In Hastings County, Tweed & Company Theatre is celebrating a major achievement - They’ve been recognized as one of Ontario’s Top 100 Festivals and Events by FEO for the third consecutive year in a row and for a fourth time overall. They were first awarded the recognition in 2018, then again in 2023 and 2024.

This honour was announced at the Festivals & Events Ontario Awards Gala held on February 26th in Kitchener, marking the final evening of the association's annual conference. This prestigious distinction was accepted by Co-Executive and Artistic Director Tim Porter and Co-Executive and Managing Director Emily Mewett, who attended the event on behalf of the company.

The Top 100 List recognizes outstanding events and festivals that happen across the province. It entails a rigorous selection process and requires submissions from Festivals & Events Ontario members. These are reviewed by an independent panel of judges, ensuring that only the most exceptional events make the list. Representing a broad spectrum of Ontario's cultural scene, the recipients range from internationally acclaimed festivals to beloved community events.

“We’re incredibly proud to be named a top 100 provincial event once again,” says Tim Porter. “It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, and it motivates us to continue providing top-notch live performances for our audiences in Eastern Ontario. And to be recognized alongside other major events is a huge honour!”

Among the honorees, Tweed & Company was one of few to represent Hastings County, and one of just three from the RTO 11 tourism region (spanning from the Haliburton Highlands to Ottawa Valley) alongside the Hike Haliburton Festival and the Bancroft Rockhound Gemboree. Other esteemed arts and festival companies on the list include the Canadian National Exhibition, Southside Shuffle Blues & Jazz Festival, and Celebrate Toronto. Tweed & Co was the only theatre on the whole list this year.

The theatre is about to embark on its 17th season, which is their biggest one yet. “We have some large-scale musicals lined up, plus a full year of youth performance programs and camps, and tons of one-night-only concerts, comedy shows, magic shows, films…there’s always something playing in our spaces!” Porter explains.

The 2025 season’s major productions are Bad Hats Theatre’s Alice in Wonderland in July, Jersey Boys in August, The Rocky Horror Show in October/November, and Hook: A New Family Musical in December. All shows will be performed at their two venues, the Village Playhouse in Bancroft and the Marble Arts Centre in Tweed. The latter has recently undergone a massive renovation over the last year, which has just been completed.

“We’re so excited to welcome audiences back to the Marble Arts Centre, they are truly going to be blown away.” Porter adds. The renovations include a massive atrium addition that’ll serve as a meeting space, lobby, and art gallery. Plus the stage and backstage area have also received huge upgrades, making the centre an impressive cultural and performance hub.

The theatre is run by a hard-working administrative team and a dedicated Board of Directors. They also have over 100 volunteers and hire 50+ seasonal artists and staff. Since 2023, they also operate a third venue, the Tweed Outdoor Stage where audiences can catch delightful concerts in Tweed Memorial Park next to Stoco Lake. Across all venues, they welcome more than 20,000 patrons annually.

“We always strive to put Hastings County on the map and encourage people to visit the region,” says Porter. “The theatre continues to drive tourism and economic development in the area. A community thrives when they have access to arts and culture and we look forward to even more growth in the years ahead.”

Tweed & Company’s 2025 season is already underway with concerts and events like the TIFF Film Circuit Bancroft movies, Celebrating Springsteen: Unplugged, J.P. Cormier, Jeff Leeson’s Jokes On You Comedy Tour, Symply Skynyrd, and a show by the famous illusionist, Nicholas Wallace. Plus, March break and summer youth camps are open for registration!

Offering some of the most accessible ticket prices in the country, Tweed & Company wants everyone to come to the theatre! Be sure to reserve your tickets or season passes before they sell out. Call the box office at 613-478-6060 or visit www.tweedandcompany.com to secure your tickets today!