City halls, fire stations, breweries, laboratories, places of worship, historic cemeteries, water treatment plants, bakeries, theatres, a sugar shack and a working grain elevator are among the scores of participating Doors Open Ontario 2016 sites this fall.
Hundreds of buildings, many not usually open to the public, will welcome visitors on weekends in September and October, all free of charge. Visit the Doors Open Ontario website for event details, as well as interactive tools to help you plan your Doors Open Ontario experience.
Doors Open Ontario, a province wide program of the Ontario Heritage Trust, has proven to be popular across Ontario. Last year saw nearly half a million participants check out 1,025 buildings and sites in 161 communities. Volunteers contributed 54,000 hours to support local events in 2015, with participants spending as much as $5 million in local economies.
Doors Open Ontario is a hit for both local residents and visitors. About 93 per cent of Ontarians live in a community that has hosted a Doors Open Ontario event, and local participation accounts for 70 per cent of attendance. Among visitors who come from outside the host community, surveys show that 71 per cent travelled specifically to participate in a Doors Open Ontario event.
Since its inception in 2002, Doors Open Ontario has attracted 6.5 million visitors to explore over 15,000 amazing sites. Visitors to Doors Open Ontario events have spent over $53 million, generating significant economic benefits for participating communities.
Doors Open Ontario 2016 receives funding support from the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund and the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation.
