Grand River Raceway is welcoming the Leg of the Ontario Women’s Driver Championships (OWDC) to the track.
This will be an exciting night at the races, so come cheer them on!
Expect the same family fun and excitement, with Food Truck Fridays too! That’s why they say, “Expect an Experience!”
The hallmark of Grand River Raceway’s racing season is Industry Day, always held on the Civic Holiday Monday.
The event is highlighted by two prestigious races. The Battle of Waterloo presented by Winbak Farm is Grand River Raceway’s signature race, featuring Ontario_sired two-year-old pacing colts. The Battle of the Belles is a companion race contested by Ontario-sired two-year-old pacing fillies.
Make a day of it. The action is thrilling!
Oh yes, we’re serious … it’s a thing.
And it’s a blast! It’s a howl, in fact. You’ll be barking with laughter watching these little dogs race on the big racetrack.
This is serious fun. Come cheer on your favourite wee little dog! You’re in for a real treat. So are they
Music fans know our area loves to put on a good show. The Ignite Concert, in support of Youth Mental Health, is a going to be epic!
Held outdoors at The GrandWay Events Centre, at the Grand River Raceway, this outdoor concert features amazing Canadian talent including Dear Rouge, Danny Michel, JESSIA and featuring The New People, SHEBAD and Chelsie Popp.
Gather your friend and come rock out for a great cause! Get your tickets here: www.thegrovehubs.ca/ignite-concert
If you’ve never experienced the live-action thrill of getting up-close to the finish line, the thunder of hooves on the track, the cheers of the crowd, the excitement as the horses take that last turn for the straightaway, then we encourage you to enjoy a summer night at Grand River Raceway.
From June to September, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday night, enjoy family-friendly fun and the sport of harness racing. We bet you’ll love it.
Make a night of it. Whether you want to enjoy dinner in the Captain’s Quarters, with televised viewing of the races at every table, or take a seat to enjoy casual dining trackside in The GrandWay Lounge, you’re in for a treat. If you want to grab a quick bite so you can stand at the rail and cheer, enjoy barbecue favourites served fresh and hot from vendors on the tarmac every Friday night.
Beginning June 24, Grand River Raceway is hosting Food Truck Fridays. With lots of great food options, enjoy casual dining with unique treats and classic food truck favourites!
Starting June 23, Thursday nights will include live entertainment too. Enjoy dinner and drinks on The GrandWay Patio and enjoy the music and the races. That’s a great night out!
It’s a fun summer night under the bright lights.
But the excitement doesn’t end there. Grand River Raceway shares its home with the newly expanded Elements Casino Grand River. With all the excitement of more than 500 slot machines and the most popular electronic video tables, the gaming options will test your luck and hopefully have you yelling “Jackpot!”
Anytime is a good time to get in on the fun. Elements Casino Grand River is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Parking is always free.
We don’t do boring. This is a place where there is always something to do, something to see, somewhere to go. Where do you want to start? Pick your season. We’ll give you a reason to come explore Elora and Fergus. And hopefully, we will inspire your return trip too.
We’ve assembled a few of our favourite seasonal events, the annual fun we never miss. But we love to be spontaneous too. You just never know what impromptu event will come up, but we know you’ll want to be there, so for current event listings, dates and locations, visit our Events page.
When the thaw of winter gives rise to daffodils and the hearty crocus, the waters of the Grand River rush with the melt of snow and the earth comes alive again. Fergus and Elora are beautiful places to shake off the winter and step into spring.
The trees and flowers bloom, making our trails a beautiful place to see the birds, get outdoors and get some exercise. And soon, the sun will warm the waters of Belwood Lake and the Grand River. The fish will be biting, which will make those who fish our waters very happy. Ah, Spring. You’re beautiful here.
Ah summer, the perfect time to visit Elora and Fergus. You can bask beneath the summer sun by the emerald waters of the Elora Quarry or stretch out on the sandy shores at the Belwood Lake spring-fed quarry. Bump through the white waters of the Grand River or fly fish in the cool streams.
You can rent a bike, go for a hike along the Elora Cataract Trail, or paddle a canoe or take your sweetheart for a gondola ride along the Grand River. Picnic among the sunflowers of the Fieldstone Barn or the in the greenspace of the Elora Centre for the Arts. Summers here are full of possibilities.
We are home to three of the best music and cultural festivals you’re ever going to find in one area, all in the month of August. Come for one or stay for all.
If you enjoy choral and classical music, we’ve got that. The Elora Festival brings the world to our small stages.
Riverfest Elora rocks out Bissell Park for three days and nights of incredible live music, with a line-up of bands you won’t believe, drawing in thousands of music lovers to party riverside.
And for an entire weekend, people from around the world descend on Fergus to celebrate all things Scotland. Whether you can claim Scottish heritage or just want to claim it for the weekend, get to the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games.
You simply can’t beat that our festivals. Seriously, you can’t.
Yes, it’s the perfect time to visit us. The patios are open. The water is cold. The happenings are hot. You won’t even believe all the ice cream we have here. Best of all, shopping is always in season.
Fall in love with autumn here. Our landscape is a spectacle of crimson reds, bright yellows, oranges and deep greens made all the more spectacular along our trails, riverbanks and the caverns of the Elora Gorge.
As we celebrate the harvest season, it’s also a time of hometown traditions and community celebrations. We’re happy to share the bounty of the season. We also highly recommend you get the kid’s out of the city to learn about their rural roots at our charming Fergus Fall Fair.
Make a weekend of it. Gather your friends and map out your inspiration with the Elora Fergus Studio Tour. Explore private workshops and studios and meet the makers of the fine art that has made Elora and Fergus a hub of diverse creativity and inspiration. Autumn is awesome here.
When the snow falls and ice forms long sharp teeth against the limestone rocks that envelope the Grand River, the view is spectacular. The Elora Gorge is an icicle fortress, where ice climbers gear up for a climb to the top, and the trails are set for cross-country skiing and snow shoeing.
The view of the Grand River through Fergus is picturesque, as the water rushes through leaving a frozen mist on the trees. When the ice is thick, Belwood Lake offers ice fishing, and snowmobiles tour special trails to get out into the countryside. It’s cold out there, but it’s warm inside our pubs, restaurants, specialty coffee shops.
‘Tis the season to be merry and we can help with that too. Christmas shopping will become a special tradition. Begin your holiday memories here.
As you can see, we pack a lot in here, because life is Grand and Gorgeous all year round. There’s more. Much more. But you know, we didn’t want to overwhelm you. We suggest you check our calendar of events for new and upcoming events, locations and details.
Our landscape is changing as we grow to become a premiere destination, but that just means you’ll find new things to explore when you return. So plan to come back. Often.
We miss you already.
There is nothing like the sound of horse hooves, jockeying for position on the harness racing track, vying for the win.
And there is no better view of a racetrack to take it all in than Grand River Raceway.
Catch live horse racing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday night beginning June 3 to September 26.
Every night is free for all. Kids can participate in the Neighbourhood Group Scavenger hunt with great prizes to be won.
Get to the rail and cheer! Win, Place or Show – it’s exciting!
But be sure to come back again, because this summer, there is even more to look forward too:
Food Truck Fridays – Beginning June 24, every Friday night at the races will be Food Truck Fridays! Come check out the local favourite Food Trucks that pull up and bring a variety of foods choices to keep it interesting! \
Music and racing? You bet! Entertainment every Thursday night starts June 24, with live performances on the The GrandWay Patio. Summer nights sound great here.
Back by popular demand, one of the biggest events of the Grand River Raceway season features 30 Dachshunds in a bid for glory.
Enjoy a night of racing action that you’re sure never to forget, with full-on fun for the whole family!
4 Weiner dog races and 10 horse races. That’s a full card!
And remember – there are no losers, only wieners on July 5 at Grand River Raceway.
Grand River Raceway’s 16th race season kicks off Wednesday, June 5 at 6:30 pm.
Opening night’s race card also includes four Grassroots divisions of the Ontario Sires Stakes for three-year-old trotting colts.
Fun & Frivolity Friday Race Night returns this year with the fan-favourite Drive A Racehorse event included most Friday race nights. Guests of all ages can sign-up the night-of at the Tarmac Booth to experience the thrill of driving a racehorse (accompanied by a professional) on the racetrack.
All Fun & Frivolity Friday Race Nights also include an extended Tarmac Show between the races and The NEIGHbourhood kids’ activity area in the new Homestretch Tent.
Visitors to Grand River Raceway will notice some changes to the facility as Elements Casino undergoes renovations. The Guest Care Counter, as well as betting windows and TV monitors for viewing the races, have been temporarily relocated to the new 3,200 sq. ft. First Turn Tent, located beside the Lighthouse Restaurant. During this time, temporary signage and site maps have been installed to help guests find their way around the facility.
Live harness racing is featured on most Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights from June 5 through September 27. Details about dinner reservations for the $20.99 Race Night Buffet can be found online.
Other special racing events include the fifth annual Ren’s Pets Wiener Dog Races (July 5) and the 29th Industry Day horse racing celebration featuring the Battle Of Waterloo (August 5).
Grand River Raceway’s 10-race program for June 5 will be available here (by June 3) and streaming video will be available starting at 6:00 p.m. Parking and admission are always free.
Photo credit:Grand River Raceway (Dave Landry Photo)
There’s no murder (or mystery) but this cabaret show and dinner will commemorate the 5th anniversary of our killer Musical Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre productions. Enjoy your favourite songs and performances from past Musical Murder Mystery shows, including hits from Elvis, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, and many more.
