Taste Real's Fall Rural Romp
Saturday, September 26, 2026 · 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Southern Wellington County
Farm Visits · Tours · Kids Activities · Pumpkins · Corn Mazes · Harvest Foods · Fall Decorations · and more!
The Fall Rural Romp is a self-guided tour to farms, markets, nurseries, and local food and beverage businesses in Centre Wellington, Erin, Guelph/Eramosa, Puslinch and the City of Guelph. Meet our taste makers, learn about local food and agriculture and discover food destinations in our communities.
Be sure to participate in the Treasure Hunt Contest along the way. The more locations you visit, the more chances you have to WIN!
Tips to get the most out of your #RuralRomp
2026 Fall Rural Romp Destinations and Map
7687 Wellington Road 22, Guelph
519.767.3253 | www.coxcreekcellars.com
Experience the charm of fall at Cox Creek Cellars during the Fall Rural Romp! This family (and dog) friendly winery invites you to explore the beauty of the season with a stroll through the apple orchard, black currant bushes, and picturesque vineyard. Wander the walking trail that winds around the property, then treat yourself to a wine tasting or a glass of your favourite vintage—non-alcoholic options are also available. Pair it with our fresh, wood-fired pizza or a delicious charcuterie board featuring local ingredients. Challenge your friends to a game of cornhole or simply sit back and soak in the relaxing countryside atmosphere—there’s something for everyone at Cox Creek Cellars!
Open 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Must Taste Item: Wood Fired Pizza
More information coming soon!
355 Elmira Road North - Unit 106, Guelph
519.362.3358 | www.dixonsdistilledspirits.com
Dixon's Distilled Spirits is an award-winning craft distillery located in Guelph, Ontario. Inspired by the rich heritage of Ontario's agricultural heartland, they use the finest locally-grown ingredients to produce our premium lineup of wicked smooth, small-batch spirits. Enjoy samples, cocktails, and a first-hand look at the distilling process. Plus, talk to the distillers on how it's made!
Open 11:30 am - 6:00 pm
Must Taste Item: Hand-crafted WICKED Spirits
102 Metcalfe Street - Unit 4, Elora
226.384.7777 | www.eloradistillingcompany.com
Celebrate the arrival of fall with a behind-the-scenes visit to Elora Distilling Company. During the Fall Rural Romp, you’re invited to take a self-guided tour through the production space where their handcrafted spirits come to life—from mashing and fermenting to distilling and bottling. Walk through the distillery floor at your own pace, learn about the process through informative signage and displays, and enjoy complimentary spirit sample (19+). After your tour, browse the retail shop for bottles and merch, or unwind with a cocktail flight in the elegant Royal Room. Free admission and all ages welcome (must be 19+ to sample).
Open 10:00 am - 10:00 pm.
Must Taste Item: Sugar Maple Whisky Liqueur made with local whisky
127 East Mill Street, Elora (Bissell Park)
226.821.5536 | www.elorafarmersmarket.ca
Join Elora Farmers' Market for fun, fabulous, farm-fresh local food in beautiful Bissell Park, right on the banks of the Grand River. Enjoy a delicious breakfast, live music, food demos, and tasty samples. Meet local food producers and explore the wonderful locally produced items from our farmers, growers, makers and bakers! Don’t miss your chance to meet Esmeralda the cow—she loves posing for photos!
The market is open from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm.
Must Taste Items: Sourdough Breads, and handcrafted Ice Cream
5837 Third Line, Hillsburgh
519.806.7273 | erinhillacres.farm
Fall in love with Erin Hill Acres this autumn! This 90-acre lavender and agri-tourism farm is hosting a special Harvest Market Event with local vendors, hot sauce tastings, and live music in the courtyard. Walk picturesque trails, visit furry highland cows and other cute farm animals, enjoy wagon rides, and snap photos at scenic set-ups. Grab a pumpkin, shop the renovated 1800s barn retail space for farm-fresh honey, lavender goods, décor and gifts, and savour treats from the barn kitchen—including sandwiches, baked goods, and fresh lemonade. Don’t miss the outdoor wood-fired pizzas, available for sit-in or take-away!
The farm is open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. Admission fee applies for harvest activities; pre-booking available online.
Must Taste Items: Wood Fired Pizza, Lavender Lemonade, and The Hillsburger
7450 Middlebrook Road, Elora
416.892.6775 | www.thefieldstonebarn.com
Fall is a wonderful time to visit this historic stone barn and flower farm! The Fieldstone Barn is known for the many varieties of sunflowers grown in season, as well as overnight glamping stays. Enjoy tasting freshly bottled sunflower honey—it is a must-try! The farm store will be open, and pumpkins may be ready for harvesting—over ten varieties were planted! While visiting, challenge yourself in the corn mazes and say hello to three resident alpacas.
Must Taste Item: Sunflower Honey
More information coming soon!
7646 Colborne Street, Elora
519.846.9639 | www.gerriesfarmmarket.ca
Since the late 1940s, the Gerrie family has been proudly farming just outside scenic Elora. Over the decades, their farm has grown while staying rooted in community and seasonal abundance. During the Fall Rural Romp, stock up on fresh-picked fruits and vegetables, delicious baked goods, and festive fall décor like mums, corn stalks, and straw bales. Kids can enjoy activities and get an up-close look at the farm equipment on display.
Open 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.
Must Taste Item: Fresh Mennonite Baking
6714 Wellington Road 34, Puslinch
519.400.3040 | www.greenlegacy.ca
Visit the County of Wellington Green Legacy tree nursery and pick up a free tree! Stop by for refreshments, explore the nursery, tour the greenhouses, go on a nature hike and try your hand at transplanting a tree. Learn how we work with students and volunteers to help increase forest cover locally. Green Legacy nurseries provide 170,000 trees annually to residents and landowners in Wellington County.
Must Taste Item: Tea made from local native trees
More information coming soon!
2 Gordon Street, Guelph
market@10carden.ca | www.guelphfarmersmarket.ca
Discover the rich bounty of the harvest at one of Guelph's oldest and most well-loved community spaces featuring a wide range of vendors, including local farmers and prepared food vendors who use fresh, local ingredients.
The market is open from 8:00 am - 1:00 pm.
Must Taste Item: Tacos from Tacos Chidos
6185 6th Line, Belwood
519.827.0939 | www.harmonymeadowsalpaca.ca
Get up close with the friendly alpacas, free-range chickens and three playful little goats who love the spotlight at Harmony Meadows! Learn all about these gentle animals and the incredible warmth and softness of alpaca fibre. Don’t forget to stop by the on-site farm store, where you’ll find cozy alpaca socks, clothing, duvets, and adorable toys—perfect for a warm and memorable fall outing.
Must Do: Feed the alpacas
5438 2nd Line, Acton
226.979.7860 | www.heartwoodfarm.ca
Discover this diverse 42-acre ecosystem of pasture, orchards, woods, and wetlands—an invitation to reconnect with nature’s simple wonders. Sip cider on a woodland patio, meet livestock grazing in the fields, and see how regenerative farming helps restore and enrich the landscape. Watch apples pressed into fresh juice, and browse the farm store for cider and other take-home delights.
Must Taste Item: Heartwood Sparkle
More information coming soon!
5503 Trafalgar Road, Erin
416.702.8190 | hilltop-honey-erin.square.site
Looking for truly local honey? Come visit this charming micro apiary, nestled in the scenic hills of Erin, Ontario, right on Trafalgar Road at an elevation of 1,482 feet! Buzz by and experience a taste of OAAS Grand Champion small-batch, handcrafted unpasteurized honey. You will have a chance to meet-and-greet with hardworking bees and a live demonstration of how honey is extracted. Whether you're a curious visitor, a honey lover, or just looking for a sweet stop on your country drive, Hilltop Honey farm offers a fun, educational, and delicious experience for all ages.
Open until 5:00 pm.
Must Taste Item: Unpasteurized Wildflower Honey
33 Cork Street West, Guelph
T 519.362.7954 | www.tricitybeerescue.ca
Step into a vibrant community space where creativity meets countryside charm! The Hive is buzzing with activity for this year’s Fall Rural Romp. Browse a local artisan market featuring handcrafted goods, local art, and farm-fresh products. Enjoy tasty samples and seasonal treats while you explore the space. Plus, don’t miss your chance to meet a friendly cow from JC Cattle—perfect for a photo op! A unique stop that blends rural life, local flavour and artistic spirit.
The market is open 11:00 am - 3:00 pm.
Must Taste Item: Chocolate Raspberry Honey
More information coming soon!
More information coming soon!
5835 Wellington Road 26, Erin
T 905.327.7019 | www.redrabbitgardens.com
Come check out a little bit of everything at this small, diversified farm! Create a beautiful arrangement from your stroll in the vibrant, cut-your-own dahlia patch (fee). Then, enjoy the cattle grazing, chickens scratching, and veggies in the gardens while sampling some of what is grown right on the farm. Be sure to shop the farm stand for seasonal produce and meat and enter their draw to win a Farm Stay at the bunkie!
Must Do: Cut-your-own Flowers
6838 Wellington Road 124, Guelph
T 519.824.4998 | www.royalcitynursery.com
Celebrate local gardening at Royal City Nursery! Wander through Royal City Nursery’s expansive perennial yard, play around in our trees and shrubs or discover the perfect tropical plant for your home or office, all while being immersed in fall gardening and decor inspiration at every turn. Ask their experts what to plant to attract pollinators to your yard, grow your own food, when to plant spring flowering bulbs and enjoy an exclusive tasting of Coppa Inc’s Gelato and Sorbet handcrafted here in Ontario! Bring the kids along to give our scavenger hunt a go! Embrace a season of growth, creativity, and inspiration at Royal City Nursery.
Open until 4:00 pm
Must Taste Items: Ontario Made Gelato and Sorbet
5089 Wellington Road 32, Guelph
T 519.822.1070 | www.strom.ca
Get ready for fall as you wander through 6,000+ pumpkins. Hungry? Step inside the market and bakery for Strom's famous butter tarts made without corn syrup, pumpkin pie and seasonal goodies. Looking for more adventure? Experience the Harvest Fun Area (admission fee) with a five-acre Nutrition for Learning and Keeping Kids Fed at School themed corn maze, wagon rides, straw, tile and cedar maze, puppet shows, pedal carts, low ropes course, sand pile, pumpkin chuckin, human foosball and fire pits!
The farm is open 9:30 am - 6:00 pm
Must Taste Item: Haskap Butter Tart
950 Woodlawn Road W, Guelph
T 519.837.2337 | www.wellingtonbrewery.ca
Wellington Brewery is one of Canada's original craft breweries known for producing award-winning beers with a focus on quality, sustainability, and creativity. Founded in 1985 in Guelph, they are creatively transforming Ontario's brewing culture to stand for people and planet. Pop by the Wellington Taproom and enjoy some award-winning craft beer and tasty snacks. Enjoy a brewery tour every Saturday at 3:00 pm ($10.00 per person, or $16.00 with a 20oz pint). Cheers!
Open 10:00 am - 7:00 pm.
Must Taste Item: Cheese Curd Flight and Custom Beer Flight
8755 Wellington Road 18, Belwood
T 226.820.1413 | www.wickedwelly.ca
Small but mighty! Wicked Welly Farm and Apiary is a family-run farm in Belwood. This picturesque 25-acre farm raises a variety of livestock, grows organic vegetables, has a six-hive honeybee apiary and does homemade preserves, maple syrup and freeze-dried products. Come visit their on-farm store and join them for a tour of the property!
Must Taste Item: Freeze Dried Ice Cream Sandwiches
Guelph Wellington Routes & Rivers Event
Explore farms and rural businesses by bike!
Join Ontario by Bike on September 26-27 for a fall cycling weekend exploring the picturesque country roads and trails, historic towns, and stunning waterways of Wellington County, based rom the city of Guelph, a vibrant and modern university town. Pedal rural roads to Elora and Fergus, taking in the historic limestone buildings and artisanal shops and cafes perched above the Grand River. Cruise the Elora Cataract Trailway and Guelph’s riverside trail system, enjoying visits to the region’s diverse conservations areas. Don’t miss this two-day ride weekend with an incredible blend of rural scenery, nature and culturally rich communities.
Treasure Hunt Contest
Dig deeper into local food!
Find our sign and QR code at each participating Rural Romp destination to answer a trivia question and you could win a Local Food Treasure! There's a different question at every location, so the more Rural Romp destinations you visit, the more chances you have to win! Learn more below.
- Visit a Fall Rural Romp location on Saturday, September 26
- Find our Taste Real sign and QR code to find the trivia question (you may need to explore in order to answer correctly!)
- Use your phone's camera to hover over the QR code, or fill out a ballot provided to submit your answer to the trivia question
- Repeat! Every location has a different question, so each location is another chance to win one of three $100.00 gift certificates to a Taste Real partner business.
- Agree to the Contest Terms and Conditions (found below)
This Fall Rural Romp Treasure Hunt Contest (“the Contest”) is administered by The Corporation of the County of Wellington (the “Sponsor” or “the County”). Any questions, comments or complaints regarding the Contest should be directed to the Sponsor by email. By participating in this Contest, each contestant agrees to be legally bound by these Official Rules and Regulations (the “Rules”).
The contest will begin Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 10:00 a.m ET until Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 4:00 p.m ET. The winners will be notified by Friday, October 23, 2026.
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for the Contest, you must:
(i) Reside in the province of Ontario;
(ii) Be eighteen (18) years of age or older as of the date of entering the Contest;
(iii) Not be an employee, representative or agent of the County of Wellington. Immediate family members (parents, children, siblings and spouse), and members of the household of County employees may participate but are not eligible to win;
(iv) Comply with all applicable federal, provincial, municipal, and local laws (including, but not limited to, laws relating to libel and obscenity), assume responsibility for their activities, and not to harass, disrupt, abuse, or invade the privacy rights of others; and
(v) Have read and accepted and agreed to comply with these Rules.
(vi) Have completed the County of Wellington’s Contest Declaration form.
(vii) Have read, accepted, and agreed to comply with these Rules:
- There is a limit of one entry per person per location allowed for the contest.
- No purchase is necessary to enter the contest or win.
PRIZE
Each winner will receive a $100.00 gift certificate to a Taste Real partner business. A total of three prizes ($100.00 gift certificate) will be awarded.
On or about Friday, October 23, 2026 at 12:00 p.m ET, in the County of Wellington, in the Province of Ontario, the winners will be selected from all entries received. The contestants who own the selected entries, and who are otherwise eligible to win, will be declared the winners and awarded the prize, subject to compliance with these Rules.
In order to be declared a winner and be able to claim a prize, each person who is selected as a winner will have to:
a. Be reached by email and/or phone number by the contest sponsors within ten (10) days following the selection of winners on Friday, October 23, 2026.
b. Meet all Contest eligibility criteria and otherwise comply with these Rules.
c. Correctly answer, without assistance of any kind, whether mechanical or otherwise, a time-limited mathematical skill-testing question to be administered by the County of Wellington.
d. Complete a Contest Declaration and Release Form and return it to the County of Wellington, to the specified address, within ten (10) days of being contacted as a winner on Friday, October 23, 2026.
e. Upon receipt of the Contest Declaration and Release Form duly filled and signed by the winner, the County of Wellington will contact the winner with instructions on how to claim the prize.
f. In the event that any one of the conditions mentioned herein is not respected, the winner’s entry will be voided, and a new selection will be made following the official contest rules until a new winner is selected.
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The odds of winning the Prize are dependent on the number of eligible entries received by the Sponsor during the Contest Period in accordance with these Rules.
The County of Wellington, and its members, trustees, agents, officers, contractors, volunteers, and employees will not be held responsible for any claims, demands, actions, complaints, suits, or other forms of liability that shall arise out of, by reason of, or be caused by the submission of a contest entry.
The County of Wellington reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual from the Contest and to ban the individual from any future County of Wellington contest if it believes the participant is in violation of the official rules, acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person.
The prize must be accepted as awarded. No substitution of the prize is permitted except by the County of Wellington in its sole discretion. The County of Wellington reserves the right to substitute any prize with another prize of equal or greater value, if a prize cannot be awarded as described for any reason.
The prize is not transferable except at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. It is not redeemable for cash or credit, in whole or in part, and cannot be combined with any other offer.
Entrants agree to abide by the terms of these Official Rules and by all decisions of the County of Wellington, which are final in all matters pertaining to the Contest. By entering, participants release and hold harmless the County of Wellington, its members, trustees, agents, officers, contractors, volunteers, and employees from any and all liability for any injuries, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with the Contest or any prize won.
By entering, you consent to the County of Wellington’s use, should you become a winner, of your name, place of residence, and your testimony without further compensation or notice, for publicity, advertising, or informational purposes in any media or format (including the Internet) in connection with this Contest, the County of Wellington, or future similar contests. By entering, you declare that you have complied with the Contest Rules.
A selected entrant may be required to provide the County of Wellington with proof that they are the Authorized Account Holder of the winning entry. “Authorized account holder” is defined as the person who is assigned an email address by an internet provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g. business, educational institute, etc.) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address.
The Sponsor reserves the right to void any entry and/or withdraw, suspend, amend or terminate this Contest in whole or in part (or to amend these Rules) in any way at any time without prior notice (but subject to applicable law), in the event of an error, technical problem, computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failure or any other cause beyond the reasonable control of the Sponsor that, in the Sponsor’s sole discretion determines, interferes with the proper conduct of this Contest as contemplated by these Rules, or in the event of any accident, printing, administrative, or other error or any kind, or for any other reason.
The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, and without prior notice, to adjust any of the dates and/or timeframes stipulated in these Rules, to the extent necessary, for purposes of verifying compliance by any contestant or entry, with these Rules, or as a result of technical problems, or in light of any other circumstances which, in the opinion of the Sponsor, in its sole and absolute discretion, affect the proper administration of the Contest as contemplated in these Rules.
In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between the terms and conditions of these Rules and disclosures or other statements contained in any Contest-related materials, these Rules shall prevail, govern and control.
This Contest is subject to all applicable federal, provincial, municipal and local laws and regulations. The decisions of the Sponsor with respect to all aspects of this Contest are final and binding on all contestants without right of appeal, including, without limitation, any decisions regarding the eligibility/disqualification of contestants, entries, and votes.
PRIVACY
Personal information (PI) is collected in this Contest under the authority of the Municipal Act, s.11. The purpose of this collection is to encourage interaction with the County of Wellington’s Taste Real and Rural Romp webpages. The PI provided in this contest entry is protected in accordance with Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA). Should you have any questions or concerns regarding the collection of personal information (PI), please contact the Manager of Privacy and Information, County of Wellington, Office of the CAO, T 519.837.2600 x2528.
By entering the Contest associated with this campaign, each contestant expressly consents to the Sponsor, its agents and/or representatives, storing, sharing and using the personal information submitted with his/her entry only for the purpose of administering the Contest and in accordance with Sponsor’s privacy policy, unless the contestant otherwise specifies by giving Sponsor notice in writing.
No further informational or marketing communications will be received by the entrant unless the entrant provides the County of Wellington with explicit permission to do so. Please see the County of Wellington's Privacy Policy for additional details.
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