Arts, culture and heritage in the spotlight at 2025 Stonetown Heritage Festival

This year's Heritage Festival, taking place from July 11 to 13, will offer numerous chances to explore creativity and connect with local history.

Located in the heart of the festival, the art exhibit will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 12 in the building on the corner of Water St. N and Queen St (95 Queen St. E). The art exhibit and sale will highlight members of our local Stonetown Art group, showcasing their unique and impressive artwork available for purchase.

Mill Race Island, located right beside the falls, will be transformed into 'Art Island' for the day, showcasing the work of local artists from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Visitors can enjoy a beautiful view of the falls while browsing unique creations such as painted keepsakes, beaded artwork, wood-burned pieces, and acrylic signs. “The artists will highlight the vibrancy that art brings to our community.” says Town of St. Marys Events Coordinator, Morgan Easton.

For those interested in exploring local heritage, there are several free, interactive, and informative activities available on Saturday, July 12, led by knowledgeable local heritage guides. Participants can join heritage walking tours, which depart from Town Hall at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. These tours offer a wonderful opportunity to learn about the area's rich history.

In addition to the walking tours, new this year is the opportunity to discover the history of our waterways on a river walking tour. These tours depart from Town Hall at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

For those who prefer a more relaxed exploration, guided heritage bus tours are also available. These tours will leave on the hour from Town Hall, running between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., and each tour is a 45-minute round trip.

Due to the popularity of these activities, advance registration is strongly recommended. To secure a spot, interested individuals should contact the St. Marys Museum by calling 519-284-3556.

Just east of the downtown fun, the St. Marys Station Gallery, open Wednesday to Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., hosts the selected works of local and regional artists on display.

On Sunday, July 13, culture and the arts take on a green thumb with the return of the St. Marys Horticultural Society’s Garden Tour from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Tour maps will be sold for $10 at Town Hall on July 13 from 12:45 to 3:00 p.m. Contact the Horticultural Society (stmarys.horticulture@gmail.com) for more details.

The full festival schedule is available at www.discoverstmarys.ca/festival.

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For media inquiries:
Lauren Thomson, Marketing and Communications Specialist
519-284-2340, ext. 432 | lthomson@town.stmarys.on.ca