Hands-On History & Art: Discover Barrie at Doors Open & Culture Days | September 27, 2025

Barrie is opening its doors in a big way this fall, through the Ontario Heritage Trust’s Doors Open Ontario program, inviting learners of all ages to discover hidden histories, art, and architecture. On Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., residents and visitors can enjoy free access to 20 unique sites across the city, from historic churches and cultural landmarks to emergency service facilities and vibrant arts spaces. For the first time, Doors Open Barrie will unite with Culture Days, creating an exciting opportunity to pair site tours with hands-on arts activities. Families, students, and lifelong learners can not only go behind the scenes at some of Barrie’s most fascinating places, but also participate in creative workshops and interactive experiences that bring local heritage and culture to life. Keep reading for our full interview with Amanda Dyke, Cultural Development Officer, City of Barrie.

Nestled on the western shore of Kempenfelt Bay, Barrie is known for its scenic waterfront, vibrant arts scene, and rich historical roots, blending Victorian-era architecture, growing contemporary culture, and beautiful natural landscapes. It is about a 90 minute drive north from Toronto, under two hours from Ottawa, and just a short trip for folks coming from the surrounding Simcoe County or mid-Ontario region. For day-trippers and locals alike, this Doors Open Ontario event promises a mix of engaging, educational experiences, whether you are delving into Barrie’s architectural heritage, exploring local arts or science, or simply wanting to learn more about what makes this city tick. The in-person and online tutoring team at Teachers on Call would especially recommend this kind of event since it connects classroom ideas (history, art, civic studies) with real-world examples right in the community.

Participating Sites at Doors Open Barrie

• The Arts House — 250 Innisfil Street, Unit 3, Barrie, ON L4N 4K4
• Barrie Fire & Emergency Services Headquarters — 155 Dunlop Street West, Barrie, ON L4N 6N9
• Barrie Mosque (Noor Ul Islam) — 155 Ferris Lane, Barrie, ON L4M 1Z3
• Barrie Public Library — 60 Worsley Street, Barrie, ON L4M 1L6
• Barrie Simcoe Emergency Services Campus — 110 Fairview Road, Barrie, ON L4N 8X8
• Barrie Sports Hall of Fame — 190 Bayview Drive, Barrie, ON L4N 4Y6
• Barrie Visitor Information Centre — 4 Essa Road, Barrie, ON L4N 3K3
• Barrie-South Simcoe Métis Council — 64 Cedar Pointe Drive, Unit #1401, Barrie, ON L4N 5R7
• Canadian Musicians Co-operative — 80 Bradford Street, Unit 601, Barrie, ON L4N 6S7
• Collier Street United Church — 112 Collier Street, Barrie, ON L4M 1H3
• Grey and Simcoe Foresters Regimental Museum — 36 Mulcaster Street, Barrie, ON L4M 3M1
• Heritage Walking Tour (Barrie’s Hidden Past) — Meet at 4 Essa Road (Visitor Information Centre), Barrie, ON L4N 3K3
• J’adore Fine Cheese, Chocolate and Wine — 123 Dunlop Street East, Barrie, ON L4M 1A6
• Just Some Noise — 521 Dunlop Street West, Barrie, ON L4N 9W5
• MacLaren Art Centre — 37 Mulcaster Street, Barrie, ON L4M 3M2
• Mariposa School of Skating — 190 Bayview Avenue, Barrie, ON L4M 4Y5
• McFinn’s Traditional Irish Pub — 31 Bayfield Street, Barrie, ON L4M 3A6
• Military Heritage Park — 225 Lakeshore Drive, Barrie, ON L4N 7Y9
• Spare Room — 12 Lakeshore Mews, Barrie, ON L4M 1A6
• Walking Tour (East Side Story) — 30 Simcoe Street (Meridian Place), Barrie, ON L4M 1A7

Check Out Our Full Interview with Amanda Dyke, Cultural Development Officer, City of Barrie

For 2025, Doors Open Barrie features 20 sites and is partnered with Culture Days. How does this collaboration enhance the experience for families and young learners?

Culture Days is all about giving people the opportunity to get hands-on or behind the scenes and engage with arts and culture in new ways. By bringing Culture Days activities into our Doors Open sites, families and young learners can not only explore unique, creative, and historical sites, but they can also engage in an artform or explore a creative element of those sites as well. For example, the Spare Room artist studios’ residents will be showing participants how to use a risograph machine  to make “zines” or mini art booklets!

The ‘East Side Story’ walking tour offers access to rarely seen historical spaces downtown. What makes these spaces unique, and what might surprise younger visitors?

Some of downtown Barrie’s most unique and popular shops are located on the “Boys Block” on Dunlop Street East, housed in 1870’s-era buildings that rest on foundations that are decades older than that. I don’t want to ruin any of the tour’s surprises, but I can promise that volunteers from the Barrie Historical Archive will have exciting stories to tell about the earliest businesses and characters to grace Dunlop Street.

With so many sites across the city, what is your advice for planning a family-friendly route or day? Are there neighbourhood clusters that work well on foot or by transit?

The majority of the sites, including all of the walking tours, are located either downtown or in the Allandale neighbourhood/along the south shore of Kempenfelt Bay. The remainder are all a close drive from Highway 400. My recommendation would be to start the day in the city’s core, then use our handy GIS map to plan a route to visit the other sites from there.

Which sites would you recommend as ‘can’t-miss’ for families with limited time, and what makes each one especially memorable or meaningful?

Collier Street United Church is offering behind-the-scenes tours of their pipe organ, for the first time. The Barrie Mosque is participating in Doors Open Barrie with guided tours and free refreshments being offered. At the Barrie Simcoe Emergency Services Campus, families get to explore the home of the Barrie Police and Simcoe County Paramedics Service.

Are there any arts-centered activities happening at participating Doors Open sites as part of Culture Days that are especially hands-on or engaging for kids and teens?

So many of the sites have special programming for Doors Open Barrie. The Arts House has yoga, a visual art workshop, a kids concert, creative table, face painting and glitter tattoos (times vary). Just Some Noise will have live music and kids can try out the equipment on site. And at the downtown branch of the Barrie Public Library, visitors can check out their repair café, and add their own brushstrokes to a new temporary mural being painted on the rooftop garden patio!

After touring, families might want a snack or a comfortable break. What nearby cafés or casual spots would you suggest for lunch or a sweet treat?

Visit Tourism Barrie’s website for a list of Barrie-based eateries! The Downtown Barrie BIA also has a great list of local downtown eateries to enjoy.

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Whether you are fascinated by art, intrigued by history, or curious about contemporary community life, Doors Open Barrie 2025 offers something for everyone. With its new link with Culture Days, this year’s event adds free, interactive arts-based activities to classic heritage and architecture tours, making it especially rewarding for families and young learners. Plan your route, lace up your walking shoes or map your drive, bring curiosity, and get ready to explore Barrie’s stories in a hands-on way. Do not miss this chance to see what lies behind the facades and find new favourite places in your own backyard. Want to learn more about upcoming Doors Open Ontario events? Check out our blog as we follow along with events this season.