WELLINGTON COUNTY – Looking for something to do between now and New Year’s Day that doesn’t break the bank?
Wellington County libraries are hosting a variety of family-friendly events, public rinks are open, local trails are waiting to be explored and you might even find a free performance at a local church.
CENTRE WELLINGTON
Free 50-minute public skates will be available at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex and the Jefferson Elora Community Centre.
At the sportsplex in Fergus:
– Dec. 20 from 2:30pm;
– Dec. 21 from 4:30pm;
– Dec. 22-24 from 1pm;
– Dec. 27 from 2:30pm;
– Dec. 28 from 4:30pm;
– Dec. 30-31 from 1pm;
– Jan. 2 from 1pm;
– Jan. 3 from 2:30pm; and
– Jan. 4 from 4:30pm.
At the community centre in Elora:
– Dec. 20 from 4pm;
– Dec. 21-24 from 1pm;
– Dec. 27 from 4pm;
– Dec. 28-31 from 1pm;
– Jan. 2 from 1pm;
– Jan. 3 from 4pm; and
– Jan. 4 from 1pm.
For hiking, Elora Gorge & Cataract Trailway, Trestle Bridge Trail, Cottontail Road Trail, Riverwalk (Fergus), Aboyne Trail, Royal Recreation Trail (North Route), and Sandy Hills Trails are available within the township.
Belwood Lake Conservation area also has trails and cross-country skiing.
FERGUS
At the Fergus library branch:
– Holiday themed stories, including How the Grinch Stole Christmas and T’was the night before Christmas, along with other activities for children aged one to nine are happening from 10:30am to 11am on Christmas Eve. Wearing pajamas and bringing a stuffed animal is encouraged.
– Make and Take, a holiday craft drop-in for ages three to nine starts at 11am and runs until 1:30pm Christmas Eve.
– Say goodbye to 2025 and hello to 2026 with a special New Year’s Eve family story time (for ages three to seven). Seats are limited, registration required: wellington.libnet.info/event/14673486.
Outdoor skating rinks might be available depending on weather and available volunteers. Check out:
– Tye Diamond (corner of St. David St. S. and Albert St. E., Fergus);
– Ryan Park (located at Ryan and Sadler Street);
– Kirvan Park (located at Kirvan Street off Farley Rd and Elliot Ave E); and
– Strathallen Park (located on Strathallen Street).
Unsupervised tobogganing is available until dusk within designated markings at Foote Park (12 Patrick Blvd.).
ELORA
At the Elora library branch:
– Make and Take, a craft drop-in to create New Year’s vision boards with supplies provided from Dec. 29 to Jan. 3. Hours vary, check wellington.libnet.info/event/14933995 or call 519-846-0190.
Outdoor skating rinks might be available depending on weather and available volunteers. Check out:
– Bissell Park (127 East Mill St., Elora)
– Jefferson Elora Community Centre (29 David St. W., Elora)
– Elora Meadows Park (located at Marr Drive and Stumpf Street); and
– South Ridge Park (located at Bridge and Stafford Street).
Unsupervised tobogganing is available until dusk within designated markings at Southridge Park (3323 Stafford St. East).
ABOYNE
At the Aboyne library branch, children can hunt for clues, solve puzzles and find Santa’s top-secret map in time to save the holidays at a “Gnomes in Toy World Escape Room”:
– Dec. 21, 1-5pm;
– Dec. 22-23, 10am-8pm;
– Christmas Eve, 10am- 2pm;
– Dec. 27, 10am-5pm;
– Dec. 28, 1-5pm; and
– Dec. 29-30, 10am-8pm.
Holiday themed stories and activities for children aged one to nine are happening at the branch from 10:30 to 11:15am on Dec. 22.
PUSLINCH
There will be free public skates at the Optimist Recreation Centre, directly beside the Puslinch Community Centre on Brock Road.
The rink will be open Dec. 22 to Jan. 4, with the exception of Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1.
Senior skating is from 10 to 11am, adult skating is from 11am to noon, and family skating is from noon to 5pm with the exception of Dec. 24 and Dec. 31, which end an hour earlier at 4pm.
The Puslinch library branch is hosting a “winter wonderland” make-and-take event, a festive craft drop-in, until Dec. 27. Library hours vary, check online: wellington.libnet.info/event/14745578 or call 519-763-8026.
The Puslinch Tract Conservation Area, Little Tract Hiking Trail, Starkey Hill Conservation Area, Arkell Spring Grounds and the Smith Property Loop offer fairly level walking loops for all.
ROCKWOOD
The Rockwood library branch is hosting:
– Colour me Calm, a festive colouring drop-in for ages nine to 18 on Dec. 20 from 1 to 3pm;
– Snowmageddon Scavenger Hunt for children ages three to nine on Dec. 22 from 10am to 8pm and Dec. 31 from 10am to 2pm; and
– Holiday-themed stories and activities for children ages one to five are happening from 10:30 to 11:30am on Dec. 22. Seats are limited and registration is required: wellington.libnet.info/event/14805759.
MARDEN
Free events at the Marden library branch include:
– Festive Songs and Stories (with the Baker’s Dozen) on Dec. 18 from 6 to 7:30pm. Festive story time and crafts runs from 6 to 6:30pm and singing runs from 6:30 to 7:30pm. Space is limited, register online at wellington.libnet.info/event/14975764.
– Bring-your-own knitting, cross-stich and fibre art for adults takes place Dec. 22 from 11am to noon.
ERIN
Low-cost and free public skates are available at municipal rinks in Erin and Hillsburgh.
Public skating is $3 for kids under 12, $4.50 for 13 and up, $3.75 for seniors 55 and up, and $12 for a family of up to four people.
At Centre 2000:
– Dec. 19, 4-5:30pm;
– Dec. 20, 12-1pm;
– Dec. 22-23, 1:30-2:30pm;
– Dec. 27 (free skate), 12 -1pm;
– Dec. 29-30,1:30-2:30pm;
– Jan. 9, 4-5:30pm; and
– Jan. 10, 12-1pm.
At Hillsburgh Arena:
– Dec. 21, 11am-12pm;
– Dec. 28, 11am-12pm.
– Jan. 4 (free skate) from 11am to 12pm; and
– Jan. 11 from 11am to 12pm.
HILLSBURGH
Free events at the Hillsburgh library include:
– A drop-in Family Story Time for children ages one to five runs Dec. 19 from 11 to 11:45am;
– Make and Take, a holiday craft drop-in for ages one to 13, Dec. 22-24, 10am-7pm.
– Make and Take, a New Year’s craft drop-in for ages 1 to 18, Dec. 27, 10am-3pm; Dec. 29, 10am-5pm; Dec. 30, 10am-8pm; and Dec. 31, 10am -2pm.
– Bring-your-own knitting, cross-stitch and fibre art for adults takes place Dec. 29, 2-4pm.
MAPLETON
Low-cost skating at Drayton’s PMD arena is available:
– Public skating Mondays from 4 to 5pm and Saturdays from 7 to 8pm ($4/person, $12.50/family);
– Parent and tot skating from 11am to 12pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays ($4/person, preschoolers free);
– Stick-and-puck on Saturdays from 8 to 9pm ($4/person); and
– Adult skating on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 12 to 1pm ($4/person).
Santa Claus will be spending the day in Alma on Dec. 21. He’ll be at the Alma Community Centre from 8:30 to 10:30am, where the community is invited to enjoy breakfast. At 2pm is the annual Alma Santa Claus Parade, beginning at the community centre.
Drop in at the Drayton library between Dec. 22 and Jan. 2 to create “cozy holiday creations,” with all supplies provided. Library hours vary, check online or call 519-638-3788.
The Drayton library is holding holiday-themed “Fireside Stories,” Dec. 22, 10:30-11:15am, for children ages one to five. Kids are encouraged to wear holiday pyjamas.
On Dec. 22 there will also be a screening of Frozen from 1:30 to 3:15pm. Popcorn will be provided, and people are encouraged to bring their own blanket.
Frozen 2 will be screened at the same time on Dec. 29.
Tweens and teens (nine to 18 years old) are invited to the library on Dec. 30 for a Teen Cafe from 3:45 to 4:45, to hangout with other teens.
For those looking to get out for a hike over the holidays, Mapleton has: the Drayton Walking Trail, the Fleming Tract, the Moorefield Community Centre Trail, the Ritch Tract, the Riverside Walking Trail, the Kissing Bridge Trailway, and the Wallace Cumming Park Trail.
WELLINGTON NORTH
Free public skates are offered at the Mount Forest and District Sports Complex and the Arthur and Area Community Centre:
– Fridays, 4:30-6pm in Arthur;
– Saturdays, 12-1:30 in Mount Forest;
– Sundays, 12-1:30 in Arthur;
– Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10-11am in Mount Forest and Arthur (for older adults);
– Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 11am-12pm in Mount Forest and Arthur (for parents and tots);
– Tuesday and Thursdays, 3:30-5pm in Arthur (stick-and-puck for 12 and up); and
– Youth shinny, 6:30-7:30pm on Monday, Tuesdays and Wednesdays for $5 a session.
Full hockey gear is required and change rooms open at 6:10pm. Monday evenings in Mount Forest are for 12 and under, Tuesday evenings in Mount Forest are for 13 plus, Monday evenings in Arthur are for 10 to 12 year olds and Wednesday evenings in Arthur are for seven to nine year olds.
Over the holidays there will be additional free public skates at both arenas on Dec. 22, 23, 29, 30 and 31 from 12 to 1:30pm.
The arenas will be closed on Dec. 25 and 26 and Jan. 1.
The Wellington North Community Choir will be performing Go Sing it on the Mountain at the Mount Forest United Church on Dec. 21 at 2:30pm and at St. John’s Roman Catholic Church in Arthur on Dec. 22 at 7:30pm.
Both are free with donations going to support local food banks.
Library branches in Wellington North have special programming over the holidays.
In Arthur, there will be family story time for babies, toddlers and preschoolers Dec 19, 10:30-11am and crafting for teens and adults Dec. 20, 1-2pm, where participants will create gnome pom-pom ornaments.
In Mount Forest there will be a special New Years Eve family story time on Dec. 31 from 11am to 12pm including a “countdown to noon year” for toddlers and children from one to nine years old.
For hikes, check out: the Saugeen Trail in Mount Forest, the River Trail in Arthur and the West Luther Trail in Arthur.
PALMERSTON
Free skates at the Palmerston arena run Dec. 22, 23, 27, 29, 30, 31 and Jan. 2 from 12:15 to 1:30pm, with the exception of Dec. 27, from 4:30 to 5:54pm.
Shinny runs Dec. 22, 23, 29, 30, Jan. 2 (9 to 11am) and Dec. 24 and 31 (8 to 10am).
Those 16 and under can practice their hockey skills for free on Thursdays with stick-and-puck sessions from 4 to 5 pm.
Regular rink schedules resume the second week of January.
The Palmerston library branch is hosting a scavenger hunt Dec. 22 throughout the day from 10am to 5pm; and showing the movie Arthur Christmas from 2 to 3:30pm.
On Dec. 23, from 2 to 3:30pm, the movie The Muppet Christmas Carol is showing there.
For hiking, White’s Junction Trail is located off Inkerman Street in Palmerston.
HARRISTON
Free skates at the Harriston Arena run Dec. 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, and Jan. 2 from 11 to 12:15pm.
Skating on Sundays from 3 to 4:15pm is also free.
Shinny runs Dec. 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, Jan. 2 from 9 to 11am.
Those 16 and under can practice their hockey skills for free on Mondays with stick-and-puck sessions from 4 to 5 pm.
Regular rink schedules resume the second week of January.
The Harriston United Church has a Christmas Candlelight Cantata Dec. 21 from 7:30 to 8:30pm. Guests will experience The Ballad of Bethlehem and a compilation of music by composer Pepper Choplin.
Holiday-themed stories and activities for children aged one to five are happening at the Harriston library branch from 10:30am to 11am Dec. 22.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is showing from 2 to 3:20pm – popcorn provided – on Dec. 23.
For hiking, Harriston Greenway Trail links six parks, several rail lines and the Maitland River.
CLIFFORD
The Clifford library branch is hosting “Make and Take,” a festive craft drop-in for all ages, on Dec. 19 from 10am to 5pm; Dec. 20 from 10am to 3pm; and Dec. 23 from 10am to 8pm.
Also at the Clifford branch on Dec. 19 is a holiday-themed book club, exploring festive seasonal tales, from 1 to 2pm. Seats are limited, register online at wellington.libnet.info/event/14933806.
For hiking, the Clifford Trail system, starting at Rotary Park across from the arena and fire hall, consists of three loops, the Rotary Park Loop, the Regrowth Loop and the Rail Line Loop.
