Beach day meets art show at the annual Sandfest, where pro sculptors turn Lakeshore Boulevard’s wide sweep of sand into towering castles and creatures. Roll down early, registration for the public build opens at 8 AM and the judging wraps up mid-afternoon, leaving you plenty of time to wander food stalls, listen to free live bands in the Town Square and snap a sunset pic beside the finished masterpieces. It’s totally free to watch or compete, so bring your bucket, your imagination and a sturdy sun-hat.

Even if you’re not racing, this is worth the road-trip. Solo athletes and relay teams will paddle 4 km, bike up to 21 km and trail-run rugged shoreline paths in the 15th-annual adventure race—all from a lakeside hub in Bluewater Park. Spectators can cheer from the transition zone, grab lunch from local vendors and soak up the festival vibe while racers splash in from Colpoy’s Bay and tear off into the forest. Family-friendly kids’ events and a post-race beer garden keep the energy high until the last finisher crosses.

If smooth sax lines and smoky guitar riffs are more your speed, head for Blue Mountain Village where patios spill onto the cobblestones for a two-day Blues & Jazz takeover. Acts like Whiskey Delta and Florin Clonta keep music rolling from afternoon until after dark, while BBQ aromas drift through the pedestrian streets and the gondola backdrop supplies the mountain views. All shows are free, so you can bop between stages with an ice-cream cone or settle into a pint on a balcony and let the summer soundtrack do its thing.

Just off Hwy 6, Neustadt Springs pours small-batch ales from Ontario’s oldest original brewery building, circa 1859.

Crystal spring water still bubbles up through the limestone caverns below, and a $5 weekend tour lets you wander those candle-lit tunnels (highly recommended) before settling on the patio with a tasting flight.

Try the malty “10W30” for a sip of local legend. History, geology and good beer in one easy detour.

Our Community Calendar covers Grey & Bruce Counties. It’s a large area, so if we missed an event we are sorry, we will do better next time!

Our Community Calendar was getting a bit too enthusiastic. Turns out stuffing a week’s worth of local fun into one email makes for a very long scroll.

So we’ve given it its own space! Click the button below to check out the full lineup of events this week.

Tucked behind (you guessed it) an old green door on Berford Street in Wiarton, this 30-seat spot is where husband-and-wife team Kate and Jeff Woods pour all their energy into “real food” made from scratch.

The menu changes with Grey-Bruce’s growing season, but staples like the Green Door Smash Burger (l swear, it might be the best around) and gluten-free–battered Georgian Bay whitefish keep the regulars happy.

Everything is paired with Kate’s craft cocktails and a rotating lineup of Ontario brews, and you can still get out the door for lunch under $30.

Seating is first-come, so aim for an early table or pop your name on the list and wander Wiarton’s main drag while you wait.

Usually we don’t like to feature the same area in the same Newsletter. But this one is too good to pass up!

Perched on the edge of the Niagara Escarpment just north of Wiarton, Spirit Rock Conservation Area feels half fairytale, half ghost story.

Follow a cedar-lined Bruce Trail spur to the crumbling stone shell of The Corran, a 17-room mansion built in 1881 by MP Alexander McNeill; vandals torched its opulent halls in the 1970s, leaving ivy-draped arches that frame the bay like windows into another era.

A 30-metre metal spiral staircase riveted to the cliff face drops you from the lookout to Colpoy’s Bay, where wave-polished fossils and quiet swimming spots wait below.

The full loop is under 5 km, but every turn packs drama, towering escarpment walls, orchard remnants, and sunset blazing through roofless corridors.

Stash $10 for day-use parking (QR code), wear grippy shoes, and bring a camera: this is the kind of place that sticks in the memory long after your boots dry.

Know a hidden gem that you want to share? This can be anything from a hike or waterfall to a off the beaten path farm store or icecream shop. Reply to this email and let us know!

Your votes help us match the right local sponsors to the things you actually love. Thanks for shaping the Buzz!

If one of today’s events sparks a little adventure, hit reply and tell us how it went, we love hearing your stories.

Forward the Buzz: Know a friend who’s always asking, “What’s happening this weekend?” Pass this email along and help them get in the loop.

Catch you next Tuesday with a fresh batch of local events, hidden gems, and small-town surprises.

Stay curious,
— Cody & The GB Buzz Team