10 Ways to Get Out and Explore Thunder Bay During the Scotties Tournament of Hearts 2025

From February 14 to 25, the city of Thunder Bay, Ontario will welcome one of Canada’s top curling events, the 2025 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Hosted at the recently refreshed Fort William Gardens in the bustling Fort William Business District, this event is a chance to cheer on Canada’s best female curlers as they compete for the championship and a chance to represent Canada at the World Curling Championships. With a host of accommodations and plenty of outdoor winter adventures on offer, your visit to this scenic northern city is sure to be a memorable one.

Here are some fun and exciting ideas to consider as you’re planning your visit to Thunder Bay for the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

Within a 10-minute walk of Fort William Gardens:

1. Visit Nearby Restaurants

The Original 16 Patch, right in the Fort William Curling Rink at the Gardens, is offering live entertainment, food and beverages, games and chances to meet the athletes.  For variety, there are a number of eateries within walking distance of the Gardens too. The Tilted Turret is a one-minute walk away on Archibald Street North. The city’s only “pinball pub,” it’s housed in a cool heritage building and features laidback fare like pizza and burgers and has plenty of classic and new pinball games. For authentic Nigerian food like catfish pepper soup or asun (spicy barbecue goat), look to the Thunder Bay African Restaurant , a seven-minute walk north on May. The Golden Wok, on May Street (going east) also a seven-minute walk, serves up tasty Chinese and Vietnamese dishes like chow mein, pho and noodle bowls. One of the city’s most popular coffee spots, Up Shot Coffeehouse, is across the street from the Golden Wok. It’s a great place to fuel up on locally roasted coffee, locally made pastries, sandwiches and made-from-scratch soups (and also has a small selection of local pottery and jewelry). Feeling celebratory? Head to Giorg Cucina e Barra, four minutes away from the Gardens on Justice Avenue, to savour fine wines and beautifully prepared Italian food. If you’re driving, or staying near the Intercity area, Scotties sponsor Montana’s is sure to be a popular destination for casual comfort food as well.

2. See the World’s Second-Biggest Curling Rock

Talk about a must-do photo op! This curling rock dates back to the 1960 Brier, hosted in Fort William and Port Arthur (the two cities that later amalgamated to become Thunder Bay). Constructed at the CanCar plant and weighing 5,000 lbs at the time, it was first seen on a float in a parade that kicked off the Brier, and was then moved to the exterior of the Gardens to welcome the 26,000 spectators. After a stint at the Hwy 17 visitors’ centre, it was returned to the front door of the Gardens, where it has been restored and adorned with names of winners of national events.

3. Do a Little Shopping for Souvenirs

One of the city’s most loved exports, Heartbeat Hot Sauce , is headquartered right across the street from the Gardens at the Miles and May intersection. It produces more than a million bottles annually, sold worldwide. While the company isn’t open to the public for tours, it’s easy to place an order online for your favourite hot sauces as well as merch like hats and flannel shirts and then pick it up at the facility on Friday afternoons. Sleeping Giant Antiques, on Victoria Avenue East, is less than a 10-minute walk from the Gardens and is a two-storey treasure trove of vintage and antique items. Across the street from the antique mall is Canvas & Clay, which showcases a range of locally made items like stained glass, jewelry, fibre art and more. You can even sign up for a quick crafting workshop too! Victoria’s Cupboard on May Street North is a six-minute walk from the Gardens and is filled with home décor items artfully displayed in nine rooms, including one dedicated to Christmas.

4. Head to the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame

See some curling history (as well as other sports memorabilia of course) at the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, a 10-minute walk away on Vickers Street South. Admission is by donation and if you’d like access to the archives, just contact them for an appointment.

5. Get a Sense of History

The Thunder Bay Museum, located in a historic former police station on Donald Street, is a 10-minute walk from the Gardens. There, you can discover permanent exhibits that document First Nations history, the early settlers and notable residents of the Lakehead. Current visiting exhibits highlight local archeology, as well as the history of air traffic produced by the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in partnership with Nav Canada.

Reachable via public transit or car:

6. Discover Indigenous Art

Head to the Thunder Bay Art Gallery on the Confederation College grounds to see some remarkable Indigenous art, with visiting displays that include those that showcase the art of birchbark biting (beautiful designs made by biting birchbark!)

7. Get Tickets for Curling-Inspired Theatre

The recently refreshed Magnus Theatre on Algoma Street South is a professional theatre company known for its Canada-centred productions. Starting February 20, you can see The New Canadian Curling Club, an inspiring comedy about a curling club and some new Canadians who are learning the sport.

8. Shop and Dine

Take your pick of several different shopping districts where you can find unique shops and independent restaurants and cafes. While the tournament is held in the Fort William Business District, there's plenty to see on the Port Arthur side of town like the Bay and Algoma neighbourhood, as well as the Waterfront District in and around Red River Road (the indoor European-style market at Goods & Co. is an excellent choice any time but especially on wintery days). In Fort William, check out the charming Westfort neighbourhood.

9. Say Hello to the Sleeping Giant

Thunder Bay’s famous rock formation is visible at different places in town, but the waterfront at Prince Arthur’s Landing/Marina Park is a great destination for visitors to Thunder Bay, even in the winter. Stroll the waterfront paths to see a majestic Lake Superior, watch the skaters at the waterfront rink and stop by the local shops and café in the historic train depot building.

10. Marvel at Kakabeka Falls

Kakabeka Falls in the winter is totally worth the road trip. About a 30-minute drive west of Thunder Bay, this easy-to-reach scenic landmark offers a combination of amazing ice formations and rushing water (depending on what the winter weather has been like) and is a good place to get some fresh air while viewing the 40-metre falls that are called the Niagara of the North.

Thunder Bay is excited to welcome visitors and athletes to the 2025 Scotties Tournament of Hearts! Visit the Scottie’s page on curling.ca to get the latest information about games, free shuttle buses before and after each draw, and park-and-ride options. 

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