The Newmarket National Ten Minute Play Festival, which was held last week, received $7,700; the upcoming Culture Days, Sept. 27 to 29, received $33,126; and the Winter Village Festival, Dec. 6, 2019 to Jan. 4, 2020, received $13,575
The funding helps festival and event organizers enhance programming, activities and services so festivals and events can offer new experiences, reach new audiences, support local jobs and attract tourists.
Other events in York Region receiving support this year are:
- CosmoFEST Richmond Hill, June 1, $70,250;
- Markham Contemporary Music Festival Markham, June 4 to 29, $19,570;
- The Burgerfest Vaughan, June 14 to 16, $20,000;
- Whitchurch Stouffville Strawberry Festival, June 28 to July 1, $16,250;
- Vaughan Pizza Fest, July 13 to 14, $50,000;
- Tapestry of Taste East Gwillimbury, Aug. 9 to 11, $14,325;
- TD Markham Jazz Festival, Aug. 16 to 18, $6,000;
- TurkeyFiesta Ontario King, Oct. 12, $25,000;
- Winterfest Vaughan, Nov. 22 to Dec. 31; $100,000.
"Every dollar invested through Celebrate Ontario results in almost $21 of visitor spending," said Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, in a news release this week announcing additional grants of more than $2 million.
Tourism is an important economic driver, supporting more than 390,000 jobs and generating $34 billion of economic activity in Ontario, according to the release. Since 2014, the province’s tourism sector has experienced year-on-year increases in tourism receipts of more than six per cent.
