{Celebrate} Five Unique Places to Hold An Event in Rural Ontario

Often our first thought when planning a special event is how to make it memorable for our guests. Choosing the right venue can make a huge difference to your enjoyment of the day and the memories you will treasure for years to come.

These five special venues have been carefully chosen for their unique qualities, whether it’s the gardens, the buildings, the location or the scenery. Each one will wow your guests and make your event unforgettable.

Cranberry Creek

Located in Delhi, this heritage chapel and botanical gardens is a rustic outdoor wedding and event facility that features a breathtaking collection of heritage architecture. Six of the property’s 100 acres are now gardens, and the rest include a circa 1890 farmhouse and a large, weathered barn. The gardens feature a central chapel that is perfect for weddings, baptisms or vow renewals. Cranberry Creek is gorgeous year-round making it a top-notch event location in any season

Lake on the Mountain

There really is a lake on top of the mountain! This unique Muskoka-style resort features an event pavilion on the shore of picturesque Lake on the Mountain, which is 200 feet above the Bay of Quinte. The pavilion can accommodate up to 120 people. An outside platform overlooking the lake is available for wedding ceremonies.

Lake on the Mountain is rustic and relaxed yet elegant at the same time. The venue actually juts out over the lake, giving it that boathouse feel. With eight different styles of cabins on site to accommodate your guests, Lake on the Mountain is a perfect spot for a wedding or family party.

The McMichael Art Gallery

Located in the historic community of Kleinburg, the McMichael Canadian Art Collection offers its visitors a unique and truly Canadian experience. Renowned for its devotion to an exclusively Canadian collection, the McMichael permanent collection consists of almost 6,000 artworks by Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven, their contemporaries, and First Nations, Inuit and other artists who have made a contribution to Canada’s artistic heritage.

Set amid 100 acres of natural wooded landscape, the gallery’s picture-perfect location, both indoors and out, makes any occasion a memorable event. Having just completed a 4.2 million dollar landscaping improvement in July 2011, the grounds themselves look like a Group of Seven painting. The event space can accommodate 50 to 220 guests.

The Westover Inn

Beautiful and stately, the Westover Inn is a charming venue year-round. This historic inn, built in 1867, is situated on the Thames River in the picturesque town of St. Marys, Ontario, which is a short drive from the city of Stratford and its renowned Stratford Festival.

The historic ambiance of the 22 guest rooms and award-winning cuisine make this a special destination for your guests, who will not only enjoy the Inn, but also the rest of the charming town. One of the unique characteristics of the Westover Inn is its onsite chapel. The beautiful stone chapel was built in the 1930s and overlooks the Inn and the landscaped grounds from its perch atop a small pine tree-covered hill.

Steckle Heritage Farm

Located on Bleams Road outside of Kitchener, the beautiful Steckle Heritage Farm property is comprised of 10.2 acres. The glorious post and hand-hewn log beam construction that you see when you enter the barn will take your breath away. Its original construction, high ceilings, wide open floor space and heritage implements all add incredible ambiance. With the convenience of modern electrical and stage facilities, the Barn is equipped to hold 225 standing and 170 seated.

Birthday parties are also a hit at Steckle Heritage Farm. They are coordinated by an experienced staff member, and all activities are pre-planned to include 1.5 hours of programming. Possible activities include a farm tour, visiting the animals, a scavenger hunt and a “crafty fun activity.” Birthday parties are for up to 10 children, and run for 2 hours with approximately 1.5 hours of programmed activities. The cost is $125.00 for up to 10 party-goers, with a cost of $10 each for additional child.