CENTRE WELLINGTON – The Township of Centre Wellington and Regional Tourism Organization Four (RTO4) first launched the Destination Animation Strategic Co-Investment Project in 2017 to encourage Elora and Fergus businesses, organizations and tourism stakeholders to create new visitor experiences and activities.
The Destination Animation Strategic Co-Investment Project was created to support and encourage new destination experiential projects on a matched basis.
Projects must be new or enhanced experiences, and funding cannot be applied toward capital or regular operational expenses.
The 2019 Elora and Fergus Destination Animation Strategic Co-Investment Project has approved $10,000 in matching dollars to five applications, with a total overall partner contribution value of approximately $45,000.
This year’s proposals were submitted by a variety of festivals and events, tourism enterprises and local businesses.
This is the third year of the animation program, with five applications submitted requesting approximately $15,000.
“The partners – Regional Tourism Organization 4 (RTO4) and Elora and Fergus Tourism (The Township of Centre Wellington) are thrilled with the enthusiastic and creative responses by the Elora and Fergus community ranging from a retail and tourism business owners to festivals,” officials state.
The selected projects align with Elora and Fergus’ destination DNA – heritage town charm, arts and culture, and nature-based assets – and ensure events and experiences be are shareable and supported by a strategic marketing plan.
The experiences and events will take place throughout 2019.
Applications selected by the Destination Animation Project include:
Templin Gardens Quick Paint Competition
– Elora Arts Council, as part of the En Plein Air Festival, which hosted the Templin Gardens Quick Paint Competition on May 18. The Elora Arts Council collaborated with the Fergus BIA for the Fergus Templin Gardens Quick Paint Competition.
The event culminated in a show and sale of the work completed and an award for Best in Quick Paint Show.
Fergus Medieval Faire
– Debb Greer from The Bookery, Nathalie McNeil from The Red Door Restaurant and Tala Jenkins will be the hosts of the second annual Fergus Medieval Faire.
The festival will be held throughout downtown Fergus on July 27 from 9am to 5pm.
The one-day festival will feature interactive and educational activities like Medieval re-enactments, an authentic-looking Viking encampment, Celtic music, Falconry demonstration and hands on meet the Birds of Prey.
Wizards Way will turn the alleyways in downtown Fergus into a magical place for kids to explore.
Attractions will include; Zoltan (wandering magician and fire eater) along with a group of actors and acrobats providing Wizardry classes and demonstrations.
Ontario Week of Wonder Magic Festival
The Ontario Week of Wonder Magic Festival is a seven-day celebration of magic and illusion held downtown Fergus.
The festival runs the last week in October and coincides with National Magic Week from Oct. 24 to 31.
There will be free and ticketed events.
The event will see magicians table-side at restaurants downtown along with gala shows hosted at the Fergus Grand Theatre.
“Free late-night events that the public and magicians will love will take place at a secondary venue,” officials say.
A magician convention will see secret sessions held at the Fergus Grand Theatre hosted by magicians that magicians come to see.
Movable feast
Experience Elora like never before as the picture-perfect village spills out onto its streets for a moveable feast of late-night shopping, in-house discounts, food events, tastings, art, music, and entertainment.
Happening May to September, on the last Saturday of the month.
On Sept. 28 a burglar is rappelling off the Elora Mill Hotel & Spa in downtown Elora.
Shakespeare in the Park
Elora Community Theatre will be presenting Shakespeare in the Park – Romeo & Juliet; an all youth production at Bissell Park from Aug. 9 to 11.
For more information, contact Deb Dalziel at ddalziel@centrewellington.ca or 519-846-9691 Ext 380 or Karen Mitchell at karen@rto4.ca or 519-271-7000 ext. 202.
Visit http://elorafergus.animationfund.ca for more information.
