2019 Festivals and Events Guide

WELLINGTON COUNTY

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

GUIDE 2019

www.experiencewellington.ca

Hillside Festival Credit: Dan Houser

• EXPERIENCE •

WELLINGTON COUNTY

Welcome to Wellington County.

We invite you to stroll through our quaint towns, travel our back roads and soak up the beautiful landscapes. Indulge in authentic local food and flavours that will inspire tasty picnics and gourmet feasts. Experience festivals and events that will entertain, captivate and fill you with lasting memories.

Visit, visit again and make yourself at home in Wellington County.

www.experiencewellington.ca

• TOP TEN •

MUST SEE EVENTS LOCAL FOOD FEST June 23 | www.tastereal.ca 1

2

CLIFFORD CLASSIC TRUCK AND CAR SHOW June 28 - 30 | www.greatlakestruckclub.com

3

ELORA FESTIVAL July 12 - 28 | www.elorafestival.com

4

HILLSIDE MUSIC FESTIVAL July 12 - 14 | www.hillsidefestival.ca

MOUNT FOREST FIREWORKS FESTIVAL July 19 - 21 | www.mountforestfireworks.ca 5

6

FERGUS SCOTTISH FESTIVAL AND HIGHLAND GAMES August 9 - 11 | www.fergusscottishfestival.com

7

RIVERFEST ELORA August 16 - 18 | www.riverfestelora.com

8

EDEN MILLS WRITERS’ FESTIVAL September 6 - 8 | www.edenmillswritersfestival.ca

9

FALL RURAL ROMP September 28 | www.tastereal.ca

10

ERIN FALL FAIR October 10 - 14 | www.erinfair.ca

Turn the page for more great events or visit our website at www.experiencewellington.ca

Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games

• WHAT’S ON NOW •

EVENT LISTINGS There is always something to see and do in Wellington County. Stay up to date with our online events calendar www.experiencewellington.ca

YEAR ROUND • Aberfoyle Mill Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre • Arthur Historical Society Exhibit Room • Butter Tarts and Buggies: Explore the Simpler Life, Northern Wellington County • Century Church Theatre, Hillsburgh • Elements Casino, Elora • Elora Acoustic Café • Elora Cataract Trailway • Elora Centre for the Arts

• Elora Sculpture Project • Fergus Grand Theatre • Grand River Raceway, Elora • Harriston Town Hall Theatre • Headwaters Stable Tour, Erin • John Webb Gallery, Harriston • Lynes Blacksmith Shop, Kenilworth • Minto Arts Gallery, Harriston

• Mount Forest Museum and Archives • Norgan Theatre, Palmerston • Ontario Steam Heritage Museum, Puslinch • Palmerston Railway Heritage Museum • Taste Real Local Food and Farm Events • The Gorge Cinema, Elora • Wellington County Museum and Archives

SEASONAL Aberfoyle Antique Market Sundays, April 28 - October 27, Puslinch Drayton Festival Theatre June 5 - August 31, Drayton Elora Skyrider Zipline June 1 September 29, Elora Gorge Insights: Juried Exhibition of Fine Arts June 19 September 1, Wellington County Museum and Archives McClintock’s Water Ski School May - October, Puslinch Lake

Monster Month October 1 - 31, Downtown Elora Simple Pleasures for the Summer July 3 - August 28, Wellington County Museum and Archives Strom’s Farm Harvest Fun Area September - October, Guelph Eramosa Twilight at Templin Wednesdays, July 3 - August 28, Templin Gardens, Fergus White Rock Ostrich Farm May 1 - October 1, Rockwood

FARMERS’ MARKETS Erin Farmers’ Market McMillan Park, Village of Erin FRIDAYS, June 28 - September 27

Minto Farmers’ Market Palmerston Railway Heritage Museum SATURDAYS, June 8 - August 31

Rockwood Farmers’ Market and Live Music Anglican Church Grounds, 112 Guelph Street, Rockwood WEDNESDAYS, June 12 - October 9

Aberfoyle Farmers’ Market 23 Brock Road South, Aberfoyle SATURDAYS, May 25 - October 26

Elora Farmers’ Market Bissell Park, Elora SATURDAYS, May 4 - October 26 Paddock Building, Grand River Raceway, Elora SATURDAYS, November 2 - December 21

Wellington North Farmers’ Market Victory Community Centre, Mount Forest FRIDAYS, May 31 - October 4

Dates subject to change. Please visit www.experiencewellington.ca

= Taste Real Event

APRIL April springs to life! Dust off your tartan and join in the fun, hunt for antique treasures and collectibles or discover a new grand taste.

APRIL 5 - 13

Musical Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre, Grand River Raceway, Elora APRIL 6

Tartan Day Concert, Melville United Church, Fergus APRIL 6 - 7

Maple Weekend at R-LIL Golden Treats Maple Sweets, Palmerston

Tartan Day

APRIL 7

Tartan Day Historical Walking Tour, Downtown Fergus APRIL 7

Tartan Day, Downtown Fergus APRIL 11 - 14

Guelph and District Kennel Club Dog Show, Centre Wellington Sportsplex, Fergus

APRIL 13 - 14

Elora Vintage and Antique Show, Elora Community Centre APRIL 20

Centre Wellington Easter Egg Hunt, Bissell Park, Elora

APRIL 20

Hippity Hippity Hop thru Downtown Fergus, Downtown Fergus APRIL 25

Wordfest, Elora Centre For the Arts APRIL 28

Grand Taste, Grand River Raceway, Elora

MAY May is full of unique offerings. Browse for books, enjoy high tea, race a (rubber) duck, plan your garden and romp through Wellington County.

MAY 3 - 5

MAY 9

MAY 11

Elora Festival Annual Giant Book Sale, Elora Curling Club

Optimist Fish Fry, Puslinch Community Centre, Aberfoyle

Best Bloomin’ Plant Sale, Centre Wellington Sportsplex, Fergus

MAY 3 - 5

MAY 9

MAY 16 - 19

Spring Rain Weekend, Belwood and Fergus

Flutters, Frocks and Flowers, Main Street, Village of Erin

Elora en Plein Air ‘Grand River Painting Festival’, Elora

MAY 3 - 11

Musical Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre, Grand River Raceway, Elora MAY 5

Dollhouse Miniatures Show and Sale, Centre Wellington Sportsplex, Fergus

MAY 11

Arthur Lions Duck Race, McPherson Park, Arthur

MAY 18

Hillsburgh Garden Club Plant Sale, St. Andrew’s Church, Hillsburgh

MAY 5

EW-CS High Tea and High Heels, St. Andrew’s Church, Hillsburgh MAY 8 - 10

Fergus Lions Club Home and Leisure Show, Centre Wellington Sportsplex, Fergus

Eden Mills Writers' Festival Credit: Dan Harasymchuk

MAY MAY 25

MAY 25 - 26

Erin Village Summer Celebration, Main Street, Village of Erin

Belwood Lions Pike Derby, Belwood Lake Conservation Area

MAY 25

Food Cycle Ride, Elora Public School

MAY 26

Skyburst Elora, Grand River Raceway, Elora

Rural Romp

MAY 26 CANCELLED

MAY 25

Spring Rural Romp, Northern Wellington County

MAY 25 - 26

Eden Mills Arts Festival, Eden Mills Community Centre

Grand River Raceway Open House - Horse Racing Behind the Scenes, Grand River Raceway, Elora

JUNE June revs up that summer feeling with car shows, open doors, tours, races and local food will set you up for a summer to remember.

JUNE 1

JUNE 5 - 9

Annual Garden Festival, Harriston Community Centre Pavillion

The Headwaters Cup, Angelstone Show Jumping Tournaments, Erin

JUNE 2

JUNE 6

Shimano Take a Kid Fishing Day, Belwood Lake Conservation Area

Aberfoyle Agricultural Society Chicken Barbeque, Puslinch Community Centre

JUNE 8

Doors Open Erin, Across the Town of Erin JUNE 8

Horse Day in Erin, Erin Fairgrounds JUNE 8

Rockwood Pioneer Day, Lloyd Dyer Park, Rockwood

JUNE JUNE 8

JUNE 15

Rotary Club of Erin presents ‘Ribfest,’ McMillan Park, Village of Erin

Touch a Truck, Harriston and Minto Community Centre

JUNE 9

Subaru Triathalon Series at Guelph Lake, Guelph Lake Conservation Area

JUNE 12 -16

Fabulous Fergus Pub Night, Across Fergus

JUNE 22

Puslinch Lake Lakeside Living Home Tour, Puslinch Lake

JUNE 15 - 16

Historical Walking Tour Planet Youth Elora, Elora Centre for the Arts

JUNE 21 - 23

Scott Gerrie Memorial Lacrosse Tournament, Centre Wellington Sportsplex, Fergus

JUNE 20

The Champion, Angelstone Show Jumping Tournaments, Erin

JUNE 22

Palmerston Handcar Races, Palmerston Railway Museum

JUNE 14

Mapleton Custom Rodders Car Show, Moorefield Ball Diamonds

JUNE 23

Celebrate Sunrise Summer Fundraiser, Sunrise Therapeutic Riding and Learning Centre, Puslinch JUNE 23

JUNE 22

Party in the Park, Palmerston Lion’s Heritage Park

Fergus Horticultural Society Garden Tour, Across Fergus

JUNE JUNE 23

Local Food Fest, Ignatius Jesuit Centre Guelph-Eramosa JUNE 28 - 30

Clifford Classic Truck Show, Clifford Rotary Park JUNE 28 - JUN 30

Special Silver Event, Angelstone Show Jumping Tournaments, Erin

Hillsburgh Festival JUNE 28 - JUL 1

Arthur Optimists Canada Day Weekend Celebration, Arthur Fairgrounds and Community Centre

JUNE 29

Breakfast on the Farm, Wellington Road 7, Elora NOTE: Date change to June 22

JULY July is filled with fireworks, world class music festivals and even a medieval faire. Summer in Wellington County is full of experiences you will remember for years to come.

JULY 1

JULY 1

JULY 1

Canada Day Celebration, Crossroads Life Church, Harriston

Canada Day in Erin at McMillan Park, Erin

Get in Touch for Hutch, Arthur Community Centre

JULY 1

JULY 1

Orton's Annual Canada Day Celebration, Orton

JULY 1

Canada Day Fireworks Display, Drayton Fairgrounds

Canada Day Fireworks, Centre Wellington Sportsplex, Fergus

JULY JULY 1

Puslinch Canada Day Pancake Breakfast and Fireworks, Puslinch Community Centre

JULY 5 - 7

Elora Community Theatre Shakespeare in the Park, Bissell Park, Elora

JULY 1

Dominion Day Elora, Downtown Elora and Bissell Park

JULY 6

Special Needs Soccer Festival, Victoria Park, Fergus

JULY 1 - 5

Arthur SU Sports Camp, Arthur Community Centre JULY 4

Music at the Museum, Wellington County Museum and Archives JULY 5

Annual Wiener Dog Race, Grand River Raceway, Elora

JULY 11

Music at the Museum, Wellington County Museum and Archives JULY 12 - 28

Elora Festival, Across Elora

JULY 12 - 14

Hillside Festival, Guelph Lake Conservation Area

JULY 6 - 7

Elora Centre for the Arts Outdoor Festival, Elora Centre for the Arts

Music at the Museum, Wellington County Museum and Archives

JULY 7

JULY 19 - 21

Conestogo Lake Annual Fishing Derby, Conestogo Conservation Area

JULY 17

Mount Forest Fireworks Festival, Main Street, Mount Forest JULY 24

Music at the Museum, Wellington County Museum and Archives JULY 27

Fergus Ghost Walk, The Bookery, Fergus JULY 27

Hillside Festival

Credit: Vicki Mahony

Fergus Medieval Faire, Downtown Fergus

AUGUST August has everything. Music, pirates, plaid, Highland games, street parties, antique truck and car shows, and agricultural fairs.

AUGUST 1

AUGUST 8

AUGUST 9 - 10

Music at the Museum, Wellington County Museum and Archives

Pipes, Plaid and Pageantry Parade, Downtown Fergus

Fergus Ghost Walk, The Bookery, Fergus

AUGUST 1

AUGUST 9 - 11

Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games, Centre Wellington Sportsplex, Fergus

AUGUST 9 - 11

Party in the Park, Rockmosa Park, Rockwood

Elora Community Theatre - Shakespeare in the Park, Bissell Park, Elora

AUGUST 2 - 4

Jeff Davie Memorial 3-Pitch Tournament, Palmerston and Harriston Ball Diamonds

Drayton Summer Fair, ‘Catching Farm Fever,’ Drayton Fairgrounds

AUGUST 3

AUGUST 10

Sensational Elora’s Film on a Plate, The Gorge Cinema, Elora

AUGUST 9 - 11

Harriston Street Party, Savour in the Street and Street Dance, Downtown Harriston

AUGUST 10 - 11

Fergus Scottish Festival, Downtown Edition!, Downtown Fergus AUGUST 9 - 10

Fergus Scottish Festival, Historical Walking Tours, Downtown Fergus

AUGUST 3 - 5

Pirate Fest, Marden Park AUGUST 5

Grand River Raceway Industry Day, Grand River Raceway, Elora AUGUST 8

Music at the Museum, Wellington County Museum and Archives

Pirate Fest

AUGUST AUGUST 9 - 10

Psychic Fair, The Bookery, Fergus AUGUST 16

Erin Village Lemonade Party, Main Street, Village of Erin AUGUST 16

McGinn Brothers Big Game for Big Brothers Big Sister, St. Patrick Street West, Fergus AUGUST 16 - 18

Riverfest Elora, Bissell Park, Elora AUGUST 17

Mount Forest Agricultural Society Annual Fall Fair, Mount Forest and District Sports Complex AUGUST 17

Riverfest AUGUST 18

Antique and Classic Car Show, Wellington County Museum and Archive AUGUST 21 - 25

AUGUST 24

The International, Angelstone Show Jumping Tournaments, Erin

Annual Alma Car Show, Wallace Cummings Park, Alma

AUGUST 23 - 24

AUGUST 28 - SEPT 1

Spirit in the Hills Family Fun Day and Classic Car Show, Main Street, Hllsburgh

Campin' and Jammin' in the Park, Drayton Fairgrounds

AUGUST 17 - 18

Grand River Truck and Tractor Pull, Grand River Raceway, Elora

Classic Ford Truck Show, Arthur Fairgrounds

AUGUST 23 - 25

Palmerston Fair, ‘140 Years of Farm and Family Fun,’ Palmerston Community Centre

AUGUST 23 - 24

The National, Angelstone Show Jumping Tournaments, Erin AUGUST 31

Subaru Triathalon Series at Guelph Lake, Guelph Lake

SEPTEMBER September shows off our roots. Tractor pulls, fall fairs, writers’ festival, studios tours, culture days and rural romps.

SEPTEMBER 5 - 8

Arthur Agricultural Society Fall Fair, Arthur Fairgrounds

SEPTEMBER 13 - 15

Harriston-Minto Fall Fair, Harriston and Minto Community

Wellington North Culture Days, Across Wellington North

SEPTEMBER 22

Minto Culture Days, Across Minto

SEPTEMBER 6

Fergus BIA Classic Car Show, St. Andrew St. W., Fergus SEPTEMBER 6 - 7

Aberfoyle Fall Fair and Tractor Pull, Puslinch Community Centre, Aberfoyle

SEPTEMBER 27 - 29

SEPTEMBER 27 - 29

Rotary Club of Erin presents ‘Feast of Hops,’ Erin Agricultural Society Hall

SEPTEMBER 28

Fall Rural Romp, Guelph and Southern Wellington County

SEPTEMBER 6 - 7

Erin Garden Club Annual Plant Sale, McMillan Park Village of Erin

SEPTEMBER 6 - 8

Eden Mills Writers' Festival, Eden Mills Community Centre

SEPTEMBER 13 - 15

Fergus Fall Fair, Centre Wellington Sportsplex, Fergus

Horse and Hound Parade

SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 28

Fergus Ghost Walk, The Bookery, Fergus SEPTEMBER 28

Sunrise Hoofbeat Challenge Fundraiser Pledge Walk and Ride, Sunrise Therapeutic Riding and Learning Centre, Puslinch SEPTEMBER 28 - 29

Elora Fergus Studio Tour, Across Fergus and Elora

Harvest Home Festival

SEPTEMBER 29

Harvest Home Festival, Wellington County Museum and Archives

SEPTEMBER 29

Saugeen Valley, Fur Feather Show, Mount Forest Fairgrounds

OCTOBER October harvest is full of colourful pumpkins, fall frolics, and the historic Erin fair. But be prepared to be spooked by ghost walks, monster marches and Halloween haunts.

OCTOBER 5

OCTOBER 6

OCTOBER 12

Emergency 91Run, Palmerston Lion's Heritage Park

Horse and Hound Parade, Downtown Elora

Pumpkin Day at the Elora Farmers' Market, Bissell Park, Elora

OCTOBER 5 - 6

OCTOBER 10 - 14

OCTOBER 14

Elora Fergus Studio Tour, Across Fergus and Elora

Erin Fall Fair, Erin Fairgrounds

Sensational Soup Off, Wellington County Museum and Archives

OCTOBER OCTOBER 18

Haunted Woods Walk for Big Brothers/ Big Sisters, 7679 Sixth Line, Ennotville OCTOBER 19

Pancake Breakfast and Fire Prevention Day, PMD Arena, Drayton OCTOBER 19

Mapleton Harvest Festival, PMD Arena, Drayton OCTOBER 19

Erin Fall Fair OCTOBER 23

Elora Lantern Tour, Elora Fergus Info Centre, Elora

Fergus Lantern Tour, Downtown Fergus

OCTOBER 19

Wordfest, Elora Centre for the Arts

Monster March Parade, MacDonald Square, Elora OCTOBER 20

Family Halloween Activities at the Museum, Wellington County Museum and Archives

OCTOBER 26

Fergus Halloween Haunt Street Walk, Downtown Fergus

OCTOBER 24

OCTOBER 30

Fergus Ghost Walk, Downtown Fergus

OCTOBER 25

Haunted Trail, Murphy Park, Mount Forest OCTOBER 26

Fergus Ghost Walk, The Bookery, Fergus

OCTOBER TBD

Spirit Walk at the Poor House and Cemetery Walks, Wellington County Museum and Archives

Visit www.experiencewellington.ca for more great happenings throughout the County!

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Look out for our other publications!

CONESTOGO LAKE

MAPLETON

WELLINGTON NORTH

BELWOOD LAKE

401

CENTRE WELLINGTON

LUTHER LAKE

PUSLINCH

CITY OF GUELPH

GUELPH LAKE

GUELPH ERAMOSA

ERIN

401

Lake Huron 401

Lake Ontario

Lake Erie

401

WELLINGTON COUNTY

• EXPERIENCE •

What's Happening This Winter?

Winter in Wellington County is packed with events, parades and cool moments you will remember for a lifetime, visit www.experiencewellington.ca

Alternate formats available upon request.

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