September 2017
Harvest Home
Get your country on! Harvest Home is a celebration of our agricultural roots in and around Fergus and Elora. Held on the grounds of the Wellington County Museum and Archives this family-friendly event features: food live entertainment animals pioneer games activities hands-on heritage skills demos like sheep-shearing and traditional harvesting practices in the fields that surround the museum. Admission is by donation. We'll see you at Harvest Home!
Find out more »October 2017
Search for William Ronald
The Wellington County Museum and Archives invite you to discover William Ronald - an important and influential Canadian abstract artist, a CBC host and founding member of Painters Eleven in 1954.
Find out more »Sensational Soup Off
Stir it up. Smell it in. Slurp it up. Repeat. Foodies rejoice! It's time for the Sensational Soup Off. This is a unique tradition every bit as good as turkey, but it warms your heart ... and that of the community. SOUPS ON! Bring your appetite! Enjoy a bowl of soup from your choice of up to 18 soup-makers, as they compete to become the "Super Souper" of the Year." The goal to create a flavourful dish using as many…
Find out more »Family Fun Halloween Day
Pack up your little monsters and get ready to have a spooky good time! Family Fun Day at the Wellington County Museum and Archives is just that - fun for the whole family! Drop in for Halloween crafts Join in some fun games Watch some family-friendly monster movies Meet some creatures from Ray's Reptile Zoo Strut your stuff in the Costume Parade (at 3:30pm) Admission is by donation.
Find out more »Paranormal Phenemon at the Wellington County Museum & Archives
Come check out one of the most HAUNTED buildings in Wellington County. Join in on a night that will haunt for long time ... in a good way! It's an evening with Dan Hammond of SHIP. He will reveal the results of his recent paranormal investigations at the former Poor House, (what today is known as the Wellington County Museum and Archives.) Dan will also be speaking about his feature documentary film “The Ghosts of Wellington County” currently in production.…
Find out more »November 2017
Candle-lighting Tribute
The Wellington County Museum and Archives is hosting a Candle-lighting Tribute on the lawn of the museum where more than 500 markers honour Wellington County's Fallen. Everyone is welcome to attend, light a candle and place it with the markers a ceremony that has become a moving, evening event. These candles will remain lit until November 12. Please join in!
Find out more »February 2018
Tarot Lovers – Works of Heart Exhibit
Join the Wellington County Museum and Archives as they present the Tarot Lovers Works of Heart Exhibit. The opening reception will take place on February 9, from 7-9pm and will include light food, wine and music. The exhibition runs from February 9 to May 27, 2018. Admission is by donation.
Find out more »Family Day at the Wellington County Museum
This Family Day, the Wellington County Museum and Archives invites you and yours to take part in a Chinese New Year celebration. Learn about Chinese New Year traditions and join in on crafts, games, a children's parade and more. Then head outside to enjoy some winter fun with snowshoeing, skating (weather permitting) and a chance to gather around the campfire for some tasty treats. Make it a Family Day to remember.
Find out more »June 2018
Opening – Insights 39th Juried Exhibition of Fine Arts
Join in the celebration of the opening of one of the most celebrated art shows of the year! Exhibit Opening Reception: The Insights Juried Art Exhibition will be returning to the Wellington County Museum and Archives this summer from June 13 to September 3, 2018. Admission is by donation. Organized and sponsored by the Elora Arts Council Insights Committee, this juried art exhibit displays a wide range of original art in a variety of mediums, showcasing the works of…
Find out more »Opening exhibiton: From the Earth
The Wellington County Museum and Archives is hosting an opening exhibition reception for From the Earth: Collections and Artwork on Sunday, June 24, 2018. The exhibition features rocks, minerals and fossils collected by local geologist Ken Dardano, surrounded by paintings by Symeon van Donkelaar. These unique fine art pieces feature the use of minerals in the artwork. Admission is by donation.
Find out more »July 2018
Elora Festival presents The Shoestring Magic Flute
Bring the kids, pack a picnic and introduce them to inspiration of Mozart's most famous opera! This is an ideal introduction to the beauty of this musical art form. Through the power of music and make-believe, Allegra and Papageno embark on a magical adventure of sharing and self-discovery. The Wellington County Museum and Archives will open the doors of the Heritage Barn for a special family-friendly production of The Shoestring Magic Flute. Free pre-concert activities at 10 am! Bring a…
Find out more »The Elora Festival presents Chris Mckhool’s Fiddlefire!
Come on, kids! The Elora Festival is for you too! Gather your parents, grandparents and pals - get your tickets - and join violin sensation Chris McKhool, of Sultans of String fame for an interactive musical experience like no other! Get ready to experience some awesome musical stylings, everything from Gypsy-jazz, blues, classical, flamenco, funk, world beat, East Coast fiddling and more. We hear that Chris is even going to invite some lucky participants to get on stage to play…
Find out more »The Elora Singers Unplugged: Museum Series
Enjoy music under the stars with the finest voices in town, the Elora Singers. Curated by Michael Cressman (Bass), the Elora Singers let their hair down in this rocking “house party” showcase. Performing Broadway tunes and other personal favourites, they present a casual “this is us” showcase that will bring you closer to your Singers than ever. Hosted by the Wellington County Museum, in the Exhibit Hall, this show is perfect for the whole family. Tickets available via: Elora Festival Get…
Find out more »Elora Festival presents Platypus Theatre: How the Gimquat found her Song
The Elora Festival is proud to bring world-class music to young audiences with affordable ticket prices for the entire family. This beloved Platypus Theatre family concert will have young audiences laughing, chanting and singing along with the Gimquat and her wizard guide as they explore musical styles from Gregorian chant to rap. Take a musical expedition across continents and centuries to help a discouraged bird discover her voice. This event, brought to you by hosts the Wellington County Museum and Archives…
Find out more »August 2018
Antique and Classic Car Show
Rev your engines and head down to the Wellington County Museum and Archives for the Antique and Classic Car Show! It's an impressive sight to see the wide, green lawn of this national historic site lined up with some of the finest Antique and Classic automobiles from different eras, celebrating our combined love for the automobile ... So much chrome! So load up the car and drive over to enjoy the fun: Musical entertainment will be performed by local talents,…
Find out more »September 2018
Opening reception at Wellington County Museum
The Wellington County Museum and Archives will be hosting an opening reception on Sunday, September 16 from 1pm to 3pm for two new art exhibits; Mentor and Metalsmith: The Silver Art of Arthur Brecken and Wesley Harris, and Now and Then: Two Generations of Landscape Artists. The joint opening reception will be a great opportunity to drop in, meet the artists, and enjoy some light food and refreshments. Mentor and Metalsmith: The Silver Art of Arthur Brecken and Wesley Harris…
Find out more »Harvest Home Festival
It is harvest time in Wellington County and the Wellington County Museum and Archives (WCMA) will be hosting their annual Harvest Home Festival on Sunday, September 23 from 1:00 – 5:00pm. The event will feature a number of family-friendly activities, live music, and local food vendors. Festival attendees are invited to try something new or brush up on old skills with a variety of hands-on heritage skill workshops. The sound of hammers and shears will be ringing all over the…
Find out more »October 2018
Sensational Soup-Off & Empty Bowls
Soup's on! Get ready to slurp up some hot, delicious and creative soups for the annual Sensational Soup-off and Empty Bowls event, a yummy Thanksgiving weekend tradition. Held at the Wellington County Museum and Archives, in the Aboyne Hall, the event invites local soup-makers to stir it up for a good cause. From professional Chefs with delectable skills to amateur foodie enthusiasts, including some award-winning youth entries, with homemade recipes that are tried and true, they'll face off in a…
Find out more »Poorhouse Paranormal Investigation
If ghost stories and reality paranormal shows are your thing, then this event is for you! Come explore what some consider to be one of the most haunted buildings in all Ontario. This October Wellington County Museum & Archives will be exploring the chilling history of our site, the former “Poor House,” while also giving visitors a chance to seek out the paranormal by conducting their own investigation of the museum and historic cemetery alongside the Wellington County Paranormal Investigators. Investigate…
Find out more »Family Halloween Day
The Wellington County Museum & Archives are hosting Family Halloween Day! Join in the festivities on Sunday, October 14th from 1-5pm to celebrate Mexican Day of the Dead traditions. Creepy crafts, scary snacks, ghoulish games, a costume parade, and family friendly flicks all make for one haunting hootenanny! Admission is by donation.
Find out more »June 2019
Insights Juried Art Exhibition – 40th anniversary
The Insights Juried Exhibition of Fine Arts marks its 40th anniversary in 2019. In honour of the occasion, the exhibition Opening Gala will be held on June 19 from 7 to 9pm at the Wellington County Museum and Archives. Insights 40 runs from June 19 to Sept. 1 at the Wellington County Museum and Archives. The on-going collaboration with this historic venue has made it possible to present the show in beautiful surroundings and in a wonderful gallery.
Find out more »September 2019
Harvest Home Festival
It's that time of year again when we gather together to celebrate our rich rural traditions with the Harvest Home Festival. The Wellington County Museum and Archives hosts a full day of hands-on fun, interactive experiences and the tastes of home too. From local food vendors, live entertainment and a variety of demonstrations of threshing, sheep sheering, and spinning, we're celebrating our rural roots in style. Check out the antique tractor show and tour the renovated heritage barn, circa. 1877.…
Find out more »October 2019
Sensational Soup-Off
Stir it up! It's time for the annual Sensational Elora Soup-Off! Now celebrating its 10th Anniversary, the competition is boiling over with delicious flavours, creative recipes and an aroma of fun. The Sensational Soup-Off, a signature event of Sensational Elora's calendar, part of their Empty Bows/Empty Glasses Project. It's an important fundraiser to combat hunger and poverty in our community. Watch as chefs, home-cooks and time-tested traditional recipes are put to the taste test - and the judge is YOU!…
Find out more »Poor House Spirit Walks
Come and visit one of THE most haunted sites in Wellington County. Long reputed for numerous ghost sightings and paranormal experiences, you really don't want to miss this. Meet the spirits of the Poor House and hear the stories of the people who lived, worked, and sometimes died on site! Tickets are $10 plus HST and must be purchased in advance at www.wellington.ca/museum
Find out more »Poor House Cemetery Tours
You know that feeling when the hair on the back of your neck stands up? This event causes that to happen, and we're pretty sure you'll love it! Take a walk on the dark side of history with gruesome tales of the Poor House and surrounding area. Tickets are $10 plus HST and must be purchased in advance at www.wellington.ca/museum This event is appropriate for Ages 14+.
Find out more »‘On the Button’ Exhibit Opening
A must-see exhibit at Wellington County Museum and Archives, ‘On the Button' is coming this fall! Opening Saturday, October 19, this exhibit features over 900 buttons from local button collector Roger Miller, displayed alongside rarely seen garments from the Wellington County Museum’s collection. The exhibit’s opening reception will take place on Saturday, October 19 from 1pm to 3pm at the Museum. As an added feature, Roger Miller will give a personal tour of the exhibit at 2pm. All are welcome,…
Find out more »A New Orleans Halloween
Bring the whole family to celebrate Halloween in true New Orleans style! Join us for a magic show, costume parade, ghost tours, New Orleans crafts, games and more! Admission is by donation. Admission to the magic show is $5 per person. Tickets sold at the door.
Find out more »January 2020
From Plein Air to Studio: Explorations of the Canadian Landscape
Enjoy the some of Canada's pristine views through the eyes of local artists in a Plein Air exhibition. The exhibition will feature the work of regional artists: Scott Abbott Laura Coutts Barry Hodgson Joel Masewich Leslie Miles Janet Oilers An opening reception will take place on January 17 from 2-4pm. Mark your calendars for a personal perspective of a Tour with the Artists on March 1 at 2pm.
Find out more »July 2022
“Here Comes the Bride” – 150 years of Wedding Fashions
"Here Comes the Bride" - 150 years of Wedding Fashions is a new exhibit featuring wedding clothing, photographs and stories from the Wellington County Museum and Archives collection. This exhibit opens on July 9, 2022 and will run until November 2, 2022.
Find out more »October 2022
Cemetery Tours at the Museum
Adult Halloween Fun at the Museum! Great for a Spooky Date Night! Cemetery Tours – October 21, 22, 28 and 29 at 7pm and 9pm. It’s that time of the year where everyone loves hearing scary stories, but real history holds some of the scariest and unnerving stories. Join us as we take a trip through the real history of the House of Industry and Refuge and explore some of the more unsettling stories of inmates and staff that called…
Find out more »Cemetery Tours at the Museum
Adult Halloween Fun at the Museum! Great for a Spooky Date Night! Cemetery Tours – October 21, 22, 28 and 29 at 7pm and 9pm. It’s that time of the year where everyone loves hearing scary stories, but real history holds some of the scariest and unnerving stories. Join us as we take a trip through the real history of the House of Industry and Refuge and explore some of the more unsettling stories of inmates and staff that called…
Find out more »November 2022
Wellington County Museum’s 2nd Annual Christmas Market
The Wellington County Museum and Archives is thrilled to be hosting the Christmas Market for a second year! The Christmas Market will take place on Friday, November 25th from 4pm to 9 pm, and Saturday, November 26th from 12pm to 5pm. Ring in the holiday season with a handmade market, live musical entertainment, delicious local food, a visit from Santa Claus, and more family fun!
Find out more »