Cape Forchu Lighthouse in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia; photo courtesy of Yarmouth & Acadian Shores Facebook page

As Canadians try to stretch their travel dollars, more are considering ditching the trip south and choosing instead to explore new regions within Canada. To that end, Flight Network has released its inaugural list of Top 50 Small Towns in Canada.

"With the low Canadian dollar, Canadians are considering more domestic travel options instead of international or US destinations,” said Neil Bhapkar, Flight Network Chief Marketing Officer. “This list will inspire travel to the small Canadian towns on our list, where Canadians can get more bang for their buck."

With that in mind, find Flight Centre’s top 50 list, complete with a festival or travel suggestion in each town.

British Columbia

Chetwynd, BC: The Chetwynd International Chainsaw Carving Competition attracts master carvers from around the world every June.

Dawson Creek, BC: Check out Sweetwater905 Farm Day in August, with its horse workshops, farm tours, farm demonstrations and artisans. 

Fort Nelson, BC: Every March, participate in the Fort Nelson Trapper’s Rendezvous, with log sawing, moose horn throwing, and frypan tossing.

Houston, BC: Sing your praises at the Houston Gospel fest every July; also visit the world’s largest fly fishing rod at the Houston Visitor Centre.

Prince Rupert, BC: Every December, the trees around the Court House are decked out in their finest holiday lights during Winterfest. There’s skating—and swimming—as well as a holiday craft fair, a bonfire, fireworks and a colourful sail-past boat parade.

Alberta

Beaumont, AB: Beaumont is home to Canada’s biggest little music festival, the Beaumont Blues & Roots Festival, which unfolds every June and features only Canadian performers.

Camrose, AB: Carrie Underwood and Blake Shelton are among the headliners for this June’s Big Valley Jamboree, the award-winning country music event which has been named the Canadian Country Music Association’s (CCMA) "Event of the Year" five times since 2011.

Foothills, AB: Every June, Turner Valley Discovery Days unfolds throughout Alberta’s Foothills Municipal District. There’s a parade in Black Diamond followed by a carnival-style celebration with a petting zoo, vendors and artisans.

Sylvan Lake, AB: Rock the beach every July at the Summer Sensation Beach Music Festival in Sylvan Lake’s Centennial Park.

Saskatchewan

Battleford, SK: In July, the Saskatchewan Handcraft Festival, now in its fourth decade, features juried handcraft displays. Plus, there’s also plenty of locally prepared food products available.

Canora, SK: Enjoy an old fashioned picnic, live music, movie nights, a carnival and numerous meals prepared by local community organizations every July during the Canora in Bloom celebration.

Nipawin, SK: Community groups come together every May for the Nipawin Folk Fest, an international celebration of cultures, with music, dancing and traditional costumes.

Manitoba

Altona, MB: Since 1964, the Manitoba Sunflower Festival has taken place every July in Altona. This year, Shania Twain is scheduled to headline, and other activities include a quilt exhibit, Mennonite foods, floral displays and a petting zoo.

The Pas, MB: Folks in Northern Alberta celebrate winter at the annual Northern Manitoba Trapper’s Festival, which unfolds every February. The festivities include a beard-growing contest, ice & snow sculptures, a smoked fish and meat curing contest, moose and goose calling, as well as a torch lite parade and a massive pub crawl.

Stonewall, MB: Stonewall, a major limestone production centre, celebrates its heritage every August at the Stonewall Quarry Days. Check out beer gardens, pancake breakfasts, live music, a midway and an annual parade.

Ontario

Bracebridge, ON: For the first-time every, Bracebridge hosted its Fire & Ice Festival this January. Fire artists, fireworks and fire pit represented the fire portion of the event, while ice displays, a downtown tube run and a new skating trail celebrated the ice.

Cochrane, ON: Cochrane, the birth place of Tim Horton, is also home to the annual “Live Like a Northerner” Summerfest. Come for the lake shore fish fry with pickerel caught fresh from the local lakes. The festival, which unfolds in August, also features ATV rides through mud bogs, dragon boat races, fireworks and more.

Erin, ON: Erin is home to one of the oldest agricultural fairs in Ontario, the Erin Fall Fair, which celebrates its 166^th anniversary this October. Enjoy horse shows, food trucks, a tractor pull and plenty of live music and vendors.

Paris, ON: Often called the prettiest town in Ontario, Paris hosts the Springtime in Paris festival every June. A butterfly releases kicks off the festivities, and there’s a bike rodeo, a soap box derby, a garden tour, river rafting and a pancake breakfast.

Port Hope, ON: Celebrate Canada’s growing jazz scene at the All-Canadian Jazz Festival every September. While you’re there, explore the region’s vintage architecture and be sure to sample local cuisine at one of the area’s bistros and cafes.

Smiths Falls, ON: Explore wellness at Smiths Falls’ Healthy Living Festival this June. There's an obstacle course, walking on water in water balls and info on healthy living from local vendors. Performers, a parade and plenty of healthy foods round out the celebration.

Tobermory, ON: If flowers are your thing, the Bruce Peninsula Orchid Festival in June is sure to please. Guided walks through Bruce Island National Park, photography classes and watercolour workshops are just a few of the planned events.

Quebec

Beauharnois, QC: Home to one of the world’s largest hydro power plants, be sure to schedule a tour during Science for March Break week.

Hudson, QC: Celebrating innovation and experimentation in music, the Hudson Music Festival welcomes performers from around Canada every August.

Montmagny, QC: Montmagny is Canada’s snow goose capital. Every October, the city celebrates the Montmagny Snow Goose Festival, with plenty of family-friendly activities, including birdwatching.

Saint-Lazare, QC: Equestrian festivities are the order of the day during the Festival Saint-Lazare au Galop this July.

New Brunswick

Beresford, NB: Mr. Groundhog gets a multi-day celebration every February in Beresford at the Carnaval du Siffleux de Beresford. Enjoy ice sculptures, sleigh rides, regional music and, of course, an appearance by the groundhog himself.

Riverview, NB: True Canadian traditions come to life at the annual Maple Sugar Festival every April. Enjoy sugar camp tours, sleigh rides, pancake breakfasts with real maple syrup and bonfires with maple s’mores.

Rothesay, NB: Dragon boat racing and Chinese cultural performances come together in a colourful spectacle every August at the Saint John Dragon Boat Festival, and all the money raised goes to support St. Joseph’s Hospital.

Woodstock, NB: Enjoy storytelling at its finest at the annual Dooryard Arts Festival in July. The four day festival features live music, theatre performances, workshops and an open-air market.

Prince Edward Island

Afton, PEI: While in town, be sure to play nine holes at the Glen Afton Golf Club while taking in the coastal views of the Northumberland Strait.

Cornwall, PEI: Islander Day, a statutory holiday in Prince Edward Island, unfolds the third Monday every February. In Cornwall, Family Fun Day celebrates the winter season with sledding, outdoor skating, snowman building and snowshoeing.

Souris, PEI: Every July, during the last full weekend, artisans and beach lovers gather for the Mermaid Tears Sea Glass Festival. Browse items sold by sea glass artisans, play Seaglass bingo, tour the Souris Lighthouse or find your own sea glass on the beach and enter it into the Shard contest.

Summerside, PEI: Celebrate Prince Edward Island’s famed lobster at the Summerside Lobster Festival every July. Enjoy live music on a waterfront stage, beach volleyball and plenty of lobster-themed culinary events.

Nova Scotia

Amherst, NS: Knitting, quilting, rug hooking, felting, weaving and crocheting all take center stage during the Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival, which unfolds in Amherst every October. Here you’ll participate in fibre arts exhibits, take hands-on classes and of course pick up the ideal handcrafted item.

Mahone Bay, NS: Every September, more than 150 handmade, life-size scarecrows populate the town of Mahone Bay, during the annual Scarecrow Festival & Antique Fair. Scarecrows range from the traditional to a replica of the Royal Family, but they’re just a part of the story at Atlantic Canada’s largest fall fair. Also enjoy hand-carved pumpkins, hot apple cider, historic graveyard tours, yard sales, the Quilt Jamboree and the largest antique show in the Maritimes.

Stellarton, NS: Every September, Stellarton turns into a mini United Nations during the annual Multicultural Fusion Festival. Entertainment, vendors and food booths represent cultures from around the world. There’s also live music all day long as well as a local’s only cricket match.

Yarmouth, NS: Celebrate “life by the sea” at Seafest, Yarmouth’s annual maritime event. Signature events include a mackerel toss, rum running races, Rudder’s parade of lights and a chowder cook off.

Newfoundland

Labrador City, NL: The world’s longest and toughest snowmobile endurance race, Cain’s Quest takes place every March. Starting from Labrador City, the trail covers more than 3,300 kilometres through some of Labrador’s most-remote areas.

Pasadena, NL: Strawberries star at the annual Pasadena Days: Humber Valley Strawberry Festival every July. Enjoy baked good prepared with strawberries and vote for your favorite at the baking contest. Square dancing, live music, a beer garden and a fireworks celebration round out the festivities.

Springdale, NL: Perhaps it is most famously the birthplace of Natasha Henstridge, Springdale is also known for its waterfront, its hiking trails and the Newfound & Labrador Women’s Institute. Be sure to visit the Springdale Wetlands, a coastal estuary that is home to a diverse ecosystems of Canada Geese, Salmon, Moose, Ducks, Berries and other species.

Torbay, NL: The all-new Piperstock Hill Festival celebrates local Torbay culture. First launched in June 2013, the festival was created to celebrate the area’s musical tradition. Signature events include a classic car show, local culinary delights, a skateboard demo, a seafood dinner and a barbecue by the sea.

Yukon

Carmacks, YK: While in the village of Carmacks, be sure to visit the Tagé Cho Hudän Interpretive Centre, which showcases the culture of the Northern Tutchone people. Indoor exhibits include a moose skin boat, a dug-out canoe and the world’s only mammoth snare diorama. Outside a walking trail meanders through several First Nation outdoor displays.

Dawson City, YK: One of the biggest events in the Yukon, the Dawson City Music Festival takes place every July. A weekend pass will provide access to innovative live music, all weekend long.

Watson Lake, YK: Take in the amazing Aurora Borealis from the Northern Lights Space & Interpretive Centre, where you can enjoy a planetarium show, a direct link to the Hubble Telescope and footage from NASA’s THEMIS mission sent to explore the secrets of the Aurora Borealis. Also be sure to visit Watson Lake’s famous Sign Forest, which houses more than 72,000 road signs.

North West Territories

Behchoko, NWT: Home of the Northwest Territory’s largest First Nations community, Behchoko is the ideal outdoor getaway. Be sure to visit the North Arm Territorial Park on the shores of Great Slave Lake, a nesting area for water birds.

Fort Smith, NWT: Explore science and the cosmos at the annual Dark Sky Festival, held each August in Wood Buffalo National Park, the world’s largest Dark Sky Preserve.

Inuvik, NWT: After a long, dark winter, welcome the first sun of in nearly a month during the Sunrise Festival every January. Signature events include snow carving, a snowmobile parade, an ice road village, a giant bonfire, an Arctic Market with locally prepared baked goods, and a concert in the Igloo church.

Nunavut

Arviat, NU: The community of Arviat is known for its gifted musical performers, in particular its Inuit throat singers. Every Labor Day weekend, the community celebrates its musical heritage at the ten-day Inuumariit Music Festival.

Pond Inlet, NU: This polar arctic destination is known for its innovative Tununiq Arsarniit Theatre Group, where Inuit performers create plays and performances by consensus, weaving together the language, myths and traditions of the local people as expressed through voices of its elders.

For more information on visiting the above destinations, visit www.flightnetwork.com/blog/canadas-top-50-small-towns.

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