Ontario Investing $20,000 to Support Festivals and Events in Newmarket—Aurora

Investment will celebrate Canadian and local culture, boost tourism and strengthen Newmarket’s economy

NEWSSeptember 6, 2025 

Newmarket – Ontario is investing $20,000 through the 2025 Experience Ontario program to support the 2025 New’Bark’It festival in Newmarket. This is part of a nearly $20-million investment in festivals and events across Ontario to help organizers expand programming and draw visitors to stay longer in local accommodations, eat in restaurants, shop at local retailers and support main street businesses. 

“Festivals and events showcase the best of Ontario, it’s people and its culture all while inviting people near and far to experience and enjoy our province. They help create local jobs, provide economic benefits and bring communities together,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. “Now more than ever, it is important that we come together to take part in made-in-Ontario experiences that celebrate our collective identity and support local communities.”  

In total, Experience Ontario 2025 is supporting more than 350 festivals and events across the province. 

“I am thrilled that our government is supporting the 2025 New’Bark’It festival right here in Newmarket through the Experience Ontario program,” said Dawn Gallagher Murphy, MPP Newmarket—Aurora. “This funding will help organizers grow the festival, attract more visitors to our community, and strengthen our local economy by supporting local businesses.” 

“We greatly appreciate the provincial government supporting Newmarket to deliver best-in-class events. It helps us to provide more opportunities for residents to get together and spend time with neighbors and friends and, in the case of New’bark’et, their best friend,” said John Taylor, Mayor of Newmarket. “Key to building a vibrant community and a vibrant local economy is creating opportunities for people to come together to celebrate their common interests and have shared experiences. We do this very well in Newmarket. It’s why we’ve been named Municipality of the Year by Festivals and Events Ontario twice now. With the Province’s support, we’re giving people even more reasons to visit Newmarket.” 

QUICK FACTS 

  • Tourism plays a critical role in the Ontario economy, in 2023 visitors to Ontario spent $33 billion and supported more than 325,000 jobs. 
  • Since 2021, the Ministry’s Experience Ontario program (formerly known as Reconnect Ontario and Celebrate Ontario) has supported over 2,000 Ontario festivals and events. 
  • In 2024-25, the ministry invested more than $20 million to support more than 250 festivals and events around the province. 
  • Festivals and events supported by Experience Ontario benefit communities by drawing more visitors who stay longer in local accommodations, eat in restaurants, shop at local retailers and support main street businesses. 
  • The Experience Ontario 2025 application period launched on November 28, 2024, with direct outreach to over 4,000 stakeholders and closed on December 30, 2024. To get your festival or event on the contact list for Experience Ontario 2026, email experienceontario@ontario.ca 
  • In 2024-25, our government invested over $192 million in the tourism sector through funding programs, Regional Tourism Organization grants, Destination Ontario, ministry attractions, and tourism agencies.