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Highlighting farm and food experiences, and fall foods in Wellington County and Guelph!
Taste Real Fall Rural Romp
When: September 30, 2023, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Farm Visits - Tours - Kids Activities - Pumpkins - Corn Mazes - Harvest Foods - Fall Decorations and more!
The Fall Rural Romp is a self-guided farm and food tour to farms, markets and nurseries in Centre Wellington, Erin, Guelph/Eramosa, Puslinch and the City of Guelph.
Meet our taste makers, learn about local food and agriculture and discover local food destinations in Wellington County.
Please note: some locations require a cost/admission fee to access certain activities.
Participating Locations Treasure Hunt Contest Romp Trip Tips
Join us the next day, October 1, for Feast On the Farm: Wellington County at Thatcher Farms!Learn more here
Fall Romp Destinations
*Printed romp maps can be picked up at any participating location.
4TH LINE CATTLE CO.
5682 4th Line, Hillsburgh
T 519.766.6079 | www.4thlinecattleco.ca
Come out and experience the rolling hills of 4th Line Cattle Co., and visit the beautiful Texas longhorn and Hereford cattle that are raised right here on the farm. Built on the idea that food is best when fresh, farm to fork encourages people to swap over processed, modified foods for local, natural and unaltered produce, dairy and meats. At 4th Line Cattle Co., we embrace the farm to fork movement and love the personal relationships you build buying and supporting local. We take pride in producing delicious pasture raised meat that you will love without sacrificing anything for better health. Check out our on-site farm store, and learn about our regenerative approach, and the love we have for this land!
Must Have Item: All beef burger or heritage pork chop
ABERFOYLE FARMERS' MARKET
23 Brock Road South, Puslinch
T 226.807.5236 | www.afma.ca
Acclaimed as one of Canada's best Farmers' Markets, the Aberfoyle Farmers' Market is a friendly, local farmer and producer-focused market. Experience the unique market vibe for yourself on Rural Romp Day! The market is fully accessible with free parking and is open from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm.
Must Taste Item: Decadent maple cream from Mast Farms, made with only one ingredient - pure maple syrup.
ALL IN ALPACAS
5811 Sixth Line, Rockwood
T 519.212.1695 | www.allinalpacas.com
Alpacas are popular for good reason. These social animals are curious and quirky and will eat right out of your hand! They're also incredibly photogenic and enjoy taking selfies, so don't forget your camera. Personality and looks aside, they're raised for their luxurious fiber that is custom milled in Canada. Check out our farm store for a selection of premium alpaca products, including socks, scarves, hats, shawls and more!
Unique Item: Hand knit alpaca socks
BLACK POWDER BISON COMPANY
7110 Middlebrook Road, Elora
T 519.501.7130 | www.blackpowderbison.com
Black Powder Bison Company is a 28-acre Bison farm, specializing in raising natural, 100% grass-fed bison herds. Visit during the Rural Romp to see for yourself a bison herd grazing in the field - you may even catch a glimpse of a baby calf! Be sure to stop into the farm store for a selection of grass-fed bison products, or take a tour of the farm to learn more about what running a Bison farm is all about!
Must Have Item: Bison burger
CALEHILL FARMS
9319 Erin-East Garafraxa Townline, Orton
T 519.820.1337 | www.calehillfarms.ca
Welcome to Calehill Farms! Our doors will be open to learn about how we raise our meat chickens, laying hens and beef calves. Our freezers will be full of chicken and beef raised right here on our farm. Take this opportunity to see how we raise our animals and bring your questions!
Must Have Item: Gluten free chicken burgers or sausages
COX CREEK CELLARS
7687 Wellington Road 22, Guelph
T 519.767.3253 | www.coxcreekcellars.com
Visit Guelph/Eramosa's not so secret, hidden gem! Cox Creek Cellars, family-owned and operated for 25 years, produces Ontario Grape and Fruit Wines, as well as Craft Cider designed to delight your taste buds. Sip on a glass of your favourite wine or cider, or enjoy a full wine tasting experience in our comfortable Muskoka chairs. Premium wine and chocolate pairings, as well as charcuterie boards are also available.
Must Taste Item: "Feel Free" Premium Sparkling Rose De-Alcoholized Wine
DIXON'S DISTILLED SPIRITS
355 Elmira Road North - Unit 106, Guelph
T 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, we use the finest locally-grown ingredients to produce our premium lineup of wicked smooth, small-batch spirits. Enjoy samples and cocktails, and a first-hand look at the distilling process. Plus, talk to our distillers on how it's made!
Must Taste Items: Wicked Blueberry Gin, Gin Fusion Mule or Trickle Down Rye
ELORA FARMERS' MARKET
127 East Mill Street, Elora (Bissel Park)
T 226.821.5536 | www.elorafarmersmarket.ca
Spend the morning in beautiful Bissel Park and enjoy a breakfast while listening to live music. Participate in a food demo, and pick up great local produce and prepared foods. Jump on a free horse-drawn wagon ride through Elora's old village–food bank donations are welcome (cash or non-perishable goods). The market is open from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm.
Must Have Item: Fall produce
ERIN HILL ACRES
5837 3 Line, Hillsburgh
T 519.806.7273 | erinhillacres.farm
Fast becoming one of the province’s favourite farm experiences, Erin Hill Acres is a 90-acre lavender and agri-tourism family farm that specializes in everything FRESH - fresh products and fresh air experiences. Walk the picturesque trails, visit the animals, grab a pumpkin, go on a wagon ride, and explore the many photo set-ups. Shop the renovated 1800’s barn retail space for a curated mix of products including farm fresh honey, lavender products, décor and gifts. The barn kitchen dishes out delicious baked goods, sandwiches, fresh lemonade and more! Enjoy wood-fired pizzas straight from the oven, and lavender lemonde during Romp Day. Enjoy live music by Wellington County's own Taylor Moore from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Come discover all that Erin Hill Acres has to offer!
Special Rural Romp admission rate for advance booking (available online only).
Pre-book your admission online and save
Please note: admission fee is not required to visit the retail shop or participate in the Rural Romp treasure hunt.
Must Taste Items: Spicy salami, arugula and farm fresh honey wood fired Pizza, paired with Lavender Lemonade
EVER SMILES GARDENS
0069 Sideroad 18, Fergus
T 519.787.7643 | www.facebook.com/eversmilesgardens
Welcome to our urban farm, Ever Smiles Gardens. We are proud to be homegrown and handcrafted. Wander our two acres of gardens, greenhouses, and short walking trail. Roast marshmallows over a bonfire and enjoy a glass of fresh herbal infused water. Visit our bee yard, rabbits, and laying hens. Our seasonal produce, raw honey, small batch artisan soaps, bath bombs and soy candles, as well as beeswax wraps, are all chemical free and will be available for purchase.
Must Have Item: Small batch artisan soaps
THE FIELDSTONE BARN
7450 Middlebrook Road, Elora
T 416.892.6775 | www.thefieldstonebarn.com
Fall is a wonderful time to visit our historic stone barn and flower farm! We are known for the many varieties of sunflowers we grow in season as well as our overnight glamping stays. Enjoy tasting our freshly bottled sunflower honey–it is a must-try! Our farm store will be open, and pumpkins may be ready for harvesting–we planted over ten varieties this year. While visiting, challenge yourself in our corn mazes and say hello to our three resident alpacas.
Must Taste Item: Sunflower honey
THE GREEN LEGACY TREE NURSERY
6714 Wellington Road 34, Puslinch
T 519.400.3040 | www.greenlegacy.ca
Visit the County of Wellington Green Legacy tree nursery and pick up a free tree! Join us for refreshments, explore the nursery, tour the greenhouses, go on a nature hike and try your hand at transplanting a tree! Learn more about 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.
Unique Item: Tree seedlings
GUELPH FARMERS' MARKET
2 Gordon Street, Guelph
T 519.831.0540 | 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 on Saturday from 8:00 am - 1:00 pm.
Must Taste Item: Squeaky cheese curds from Sweet Cheeses
HARMONY MEADOWS ALPACA
6185 6th Line, Belwood
T 519.827.0939 | www.harmonymeadowsalpaca.ca
Our Alpacas are looking forward to meeting you! Visit our farm to learn all about Alpacas, and the many uses of alpaca fibre; browse the farm store where you can find beautiful alpaca products and local foods. Make sure to bring your camera to take some fun selfies with our alpacas!
Unique Item: Visit and feed the alpacas
HEARTWOOD FARM AND CIDERY
5438 2nd Line, Acton
T 226.979.7860 | www.heartwoodfarm.ca
Visit our diverse 42-acre ecosystem of mixed pasture, fruit and nut orchards, and woods and wetlands, to reconnect to the simple wonders that surround us. Taste some ciders on our woodland patio, meet livestock in the pasture, and learn how our farming practices help to regenerate the landscape creating a vibrant ecosystem around us. Watch our cider press in action turning apples into juice, and take home products from our farm store.
Must Taste Item: Farm-crafted cider
JOE'S HOME FARM AND GREENHOUSES
6866 Wellington Road 16, Belwood
T 416.562.4170 | www.joeshomefarm.ca
Visit our serene little family farm just north of Belwood Lake. Enjoy a peaceful and informative walk with us to see our small-scale, all-natural farm operations. Shop our farm store for pasture-raised chicken, produce, gifts, and more! Our farm offers kids play zones, animals, picturesque scenery, an apple orchard, friendly service and real, local, natural food. Be sure to stock up on fall produce and decorations. Dogs and cats on premises. Holiday turkeys available for order.
Must Have Item: Farm fresh chicken, GMO free grain fed, hormone and antibiotic free
MAJESTIC WATER BUFFALO
6003 1 Line, Orton
T 519.994.0853 | www.majesticwaterbuffalo.ca
Visit Majestic Water Buffalo to meet the buffalo in-person and see what other furry or feathered friends might be on hand to say hi. Chat with us to learn about the farm, our animals, and find out why water buffalo meat is an easy, healthy choice to add to your weekly menu. Chef Scott Yates will be on-site with some delicious water buffalo inspired foods. Visit our farm store and see what our neighboring farms have brought to showcase to you. Don’t forget your cooler!
Must Taste Item: Chef prepared water buffalo meat sampler
NEW HOPE APIARY
6079 1 Line, Orton
T 519.830.5530 | newhopeapiary.square.site
Come by to meet the beekeeper and learn all about honeybees and pollinators. There will be crafts and face painting on-site, as well as a musical guest appearance in the afternoon. Be sure to pack a bag and stock up on locally harvested honey, candles, and assortment of other cute gift items!
Must Have Items: Honey and beeswax products
SALAD DAYS FARM
6794 Sixth Line, Belwood
T 416.770.1056 | www.saladdaysfarm.ca
Visit Salad Days Farm and tour our production fields where we grow over 30 types of organic vegetables. Shop our farm store for fresh organic produce, local pasture-raised meats, artisanal dairy, honey, preserves, pies and more! Don't forget to pick up a bag of our famous Salad Mix.
Must Taste Item: Organic carrots
SPRING MILL DISTILLERY
43 Arthur Street South, Guelph
T 226.780.2215 | www.springmilldistillery.com
Enjoy great spirits and local food beside the warmth of our wood burning fireplace in the Ward Bar. Our carefully crafted menu captures the flavours of the season, offering fresh, local options put together specially to complement our premium spirits. Serving classics and signature cocktails, we have options for every taste. Historically, the original Allan’s Mill was close to a tavern called Dellemere. It operated in the 1830s, hosting locals and serving the working folk of the community. We’re honouring this history of hospitality by naming our signature cocktail The Dellemere.
Must Taste Item: The Dellemere cocktail
STROM'S FARM AND BAKERY
5089 Wellington Road 32, Guelph
T 519.822.1070 | www.strom.ca
Get ready for fall as you wander through 6,000+ pumpkins outside our market. Hungry? Step inside for our famous butter tarts made without corn syrup, pumpkin pie and seasonal goodies. Looking for more adventure? Experience our Harvest Fun Area (admission fee) with our six acre Food4Kids Guelph themed corn maze, tile, rope, cedar and straw mazes, wagon rides, pedal carts, puppet shows, sand pile, pumpkin chuckin', human foosball, and fire pits! Harvest Fun Starts Here!
Must Taste Item: Haskap butter tart
WELLINGTON BREWERY
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, we are creatively transforming Ontario's brewing culture to stand for people and planet. Join us for brewery tours on Saturday at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm ($10.00 per person or $15.00 with a pint), and try our award-winning beers carefully paired with delectable food in our taproom. Cheers!
Must Taste Item: Special Pale Ale (SPA)
Fall Rural Romp Treasure Hunt
How to Participate:
- Visit a Fall Rural Romp location on Saturday, September 30
- 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 to submit your answer to the trivia question online
- 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.
| Contest Terms and Conditions |
|
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 at ecdev@wellington.ca. 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 30, 2023 at 12:00am until Saturday, September 30, 2023 at 11:59pm. The winners will be notified by October 28, 2023. ELIGIBILITY The Contest is open to all legal residents of Canada who: (i) are eighteen (18) years of age or older as of the date of entering the Contest; (ii) are not employees, representatives and agents of the County of Wellington. Members of the immediate family, representatives and agents (parents, children, siblings and spouse, regardless of where they live in Canada) and household of such employees may participate but are not eligible to win. (iii) have agreed to comply with 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 (iv) have read and accepted and agreed to comply with these Rules.
PRIZE Three $100.00 gift certificates to Taste Real partner businesses. On or about October 28, 2023 at 12:00 pm ET, in the County of Wellington, in the Province of Ontario, the three winning entries will be selected from all entries received. The contestants who owns the selected entries, and who are otherwise eligible to win, will be the selected contestants who is eligible to win the prizes 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 the email and/or phone number by the contest sponsors within ten (10) days following the selection of winners on October 28, 2023. b. Meet all Contest eligibility criteria and otherwise complying 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 October 28, 2023. 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
PRIVACY By entering the Contest, 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. |
Romp Trip Tips
- Bring a cooler. Keep the food you purchase along the romp fresh and safe.
- Bring cash. Many locations don't accept debit or credit.
- Leave your pets at home. Many farms do not allow pets on their property.
- Wear proper clothing. There are places where you will have the chance to get dirty so dress appropriately.
- Bring an umbrella! The event occurs rain or shine so bring plenty of layers and a raincoat.
- Bring your camera, take photos and post with #RuralRomp #tastereal
- Pick up a map. Download and bring the Rural Romp map or pick one up at any of the Rural Romp destinations. Directional signage is located along the Romp to help you find your way.
Learn what the Taste Real Rural Romps are all about in the below video.
Local Food Map
Finding locally grown food in Guelph and Wellington County is becoming easier every day. It's being served up at farm stores, farmers' markets, restaurants, retail stores, and at community events. Look out for the Taste Real brand to identify food from our region.
The Guelph Wellington Local Food Map is our community's guide to farms, markets, retailers, restaurants, breweries, and other businesses that feature food grown in Guelph and Wellington County. This year-round guide can be picked up at Guelph and Wellington County libraries, tourism outlets, and select retail and business locations and all participating locations, or request a hard copy to be mailed right to your door!
Request a hard copy of the Local Food Map
