Whether you prefer to discover treasures, trails, or tasty delights,
St. Marys has something for everyone. Immerse yourself in the small town
experience with a visit to a local café, or ask about the stories behind
some of the architectural delights: the old post office, a former creamery,
an Opera house, and a Victorian mansion, now one of Ontario’s finest
inns.
From designer desserts made by a Swiss chocolatier, to hand made candles,
unique floral arrangements, and reborn doll kits, historic downtown St.
Marys has something for everyone. Find interesting garden items
at one of the oldest buildings in St. Marys. The serious crafter will
find sewing, scrapbooking, and sculpting supplies, as well as creative
toys and kits for all ages. Browse through over 150 different artisan
crafts, or search for unique giftware, home décor and one of a kind items
for every season. Pick up some maple products and home baking at the
local farm store. St. Marys Downtown Merchants offer sidewalk sales during
the Heritage Festival on July 8-9th, and an annual Christmas
Open House on November 27th. Drive into the
surrounding countryside and find a studio devoted to turning lumber from
forgotten structures into
wooden treasures, and the only store on earth that offers exclusively
Canadian music CDs.
Crafters and hobbyists will find a wide selection of art, crafting,
sewing, quilting and doll making supplies in downtown St. Marys, while
art lovers will appreciate the work of local visual artists which will
be hanging in downtown storefront windows.
Timothy Eaton – founder of the Eaton legacy – opened his
first store in Kirkton, just outside St. Marys. Today, Eatons’ artefacts
are on display in his former store on Queen St. in St. Marys (now Village
Craft and Candle). Guided tours in the summer chronicle the architectural
history of the aptly named ‘Stonetown’, and its past is celebrated
each July at the Stonetown
Heritage Festival. The
Canadian Baseball Hall of fame, housed in an Ontario Cottage, is
a great stop for sports fans. Learn more about the stonework and historic
buildings of St. Marys at the St.
Marys Museum. Deep, cool, and refreshing; a visit to St. Marys in
the heat of summer is not complete without a dip in Canada’s largest
natural swimming pool, the St. Marys Quarry. For more information
on the area, visit www.stmarysmuseum.ca
St.
Marys Community Players present two yearly plays in the spring
and fall at the recently renovated Town Hall Theatre.
The Black
Angus Restaurant features a monthly dinner and music
series. St.
Marys Storytelling will present its 8thOnce
Upon a Thames Storytelling festival from June 1st to 4th,
with Rural Routes as its theme, and in particular our connections to
stories
about food and the land. Bring some lawn chairs and listen to a Pipe
Band Tattoo by Little Falls as the sun sets over the Thames River
on Friday, June 10th. The St. Marys Children’s
Choir celebrates their 30th anniversary in 2011
with a special concert on June 4th. Visit www.town.stmarys.on.ca for
dates of events
For more information about St. Marys visit the following
pages:
