Fall is almost here, and there's a ton happening in Elora, Fergus and the surrounding areas!

Tune in as we give you a rundown of all the can't-miss events coming to Elora and Fergus in September 2025.  From antique cars to steampunk costumes, and goats to family fun, we've got your social calendar covered.

We'll also tell you about a few free events you can attend and give a special shout-out to the people and organizations who make these things happen. 

In this episode:

• Dates and details for the Antique Classic Car Show and the Cogs and Clockworks event. 
• A preview of the Fergus Fall Fair, including its focus on agriculture and family involvement. 
• Information on the "furry" and fairy-themed event, Enchant. 
• A special mention of the free family picnic day sponsored by local service clubs.

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Connect with us and listen to more episodes at eloraferguspodcast.com

Were you there for the 80th anniversary of the Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games?

Join us as we recap our experience at one of the biggest events of the year. We'll take you back to the Friday night Tattoo ceremony, where we celebrated the four pillars: pipes and drums, heavy events, dance, and heritage. 

We’ll also share highlights from our interviews with Outlander star Charles Vandervaart and former soccer player Steven Caldwell, and reveal what it was like to be at the incredible Bay City Rollers concert. 

Takeaways:

• A personal take on the 80th Fergus Scottish Festival, including a recap of the Friday night Tattoo ceremony and its historical traditions.
• Highlights from key interviews with Outlander star Charles Vandervaart and TSN sportscaster Steven Caldwell.
• An inside look at the excitement of the Bay City Rollers concert, which packed the Sportsplex with over 10,000 people.
• Recognition for Elizabeth Bender, the executive director, and the 400 volunteers who made the event possible. 

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Connect with us and listen to more episodes at eloraferguspodcast.com.

Why is a podcast a must-listen for anyone who loves Elora, Fergus and the surrounding communities? 

In our very first episode, we're pulling back the curtain to give you the inside scoop on our new show. Hosts Barbara Lustgarten-Evoy and Ryan Joyce explain how they’ll provide on-demand community information, behind-the-scenes insights, and local secrets. 

You’ll also get to know a little more about your hosts and how they are a reflection of the community. 

In our first episode:

• Discover the purpose of the Elora Fergus Podcast and its focus on on-demand community information for Fergus, Belwood, and the surrounding areas.

• Learn how the show is a perfect opportunity to get behind-the-scenes insights and sneak peeks into local events and hidden gems.

• Meet your hosts Barbara Lustgarten-Evoy and Ryan Joyce, and their deep-rooted connections to the community. 

• Find out why the podcast is designed to be short, informative, and evolve with listener input.

Subscribe to our podcast and tell a friend.

Connect with us and listen to more episodes at eloraferguspodcast.com.

Step right up—it’s almost fair time! 🍂🎡 The Fergus Fall Fair is back, celebrating 188 years of agriculture, community, and family fun.

In this special episode, Ryan and Barb sit down with Russell Gammon, one of the region’s most passionate voices in agriculture, to uncover why this fair is more than just rides and cotton candy—it’s a living tradition.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

• 🎃 The fascinating history of the Fergus Fall Fair dating back to 1837.

• 🐑 What makes this fair unique, from sheep-shearing demos to wildlife rescue showcases.

• 🌱 How 4-H builds leadership, confidence, and skills—and why it’s not just for farm kids.

• 🐄 The story of a celebrity cow named Vanilla (yes, really!).

• 🙌 The vital role of community volunteers who keep this 188-year-old tradition thriving.

Whether you’re a longtime fairgoer or planning your first visit, this episode will get you excited for one of Centre Wellington’s most beloved events.

👉 Don’t miss an episode—subscribe today and share your feedback with us at eloraferguspodcast.com.

Get ready for the biggest month of the year! This episode is your definitive guide to all the ghoulish fun happening for Monster Month in Elora and Fergus . 🎃

The month is packed with family fun: from the Monster Month kick-off at "The Awakening", Magic Show Matinee and Comedy Hypnosis to the thrilling Salem Frights hell ride, Pumpkin Day, Monster March and more!

Don't miss a single scare!

Here's a look at the events in October:

OCT 3: The Awakening!
OCT 4: Magic Festival – Family Magic Show Matinee: An Afternoon of Fun
OCT 4: Hilariously Hypnosis Comedy Show 
OCT 4, 11, 18, 25: Monster Tours
OCT 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 26, 31: Fergus House of Horrors!
OCT 11: Pumpkin Day
OCT 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 31, Nov 1: Salem Frights Haunted Attraction
OCT 18 & 19: Fall Festival – Artisan Market
OCT 18: Monster March!
OCT 18, 24, 25, 30: Fergus Ghost Walks
OCT 23: Candlelight Elora
OCT 24 & 25: Cemetery Tours
OCT 24 & 25: Murder Mystery at the Museum
OCT 25: Halloween Haunt Street Walk
OCT 25: Spooky Hive - All ages welcome
OCT 25: Halloween Drag with House of Kameleon
OCT 25: The Monster Mash
OCT 26: Mystic Sunday
OCT 30: Halloween Trivia Contest at the GrandWay
OCT 30: 'Lifting the Veil'
OCT 31: Hallow'Tots
OCT 31 & NOV 1: Beyond the Veil
NOV 1: Pumpkin Walk (Upcycle your Jack-O-Lantern)

Step into the world of spooky fun! Join us as we explore the magic behind Sensational Elora's Monster Month, from its monstrous origins to the community spirit that brings it to life.

This episode features an exclusive interview with Barbara Lee from Sensational Elora, the organization behind Monster Month. She explains how this month-long event celebrates all things Halloween and the "dark side with a sense of humour".

The episode also includes a rare, exclusive interview with a Monster from Monster Month.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The History of Monster Month: The tradition started when local artist Tim Burton began mounting creepy monsters on buildings downtown Elora, which eventually grew into the huge event it is today.
• The “Monster Spa”: The monsters are pulled out of storage in the summer for a “spa treatment,” where volunteers repair them.
• Key Events: Monster Month features a variety of activities, including the Awakening, Monster March, Pumpkin Day, and the Soup-Off.
• How to Get Involved: Sensational Elora, the non-profit organization that runs Monster Month, relies on volunteers and donations to support the events and raise money for the food bank. You can find volunteer, donation, and sponsorship opportunities on the Sensational Elora and Monster Month websites.

Don't miss a single episode—subscribe now and visit EloraFergusPodcast.com for more!

Get ready for a jam-packed episode! Elora Fergus Podcast hosts Barbara Lustgarten-Evoy and Ryan Joyce dive into a couple of major events coming to our community this week and next!

First, Barbara shares all the details about the inaugural Zehrs All Clubs Day—a unique new event uniting local service groups to combat food insecurity and bring our community closer together.

Then, Ryan takes us into the world of illusion as he talks about the fifth annual Ontario Magic Festival, celebrating our area's magical history with two incredible shows for both kids and adults

But that’s not all!

We also highlight the importance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and explore the incredible talent on display during the annual Elora Fergus Studio Tour.

Tune in to get the inside scoop on these can't-miss fall events and discover why this autumn is going to be especially magical.

Upcoming Events in Elora & Fergus

• Zehrs All Clubs Day

  • When: Saturday, September 27th
    

  • Where: Behind the Fergus Sportsplex

  • What: A free family event with food, games, face painting, and more, uniting community service clubs to help address food insecurity.

• Ontario Magic Festival

  • When: Saturday, October 4th

  • Where: Fergus Grand Theatre

  • What: Two shows featuring world-class magic: a family matinee at 2 p.m. and a hypnotic comedy show at 7:30 p.m.

  • Visit: https://magicfestival.ca

PLUS:

• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

  • When: Tuesday, September 30th

  • Where: Fergus Grand Theatre

  • What: An important evening of remembrance and learning, encouraging the community to wear orange in solidarity.

• Elora Fergus Studio Tour

  • When: September 27th & 28th and October 4th & 5th (10 a.m. - 5 p.m.)

  • Where: Various artist studios across Elora, Fergus, and the surrounding area

  • What: Meet local artists and explore their creative spaces.

  • Visit: https://elorafergusstudiotour.com 

What if you could walk straight into a fairytale? That’s exactly what Enchanta delivers right here in Centre Wellington—and this episode takes you behind the scenes of this one-of-a-kind experience.

Here’s what you’ll discover in this episode:

• 🌲 How Enchanta transforms the forest behind the Sportsplex into a glowing, multi-sensory fantasy realm.

• 🧚 The inspiring origin story—born out of lockdown as a way to bring imagination and wonder to life.

• 🎭 What’s new for 2024: two immersive paths, a kids’ zone with face painting and puppetry, and the “Scrolls of the In-Between” literary exhibit.

• 🎶 The epic weekend lineup of concerts, art installations, and performances from over 30 vendors and local artists.

• 💡 How the community can support Enchanta—through tickets, volunteering, and the new Zero Barriers program, ensuring everyone can join in the magic.
  
  

✨ Whether you’re a local or a first-time visitor, this festival is pure wonder you won’t want to miss.

👉 Subscribe to the Elora Fergus Podcast and share your thoughts with us at eloraferguspodcast.com

Step right up for the final terrifying ride! We chat with Darryl Magierowski, the mastermind behind Salem Frights, about 11 years of scares, the terrifying new "Hell Ride" attraction, and why this might be their last season!

Join Barbara Lustgarten-Evoy and Ryan Joyce as they welcome the creator of the legendary Salem Frights, Darryl Magierowski, to the podcast! Darryl pulls back the curtain on over a decade of dedication to frights and reveals the intense details of this year's haunted attraction—which might be the most intimate and terrifying experience yet!

In this spine-tingling episode, you'll hear about:

• 11 Years of Frights: The origin story of Salem Frights, including Darryl's childhood passion for building haunts and how he continuously experiments to enhance the scares.

• The Village of Salem: Stories from past haunts, including the famous "nun hallway" jump scare and the immersive "Village of Salem" theme.

• Introducing "Hell Ride": The new 10-minute dark ride experience for 2025, inspired by a "crazy laughing clown" and Coney Island freak shows, designed for small groups of four to maximize the terror.

• The Future of Fear: Darryl shares why this year's expanded, eight-night run might be the last season for Salem Frights due to the massive six-month time commitment.

• Your Chance to Win! Listeners can enter a ticket giveaway for two pairs of passes to experience "Hell Ride" for themselves.

Don't miss the inside scoop on the most terrifying attraction in Centre Wellington! Like and subscribe for your chance to win tickets!

The October 7th Centre Wellington Town Hall was a deeply passionate affair, highlighting the struggle between a "close-knit" community's concerns and the realities of immense tourism pressure.

We go inside the packed Jefferson Elora community hall, where residents gathered to confront polarizing issues like rapid growth and infrastructure strain. Mayor Shawn Watters addressed significant resident frustration and the surge in tourism.

The biggest news confirmed at the meeting? Reiterating the paid parking system for tourists to manage the impact of over 750,000 annual visitors.

Plus, we discuss the Mayor's biggest surprise and his call for "respectful dialogue".

Co-hosts Ryan Joyce and Barbara Lustgarten-Evoy (speaking independently of her Councillor role) break down how residents can best approach staff and council for education and understanding of the municipal process.

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Tim Murton, the acclaimed artist and "monster maker" behind Elora's legendary Monster Month. This annual event, which Murton started 28 years ago, has become a beloved tradition in Centre Wellington.

In this episode, we sit down with Tim right in the heart of downtown Elora, coffee in hand, to explore his journey from a sought-after scenic designer in the movie industry to the creative force behind our local Halloween spectacle .

• From Film to Monsters: Tim worked as a scenic designer for movies like The Piano and Resident Evil before starting his monster-making journey

• The Origin Story: His doctor advised him to do something "crude" for himself, which led to him creating his first ghouls and hanging them on his house.

• The Power of Creativity: Tim finds it "really refreshing" to be around the "plasticity of mind" of young, creative people . He believes Halloween gives everyone the license to be creative and express their fears and desires without judgment.

• Balancing Scary and Funny: The key to his monsters is a simple pattern of "scary faces" that also make people laugh. He views his art as a way to prepare people's spirits for the dark months of the year with a sense of humor .

• A Cultural Responsibility: Tim felt a responsibility to continue Monster Month after people knocked on his door asking for the monsters when he didn't put them up one year. His biggest fear is for the event to become too commercial.

• The Future of Monster Month: Tim hopes the event will become a "festival of creativity" that others who love and support it will continue for years to come.

All this and more! 

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