Plan a March Break Staycation in Elgin County!

Staying close to home this March Break? If so check out these ideas for an entertaining and educational staycation in Elgin County!  


Palmer's Maple Syrup Festival
Weekends in March
9 am - 3 pm
Palmer's Maple Syrup
34308 Lake Line, RR # 1, Port Stanley
519-769-2245

Enjoy a shanty tour, self-guided woods excursion, pioneer storyteller, log-sawing, and maple leaf branding! Taste some maple syrup and take a jog home to eat with pancakes!

Springwater Maple Syrup Festival
Weekends in March and everyday during March Break
Springwater Conservation Area
8079 Springwater Rd., Aylmer
519-773-9037
springwater@catfishcreek.ca
www.catfishcreek.ca 

Enjoy wagon rides through the Springwater Forest. Tour the old-fashioned sugar shanty for demonstrations on maple syrup production. Maple products are available for sale. Dine at the pancake house which is operated by local community organizations. 

Tundra Swan Line Open
 March 12th -  April 6th
Aylmer Wildlife Management Area
10594 Hacienda Road, Aylmer (beside Ontario Police College)
519-773-SWAN (7926) 

Between 10-16 thousand swans use the Aylmer Wildlife Management Area to refuel on their migration to the high Arctic Region between Alaska and Baffin Island. Birdwatchers from all over the province come to Aylmer to see this beautiful bird and wonder of nature that is right here in our backyard! The Aylmer Wildlife Management Area features trails, wildlife viewing stands, interpretative signs, brochures, and plenty of parking. Call the hotline for daily updates on the migration.

The Great Winter Thaw Adventure Passport
March 7 - April 15
Springwater Maple Syrup Festival, Tundra Swan Migration
http://www.aylmer.ca/index.php/FestivalsAndEvents/TheGreatWinterThawAdventure

Say goodbye to winter in true Canadian style as Springwater Conservation Area hosts it’s Annual Maple Syrup Festival and the Tundra Swans stop over at the Aylmer Wildlife Management Area! To win one of our Great Winter Thaw Adventure Prize Packs you must visit the Maple Syrup Festival and the Tundra Swans, punch your passport at each location, fill out the form fully (to qualify), and drop it off at either location! It’s that simple! So bring your friends, family, your appetite and your binoculars! This is the perfect way to celebrate a big part of Canadian history and view one of nature’s wonders!

Click here to download a copy of the passport. You can also pick up your copy at the Maple Syrup Festival, the Aylmer Wildlife Management Area, Mainstreet Aylmer Businesses, Aylmer Town Hall, or the Township of Malahide office.


Winter Tours of the HMCS Ojibwa in Port Burwell
March Break, Sat March 29 & Sun March 30
12-4pm
$18.50 - ages 13+, $11 - children 6-12
5159-633-7641
info@projectojibwa.ca
www.projectojibwa.ca

Savour the Flavour Culinary Boot Camp

March 10th - March 14th

The Arts & Cookery Bank

 242 Graham Road, West Lorne

 519-768-9986

 info@theartsandcookerybank.com

www.theartsandcookerybank.com

$100 (limited to 12 students)

A great experience for kids in grades 9 and up. This five-day boot camp uses a fresh approach to help young adults understand the food they eat, the landscape and the hands that grow the food. The boot camp creates a stronger awareness within the local community of the value and importance of Ontario’s local food economy. Campers will connect with local farmers, working with professional chefs and learn and practice culinary techniques that can be transferred to everyday use.

WEDS March Break Kids Camp
March 10th - March 14th
9am-4pm (before and after care available
 $200 per child (ages 7-12) includes week session and souvenir t-shirt
WEDS Theatre
199 Main Street, Dutton
226-236-6115
weds.ca@gmail.com
www.weds.ca/weds-kids/

At the West Elgin Dramatics Society’s March Break Kids Camp, participants will create a production from page to stage. Students will learn about all aspects of theatre including technical theatre, set design and construction, costume design, make-up technique, and acting. Week concludes with a performance on the WEDS stage. Registration closes Mar 1st; register by Feb 14th and receive a $50 discount. 



March Break Public Skating Sponsored by Eastlink
March 10, 12 & 14—9:00am to 11:00am 

March 11 & 13—11:30am to 1:30pm 
East Elgin Community Complex 
531 Talbot St. W, Aylmer 
(519) 773-5631




Meet the Art Emporium's Featured Artists
2nd Sunday of every month 
2-4pm
The Art Emporium
177 Main Street, Port Stanley
 226-658-1888
 www.artemporium.ca

Each month a few members of the Art Emporium Boathouse Gallery are selected as "Featured Artists". Each month, you can have the opportunity to meet them and view their work.
STEPAC Exhibition: Great Beginnings
February 22nd -  April 26th
Great Beginnings Elementary - Sat Feb 22nd to Sat Mar 22nd - Reception Feb 22nd, 1-3pm
Great Beginnings Secondary - Sat Mar 29th to Sat Apr 26th - Reception Mar 29th, 1-3pm
St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre
301 Talbot Street, St. Thomas
519-631-4040
 info@stepac.ca
 www.stepac.ca

Every other year the Art Centre hosts Great Beginnings, an exhibition comprised of work created by students in St. Thomas and Elgin County. This exhibition allows hundreds of students the opportunity to share their talent  and accomplishments with family, friends, teachers and the entire community. 

Elgin County Museum Exhibition: Treasures from the Vault
Jan 6th - Aug 30th
 Elgin County Museum
 450 Sunset Drive, St. Thomas
 519-631-1460 x159
 www.elgincounty.ca/museum

The Elgin County Museum highlights some of its best-known artifacts with a new show entitled Treasures from the Vault. The exhibit has something for everyone from kitchen gadgets to sports memorabilia. Among the “Treasures” is an 1898 Port Stanley life saving metal, the blue dress worn by Susan Paul to the Prince of Wales ball in 1860, an 1885 high wheel bicycle, trophies and ribbons from sportsmen Robert Emslie and Billy Devine and Col. Talbot’s chair. 

STEPAC Winter Art Classes & Workshops

March 10 - March 14
St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre
301 Talbot St, St. Thomas
519-631-4040
info@stepac.ca
 www.stepac.ca 
$35/day or $160/week

Ray's Reptiles for March Break
March 11
10 a.m. Belmont Library

11:30 a.m. Aylmer Old Town Hall Library

1:30 p.m. Port Stanley Library

3:30 p.m. John Kenneth Galbraith Reference Library, Dutton

www.elgincounty.ca/library

Ray's Reptiles will be bringing an assortment of arachnids, amphibians, turtles, tortoises, lizards and snakes for a close encounter over March Break.

March Break Fashion Week

March 10, 11, 13 & 14

2:00 p.m.

Aylmer Library 

48 John St. S., Aylmer

www.elgincounty.ca/library

Monday -  Hair (Curls & Braids) 10+

Tuesday - Fashion (Catwalk) 7+

Thursday - Jewellery/Makeup 7+

Friday - Nails 10+

All Day Lego

Aylmer Library

38 John St. S., Aylmer 

www.elgincounty.ca/library

We supply the Lego! 

Circuits, Electronics & Robotics

March 13

4:00 p.m.

Aylmer Library

38 John St. S., Aylmer

www.elgincounty.ca/library

Ages 12 - 14. 

Elgin County Trails

County- Wide

(519) 631-1460 ext. 168

www.elgintourist.com/tourism/adventure

Elgin County boasts over 100 km of trails winding through conservation areas and the countryside, and is well connected to the Trans Canada Trail. Welcome spring with a high through the County and take in the scenic beauty of "Carolinian Canada". Visit www.elgintourist.com/tourism/adventure to download a variety of hiking maps.