Hometown Harvest Festival
Celebrate the abundance of the fall season at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons! Experience the beauty of the harvest with live music, line dancing, and family-friendly activities. Meet our own friendly heritage animals as well as some of their furry friends! Support talented artisans at our vendor market, featuring only hand-made items. And more!
Festival Dates and times:
- Saturday, October 10 to Monday, October 12, 2026
- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets:
- $15 a person, taxes included – children 5 and under are free
- free entry for Indigenous persons with valid ID
- a support person accompanying a paying customer with disabilities gets in for free
- free entry to members of the Canadian Armed Forces with valid ID
- season passes are valid for this event
Thanksgiving meal:
- Add to your event experience by booking a holiday meal with turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and all the trimmings
- Book your 2 or 5 p.m. meal with your event tickets! Or call Restaurant Sainte-Marie to book a 6:30 p.m. seating on Saturday or Sunday.
Friendly farm animals
Our heritage cows, pigs and chickens will be joined by some additional furry friends throughout the Hometown Harvest Festival!
Meet Bennett the miniature donkey (here Sunday and Monday), Bella the miniature horse, and a small herd of Nigerian Dwarf Goats.
Meet the animals: For a hands-on experience, book a $5 barn tour, available daily at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Line dancing
Join this beginner-friendly line dancing workshop, included with your admission!
Learn some fun country moves in a welcoming atmosphere. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or stepping onto the dance floor for the first time, all are welcome to boot scoot the afternoon away during this lively, high-energy session.
Saturday and Sunday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. only. Led by fan favourite instructors Boots at the Bay!
Live music
Each date of the Hometown Harvest Festival features live music in the courtyard!
Saturday: Madison Mueller is a rising singer-songwriter whose heartfelt, authentic music resonates with listeners around the world.
Sunday: Geneviève Cyr is a Barrie-based singer whose versatile repertoire and stage presence have made her a standout performer at venues across Ontario.
Monday: Russ Clayton gets toes tapping! Kids love reaching into his big bin of instruments and joining the fun. Grown-ups love his cover tunes.
All-day heritage activities
Taste Three Sisters soup: Try a yummy fall harvest soup in our cookhouse, made with essential Wendat crops: corn, beans and squash.
Make candles: Use the traditional dip method to make wax candles to take home!
Play games: Play a friendly round of cornhole and ring toss. Try corn darts, a First Nations twist on your favourite pub game. Or beat your loved ones at a friendly game of giant checkers or giant tic tac toe. See how fast you can throw a ball with a lacrosse stick with our speed net.
Roast bannock: Roast our homemade bannock on a stick over a fire and dip it in syrup for a warm and gooey treat.
Try delicious teas: Warm up by sipping delicious teas in the cookhouse, including a tea made with fresh mint from our gardens.
Complete a family scavenger hunt: Ready to scour our outdoor historic site for interesting objects? Have fun exploring the past! Or see if you can track down our escaped bouncy animals, hidden across the historic site.
Image gallery:
Please click each image below to see a larger version.
Are you an artisan or food vendor?
Join a roster of talented vendors selling one-of-a-kind handmade, hand-crafter products, farmers produce, etc. at this well-established artisan market. Apply for a spot today!
Notice: Beware of Scams
We would like to remind everyone to stay vigilant against scam attempts targeting vendors. Individuals may impersonate our events to request payments or personal information. Please note that we do not request payments outside of our official channels, all our email communica
Please be advised that with the exception of service animals, pets are not allowed on the historic site for this event.
- Season pass holders get free admission. Indigenous people are eligible for free admission with valid ID.
- Restaurant Sainte-Marie is now open daily serving delicious food from Sainte-Marie’s gorgeous patio.
- Please note this experience takes place mostly outdoors and, visitors should plan to dress accordingly for weather, terrain and bugs.
- Most of the vendors will not have the ability to accept credit or debit card payments and will only accept cash payments. There is no ATM on site.
- Smoking or vaping (including marijuana) is not permitted on the property.
16164 Highway 12 East, Midland, ON, L4R 4K8
Parking Info
There is ample parking for visitors including those with RVs and buses. Please park in the parking lot provided and make your way to the admissions entrance. We also have bike racks available for cyclists coming from the Tay Trail.
Need more info?
Please contact us at hhp@ontario.ca or (705) 526-7838 if you have any questions.
Ontario’s first European Community, Sainte-Marie among the Hurons was the headquarters for the French Jesuit Mission to the Huron-Wendat people. In 1639, the Jesuits, along with French lay workers, began construction of a fenced community that included barracks, a church, workshops, residences, and a sheltered area for Indigenous visitors. This community was abandoned and burned down in 1649.
After extensive archaeological and historical research, Sainte-Marie among the Hurons is now recreated on its original site, where the mission’s compelling story is brought to life with costumed historical interpreters, demonstrations and hands-on activities.
Located near Midland, on the Wye River, this world-renowned reconstruction offers visitors a unique opportunity to see the earliest Canadian pioneer life through self-guided visits, group tours, interactive education programs, and special events. Complete your experience by exploring our interpretive museum and themed gift shop.
