Events

Every Saturday and Sunday from May 18 - September 8th from 11AM - 5PM!  You can hop on / hop off the free shuttle that runs throughout Elora and Fergus!  Park your car and ride the shuttle to all of the points of interest - and it's FREE!  Check out the map graphic below for the stops and times! A round trip would take an hour, but make a day of it and plan a day of it!  NEW bus stop at the front doors of the Elora Centre for the Arts!

Join Toronto artist Anne-Marie Olczak in the gallery for a session on finding inspiration, where creativity can come from, how a nugget of an idea can snowball into an exhibition and how layers and techniques play an important role in unraveling a creative story. The session will include an open discussion and audience sharing feedback and ideas - a creative time for seeking, asking, and creative support.

This event is free. No sign up required.

Jessica Sevier will kick off our Pavilion Summer Concert series!  Toronto's Jessica Sevier is a country music artist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist making waves with her latest single, a nostalgic country-rock tune, "Legends of Summer". Since her debut single "Ghost of Tom" in 2019, Sevier's music has been collectively streamed over 1 million times. Performing live has been a key part of growing her audience,and Sevier has shared the stage with artists including Jason McCoy and Tim and the Glory Boys, and has performed at music festivals and renowned venues including Whisky Jam in Nashville and the legendary Lee’s Palace in Toronto. Sevier has also showcased at Canadian Music Week each year since 2021.

(various dates and times, see below) Look out summer!  Mark your calendars for these 6 free concerts, taking place in the Pavilion in the yard at the Arts Centre this summer!  In support of emerging artists, and to encourage easy ways to connect to each other through performance, we are thrilled to launch this new series for you! Presented by our amazing community partners at Sorbara Group of Companies, Tribute Homes, and The County of Wellington, The Centre Wellington Community Foundation, and the Township of Centre Wellington's Tourism Marketing Fund. MV Real Estate Brokerage and Sleeman Breweries are also supporting our community BBQ picnics that are paired with the July 25 and September 5 concert dates.  Check out our events page for all the details about our BBQ picnics (you need to order ahead if you want to order a BBQ dinner on those dates). Scroll down for details!

Our second free concert in the series, we are thrilled to introduce you to The Tradition!  Come on out on a Sunday afternoon and enjoy some old-timey country music in the yard at the Elora Centre for the Arts!  The Tradition plays songs from the likes of Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Willie Nelson, and many other country music heroes.

The voice of Douglas Richard Sinclair ranges from sombre lows to moonshine highs. Sinclair performs alongside his hired guns on electric guitar, bass, and drums. The Tradition satisfies the soul’s search for sounds from a simpler time.

Picnic at the Pavilion in the yard at the Arts Centre!  Thursday July 25, 2024 from 5-9 PM Feast on a super-tasty BBQ chicken dinner with all the fixings, enjoy some live music and share a toast with your community! Note: The deadline to pre-purchase BBQ Chicken Dinners was July 18th. If you didn't pre-purchase your BBQ Chicken Dinner, a limited number will still be available at the Picnic on a first-come-first-served basis ($20 per person). LIVE MUSIC  |  CASH BAR  |  BRING YOUR OWN CHAIR OR BLANKET We are celebrating the soon-to-be-public expansion project starting soon at the Elora Centre for the Arts!   This event also features a FREE concert with local favourites Sara Rose & Geoff Canlett, as part of our Pavilion Summer Concert Series.

Our third concert in the Pavilion Summer Concert Series in the yard at the Elora Centre for the Arts is the talented Sara Rose & Geoff Canlett!  This free concert is open to everyone to attend!  It's also the night of our Picnic in the Pavilion event, however the deadline to place your orders for BBQ chicken dinners has closed. Sara Rose is a musician, singer and songwriter. She started playing guitar and singing at 10 years old and quickly found a passion in it. Sara has worked on several projects, such as her songs ‘Dancin’ and ‘If You Start A Fire,’ has been previously recognized in The Town of Orangeville’s Arts and Culture Awards with the Emerging Artist Award and Community Response Award with original song ‘Coming Home,’ and spent several years teaching guitar.

You are invited to welcome Newfoundland textile artist Anastasia Tiller to the gallery!  Learn a bit about her textile work that puts a fun and whimsical new spin on the traditional Newfoundland and Labrador art of rug hooking.  A lovely afternoon to connect with community and enjoy some East Coast inspired hospitality. Admission is free.  Drop in between 1- 4PM.

August 1 - 11, 2024  Summer Shakespeare Festival 2024 in Elora!   Elora Community Theatre presents Shakespeare's  'King Lear' and 'Much Ado About Nothing' on the pavilion stage in the yard at the Elora Centre for the Arts.  For show descriptions, please scroll down. Two theatre productions to choose from!  Or, why choose - plan to come to both!  Matinee and evening performances! Bring a chair or blanket. Tickets ADULT - $25 ($22.13 + HST) YOUTH - $15 (no HST) CHILDREN UNDER 12 - FREE

Our fourth free concert in the series - come enjoy an evening of music with Kyle Burton on the pavilion stage at the Arts Centre!  It will be an evening of folk-country-americana-rock style music of childhood and today!  Inspired by the music of the Eagles, The Band, James Taylor, the Tragically Hip, Tyler Childers, Zach Bryan and the Glorious Sons - it's sure to be a playlist you'll know and can sing along to. Kyle Burton has been playing guitar since he was 8 years old, and heavily influenced by his parent's music.  He spent a lot of time in the hardcore/metal scene in the early 2000's and started a hardcore band  for about 5 years.  At 25, he was drawn back to the folk-country-americana-rock style of his childhood.  He has been performing solo in the area ever since. ALSO HAPPENING!  A "reveal" of a new sculpture in the yard will also take place!  Join us as we unveil "Round & Around" - a moongate sculpture comprised of 101 salvaged bike rims.  Meet the artist, Jefferson Cooper, and take a photo under the archway!  The continuous flow of salvaged materials reminds us of the circular nature of life, and how together, we are greater than the sum of our parts.  It's also a visual reminder of the importance of cycling and getting out on the trails for our inner (and outer) health.    

Enjoy a Sunday afternoon in the yard of the Arts Centre, listening to the talented Woody Woodburn on the pavilion stage! From Mississauga, Woody cut his teeth on the Canadian music industry with his band in the mid 90's.  Drawn to the small town lifestyle of his roots in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, he now calls Rockwood Ontario home.  After many years struggling to find his place in the corporate world, he has now found a renewed passion and love for music - and it's more than Top 40.  The kind of melodies that linger in your head well after you've heard them.  Like listening to an old friend.  Woody is an unassuming, humble guy that will surprise you with his powerful voice.

Join the Riverside Ruggers in the gallery for a morning of rug hooking (or knitting, or any other textile project you are working on)!  Enjoy social time with other rug hooking and textile artists from the community, in the gallery at the Elora Centre for the Arts - currently featuring 'Symbiosis' by Newfoundland artist Anastasia Tiller.  Tiller's traditional and modern rug hooking creatures and whimsical art within the space will set the creative stage for self-guided bring-your-own-project time.

Looking for an easy weeknight dinner? Join us on Sept 5th for a BBQ and FREE Concert in the Arts Centre yard! On Thurs, Sept 5, from 6-9 pm, we’re hosting “The Art of Possibility” Community Kick-Off BBQ, and everyone’s invited! ⭐ FREE admission ⭐ Enjoy a FREE concert by Harry Lee Follon (part of our Pavilion Summer Concert Series), plus a cash bar, games, prizes and more! ⭐ For just $20, enjoy a BBQ chicken dinner with ALL the fixings (vegan, gluten-free and takeout options available) ⭐ Be there for the official launch of “The Art of Possibility” — our public fundraising campaign to support our exciting expansion! Pre-purchase your  dinner by FRIDAY, AUGUST 30th at 3 pm!!

Our final concert in the pavilion as part of our Summer Concert Series!  You won't want to miss the classic sound and memorable melodies of Harry Lee Follon on the stage!  And who doesn't love a fiddle and pedal steel!? With his thick grey beard and ubiquitous wide-brimmed hat, Harry Lee Follon looks like a man transplanted from a previous century. But that timeless image is the ideal reflection of his music—pure, honest songs that are as emotionally resonant in 2024 as they would have been in 1924.  His new album 'Uncle's Lament' was just released in June!  "The overall feeling while listening to Uncle's Lament is something close to sitting in a front parlour enjoying good friends playing music together" - Canadian Beats Follon's music is inspired by the likes of John Prine and Townes Van Zandt, although he says that he's also inspired by younger artists working in that tradition such as Jeffery Martin and Joe Pug, as well as fellow Canadians Spencer Burton and Zachary Lucky. And lucky you, this concert is also part of a BBQ Picnic at the Arts Centre - but you have to order meals ahead here.  Otherwise, just come and enjoy this free concert featuring the amazing Harry Lee Follon!

Opening Gala Reception: Thursday September 19, 2024  |   7 – 9 PM in the gallery at Elora Centre for the Arts

Meet and mingle with the artists of the Elora Fergus Studio Tour and members of our creative community – and get a sneak peak of their work on display in the gallery before the tour begins!  Refreshments and catered food will be served.

Free admission.  Everyone is welcome!

For more information about participating artists, please click here.

The Creativity Connection: How Art Contributes to Meaningful and Healthy Futures for Children with Disabilities and Developmental Differences Featuring Julia Hanigsberg, president & CEO of Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital — part of our new Vibrant Visions Speaker Series  Join us as we kick off a brand new speaker series, Vibrant Visions: Bridging Arts, Community & Wellness, in partnership with Aboyne Rural Hospice. This three-part series shines a light on creativity and the arts in health and wellness spaces — from enriching the lives of children with disabilities and caregivers to innovative approaches to end-of-life care.  Parents, educators, caregivers, clinicians, wellness professionals, youth and young adults with lived experience, and anyone interested in learning more about the power of art are welcome and encouraged to attend. 

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 2024 EVENT! - TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Riverfest Elora and Team Addy present:  A Concert with Addy-tude!

Join us for a special evening as Riverfest and Team Addy come together to present A Concert with Addy-tude—a fundraiser honoring the life and spirit of Addison (Addy) Hill. All proceeds will go to support sarcoma research at SickKids Hospital.

Addy’s journey, marked by her infectious positivity, sense of humor, resilience, and boundless heart, touched everyone who knew her. Although she lost her battle with Angiosarcoma on July 10, 2022, her legacy lives on through the dedication of Team Addy. Together, we’re turning our grief into a powerful and positive force, committed to continuing Addy’s fight against Sarcoma.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, October 5, 2024 (doors open at 3PM, Show runs 4:15 - 11PM)
Venue: MacDonald Pavilion, Elora Centre for the Arts
Address: 74 Melville St., Elora, ON

Come visit the gallery and meet Lakshmi Venkataraman, a local artist who will be demonstrating a captivating and interactive dance experience that weaves together Indian dance, stunning visual art, and expressive vocals followed by the enchanting art of henna!  Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in a celebration of culture and creativity! This is a free event, and part of Culture Days throughout the region.