IMMERSE
Experience the charm of a quaint small town with a visit to the picturesque Village of St. Jacobs. Located just outside of Waterloo, Ontario, St. Jacobs has a rich Mennonite heritage and is nestled in a beautiful natural setting. Home to the largest population of Old Order Mennonites in Canada, you’ll often see families traveling through St. Jacobs by horse and buggy. St. Jacobs offers visitors a chance to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. St. Jacobs is filled with authentic sights, sounds, tastes, and incredible one-of-a-kind shopping.
One of the village’s signature events takes place annually during the holidays and is perfect for group tours. For two weekends each November, the village is lit up with thousands of twinkling lights and light installations for its annual Sparkles event. With special pop-up events and live entertainment—including strolling Victorian carolers—Sparkles is a true holiday experience!
LEARN
Travel back in time for an authentic heritage train ride through Woolwich Township and Waterloo Region’s famous Mennonite farm country on this historic rail line, which has been in service since the 1880s. Waterloo Central Railway provides a truly unique experience for your group outing. A full train charter can accommodate up to 300 guests. Individual passenger coaches can accommodate between 40 and 76 guests per car.
For a more in-depth experience, Stroll Walking Tours offers two different tours of St. Jacobs. The “Historic St. Jacobs Walking Tour” is a 75-90-minute guided walking tour led by locals who know the town best. The “Explore St. Jacobs Walking and Wagon Tour” features a 60-minute wagon tour through beautiful farming landscape of Woolwich Township in the morning and a guided walking tour of Historic St. Jacobs in the afternoon! Private group walking tours can be arranged. Routes follow paved surfaces on main town streets and side streets. There is one downhill and uphill section at the beginning of the walk. Sidewalks are quite narrow in the Village of St. Jacobs but are still accessible for scooters and wheelchairs.
SHOP
Visit Canada’s largest year-round indoor/outdoor farmers market to see hundreds of vendors selling a variety of items from food to art, collectibles and more. At the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market, some items are brought to market by the truckload, while others arrive by horse and buggy from local Old Order Mennonite farms. Groups that book between May and October will be welcomed by a market staff member who will give a brief overview of the market and provide each guest will a map for use. The driver and tour leader will also receive a free reusable tote.
There are several add-on experiences that can be coordinated to elevate the experience for groups, including an hour-long wagon ride tour of the rural countryside surrounding the market (guided by Elmira Wagon Rides) and a guided tour of the Mennonite Story. This small, on-site museum provides guests with a brief history of Mennonites, both past and present, and includes a 15-minute presentation on Old Order Mennonites.
All three market buildings are wheelchair and walker accessible. If you need a wheelchair and did not bring one, wheelchair and mobility rentals are located in Peddler’s Village.
For antiquing, Market Road Antiques is a 20,000-square-foot indoor destination antique mall with more than 100 antique dealer booths under one roof in a bright, clean facility with friendly, knowledgeable staff. The mall features quality furniture, glassware, tools, estate jewelry, collectibles, art and books, vintage clothing, toys, and more.
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Explore Waterloo Region
explorewaterloo.ca
Lead image:
The area including St. Jacobs in Waterloo Region is home to the largest population of Old Order Mennonites in Canada.
Photo courtesy Explore Waterloo Region