Following in the footsteps of Collingwood’s long history of brewing and distilling dating back to the 1800’s, the Town is quickly becoming recognized as Ontario’s Craft Beverage Capital, leveraging the collaborative craft community and strong tourism sector. As tourism has grown, so has its significant economic impact. From 2012 to 2022, job growth in Collingwood’s beverage manufacturing industry increased 108%, and realized $78.8 million in sales, with over $60 million of those sales from outside the community bringing valuable dollars into Collingwood!
The Collingwood Craft Beverage Tour initially launched in November 2020 as an initiative to support local producers and introduce locals and visitors to their products during the COVID-19 pandemic. The response from businesses and participants was resoundingly positive and the Collingwood Craft Beverage Tour was recognized as an award-winning initiative by the Economic Developer's Councill of Ontario in 2022. This fall, the Craft Beverage Tour returns with an updated passport and self-guided routes!
“Building on the success of the award-winning Collingwood Craft Beverage Tour, we’re very excited to showcase our local craft beverage producers by offering a passport to encourage people to experience all of them this fall! From artfully crafted spirits to hoppy brews, there's a variety of options to choose from at our family friendly breweries and distilleries,” says Johanna Griggs, Manager of Economic Development for the Town of Collingwood.
Residents and visitors are invited to spend a day, a weekend, or the season touring, tapping, tasting, and taking home Collingwood’s finest hometown bevvies. This self-guided tour allows participants to treat themselves on their own timeline, one stamp at a time, with the new Collingwood Craft Beverage Passport. Collect at least 5 of the 7 stamps by November 30, 2024, to be eligible to win prizes from participating producers!
How To Participate
- Get Your Passport: Pick up your passport at any participating producer location and fill out the information on the inside back cover. You can get your first stamp when you pick up your passport!
- Choose Your Route: Explore on foot, by bike, or car with a designated driver. Complete the tour in a weekend or spread it out over the fall.
- Collect Stamps: Visit at least 5 featured producers and collect a stamp from each in your passport.
How to Enter
- Snap a photo of the inside back cover (complete with your information) and the passport competition page showing at least 5 stamps.
- Email your photo to dobusiness@collingwood.ca with the subject line ‘Collingwood Craft Beverage Passport Entry.’ The deadline to submit an entry is November 30, 2024.
- Winners will be randomly selected and contacted from the entries on Wednesday December 4, 2024.
- Seven prizes provided by local producers are available to be won and are valued at approximately $100.00 each. Must be legal drinking age to enter. Visit the contest page for full details.
Ready to explore? Start by heading to www.craftbeveragecapital.ca to learn more about Collingwood’s craft beverage producers, discover routes for biking, walking, and driving, learn about the local history, and join in the fun! A limited number of passports are available, so start exploring today!