How to Explore Base31 District This Fall

Not sure where to start when you arrive at Base31 District? With 70 acres to explore, there’s a lot to discover. The best way to experience the District is to give yourself time to wander, grab a bite, catch some live music and see where the day takes you.

Start with a little history.

Begin your visit at Exhibition Hall, where the story of Camp Picton comes to life. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM, the Exhibition Hall is home to artifacts, stories and interactive installations that invite you to experience the site’s history in a whole new way. Admission is $8.82, and you can explore at your own pace. Veterans and children 5 & under can experience the Exhibition Hall for free. For even more great history, rent a self-guided audio site tour and dive deeper into the stories behind Camp Picton.

Then, follow the good vibes to The Commissary.

Make your way to The Commissary for lunch, a snack or a drink and settle into one of the District’s most social spaces. Grab a bite from Chef Char’s Snack Shack, The Good Mess or Oxus Shawarma & Kebob, Lemons & Sweets or The Commissary Bar, then find a spot along the boardwalk, around the picnic tables or in the sand.

This fall, The Commissary is also the place to be from Thursday through Sunday. Join us for Thursday Open Mic, Friday Porch Sessions, Saturday Après Beach DJs and Sunday Brunch & Sounds. Check the Upcoming Events page for weekly details.

Keep exploring.

Take a peek inside the Base Living Discovery Centre, located beside The Commissary, to learn more about how we’re growing rental and home ownership options in PEC. Then get moving with a game of pickleball, rent a bike from Pedego and explore the grounds on two wheels, or simply wander and see what catches your eye.

Families can let kids run, climb and play at Wildlings, or use their detective skills at Escape Camp Picton, while the Sensory Garden offers a quieter place to recharge and explore. Art lovers can visit both The Arts Collective and Melt Gallery, then follow the sculptures throughout the site as part of the Base31 Art Walk in collaboration with Oeno Gallery.

Make a night of it at the Drill Hall RBC Stage.

As the sun goes down, the District comes alive in one of its most iconic spaces. The Drill Hall RBC Stage brings big-name music and performance to a historic hangar, with The Trews, The Best of The Second City, Classic Albums Live: Fleetwood Mac Rumours, 54•40 and Dwayne Gretzky’s Halloween party coming this fall.

The best part? There’s no single way to do Base31

Come for the history, stay for the music. Bring the kids, meet friends for dinner, discover some art or spend a fall afternoon exploring the grounds. However you choose to experience it, there’s always another corner of the District waiting to be discovered.