Things to Do in Dufferin County

A 150-year-old grist mill transformed into a living arts centre with working artist studios, galleries, and artisan shops across five floors. One of the most unique cultural destinations in the region — Torontonians make the drive specifically for this. Check the Alton Mill website for current exhibitions and market dates.

Over 50 murals, monuments, tree sculptures, and public artworks spread through downtown Orangeville. Free, self-guided, and fully walkable from Broadway. The perfect way to fill an hour between lunch and your next stop — pick up a map at the Visitor Information Centre or download it at orangeville.ca.

A 1,066-hectare managed forest near Mansfield with dedicated mountain biking trails, hiking paths, and horseback riding routes. Permitted events run all summer including bike races and equestrian events. Trail maps and seasonal event schedule at dufferincounty.ca/forest. Free to enter for recreational users.

Live entertainment returns to Jack Downing Park in Shelburne this summer with the Fridays in the Park series. Free admission. A great casual summer evening for Shelburne residents and visitors alike. Full schedule at shelburnefreepress.ca or shelburne.ca.

Dufferin County’s premier four-season destination. Golf on championship fairways, unwind at the spa, taste wines from the estate winery, and dine at the award-winning Black Birch Restaurant. Set on the Niagara Escarpment with views that stop you mid-sentence. Worth the splurge for a special occasion or a weekend away without leaving the county.

329 hectares of lake, wetland, forest, and meadow at the headwaters of the Credit and Nottawasaga Rivers. Hiking, kayaking, swimming, fishing, and cycling trails across four seasons. One of Dufferin County’s most-visited natural attractions and a perfect half-day for visitors. Located at the southern edge of Orangeville — easy to reach from anywhere in the county.

A British couple relocated to Marsville and opened one of the most unexpected stops in Dufferin County. Their Deluxe New York Style cookies are deep-filled with premium UK-sourced ingredients, and their cruffins — a croissant-muffin hybrid — are best eaten warm with ice cream. Worth the detour off the beaten path. Brick-and-mortar open on County Road 3; check the website for current hours before visiting.

Less than an hour from Toronto and nearly five times the size of High Park, Mono Cliffs is a proper escape into the wild. Thirty-metre cliffs, glacier-cut lakes, hardwood forest trails, and wildlife including deer, foxes, and indigo buntings. Walk through a canyon on the Spillway Trail or up to the lookout on the Cliff-Top Trail. Book parking in advance at Ontario Parks — spots fill fast on weekends.

Designed to look like a working farm, the Museum of Dufferin tells the story of the county from early settler life to a dedicated Corn Flower Glass gallery. Hands-on kids’ exhibits, a heritage orchard, beautiful gardens, and year-round programming. Admission $5; kids under 5 free. On now through August: Unity in Diversity multicultural art exhibition.

Every Saturday morning beside Town Hall in downtown Orangeville. Fresh produce, meats, cheeses, baking, and homemade goods straight from local farms and producers. Runs outdoors May through October; moves indoors November through April. The ideal starting point for any Saturday in Orangeville.