Enjoy small-town charm in Elora, Ontario – the ultimate list of things to do in Elora (2024)

In small towns acrossOntario, you’ll see a mix of quaint shops, natural beauty and an abundance ofhospitality. Elora is just one of those towns. From the one-of-a-kind localshops to the incredible beauty of the raging Grand River, Elora has that smalltown charm that people come from all over to explore. Now you can too! Here areall the things to do in Elora to soak up the small town charm and leave happyand refreshed.

Full disclosure – Igrew up in the same township as Elora, just 15 minutes down the road, so Iconsider it my hometown. For 20 years I’ve experienced the beauty of this placeand am totally biased in my thinking that Elora is one of the prettiest townsin Ontario.

NOTE: Travel is not recommended at this time. These posts are here to serve as inspiration when we can explore again. Hey there – this post likely contains affiliate links, which means I earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase from them. This helps me earn a few dollars to run this website.

But I’m not alone inthis thinking. A.J. Casson, one of the famous Group of Seven painters – calledElora “Ontario’s most beautiful village.” It’s a lot to live up to, but onceyou visit, you’ll never want to leave.

Elora is located alongthe gorgeous Grand River in Southern Ontario. It’s one of many small towns makeup rural Ontario.

Indeed there are somany things to see and do in this little town, a little bit for every type oftraveller. For the outdoor lover, there are parks and extreme activities likeriver tubing and zip lining.

For the artsy folk,visit the several galleries, take in a movie at the little theatre or make yourown art at one of the many classes offered.

For the foodie in you,there are several places to chow down, from fine dining to quaint cafes. Forthe shopaholic, you’ll love the one-of-a-kind shops that dot the downtown.

Whatever reason you’re visiting Elora, you’ll find something to do! Check out the map at the bottom of this post.

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What to see outdoors in Elora

The Grand River cutsthrough Elora like a knife. On one end you can walk along the river’s edge,then further down the river has gouged out the rock to make a steep gorge.There are spots you can do some rock climbing and even ice climbing in thewinter.

The Elora Quarry

The Elora Quarry is known around the world as a summer destination with beautiful turquoise waters and steep limestone cliffs.

Located on the westernedge of town, this literal watering hole was once a limestone quarry. Now ownedby the Grand River Conservation Authority, the Quarry offers a beach, swimmingand hiking.

The GRCA has imposed a1,300-person daily limit to lessen the environmental impact of the area. Thefee is $10 to enjoy your day at the Elora Quarry.

Bissel Park

Bissel Park in Elora is a hub of activity. In the summer, it is host to a farmers’ market every weekend. Bissel Park is located along the river’s edge and even had a boardwalk you can take a stroll on. There is also a pavilion and a kiln oven that is used frequently by Kitchen in the Park Project, a community-driven cooking experience.

There’s even a secretpath along the abandoned millrace that you can follow to get a lovely view ofthe river. Bring along a blanket and grab some food from one of the manyrestaurants in Elora for a summer picnic.

Elora Gorge Conservation Area

The Elora Gorge Conservation Area is a nature lover’s playground. This conservation area surrounds the Grand River gorge with 22-metre high cliffs, riverside trails, camping, as well as tubing and kayaking in the fast-paced rapids. There’s even a splash pad for kids and kids-at-heart.

Is there anything morethrilling than rushing down the river in a tube?

If you’re not acamper, the conservation area is open from 8 am to sunset from May to October.A day pass costs $7. Campsites costs range between $39 and $48 depending on thetype of site.

Elora Gorge lookout

If you want a free wayto explore the gorge, then Victoria Park is for you. Just a short walk from thedowntown, Victoria Park is the intersection of the Grand River and IrvineCreek. In the park, you can walk along the trails that follow the cliff side.

In the summer, you can walk down a set of stairs into the gorge. Down by the river you can easily see the famous David Street Bridge and you might even spot people scaling the cliff side.

One Axe Pursuits

If you want to take your Elora Gorge adventures to new heights, then you’ll want to check out One Axe Pursuits. Not only do they offer ice climbing, rock climbing and caving, but you can soar over the gorge with a zip lining adventure.

The experience is openfor the daring every weekend in July and August.

Elora Bicycle tours

Another way to explore Elora is by bicycle. Elora Rapids offers two-hour, 10 km bicycle tours that takes you from the beautiful downtown, along the Grand River and through historic streets.

Each bike is equippedwith a GPS audio tour, so you’ll be sure not to lose your way while you’re soakingin all the details of Elora’s past. This adventure is a self-guided tour, soyou can go at your own pace.

Raft Rides in Elora

If riding a bicycle isn’t your style, then how about a leisurely raft ride? In the calm section of the Grand River, captains of the punt boats – a flat-bottomed, square boat – take patrons on a leisurely cruise along the water while learning about the wildlife of the Grand and the history of Elora.

Elora Cataract Trail

No outdoor Elora adventure would be complete without spending some time on the Elora Cataract Trail. This 47-kilometre rail line-turned-trail runs from Elora to the Forks of the Credit. It’s relatively flat and is perfect for a multitude of uses. Take a stroll or ride a bike, either way, you don’t want to miss out on this stunning trail, especially in the fall.

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Cultural attractions

Elora is more than aplace to eat, shop and explore nature. There is a thriving arts community herewith dozens of studios and galleries and plenty of art and music events. Socome for the attractions but stay for the culture!

The Green Space

What was once an oldgas station, then a gravel lot, the Elora Green Space is now a community hub.Lounge on the grass or in one or the red Muskoka chairs. During the summer, theGreen Space turns into a stage for local musical performances or for the localtheatre troupe to put on a play.

Take your picture withthe Tall Man, a finger pointing sculpture created by Scott McNichol, actuallytitled “Who’s in Charge.”

Riverfest Elora

Get a taste for music of all genres at Riverfest Elora. This weekend-long event is one of the highlights of my year.

Three stagescontinuously play music set in Bissel Park, a lovely, riverside park in theheart of Elora. Past artists from the festival’s 10-year history include MotherMother, MGMT, Metric, The Sheepdogs, Walk off the Earth, Tokyo Police Club,Wintersleep and so many more.

There’s also a foodcourtyard where dozens of vendors offer delicious bites and an artisan alley tocheck out the latest creations.

Riverfest Elora iscommitted to being bottled water free and a waste-conscious event. That meansyou can bring an empty reusable water bottle that you can fill up at the freewater stations. You can also purchase a reusable mug for beer, wine or cider,which doubles as a souvenir!

Sitting on a blanketin the middle of the park listening to amazing bands with the river lazilyflowing beside you is one hell of a magical experience, so if you come to Elorafor one reason only, let it be for Riverfest Elora.

ReFIND Salvage workshops

Always wanted to get crafty, but not sure where to start? ReFIND Salvage is a vintage and recycle shop where you’ll find one of a kind items. But the shop also offers workshops ranging from crochet to embroidery, to calligraphy to sign making.

Workshops are offeredcontinuously throughout the year at their cute little studio right downtown.What are you waiting for? Let’s get making!

The Gorge Cinema

This little theatre is a pillar of the Elora Community. Before it was renovated into The Gorge Cinema, this stone building was home to the Historic Commercial Hotel dating back to 1848. This cash-only theatre offers films from Hollywood blockbusters to Canadian cinema to documentaries to the occasional indie movie. They even put on events showcasing local filmmakers.

Growing up, the cinemawas always a destination for school field trips to see historical movies. I’dalways love the popcorn that would be topped with olive oil and sea salt ratherthan butter.

The owners who openedup the cinema 44 years ago recently passed on the torch, and two animators andfamily friends now run it.

Churches of Elora

Like any small town inOntario, you’ll find a multitude of churches, many of which are old andbeautiful. In Elora, it’s no different.

St. John’s AnglicanChurch is the red-roofed red-bricked building just outside the main towncentre. It’s known for its beautiful architecture and altar as well as itsoutstanding choir known around the world.

The Knox-EloraPresbyterian Church is one of the famous Elora churches as it’s located in themiddle of a roundabout. The church’s history dates back to 1837 where the firstbuilding was an old log cabin. The majestic structure that stands now was builtin 1873 and has been there ever since. Inside the church features stained glasswindows and a massive organ.

Lastly, there’s St.Mary Immaculate Church, a Catholic church built in 1871 but with history datingback to the early 1800s. The red brick structure is modelled after the classicgothic style.

Elora Centre for the Arts

The Elora Centre for the Arts is located in the beautiful old stone Elora School, which has stood for over 160 years. While the building has transformed, the opportunity for learning has not.

Not only does theElora Centre for the Arts showcase art in two galleries, but it also offerednumerous art programs for both children and adults. They even put on eventsthroughout the year, the most famous being the two-day summer Creative Spark inthe Yard – formerly known as Art in the Yard.

Creative Spark in theYard features dozens of vendors, live musical performances, and, of course,food trucks! They even have art-making stations.

Twilight Zoo by Tim Murton

When the sun goes downduring the twilight of October, prepare yourself for a fright lurking in everycorner of Elora. The town is taken over by magical creatures who have come outto play. Look up and around every corner; you won’t know what you’ll run into.

The Twilight Zoo is the brainchild of Elora’s own Tim Murton, not to be confused with Tim Burton, who has been decorating the streets of Elora for over 20 years.

His unique lanternsculpture creatures are scattered throughout Elora every October turning thetown into a spooky little village.

During Monster Month,you’ll also be able to take part in the Fergus Ghost Walk, a lantern-guidedtour through the dark history of Fergus, enjoy cauldron co*cktails at the EloraMill, or become a monster yourself in the annual Monster March Parade.

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Where to Eat in Elora

With all the things todo in Elora, you’re going to have to fuel up with one of the many cafés andrestaurants in the town. From a quick bite to eat to a fine-dining four-coursemeal, there’s plenty to choose from.

Cafe Crêperie of Elora

This little café is perfect for those who can’t decide what to eat. They’ve got delicious savoury crepes as well as melt-in-your-mouth dessert crepes. They offer salads and croissants baked fresh daily. The café has been open for over a decade, providing amazing French recipes passed on through the generations.

They also offergluten-free and vegan crepe options – so it’s really a great place foreveryone.

Every once and a whilethe café stays open late on Saturdays to hold music nights. There’s even anongoing art gallery with new artists every month.

Lost and Found Café

The Lost and Found Café has been my favourite spot since it opened a couple of years ago. The adorable décor and the delicious food make me want to hang out here all day.

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It’s set in thebeautiful Elora Mews, a limestone pedestrian market in Elora’s downtown. TheLost and Found Café offers incredible, mouth-watering sandwiches and delicioustreats. They even have vegan options. My personal favourite is their featuredlattes that change every month.

The Elora Café

The new kids on the block can be found at the Elora Café, a funky little café at the north end of the downtown. I love the pops of yellow in this adorable place, and their food is quite amazing.

Whether you fancysoups, sandwiches or delicious treat, they’ve got it all.

Elora Bread Trading Co.

Have you ever tasted bread so delicious you could eat the whole loaf? Well, Elora Bread Trading Co. specializes in handcrafted artisan bread to die for.

They supply bread forlocal retailers and restaurants, but they also serve up a mean sandwich attheir shop in downtown Elora. Definitely, something to call home about!

Scoop Ice Cream

You know what Elora needed?! A WALK UP ICE CREAM BAR! Hells yes. Scoop Ice Cream is the cutest little shop right in the heart of downtown Elora. This shop is known for its small-batch, artisan ice cream hand-made right in Elora. They have 8 flavours that they are always scooping, and half a dozen seasonal flavours that are constantly changing.

Sugar Skulls Ice Cream

Scooped or soft-serve?! At Sugar Skulls Ice Cream there are 70 different flavours of soft serve ice cream, unlimited toppings and so many delicious treats like brownies, strudels, and milkshakes and so much more.

Shepherd’s Pub

The Shepherd’s Pub is an Elora staple. It’s lived in the lower floor of a beautiful blue building FOREVER. The space was so cozy and I have a lot of good memories in Shepard’s Pub. But since the summer 2018, the pub moved into a new home at the corner of Mill St. and Metcalfe St. Here you’ll find a cozy atmosphere, delicious British pub food and your choice of local brews.

The Friendly Society

A cute hang out with good food and good vibes, the Friendly Society is exactly that! From funky breakfasts to fun twists on comfort food dinners, there are so many delicious options in this cozy restaurant. They have a really cute patio outside in the summer too!

Elora Distilling Company

The Elora Distilling Company offers a delicious array of gins and spirits. Inside has this speakeasy feel to it and they’ve done a beautiful job of making an experience out of visiting. If you get the chance, join a tasting tour so you can sample all the incredible flavours that Elora Distilling company creates.

If a tasting isn’t your cup of tea, you’ve got to try their co*cktail flight! Four signature co*cktails, in miniature, let you sample the spirits as they should be: crafted into one-of-a-kind co*cktails. My favourite is their Amethyst Gin co*cktail. It’s so delicious I learned to make it at home with their Amethyst Gin

The Porch Light

About ready for a co*cktail? The Porch Light is serving! From the Lavender Hunter to the Dark and Stormy, they really have thought of everything.

It also has someincredibly creative tapas and food that is almost too beautiful to eat. Ofcourse, they have a rich ambience on the porch that’s always welcoming.

Elora Brewing Company

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The Elora Brewing Company was a game changer for Elora. This rustic craft brewery is the talk of the town. From the incredible atmosphere to the rich flavours, this place has been taking the town by storm.

Lady Friend, ThreeFields and Elora Borealis are always on tap, but they also feature seasonalbrews too. You can’t leave without digging into the menu! The crispy chickenbites, Three Fields Mussels and housemade pickles are crowd favourites.

The Cellar Pub and Grill

On a warm summer evening, there’s nothing better than a good meal, with a refreshing drink on the river’s edge. You can get that at the Cellar Pub and Grill.

They have their owntake on pub favourites and border on the fancier side. But nothing beats thepatio right on the edge of the Grand River, surrounded by trees and stringlights. Definitely a magical experience

The Wild Tart

The Wild Tart is a newer restaurant on the block and there are so many delicious dishes on the menu. My go-to is the Afternoon Tea, a three-tier masterpiece of warm scones, fresh sandwiches and tasty desserts. There’s a wide variety of teas to select from too!

The Evelyn

The Evelyn is one of Elora’s newest restaurants. This French-inspired casual fine-dining spot is home to some incredible dishes, like the Coq Au Vin and Ratatouille. They even have a wine club for those who just need to celebrate every month.

Elora Mill

Lastly, you can’t talk about Elora without mentioning the Elora Mill Restaurant. This fine dining restaurant opened in 2018 to resounding praise. It offers breakfast lunch and dinner seatings, with rooms in a big glass atrium that overlooks the Elora Gorge. Try the seasonal menu before it’s gone!

Want a more casualsetting? Then try the Penstock Lounge, a beautiful rustic bar where you canhave a co*cktail by the fireplace

Where to shop in Elora

All this food ismaking you energized for a shopping trip around Elora. There’s no better placeto find one-of-a-kind purchases. You’ll never run out of things to do in Elora,even if you just want to window shop.

Sweet distractions

Soothe your sweet tooth at Sweet Distractions, Elora’s candy boutique. You’ll find all sorts of delicious treats here, and even some darn good gelato – perfect for a summer’s day. You can’t leave the shop without trying some of their traditional bonbons in all the flavours.

Epiphany Apparel/ Jammed Lovely

These two stores, anapparel store and a gift shop, are packed with interesting finds. Jammed Lovelyhas funky, locally-sourced gifts. You’ll be able to find something for everyonehere. The shop just re-opened after doing some major renovations to their newlocation in downtown Elora.

Epiphany Apparel is a clothing store with a vintage feel. You won’t be able to find these clothes in too many other places. You’ll even be able to find a couple of home décor items.

Elora Mews

Stepping into the Elora Mews stone courtyard feels a little like stepping back in time. From the old-timely street lanterns to the beautiful stone walls, the Elora Mews is a lovely little spot to do some shopping. Check out the home decor shops and the fun clothing stores.

Cordial Clove Books

I’ve never seen a second-hand book store that offers so much selection! There are dozens of selves with books from all genres at Cordial Clove Books. I love perusing the shelves to see what I can find.

Mermaid in Elora

If there’s anything iconically Elora, it is Mermaid in Elora, formerly known as Mermaid Antiques. It’s a hard place to describe, an angled cozy cabin that is bigger on the inside than what it appears.

The first room isfilled with necklaces, rings, and other jewellery, followed by the second room,which has metal trinkets like compasses and globes. And the third room isfilled with leather goods, books, posters and other one-of-a-kind goods. Andyou can’t miss the Door Knocker Room, which holds the most extensive collectionor door knockers in Canada.

There is so much todiscover in every nook and cranny.

Honeychurch Lane

This vintage and upcycle shop called Honeychurch Lane is nestled among some of Elora’s beautiful stores. Here you’ll find some neat stuff, like painted furniture, chandeliers, knobs, vintage glassware and more.

They offer workshopsso you can change up your home with custom paint jobs. There’s even a pop-upshop in the corner of the story that changes all the time, offering new andexciting things.

Where to stay in Elora

If you’re visiting formore than a day (I mean there are so many things to do in Elora), then you’regoing to need somewhere to rest your head.

Elora Mill Hotel and Spa

I can’t mention places to stay without the new Elora Mill. Let me tell you, it is the epitome of luxury. There are 30 guest rooms and suites with absolutely jaw-dropping views overlooking the gorge. There are so many luxuries like fireplaces, walk-in showers, natural stone and wood and so much more.

While you’re there,you have to visit the Stable Spa and let the natural beauty and relaxingatmosphere wash away your stress.

So if you’re in themood for extravagance, you’ll find it here at Elora Mill Hotel and Spa.

The Drew House Bed and Breakfast

The Drew House Bed and Breakfast offers a quaint retreat in the heart of Elora. The 19th-century house was the childhood home of former Ontario premier George Drew. It now provides multiple suites to rest your head and includes breakfast every morning.

You can even takecooking classes with Chef Roger Dufau.

White Garden Bed and Breakfast

The century home in the residential area of Elora. The Elora White Garden Bed and Breakfast seems like it’s out of a storybook, with its stunning gardens, lovely white home.

Guests have access tothe living room, dining room, library, and even the pool. And, of course, therewill be breakfast!

Sweet Ella’s Bed and Breakfast

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These rustic rooms at Sweet Ella’s Bed and Breakfast are perfect for a little giveaway. The home dates back to the mid-1800s. And who can beat that clawfoot tub!

They offer atraditional breakfast, free Wi-Fi and even offer bicycles to guests.

Victoria Street Retreat

This adorable yellow house is home to the Victoria Street Retreat. It’s just steps away from pretty well everything in Elora, but you’ll also be able to relax in the airy, comfortable apartment. Can go wrong with this perfect spot in town.

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Things to do in Elora

Whether you arevisiting Elora for the jaw-dropping natural beauty or going on a shopping spreeat all the fun and unique stores or you’re here to chow down on all thefantastic food, Elora offers everything you need for a weekend getaway tocharming small-town Ontario. Take a chance, because there are so many things todo in Elora.

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