Doors Open Barrie: Turning the City into a Classroom

What if art class took place inside a gallery, music class inside a rehearsal studio and lessons about community happened alongside the people who help keep a city safe? During Doors Open Barrie on Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the city becomes one big classroom for families to explore. This free, one-day event invites visitors inside 17 heritage, cultural and community spaces across Barrie, with opportunities to discover local history, public safety, transportation, visual arts, music, architecture and culture. Several locations will also feature free Culture Days activities, giving young visitors even more opportunities to learn through hands-on experiences. Keep reading for the complete list of participating sites and our interview with Amanda Dyke, Cultural Development Officer with the City of Barrie, including family-friendly highlights and tips for planning your day.

For young learners, one of the most exciting things about Doors Open Barrie is the opportunity to see familiar school subjects from an entirely different perspective. History can be explored through military artifacts and a walk through downtown Barrie, while art and music come to life inside creative spaces throughout the city. Students can also learn about public safety at the Barrie Simcoe Emergency Services Campus, discover transportation and sustainable design at the new Barrie Allandale Transit Terminal, and experience different cultures and traditions through participating community and faith spaces. Together, the sites turn Barrie into a city-wide learning experience where curiosity can lead the way.

Where Is Barrie? Exploring a Waterfront City on Kempenfelt Bay

Located on the western shore of Kempenfelt Bay, Barrie is a growing city in Central Ontario known for its waterfront, arts and culture, recreation and connection to the surrounding communities of Simcoe County. Its location along Highway 400 also makes it an accessible day trip for families travelling from communities north and south of the city.

Barrie is approximately 35 kilometres from Orillia, or around a 30-minute drive; about 50 kilometres from Newmarket, or approximately 50 minutes by car; and approximately 100 kilometres from Toronto, or around one hour and 15 minutes away. Travel times will vary depending on traffic, starting location and which Doors Open sites families plan to visit.

For families with school-aged children, Barrie is primarily served by the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) and Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board (SMCDSB). French-language public education is also available through Conseil scolaire Viamonde, while French-language Catholic education is offered through Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir. With Doors Open sites touching on history, visual arts, music, transportation, public safety and community studies, the event offers local students an opportunity to connect classroom learning with the people, places and services around them.

Participating Sites at Doors Open Barrie

This year, visitors can explore 17 sites and experiences:

• Aardvark Learning Academy — 555 Mapleview Drive West, Unit 203 (side entrance), Barrie, Ontario
• Am Shalom Congregation — 767 Huronia Road, Barrie, Ontario
• Barrie Allandale Transit Terminal — 20 Essa Road, Barrie, Ontario
• Barrie Art Club — 11 King Street, Unit 8, Barrie, Ontario
• Barrie Fire and Emergency Services Headquarters — 155 Dunlop Street West, Barrie, Ontario, L4N 6N9
• Barrie Mosque – Noor Ul Islam — 155 Ferris Lane, Barrie, Ontario, L4M 1Z3
• Barrie Public Library – Downtown Branch — 60 Worsley Street, Barrie, Ontario, L4M 1L6
• Barrie Simcoe Emergency Services Campus — 110 Fairview Road, Barrie, Ontario, L4N 8X8
• Barrie Visitor Information Centre — 4 Essa Road, Barrie, Ontario, L4N 3K3
• Barrie YMCA — 535 Bayview Drive, Barrie, Ontario
• Canadian Musicians Co-operative — 80 Bradford Street, Unit 601, Barrie, Ontario, L4N 6S7
• Grey and Simcoe Foresters Regimental Museum — 36 Mulcaster Street, Barrie, Ontario
• Historic Walking Tour – Grand Designs: Building a Life in 19th Century Barrie — meet at Meridian Place, 30 Simcoe Street, Barrie, Ontario, L4M 1A7
• MacLaren Art Centre — 37 Mulcaster Street, Barrie, Ontario, L4M 3M2
• Military Heritage Park — 225 Lakeshore Drive, Barrie, Ontario, L4N 7Y9
• St. Margaret of Scotland Anglican Church — 161 Hanmer Street West, Barrie, Ontario
• Trinity Anglican Church Barrie — 24 Collier Street, Barrie, Ontario

Visitors should review the official Doors Open Barrie event page before setting out for the latest information about individual site hours, accessibility, parking, tours and Culture Days activities.

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

For 2026, Doors Open Barrie features 17 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, engage in free multicultural activities, including Brazilian and Chinese dance workshops and Shodo (Japanese calligraphy) at the downtown branch of the Barrie Public Library.

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?

The studio, rehearsal and workshop space at the Canadian Musicians Cooperative will offer free hands-on activities all day. Families can also enjoy a block party with food, games and tours at the site of the new Barrie YMCA. 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?

At the downtown branch of the Barrie Public Library, visitors can engage in free multicultural activities, including Brazilian and Chinese dance workshops and Shodo (Japanese calligraphy).

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.

Discover Barrie Beyond the Classroom

From stepping inside art and music spaces to exploring local history, transportation, culture and public safety, Doors Open Barrie gives families an opportunity to experience familiar school subjects in unexpected places. With a mix of new and returning sites and hands-on Culture Days activities, young visitors can ask questions, meet people in their community and discover just how much learning can happen beyond school walls. Explore Barrie and spend the day discovering what happens when the city becomes the classroom.