Looking for things to do near the Erin Fall Fair this Thanksgiving weekend? Make a full fall day or weekend of it with Elliott Tree Farm maple syrup, scenic countryside, local markets, arts, shopping and some of the prettiest small towns in Ontario.
The Erin Fall Fair returns October 9 to 12, 2026, bringing four days of agriculture, midway fun, entertainment, exhibits, animals and classic fall fair traditions to Erin, Ontario. Wellington County
But the fair is only the beginning.
Whether you’re visiting from Toronto and the GTA or exploring closer to home, Thanksgiving weekend is one of the best times of year for a road trip through Erin, Hillsburgh, Orangeville, Alton, Fergus and Elora.
And just a short drive from the Erin Fall Fair, you can experience another Canadian tradition at Elliott Tree Farm: Traditional Family Christmas Tree & Maple Sugar Shack Experiences.
Make Elliott Tree Farm Part of Your Thanksgiving Weekend
Located just north of Hillsburgh in the Town of Erin, approximately 15 minutes from Erin, Elliott Tree Farm offers an authentic farm experience surrounded by Christmas tree plantations, maple forest and beautiful Ontario countryside. Elliott Tree Farm
Visit Elliott Tree Farm at the Erin Fall Fair
While you’re at the Erin Fall Fair, be sure to stop by the Elliott Tree Farm booth and snap a photo!
Our festive photo area will be available throughout the fair, so you can stop by anytime for a fun Thanksgiving weekend photo.
Have questions about visiting the farm? Someone from Elliott Tree Farm will be at the booth to chat and help you plan your visit during the following times:
Saturday: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Monday: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Ask us about the Maple Syrup Farm Experience, Christmas Tree Experience, Santa’s Cabin Experience, or anything else you’d like to know about visiting the farm.
Even if no one is at the booth when you stop by, the photo area is always open, so come find us, take a picture and make Elliott Tree Farm part of your Erin Fall Fair weekend.
Experience a Canadian Maple Syrup Farm in the Fall
You don’t have to wait until spring to experience a maple syrup farm.
Elliott Tree Farm’s Maple Syrup Farm Experience & Tasting runs on Saturdays and Sundays through November 8, 2026, with tours offered at 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM. elliotttreefarm
The approximately 90-minute experience begins with a tasting flight of Elliott Tree Farm’s Golden, Amber and Dark pure maple syrup along with a pure maple sugar leaf.
From there, climb aboard the Maple Trolley for a ride through the Christmas tree plantations to the maple forest. You’ll explore the sugarbush, visit the sugar shack and learn how one of Canada’s most iconic foods goes from tree to bottle.
The experience also includes:
- A guided Maple Trolley farm tour
- A maple syrup tasting flight
- A visit to the sugarbush and sugar shack
- The Gathering of the Giants maple trees
- Admission to the Maple Syrup Museum of Ontario
- Maple taffy over ice
- Elliott Tree Farm’s signature waffle and ice cream sandwich topped with award-winning maple syrup
- Coffee or tea
- An official Maple Expert Certificate elliotttreefarm
It’s a great way to turn a trip to the Erin Fall Fair into a full Ontario fall experience.
Book the Maple Syrup Farm Experience & Tasting:
Book your maple experience at Elliott Tree Farm
Save $5 on the 2027 Maple Syrup Harvest Season
Your fall visit can also give you something to look forward to when the snow starts melting.
Elliott Tree Farm’s 2027 Maple Syrup Harvest Season runs on weekends from Family Day through April 4, 2027, with additional dates during March Break, Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Book your 2027 Maple Syrup Harvest Season experience before Christmas and save $5 per ticket. Click Here >
Harvest season is when the sugarbush really comes alive. Guests can enjoy all-you-can-eat pancakes with pure Ontario maple syrup, bacon and maple breakfast sausage before heading into the sugarbush to see maple production in action, taste maple at different stages and enjoy classic maple taffy on snow.
If your Thanksgiving visit has you falling in love with maple season, this is the perfect excuse to come back in 2027.
Start Your Day at the Orangeville Farmers’ Market
If you’re visiting on Saturday, October 10, start your morning in downtown Orangeville.
The Orangeville Farmers’ Market runs from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM beside Town Hall and features local produce, meats, prepared foods, baked goods, handmade products and more. The outdoor market continues through October 17, making Thanksgiving weekend one of the final outdoor market weekends of the season. Downtown Orangeville BIA
Grab a coffee, browse the market and take a walk along Broadway before heading into the countryside toward Hillsburgh and Erin.
Visit Alton Mill Arts Centre
Art lovers can add Alton Mill Arts Centre to their fall road trip.
Located in the historic village of Alton, the restored mill is home to artist studios, galleries, shops, a heritage museum and beautiful grounds along Shaw’s Creek. Shops and galleries are generally open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Alton Mill Arts Centre
The combination of historic stone buildings, art and fall scenery makes it an easy addition to a Thanksgiving weekend drive through Headwaters.
Stop at Hereward Farms
For another farm-based stop, visit Hereward Farms in East Garafraxa.
The sustainable lavender farm’s Lavender Lounge + Boutique is open year-round Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Stop for a coffee or lavender latte, browse farm-made skincare and home products, and enjoy a slower-paced stop in the countryside. Hereward Farms
The lavender and sunflower blooming seasons have finished by Thanksgiving, but the boutique and café make this a lovely fall shopping stop on a Saturday road trip.
Where to Eat Near Erin, Orangeville, Fergus and Elora
A fall road trip needs good food.
In Orangeville, Bluebird Café & Grill is located right on Broadway and serves scratch-made Italian-inspired dishes, pizza, pasta, seafood and grilled entrées. They’re open Tuesday through Saturday, so it’s a good option after visiting the Farmers’ Market or on your way home from the fair. Reservations are recommended. Bluebird Cafe
If your day takes you toward Fergus and Elora, stop at Breadalbane Inn in downtown Fergus. You can choose between the relaxed Fergusson Room Pub or Italian-inspired dining at Scozia. The inn is also only minutes from downtown Elora if you’re turning your Thanksgiving outing into an overnight getaway. Breadalbane Inn
Return to Elliott Tree Farm the Holiday Season
Thanksgiving weekend is one of the most beautiful times to explore Elliott Tree Farm, but just a few weeks later the farm transforms for Christmas.
The 2026 Christmas Tree Experience runs November 14 through December 23, with fresh-cut and cut-your-own Christmas trees, the Fieldstone Christmas Tree Cellar, Heritage Gift Barn, Maple Syrup Museum of Ontario, Horse Barn Canteen, bonfires, farm trails and plenty of nostalgic Christmas atmosphere. There is no general entrance or parking fee and no reservation is required for the Christmas Tree Experience. Elliott Tree Farm
Choose a fresh-cut Fraser Fir or Balsam Fir from the Fieldstone Christmas Tree Cellar, where trees are displayed open so you can see their shape before they’re wrapped to take home, or head into the fields to choose and cut your own tree.
It’s a completely different season at the same farm, and a great reason to return after your Thanksgiving visit.
Experience Santa’s Cabin This Christmas
Christmas tree purchasers also have another reason to visit.
The Santa’s Cabin Experience returns for five weekends from November 14 through December 13, 2026.
Guests purchasing a Christmas tree at Elliott Tree Farm receive a complimentary Golden Ticket for up to five people to experience Santa’s Cabin. Christmas tree purchasers do not need a reservation for their Golden Ticket visit.
The experience includes a journey aboard The Santa Express through Santa’s Enchanted Forest before arriving at Santa’s Cabin, plus Santa and Mrs. Claus and plenty of unique Christmas photo opportunities around the farm.
Not buying a Christmas tree this year? A limited number of paid tickets are available for November 14 and 15, November 21 and 22, and December 12 and 13. Individual tickets are $25, or families can purchase a bundle for up to five people for $115.
Book Santa’s Cabin:
Purchase Santa’s Cabin Experience tickets
Plan a Thanksgiving Weekend Road Trip Through Erin and Headwaters
The Erin Fall Fair may be the reason for your trip, but there is plenty to discover beyond the fairgrounds.
Spend the morning exploring a farmers’ market. Ride through the Christmas tree fields aboard the Maple Trolley. Taste pure Ontario maple syrup. Wander historic downtowns. Visit an art gallery or farm boutique. Enjoy Thanksgiving dinner in Fergus or Orangeville.
Then, when the Christmas trees are ready and the lights go up, come back and experience Elliott Tree Farm all over again.
This Thanksgiving weekend, make the drive more than a trip to the fair. Make it a fall tradition.
