Proposed Campsites at Base31 (Supplied Image)
Campgrounds are coming to the south end of the Base, with space for up to 1000 people to camp over long weekends.
The former Flying Club building behind Hangar 6 will become a Camp Clubhouse, and washrooms and showers will be available. RVs will be able to hook up to generators. 200 camping spots, designed to accommodate groups of 4 or 6, can be booked for weekend stays of up to four nights over high summer.
Reservations range from $120 to $200 for a two-night stay. Prices vary depending on the size and location of the camping spot. A basic Lawn Tent booking, for example, accommodates four people and allows one car. “Preferred” spots will accommodate up to 6 people and two cars. Club Tent camping allows for a 20’ x 20’ tent for up to six people in a treed location.
The campgrounds will support major festivals such as the Pretty Excellent Country Music Festival and Rock the County.
“We are of course inspired by music festival camping, which is a grand tradition,” notes Tim Jones, CEO of PEC Community Partners.
He is looking ahead to a bigger-than-ever summer season, with shows scheduled every Friday and Saturday night. “Every weekend this summer will be a big festival of activity up here.”
The campground will also support a major new event operator at the Base: the Moto Craft Ultimate Festival of Motorcycle Culture takes place for the first time in the County over the August long weekend.
“It took a while to get the camping approved,” said a happy Alex de Cartier of Moto Craft, “and that delayed our planning, but we are thrilled to be bringing a three-day festival to Base31 this summer over the August long weekend, as well as smaller events later in August and September.”
The Moto Craft Festival will offer drag racing on the runway, stunt riding shows, off-road bike trails around the base, an adventure challenge area, GPS courses with Canada Rides, and vintage and custom motorcycle displays developed in partnership with the Haas Moto Museum in Dallas, Texas. “There will be demo rides of BMW and Harley motorcycles and trucks, as well as concert programming both nights.”
“Motocraft is looking at creating an ongoing event destination space, picking up where Tim and company have started, with concerts and camping and food.
“We are co-creating the infrastructure with them for five different kinds of events, including lifestyle and health focuses, and an all-women’s campout. We will be developing these offerings for summer 2026,” said Mr. de Cartier.
60 percent of the visitors to the Base come from outside the County, half from the region, Belleville, Napanee, and environs, while the other half from the major centers, the GTA, Montreal, and Ottawa.
The new campground evolved in response to surveys of the thousands of visitors over the past two summers.
“They all said, by the time you get here there is nothing left. There is nowhere to stay, it’s all booked up,” said Mr. Jones.
Encouraging more overnight stays, he says, “lifts all the boats.”
“Anything we can do to encourage day trippers to stay overnight is a win. We all know that overnight visitors spend more, because they do more things.
“They want to get off the Base and explore everything the County has to offer.
“Camping at affordable price points is a big opportunity, it invites many more people into the County, providing the opportunity to come earlier and stay longer.”
The County is bracing for a summer of tourism reminiscent of the surges during the pandemic years, 2020 and 2021.
“I don’t think anyone was prepared for how powerful the boycott of the U.S. has become,” notes Mr. Jones. “In turn, Americans might well see Canada as a place to stretch their dollars this summer. Money goes further here.”
There are 50 concerts this season between the Drill Hall and the Sergeants Mess. “We have a who’s who of Canadian musical talent at Base31 this summer,” enthuses Mr. Jones. The lineup, announced last week, includes Blue Rodeo, The Sheepdogs, The Crash Test Dummies, and Men Without Hats.
“We are ready for all those that will come visit us — to expand the range of all there is to see, taste, hear, and do in the County has been our object,” said Mr. Jones.
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