See our cottages for 2 families guide and the large group cottage rentals page. The Muskoka Chautauqua follows in Windermere from Friday, August 6 to Sunday, August 15, 2027.
Labour Day 2027: September 6
Labour Day weekend (September 4 to 6, 2027) is the last long weekend of summer. Fall colour season follows: see our Muskoka fall colours guide.
Thanksgiving 2027: October 9 to 11
Thanksgiving Monday is October 11, 2027. Call 705-996-6799 with your dates and headcount and we will check what is open.
Cottages that work for long weekends
Good Times Pets by approval
6 bedrooms · 3 bathrooms · sleeps 12 · Morrison Lake, Gravenhurst · about 1.5 hours from Toronto · small, hypoallergenic, non-shedding pets by approval
Two kitchens, a hot tub, an arcade, a PS5, foosball and air hockey, plus a kids' secret room. The listing describes it as a cottage for any season, which makes it a strong Family Day pick near Gravenhurst.
Bayside Pets by approval
4 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms · sleeps 12 · Georgian Bay, Midland · about 1.5 hours from Toronto · small, hypoallergenic, non-shedding pets with approval
Georgian Bay sand, a gas fireplace, giant indoor games, a coffee and cocktail bar and a covered lakeview BBQ patio built for year-round use. Parking for 5 to 6 cars, which helps on a two-family long weekend.
Hemlock Retreat Pets by approval
4 bedrooms · 3.5 bathrooms · sleeps 10 · Parry Sound · about 236 km from downtown Toronto · small, hypoallergenic, non-shedding pets with approval
Hemlock Hideaway plus the bunkie, booked together: a four-season home with a lake-view hot tub, pool table, arcade, two docks and a beach. About 4.5 km by road to downtown Parry Sound for Snowfest.
Over the Moon Pets by approval
3 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms · sleeps 7 · Bala, Muskoka · about 2 hours from Toronto · small, hypoallergenic, non-shedding pets with approval
A renovated four-season cottage in Bala with an electric barrel sauna, a stone fireplace, a shallow beach and a cedar dock with northwest sunsets.
Summer Haze Pets by approval
4 bedrooms · 3.5 bathrooms · sleeps 8 · Lake Muskoka, Bala · about 2 hours from Toronto · small, hypoallergenic, non-shedding pets with approval
Sandy shallow beach, dock slide, sauna, screened Muskoka room and A/C, about 1.4 km by road from the centre of Bala.
Blue Cottage Pets by approval
4 bedrooms · 2.5 bathrooms · sleeps 10 · Washago · about 161 km from downtown Toronto · small, hypoallergenic, non-shedding pets with approval
Private and floating docks, canoe, kayaks and a paddle board, plus a pool table, gas fireplace and A/C. Dogs stay leashed outdoors.
Pet policy: pets are allowed only at the rentals marked "Pets by approval": small, hypoallergenic, non-shedding pets, and larger dogs once you share weight and breed for approval. A pet fee applies, shown at checkout. Every other property is no pets. Always confirm your pet with us before booking: call 705-996-6799. See the full list on our pet-friendly cottage rentals page.
Long weekend checklist
- Minimum stays. Minimum stays vary by property and holiday; call to check: 705-996-6799.
- Check-in and check-out. Most of our cottages check in at 4 p.m. and check out at 10 a.m.; your confirmation has the exact times.
- Groceries the day before the holiday. Hours change on statutory holidays.
- Winter roads. Check Ontario 511 before you drive between December and March.
- Campfires. Check your township's fire rules before lighting the fire pit.
- Fireworks. Planning fireworks? Ask us before you bring any. Township rules and our house rules both apply.
- Pets. Confirm your pet with us before you book.
Bringing the dog on a long weekend?
Long weekends mean fireworks, busy docks and boat traffic. Keep your dog indoors during fireworks, leashed near the water and off public beaches where local rules ban dogs, and check for ticks every evening from spring to fall. Our dog-friendly cottages guide has more, and you can always call 705-996-6799 about your pet and a specific cottage before you book.
More cottage planning guides
- Muskoka cottage rentals: the trip hub
- Muskoka in winter: a 2-day cottage itinerary and snow day plan
- Thanksgiving at a Muskoka cottage
- March Break in Muskoka
- 3-day Muskoka itinerary for two families and a dog
- Pet-friendly cottage rentals
Frequently asked questions
When is Family Day 2027 in Ontario?
Family Day is Monday, February 15, 2027. The Toronto District School Board has a PA day on Friday, February 12, so TDSB families get a four-day weekend. Other boards set their own PA days, so check yours.
When is March Break 2027 in Ontario?
For the TDSB, March Break runs Monday, March 15 to Friday, March 19, 2027. Catholic and other boards may differ.
Is the Civic Holiday a statutory holiday in Ontario?
No. The first Monday in August (August 2, 2027) is not a public holiday under Ontario's Employment Standards Act, so employers are not required to give it, although many do.
Is Easter Monday a holiday in Ontario?
Good Friday (March 26, 2027) is a public holiday. Easter Monday (March 29, 2027) is a TDSB school holiday, but it is not a public holiday under the Employment Standards Act.
What's on in cottage country over Family Day weekend 2027?
The Gravenhurst Winter Carnival runs Friday, February 12 to Sunday, February 14, 2027, and Parry Sound Snowfest runs Friday, February 12 to Monday, February 15, 2027 (full Snowfest details TBA, so check before you go). Arrowhead Provincial Park's skating trail is usually open by then, weather permitting.
Do cottages have minimum stays on long weekends?
Minimum stays vary by property and holiday; call to check: 705-996-6799.
Can we bring fireworks to the cottage?
Ask us before you bring any. Township rules and our house rules both apply.
Is the LCBO open on Christmas Day and New Year's Day?
No. LCBO stores are closed on December 25 and January 1, so stock up before you drive up.
Which cottages allow pets on a long weekend?
Only the rentals marked "Pets by approval": small, hypoallergenic, non-shedding pets, and larger dogs once you share weight and breed for approval. Every other property is no pets. Always confirm your pet with us before booking at 705-996-6799, or see our pet-friendly cottage rentals page.
Pick your long weekend, we'll match the cottage
Tell us your dates, your group and whether a pet is coming. We'll match you to the right cottage.
Own a cottage in Muskoka, Parry Sound, Georgian Bay or Lake Simcoe?
Long weekends are the dates guests search for months ahead. Homeseeker manages 4+ bedroom waterfront cottages: Airbnb and VRBO listings, daily dynamic pricing, cleaning and inspections, guest communication and STR licensing.
