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Every year on Thanksgiving, the Wellington County Museum and Archives hosts 18 soup makers; professional, amateur and youth, competing to become the “Super Souper” of the year in their category. Come sit back with your soup and a glass of beer or wine and enjoy wonderful music throughout the afternoon.
We are also very grateful to local potters for donating bowls each year as part of our “Empty Bowls” program. You can purchase one of these beautiful, one-of-a-kind bowls, have it refilled with soup up to 18 times, vote for your favourite soup, listen to music, and help us combat hunger. There’s no better way to celebrate Thanksgiving.
Step into a magical world of handmade art, music and magic, and embark on a whimsical adventure this fall. Guests are invited to dress as a fairytale suggests and dance beneath the stars for an unforgettable night of magical entertainment.
Returning this year, September 22nd and 23rd, The Forest welcomes you to experience an enchanting evening of strolling entertainment, life-sized fantasy art, a fully licensed bar, a vendor village and more.
Join us under the stars for our September Symphony with live performances by The Toronto String Quartet featuring a hauntingly beautiful concert of today’s hits, followed by 1930’s jug time duo, The Vaudevillian. Later, enjoy a late-night forest dance party with favourite covers by Yasgurs Farm (Friday) and The Sidewalk Crusaders (Saturday).
We’ve released 250 discounted early bird tickets. Get yours today!
Get out of the city and get your country on! Celebrating its 186th year, The Fergus Fall Fair is a tradition of fun experiences for the whole family celebrating agriculture, community and the bounty of harvest season.
Since 1836 Fergus has been home to a vibrant agricultural fair. What once began as an event to educate farmers about improved farming practices and encourage healthy competition promoting the advancement of farming has evolved into what we know today as the Fergus Fall Fair – the tenth oldest fair in Ontario. Dedicated volunteers have worked hard, year after year, generation after generation, to organize the annual event.
While agriculture is still the focus of the fair, over the years it has grown to include truck and tractor pulls, handicraft and food exhibits, a midway, entertainment and so much more. The Fergus Fall Fair is truly a showcase of the talent among the Centre Wellington community and today’s volunteers are proud to be continuing an event with such a rich local history.
Whether you’re a veteran fair goer or first time attendee there’s something for everyone at the Fair. Come for a day, an evening or stay the whole weekend. The Fergus Fall Fair features livestock shows, truck and tractor pulls, a midway and an entertainment tent with shows for all ages.
Come enjoy the best in local agriculture, food and rural fun from across the area at the Fergus Fall Fair.
November 11th – Remembrance Day is honoured in many ways locally each year and if you find yourself in Fergus or Elora over this weekend, we invite you to take part in our many events.
Without a doubt, the most spectacular display to honour our fallen takes place on front lawn of the Wellington County Museum and Archives. In partnership with our local Legions, we honour the 526 fallen from Wellington County. Those who died in the First World War, World War Two, Korea and Afghanistan are remembered with a marker on the front lawn.
This informal and poignant tribute takes place at dusk on November 10, (5:30pm) and the candles will remain lit until November 12. Candles are provided by the Museum and everyone is encouraged to attend.
Listen for the pipes
Early on Sunday, November 11th, members of the Fergus Pipe Band will be taking part in the 100th Anniversary of Armistice by performing at the Fergus Legion.
At 6am pipers will perform the piece Battle’s O’er to commemorate the end of World War One and pay tribute our fallen. All our welcome to start the morning of Remembrance with this important event.
Remembrance Day Services
Elora – Remembrance parade Nov. 11 starting at 11am, followed by a ceremony at the cenotaph in front of our municipal offices.
Fergus – Remembrance parade Nov. 11 starting at 10:30am, followed by a cenotaph service.
Salem – Remembrance parade, Nov. 11, starting at 9:30am; with a service at the cenotaph.
Bells of Peace
This Remembrance Day marks the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.
On Nov. 11 1918, after four long years, the guns had fallen silent. In their place, across Canada church bells rang out to share the news that the Great War, regarded at the time as “the war to end all wars,” was finally over.
To commemorate the occasion, The Royal Canadian Legion, in partnership with the Government of Canada, is encouraging all communities across the country to participate in the Bells of Peace initiative.
The Legion is awaiting confirmation from other churches in Elora.
Fergus – The Fergus Legion will ring the bell from the WWII corvette HMCS Fergus, usually on display in the club hall, in front of the Legion at 5pm on Nov. 11.
It’s Monster Month in Elora and everyone – and we do mean EVERYONE – is invited to join in this awesome Halloween tradition!
The Monster March is a family-friendly, all about the fun, non-motorized parade through the core of downtown Elora.
No matter the weather, the spirits will gather and the Monsters will roam the streets for a celebration of the best holiday on the social calendar!
Dress up the kids! Dress up the adults! And hey, don’t forget your four-legged creatures too!
But do take note – This year’s parade has a new start location because there will be some cool new additions to this year’s fun!
Get your friends together and meet up at the location of One Axe Pursuits (24 Henderson Street) – where surprises will await the crowd!
Then follow the pack as the Monster March winds its way through downtown Elora and heading to Bissell Park.
Show off your costume in the Twilight Zoo Zone plus enjoy free hot chocolate, cider, popcorn & fruit treats at the Bissell Park Shelter.
Please bring non-perishable food or cash donations for the Centre Wellington Foodbank to the Elora Library where they will be collected by volunteers from the Tutu In You youth group.
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BOO!! Ah! Don’t be scared, the Halloween Haunt Street Walk brings the fun of Halloween out in to the daylight and invites kids of all ages to head to downtown Fergus for a frightfully fun time! There will be witches, ghosts and spooky creatures amongst us, wondering in the shops, creeping through the streets and possibly checking out books at the public library too, (because even ghosts like a good ghost story).
The Halloween Haunt Street Walk invites trick-or-treaters to roam through Downtown Fergus on Saturday, October 27 between 10am – 12pm.
It’s all about the spirit – or spirits – of Halloween brought to you by the Fergus BIA. Get your costume on and head to Downtown Fergus, where participating shops will open their doors and welcome in little monsters, princesses and super heroes too (and even their parents), to enjoy sweet treats and enjoy some Halloween fun!
Follow the balloons for stores ready to greet the trick-or-treaters. Along the way be on the look-out for these Halloween Haunt Street Walk events:
Wicked Witches
Animal balloons
Live outdoor music
Face painting
Sweeties
Haunted House
Custom removable tattoos
Fright Bike Rodeo
Apple bobbing
Cookie decorating
Haunted Alley
The Halloween Haunt Street Walk is geared for younger children and is all about family-friendly fun. So bring the little monsters and wander about our historic downtown. We’re sure you’ll have a Spooktacular time!
Take the day. Take the weekend. Hey, take two! Because exploring the Elora Fergus Studio is a true highlight to the fall season around here. It’s like a “Choose Your Own Adventure” for grown-ups! So grab your map, mark your route and head out to explore some of the finest artists in and around Fergus and Elora.
The Elora Fergus Studio Tour is a free self-guided tour that welcomes you into the workshops of local artisans. See art in various stages of creation, including pieces that are not always shown in gallery settings. Meet the makers. See unique creations. Ask questions. Get inspired.
Here’s just a few of the fine art mediums you’ll find on the tour:
Watercolours
Photography
Sculpture
Stained Glass
Jewelry
Pottery
Weaving
Encaustic
Glass
Mixed media
Blown glass
Painting
Collage
Wood turning
Let’s face it, we’re all curious about creative spaces where artists make their art, because we are all curious about the process, the tools and the inspiration. Now’s your chance to find out about it all.
Start your tour at the Elora Centre for the Arts, a heritage building lovingly restored as a creative arts hub in the community. Here you’ll find:
The Elora Centre for the Arts will host an opening reception for the Elora Fergus Studio Tour on Thursday, Sept. 13 from 7pm to 9pm in the Minarovich Gallery. This free exhibit will be on display through to Sept. 30, 2018.
So many artists. So much time. Two weekends. 40 stops. Choose your inspiration.
Studios are open from 10am to 5pm – September 22 & 23/ September 29 & 30.
The 182nd annual Fergus Fall Fair is this weekend celebrating our “Country Roots.”
September 14, 15 and 16.
Come on and get your country on!
Sure, most people come to Fergus to see the beauty of the Grand River, our beautiful historic downtown or the many events that have put our community on the map, but one thing we really have to be proud of here are our “Country Roots.” It’s what started this community and it’s what feeds us today.
You don’t have to be from here to feel welcome at this community tradition because that’s the whole point. Here we celebrate the farmers who feed us, the next generation learning the value of working the land and the growing importance of agriculture in our changing world.
As progress and growth changes the landscape, we know that agriculture is the bedrock of our community and we are thrilled to see the Fergus Fall Fair thrive without losing the charm that is the 182 years of tradition and a heritage worth saving.
Get out of the city and get back to your country roots.
Here’s our pick for the things you absolutely must do to get a real Fergus Fall Fairexperience:
1. Walk around the animal rings and watch the 4-H youth prepare their animals for the show ring, because any kid who never got to spend time on a farm really needs to watch the work it takes to get a cow ready for the big event. Hair dryers, colour sprays, clippers – the beauty of a fall fair is there is no behind-the-scenes. It’s all about the work and the care that goes into it.
2. Cheer on the 4-H youth as they compete in the show ring with their farm animals, like the dairy competition or the sheep show. You will begin to appreciate the hours and hours of chores, animal care and dedication it takes to get these animals show ready. Plus, watch the work it takes to walk a cow into a ring and ask it stand still! We’re totally fascinated by watching these young people work so hard. It’s serious business.
3. Don’t chicken out. Tour the barns and check out the birds. Seriously, everybody gets a real kick out of this. Up close and personal with some of the most beautiful chickens, ducks, geese and more. It will make you appreciate all the variations of birds and what it takes to keep them healthy
4. The Midway, because whether you ride a vomit-comet or just laugh at those who do, there is something so nostalgic about the sights and lights of the midway as the September sun sets.
5. Pies. Crafts. Cooking. Admit it, you want to see who won. And for those of us who have no idea how to bake, sew or glue anything to anything, this is impressive.
6. Four words: Farmer Olympics/Redneck Games. Tell us the curiosity of just exactly what that entails isn’t enough to inspire you check it out.
7. Truck pulls. We have no idea why these are so awesome, but there is something about them that brings us back every year. It’s exciting and we have no idea why.
8. The Extreme Bike Show is fun to watch. And then to realize that you probably shouldn’t try anything you saw at home.
9. Horses. And more horses. Because, they’re horses.
10. Eat a candy apple and cotton candy while you enjoy the live music, because a sugar rush AND live music? Right?!
It doesn’t matter how old you are, where you’re from or whether you know a Holstein from a Limousin, (those are cow breeds, folks), we are sure you’ll find the Fergus Fall Fair a jam-packed weekend of fun for the whole family.
Come celebrate our “Country Roots” – see where we come from and where we’re going at the 182nd Fergus Fall Fair.
A unique town deserves a unique music festival. There is only music festival like this.
Riverfest Elora 2018 will be held in Bissell Park on Friday, August 17, Saturday, August 18 and Sunday, August 19. Don’t miss your chance to dance down by the river.
Get ready for three days of art, food trucks, arts and craft vendors, community and of course, music! Celebrating ten years of the little music festival that grew to attract major headliners, this year promises to be spectacular.
Where else can you see a line-up like The Flaming Lips, Carly Rae-Jepsen, Blue Rodeo and July Talk – just to name a few?
