I grew up in Elora in the late 90s and early 2000s. My family still lives here and it will always be “home.” When I used to tell other Canadians where I’m from, they’d say, “huh?” but I’ve seen a huge shift over the last few years and it’s no longer the under-the-radar village it used to be. Probably most famous for the extravagant weddings at the Elora Mill, my little hometown consistently tops the charts of “most charming towns in Ontario” or the “best weekend getaways outside of Toronto.” And it’s true! As someone with the dual perspective of a resident and a visitor, here are the best things to do in Elora.
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There are things to do in Elora year-round
I’ve broken the list of things to do in Elora into sections by season to make it easier for you to decide when you want to visit. From tubing down the Grand River in the heat of summer to cross country skiing in the Gorge after a fresh snowfall, there’s always something fun to do. (Words I never thought I would say when I was a grumpy 14-year-old.) Here are things you can do any time of year:
Visit the Mill
It’s not just for weddings! You can visit The Elora Mill for the spa, dine at the restaurant, or stay the night in one of the luxe suites. Yes, it’s insanely pricey no matter what you choose to do here. But if you’re on a budget you should at least drop in and treat yourself to one (or two) cocktails. The views are beautiful no matter which time of year you visit.
See a movie at the Gorge Cinema
A good backup plan if the weather isn’t cooperating. The cinema only has one screen, but it’s so adorable you won’t mind watching whatever they have on. Because it’s an independent movie theatre you can even enjoy a cheeky beer or glass of wine with your popcorn!
Check out the free exhibit on at the Centre for the Arts
Elora is famous for it’s art, and some of Canada’s best artists live here. Even if you’re not a connoisseur, the Centre for the Arts is worth including in your itinerary. There’s always an exhibit on and the space is pretty small so it doesn’t take ages to see. It’s free, but they accept and really appreciate donations! They also have a nice gift shop with lots of cute souvenirs and local art.
Point back up at the tall man
There’s an art installation in the little park in the centre of town. A huge upgrade since my childhood — it used to be a gas station like 20 years ago. The 12-foot-or-taller silver slender man sculpture, by Scott McNicol, is featured at the centre and makes for great photos.
Visit the Wellington County Museum
The changing exhibits have included everything from an animatronic dinosaurs to the original collection of works for my mom’s tarot project. It’s def haunted though.
Getting to Elora
Elora is a 1.5-hour drive from Toronto, so the best way to travel is to drive.
Rent a car through Discover Cars.
Alternatively, if you realllly want to take public transport, you can take the GO train (1.5 hours) or GO bus (2 hours) to Guelph. From there it’s a littler harder to get to Elora, but in theory you could try to catch one of these buses. Or shell out for an Uber.
Things to do in Elora over the summer
Definitely the busiest time of year, Elora is in full swing over the summer. Restaurants are open and usually have some form of patio to sit on and it’s usually a couple degrees cooler than the city. Here are all the best things to do in Elora in the summer:
Swim at the quarry
It’s a beautiful little swimming hole but not particularly clean or anything. It’s more about the surroundings. Also, you can’t tell from the ground, but it’s shaped like a heart from a bird’s eye view! Parking can be a nightmare now (thanks to all the Narcity and BlogTO articles) so try to get there early or visit on a weekday if you can.
Tube down the Grand River
I somehow got through the first 28 years of my life without tubing down the river in my own backyard and let me tell you – I was missing out! There are no regulations about needing to go with a tour (though those are available), so if you’re happy to do a bit of pre-planning and either borrow or buy a tube, you can DIY the whole thing.
Start in Fergus and float for an hour down the river to the Aboyne Bridge, or (past my house!) to the Bissel Park Bridge at the very latest. There’s a waterfall ahead so like… seriously. Make sure you know where to get out.
See live performances at Riverfest
You wouldn’t believe the lineups at this music festival! It features a lot of Canadian artists, and some big names show up to our little town. Previous performers include: City and Colour, Shakey Graves, Carly Rae Jepsen, MGMT, Bruce Cockburn, The Strumbellas, and Halluci Nation (previously known as A Tribe Called Red).
Held every August, a weekend pass usually runs under $200. Compare that to the $400 it costs to go to Osheaga in Montreal!
Walk through the Gorge
Look, of course you can do this at any time of year. I’m actually on my way out right now to go for a walk in the Gorge and it’s December. BUT it’s a different experience depending on the season and certainly less hazardous in the summer.
- Elora Gorge Lookout (walkable from town)
- Elora River Valley Lookout (walkable from town)
- The Conservation Area (requires a car)
- The Baseball Diamond (requires a car or long walk)
All Trails also has some suggested routes.
Bissel Park Farmer's Market — Saturdays only
If we’re being honest, I think this is really cute but I don’t want you to lead you astray. It’s not massive and will only take you a handful of minutes to visit. But the local farmers and artisans sell cute things that make great souvenirs! You can also see a nice waterfall and cross our little walking bridge, which can be pretty Instagrammable.
Read more: Essential Road Trip Stops Across Canada
Things to do in Elora in the fall
The fall is arguably the cutest time to visit Elora. It’s too cold to make the most of the river and the quarry, but we have a lot of beautiful trees! It’s the small town dream — you’ll feel like you’re in a Hallmark movie. Here are all the best things to do in Elora in the fall:
Go monster hunting
Even before Elora went fully-famous in the recent years, some in-the-know Canadians would visit our humble little town to see its monsters. It’s not haunted or anything (except for the museum), but Tim Murton created a series of creatures that come to life every year during what’s now known as Monster Month, or the Twilight Zoo.
Visit local artists on the Studio Tour
The studio tour happens annually and usually falls (haha get it?) sometime in September or October. You get to visit the artists’ studios, which are often in their homes! It’s a great way to see why our local community is so famous for its art. It’s also a good opportunity to pick something up for your personal collection.
I’m by no means an art expert, and they don’t all participate in the Studio Tour, but here are some of my faves. (Full disclosure, most are also family friends… but they’re still objectively great):
Things to do in Elora this winter
There’s something about small towns that makes them even cuter with a light dusting of fresh snow and big flakes floating down from the sky. Here are all the best things to do in Elora in the winter:
Walk or ski through the Gorge
Yeah ok walking is technically a year-round activity but the gorge is entirely different in the summer vs. the winter. While not *technically* allowed, people “sneak in” to go cross-country skiing all the time and it’s a beautiful place to do it. Bundle up in your warmest winter attire and go find the dreamy icicles and snow-covered trees!
Go Starlight shopping
Some of the adorable shops in town stay open late for a few nights leading up to Christmas. It’s usually Thursday & Friday night for two weeks at the end of November or early December. Elora sparkles with festive lights leading up to the holidays and it’s just SO cute at night. Honeychurch Lane is the best place to find some unique Christmas presents.
Things to do in Elora in the spring
After a long, cold winter, Elora is a great place for a city escape to ring in the warmer weather. Here are all the best things to do in Elora in the spring:
Visit the Spring Open Studios
milar to the Studio Tour that takes place in the fall, you can visit some of Elora’s best artists and see where they work. This is usually scheduled for a few days at the end of May, so consider planning your trip to Elora around this if you’re a lover of the arts!
Hunt for treasure at the Antique & Vintage Show
We used to have this super quirky antique store and an epic vintage clothing shop here when I was growing up. They’re both long gone now, but Elora is still a great destination if you love to hunt for old hidden treasures. The Antique and Vintage show usually comes around in April. You can find everything from antique furniture to vintage cameras, pottery, and jewellery.
