Bracebridge flooding: Santa’s Village under water as Muskoka warning continues
Additional rain is expected through Thursday.
Heavy rain moved through parts of Ontario Tuesday and that, combined with snow melt, has risen water levels enough to prompt flood warnings in several communities, and a state of emergency in Minden, Ontario.
In the Bracebridge area, flood warnings are in place. Several roads are closed due to rising water, and a popular theme park is “under water”.
“Mother Nature decided to make an early splash in Santa’s Village this year… and let’s just say, she didn’t hold back,” the post reads.
“Parts of the park are currently underwater as Muskoka deals with spring flooding, and while it’s not the kind of splash we had planned, our team is already hard at work assessing, cleaning up, and getting everything back into shape.”
Santa's Village is not yet open for the season. It is expected to begin operating weekends only beginning in May, transitioing to a seven day a week schedule by late June.
(Santa's Village/Facebook)
(Santa's Village/Facebook)
(Santa's Village/Facebook)
(Santa's Village/Facebook)
In its Facebook post, the village says that the park is expected to be back in working order soon.
“If there’s one thing we know after 70 years on the Muskoka River, it’s how to weather a storm (and a few rising tides),” the post reads
”This place has seen a lot — and every time, it comes back stronger, brighter, and ready to welcome families again.”
How long will flood risk last?
A flood warning is currently in place for the Bracebridge-Minden-Parry Sound District until at least April 22.
The warning notes that portions of the District of Parry Sound, the District of Muskoka, and County of Haliburton, may also be impacted by rising water levels.
Additional rain is expected in Bracebridge in the coming days with up to 15 mm in Thursday's forecast.
"Residents and visitors should expect lake water levels to continue to rise and river flows to remain high throughout the week of April 13-17 and into the weekend of April 18-19, 2026," reads a statement on the Township of Minden Hills website.
"Runoff into local lakes and rivers is expected to increase due to recent rainfall, with additional forecasted precipitation and warming temperatures contributing to higher lake water levels and river flows."