Fergus is the quieter neighbour of touristy Elora. It’s a great little spot for young families, relaxed retirees, artists and historians, as well as nature seekers. I’ve been fortunate to work in Fergus a few times, each of which I’ve really enjoyed. No matter the season or if you prefer the indoors to the outdoors, Fergus has all sorts of activities for people to enjoy. I’ve put together this list of the best things to do in Fergus to help with your trip planning.
✅ TLDR: Don’t have time to read the whole article? Here are my top finds for your Fergus trip!
🛎️ Find awesome hotels
🚙 Rent a car
🎟️ Book the best tours
🥦 Secure travel insurance
🛍️ Shop my favourite travel products
🌟 Follow Travel with TMc on IG
Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, these links provide a small commission to allow this website to continue building helpful and interesting content. Thank you for supporting Travel with TMc, whether through sharing the content you enjoy or using the links. It is much appreciated!
Why Visit Fergus, Ontario?
Fergus is a lovely little town in Ontario known for its Scottish settler roots (though there’s plenty of local history prior to the Scots) and cozy weekend vibes. It’s an excellent place to getaway for a few days, slow down, and recharge. There are year-round festivals to keep you entertained and plenty of good restaurants too. If you’re ever in need of a custom kilt or imported Scottish housewares or taste treats, this is the place to go – specifically The Fergus Scottish Corner Shop. Fergus is also a wonderful place for writers to unplug from the chaos and still have access to everyday needs. It’s an affordable place to spend a weekend at any point during the year.
Top Things to Do in Fergus Ontario
1. Stay in a Converted Church Turned Restaurant Turned Home
If there is one place to stay in Fergus, it is the Riverside Church Guesthouse, a converted historic church. The one-of-a-kind rental has 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 living rooms, a well-equipped kitchen, a full laundry room with a 2nd fridge, a large back deck, BBQ, and riverfront access in the warmer months. It’s perfect for families, groups of friends, wedding parties or even the solo traveller looking to splurge on a memorable and relaxing getaway.
Built in 1903, the building has retained many of its original features, including exposed brick, lofty levels, and pristine stained glass windows. It has also been converted into other spaces: a restaurant, a home, and now the guesthouse. If you check out the link for it above, I give all sorts of detail about its history, including how it was moved piece by piece from one town to another! If those walls could talk…
2. Find the Kissing Stone (Stane)
In the 1800s PDA wasn’t really allowed. However, young lovers in Fergus knew the perfect place to go and smooch their sweetheart: the kissing stane (stone). Prior to the beautiful Templin Gardens being built in the 1920s, James Square was the local meeting spot and that was where the lucky stone sat. At some point it also became a popular proposal location, a tradition that carried on for generations of Fergus residents.
In keeping with the love theme, the Fergus BIA installed a Love Lock Sculpture off Tower Street near the St. Andrew’s Church and close by to the kissing stone in 2014. Wherever you are in your journey with love, have a seat on the ol’ Victorian stane and make a wish or kiss your love for good luck.
3. Catch an Evening Concert in a Magical Riverside Garden
Speaking of the award-winning century-old Templin Gardens, make sure to catch one of the popular Twilight at Templin concerts in the summertime.
4. Play with Clay
There are some really neat spots in Fergus that welcome you into the fold of the local scene. Play with Clay offers drop-in space for anyone to sit, spin, and get dirty, as well as workshops and ready-to-paint pieces for the newbies.
5. See a Show at The Fergus Grand Theatre
The Fergus Grand Theatre has been a staple in the community since 1928. It has hosted everything from movies to concerts to comedy and drag shows. Today it’s also used as a rental space and is popular with children’s entertainment. If you get the chance to peek inside, do. The original chairs, historic photos, and a few other vintage pieces are on display, even if you aren’t able to squeeze in a show.
6. Attend the Famous Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games
The legendary Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games is known across Canada for its strong traditions. A 3-day event in August, you’ll be able to watch everything from Highland dancing to strongmen competitions (think caber throwing and the hammer throw) to pipe and drum concerts, kilt making, and heritage workshops. Stay at the Breadalbane Inn for an extra Scottish flare or set up on the campgrounds.
7. Sing Your Heart Out at Music Festivals
Have you ever noticed that smaller towns are often quite musical? Fergus is no exception. Summertime is a joy to visit because there are all sorts of festivals, concerts, and musical events in Fergus and Elora. Mark the following on your calendar: Meadows Music Festival (think The Arkells, Dallas Smith, July Talk, The Sheepdogs), the Elora Festival (Canada’s international choral festival), and the Twilight at Templin summer series.
8. Check Out a Quirky Festivals
Okay, maybe I’m stereotyping a bit, but aren’t small towns a bit quirky too? To be honest, it’s one of the things I love about them. Fergus has its fair share of quirk, evident in its boutique shops and unique festivals. If you can, line up your visit with the Cogs & Clockworks Steampunk Festival, the Fergus Medieval Faire, or Monster Month (Elora).
9. Shop in Unique Stores
Fergus has a variety of different shops for a small town. There are boutique clothing stores, a specialty chocolate store, a most fabulous secondhand bookstore called The Bookery, yarn and quilting stores housed in the same space, and many more unique local establishments.
10. Drink Craft Beer & Play Board Games
If you’re in Fergus on a rainy or extra cold day, that’s alright because you’ve still got options. The first place I would head to is The Outpost Bottle Shop where they’ve got a shelf full of board games, rotating craft beers on tap, and friendly locals who love to chat. Tell Deb and Mike behind the bar that I say hey!
11. Dive into History
History buffs will love Fergus’ different layers. Whether they dig into the Scottish, Black, or Indigenous roots of the area, the Wellington County Museum and Archives will have them jumping for joy. Another beautiful historic building with lots to offer is the Fergus Library Branch. Both organizations are open to residents and visitors.
12. Eat Breakfast in a Bank Vault
If there’s one spot that people know in Fergus, it’s The Vault Coffee and Espresso Bar. A fabulous choice for breakfast, lunch, a café work session, or a snack on the go, it originally served the community as the local bank. Today you even can sip your coffee in the original bank vault – just don’t let the door close on you!
13. Eat a Deli Sandwich from a 7th Generation Italian Butcher
I always say you need somewhere to return to – you can see everything on one go in a single trip. For me, Joe’s Butcher Shop & Deli is the first place I’m going to stop at and eat the next time I’m in town. I met Joe and his wife Tara on my most recent work assignment there and learned so much about their family and store! Joe comes from a long line of Italian butchers and proudly carries on the skills and traditions of his ancestors. I was pleasantly shocked to learn that they also make cabbage rolls by hand. Having done this myself and appreciating the time and love that goes into them, I will also be purchasing cabbage rolls to pair with my artisanal deli sandwich. You know, second lunch and all that!
14. Enjoy a Pint by the Fire
The Fergusson Room is the local watering hole – popular with the locals catching a game or getting their socializing in, full to the brim with a wait line, and cozy as heck. Head there to watch a game, saddle up in a booth with friends, or sit at the end of the bar by the fire and watch the night unfold. The menu at the gastropub includes classics like steak pie, fish and chips, and a solid beer selection.
15. Enjoy International Cuisines
The town of Fergus has roughly 23,000 inhabitants which might lead you to believe that there aren’t many different types of cuisines available here. However, there is a decent variety, with Scottish pub fare, Italian, Caribbean, and Thai to name a few.
16. Party with East Coasters
If you’re looking for casual pub food during the day or a fun night out, head to The Goofie Newfie. As the name suggests, they’ve plenty of East Coast favourites on the menu, from fish and chips to lobster poutine and everything in between. Do you prefer a pint on a patio overlooking the river as the sun shines on you? This is your spot. Heads up, they’re closed on Sundays and Mondays during long weekends. Quirky, no?
Bonus Google Map of Fergus
I’ve put together this bonus Google Map of places to eat, stay, and adventure during your time in Fergus, Ontario. Feel free to add this map to your phone for easy access on your travels.
Sneak Peek of a Weekend Trip to Fergus
If you’d like to see what a wintery weekend in Fergus looks lik, click the reel below or check out this blog post to help you plan a weekend away at any time of the year.
Subscribe and Stay in the Loop!
Stay tuned to all things vanlife, tips for international destinations, and learning how to pay yourself to travel like I do by subscribing to the (nearly) monthly newsletter and joining me on Instagram. Thanks for reading!
Helpful Tips for Booking Your Trips
Flights
If you want affordable flights, you must get into the points and miles game. Check out my Travel Coaching services to help Canadians fly for less than a tank of gas!
Car Rentals
To help you explore new destinations, turn to Discover Cars for a huge range of vehicle options and excellent prices.
Accommodation
There are so many options for affordable, comfortable, and unique accommodation. Some of my favourite accommodation options are housesitting and hostels. I’ve been using Trusted Housesitters and Hostelworld for years. If you prefer hotels, then check out Booking.com.
Activities
Get Your Guide is a fantastic resource for different activities to try when travelling. They have everything from walking tours, food tours, tickets to attractions, and multi-day trips, and more. Check out this super cool view I had of Tallinn when I was in Estonia for the Christmas markets in 2023, all because of a Get Your Guide experience. My favourite tour so far that I’ve been on with Get Your Guide is a fantastic walking food tour I did in Dublin. That experience had a wild twist – you’ll have to read this blog post to find out why!
