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
Nestled in the countryside, this winery is the perfect stop to relax, explore, and enjoy a true rural experience. Visitors can enjoy handcrafted wines and McQuade's Hard Cider, along with variety of non-alcoholic beverages. Spend time wandering the scenic grounds and trails, take in the beautiful fall colours, or settle in for a laid-back afternoon with yard games and good company. Wood-fired pizza will be hot and fresh, the perfect pairing alongside your favourite beverage (available from 12:00 – 7:00 pm). Before leaving, browse the shop for local gifts, specialty treats, and seasonal goodies. There's always something new to discover!
Open 10:00 am - 8:00 pm.
Must Taste Item: Wood Fired Pizza paired with McQuade's Hard Cider
7098 Concession 1, Puslinch
1.800.884.1525 | www.crieffhills.com
Crieff Hills is a bustling 250-acre retreat centre offering a unique rural escape. During the Rural Romp, explore kilometres of scenic walking trails, discover the market garden, and meet a variety of farm animals, including sheep, pigs, cows, chickens, and turkeys. Visit the on-site farm store for fresh, seasonal vegetables, farm-raised meats, and a selection of preserves made in the property's commercial kitchen. Learn more about sustainable farming, local food production, and the work that goes into growing and raising food on the farm.
Must Taste Item: Chef-created Preserves
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 10:00 am - 6:00 pm.
Must Taste Item: Peach Mango Vodka
102 Metcalfe Street - Unit 4, Elora
226.384.7777 | www.eloradistillingcompany.com
Step behind the scenes at Elora Distilling Company and explore the production space where our handcrafted spirits are made. Take a self-guided tour through the distillery, learn about each stage of the grain-to-glass process, and enjoy complimentary spirit samples (for guests 19+). Afterwards, browse the retail shop and pick up a bottle to take home, or toast the season with a cocktail flight in the elegant Royal Room. Admission is free, and guests of all ages are welcome.
Rural Romp Hours: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm.
Retail and Royal Room Hours: 10:00 am - 10:00 pm.
Must Taste Item: Large selection of grain-to-glass spirits (Ontario Black Spiced Rum and Limoncello are crowd favourites!)
127 East Mill Street, Elora (Bissell Park)
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!
Open 9:00 am - 1:00 pm.
Must Taste Items: Black Pearl Oyster Mushrooms, Water Buffalo Meats and Sourdough Coffee Cake
5837 Third Line, Hillsburgh
519.806.7273 | erinhillacres.farm
Discover Erin Hill Acres during the fall season. Visit with Highland cows and other friendly farm animals, enjoy wagon rides, farm tours, and live music. Shop the renovated 1800s barn retail space for farm-fresh honey, lavender goods, décor, gifts, and more. Warm up with their famous wood-fired pizza, sip on lavender lemonade, and enjoy other seasonal treats. Take in the sights with pumpkins, fall colours, and the charm of this three-season farm.
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 paired with Lavender Lemonade
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.
Open 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.
Must Taste Item: Sunflower Honey
550 Belsyde Avenue East (behind the tennis courts), Fergus
Food Forest Centre Wellington website
What is a Food Forest? Many things! It’s an edible garden open to the public, where all produce is complimentary from May through October. Take a tour of this pilot project and chat with dedicated, friendly volunteers to discover the many perennial fruits, vegetables, and herbs growing here—and learn how to use them.
Enjoy delicious samples, including the must-try chocolate mint tea. Stay to press your own apple or pear cider. There will be some available to taste, or you can bring your own fruit and clean containers to take cider home. This free event is a great opportunity to learn about food forests and discover the benefits of growing and sharing local food.
Must Taste Item: Chocolate Mint Tea
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. Combined with the Fall Rural Romp, you can enjoy their annual Sample-it-Saturday event from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm featuring local vendors offering delicious samples of their products. Be sure to stock up on fresh-picked fruits and vegetables, delicious baked goods, and festive fall décor including 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: Fluffy Tea Biscuits
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: Eastern Hemlock Tea with Maple Syrup
5722 7th Line, Rockwood
519.830.0080 | www.groundedgetaway.ca
Slow down and soak in the vibrant colours of the season at Grounded Getaway. Meet the owners to learn about the history of the farm, explore the scenic walking trails, pick apples in the orchard, enjoy a peaceful moment in the outdoor library, or visit the farm animals. They believe the best memories are made when we are truly present—come experience the simple joys and charm of farm life.
Must Do: Apple Picking and Trail Walking
2 Gordon Street, Guelph
market@10carden.ca | www.guelphfarmersmarket.ca
The Guelph Farmers’ Market has been a community cornerstone since 1827. One of Guelph’s oldest and most-loved community spaces, the market offers fresh local food, artisanal products and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere year-round. September will highlight some of the best produce in the region, hot food vendors and buskers. Meet your farmer, taste some delightful treats and discover something new!
Open 8:00 am - 1:00 pm.
Must Do: Explore over 50 vendors!
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.
Unique Items: Alpaca Yarn and Garden Pellets
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. Be sure to browse the farm store for cider and other take-home delights.
Must Taste Item: Non-alcoholic Concord Grape Sparkle
4597 Sideroad 12 North, Puslinch
416.571.8649 | www.heritagehousefarms.ca
Heritage House Farms welcomes visitors to experience life on the farm and learn more about what they do. Meet the friendly chickens (keep an eye out for Cilantro and Cleopatra!), browse the on-farm store, and shop for locally raised beef, pork, poultry, and seasonal products, along with a selection of goods from other local farmers and makers. While you're there, be sure to pick up their popular maple blueberry breakfast sausages—a local favourite. Whether you're filling your basket with local food or simply enjoying a visit to the farm, Heritage House Farms looks forward to welcoming you.
Must Taste Item: Maple Blueberry Breakfast Sausage
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 multi award winning small-batch, handcrafted unpasteurized honey. You will have a chance to meet and greet hardworking bees, see how honey is extracted and learn about honeybees. 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.
Bee experiences run from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm every 30 min, space is very limited.
Must Taste Item: Honey
33 Cork Street West, Guelph
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 this 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 some friendly animals, including a cow from JC Cattle—perfect for a photo op! A unique stop that blends rural life, local flavour and artistic spirit.
Open 11:00 am - 3:00 pm.
Must Taste Item: Tallow Potato Chips
5420 Highway 6 North, Guelph
519.824.1250 | www.ignatiusguelph.ca
The Ignatius Jesuit Centre is a place of learning, reflection, and ecological care, located on 600 acres of farmland, forests, wetlands, and trails just north of Guelph. Explore the beautiful property, learn about regenerative farming and land stewardship, and discover how IJC brings together agriculture, sustainability, and community.
The Fall Rural Romp takes place alongside Roots and Renewal, a community event from 12:00 - 4:30 pm featuring a pop-up market with local vendors, food, wagon rides tree planting, and other activities. Stop by the Rural Romp table for a map and self-guided hike to explore the property and learn more about IJC’s connection to the land.
Must Taste Item: All the Veggies!
5835 Wellington Road 26, Erin
905.327.7019 | www.redrabbitgardens.com
Discover the beauty of local farming with a tour of Red Rabbit Gardens! Explore this small, diversified family farm, meet pasture-raised animals, stroll through vegetable gardens, U-cut flowers, and the new pick-your-own pumpkin field. Visit the farm store to browse fresh seasonal produce and locally made products. Learn about growing vegetables, then let the kids enjoy the hay slide and play area.
Must Taste Item: Veggie Salts
6838 Wellington Road 124, Guelph
519.824.4998 | www.royalcitynursery.com
Discover the beauty of the season at Royal City Nursery. Explore a wide selection of native and pollinator-friendly perennials, learn about trees and shrubs, and find the perfect plants for your home or office.
During the Fall Rural Romp, connect with the knowledgeable staff to learn more about growing your own food, supporting pollinators, preparing your garden for the seasons ahead, and choosing the right plants for your space. Families can enjoy an educational scavenger hunt and other free kids’ activities, with leashed dogs welcome too.
Take in the colours of autumn while browsing seasonal décor, shop the latest fall styles at Tsuga Boutique, and gather inspiration for your next garden project with Royal City Nursery’s landscape design and build services.
Open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.
Must Taste Items: Serendipity Handmade Cookies, locally made in Elora
5089 Wellington Road 32, Guelph
519.822.1070 | www.strom.ca
Get ready for fall as you wander through 9,000+ 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 themed corn maze, wagon rides, straw, tile and cedar maze, Dr. Stein and Frankie’s Science Lab (11:00 am and 1:30 pm), pedal carts, low ropes course, sand pile, pumpkin chuckin, human foosball and fire pits!
Open 9:30 am - 6:00 pm.
Must Taste Item: Haskap Butter Tarts
950 Woodlawn Road W, Guelph
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. Cheers!
Open 10:00 am - 7:00 pm.
Must Taste Item: Beer Flight
8755 Wellington Road 18, Belwood
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 free range eggs, a 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 Butter Tarts
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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