11 Things to Do in Creemore, Ontario

Curious about checking out Creemore Ontario? Creemore Ontario has been named one of the cutest towns in Ontario, and compared to Stars Hallow on Gilmore Girls.

I feel very lucky in that I semi-grew up in Creemore. My family owns a farm just outside Creemore, so I am in town frequently and am amazed with how its developed into such a quaint, welcoming tourist village.

I have visited many small towns in Ontario and Creemore is very high on the list of being one of the cutest and must-sees.

Creemore was always a cute small town as far as I can remember, but this is what has changed over the past couple years:

• more unique, high-quality and family-owned restaurants have opened
• more small businesses have opened up shop
• there has been great effort to preserve the town’s heritage and history

These things lead to a lot of unique and hidden gem things to discover in town and nearby. I’m going to fill you in on the things there are to do in Creemore and a short drive from town.

Things to Do in Creemore, Ontario

1. Visit the Creemore Brewery

One of the main attractions that draws people to Creeore is the brewery. Most people are familiar with the Creemore Springs beer, since you can find it in LCBO stores. Whether you’re a fan of the beer, I recommend popping in here.

I don’t even like beer personally, and I’ve been in the brewery many times. It’s actually a great place to buy gifts for someone, or even just do a tasting.

Here are asll the things you can do at the Creemore brewery:

• Do a tasting tour, which usually lasts 30 minutes and its best to reserve in advance. It costs between $10-$30 per person, depending on which package you get
• Buy a glass of beer by the pint and enjoy it at both their indoor and outdoor seating
• Shop their merchandise – they have T-shirts, socks, hats. I found some good gifts for my husband here. They make good, unique Canadian gifts and souvenirs; perfect for someone who enjoys their beer, or someone who embraces the ‘support local’ movement.

2. Check out Ontario’s smallest jail!

The Creemore Jail was built in 1892, and is the smallest jail in Ontario. (There is some debate as to whether it’s the smallest jail in the whole continent.)

Rest assured though, it may be the smallest jail you’ve ever seen.

The Creemore Jail is such a unique visit that it was even featured in Atlas Obscura. Unlike other heritage attractions in town, the jail stands in the exact spot it was constructed in.

I remember visiting it in the 90s when I was a kid. It is mostly unchanged now, and you can pop in almost any time. The doors are usually open during the day at the jail; I do not know if they ever close them.

Inside the jail, you’ll find a couple cells with beds, with their own toilets. There are also some placks to read. It’s a very quick visit (30 mins or less) as its so tiny. Definitely a unique gem to check out though.

Pro Tip: The jail is very close to the main street, just a block away. So on a nice day, you could walk there. There’s also a lovely garden behind it, which you can enjoy in the warmer months

3. Go inside the Historic Creemore Log Cabin

Right beside the Creemore Jail is the Historic Creemore Cabin. This is a new feature that has just recently been put beside the jail (it was moved here from another location.)

This cabin is the last log cabin in Creemore from the early 20th century, and inside you’ll find artifacts from Creemore’s pioneer history.

As I mentioned, the cabin hasn’t been in this location forever – it was moved here in order to create easy public access to explore it (presumably, people come to see the jail – now they have the log cabin to check out to!)

You can read about how and why they moved the cabin, and the story behind it here.

In front of the log cabin, and the jail, you will see informational plaques. These plaques are 2 out of 13 that are included in the Creemore Self-Guided Heritage Walk.

4. Shop local

One thing I like about Creemore is that there aren’t too many chain stores. The main street is lined with stand-alone, family-owned businesses. You won’t find a Starbucks or a Timmies in town at all.

Similar to what you might see in Niagara on the Lake, a lot of good quality, unique gift-type items are sold in Creemore.

I do Christmas shopping every year in Creemore, its the kind of place where you can find really good handicrafts, and unique items that are hard to find elsewhere.

Here are some shops that I always go into:

• Curiosity Books -an adorable, cozy bookstore in a pink-painted wooden building
• Creemore 100 Mile Store – find goods all sourced with 100 miles of Creemore to take home. I recommend coming here before you’re about to head home, as some of the stuff needs to be refrigerated
• The Spotted Rabbit – children’s toy and clothing store
• Little Lagom – high-end baby clothes and supplies
• Heirloom (connected to Little Lagom)

Keep in mind that being a small town, the hours for Creemore’s stores can be pretty short. Most will close by the evening, including on weekends. Some are only open Thursdays through Sundays. Check the hours for a store you’re interested in, to make sure it’ll be open. (I always want to make it to the bookstore, but they’re always closed Mondays through Wednesdays for example.)

5. Go hiking at nearby trails

Creemore is a hiker’s paradise. There are so many trails and small provincial parks within 20 minute drive of town.

You can easily combine a visit to Creemore with a hike. I often do a hike followed by lunch, or breakfast in Creemore followed by a hike.

My favourite place to go is the Creemore Nature Preserve, it’s only a 5 minute drive from downtown Creemore!

The Creemore Nature Preserve is good for a short hike, its a quiet and small place. It has a small parking lot, but its not hugely popular so I’ve never not been able to get a spot.

However, you have a few other really good hiking options near Creemore:

• Creemore Nature Preserve (as mentioned above, 10 mins from downtown Creemore)
• Devils Glen Provincial Park (15-minute drive from Creemore), known for big lookout views
• Noisy River Provincial Park (15 min drive)
• Nottawasaga Lookout Provincial Park (22 min drive). This place is known for huge wall-sized rock formations which are a part of the Niagara Escarpment

6. Eat at a Michelin Star Restaurant!

Creemore has lots of decent restaurants. Recently, though, The Pine opened up in what was once an old gas station!

That’s right – Creemore’s old gas station turned into a Michelin Star restaurant! Crazy, right?

I haven’t been inside The Pine since it was a gas station, and unfortunately, since I’m a vegetarian, there aren’t a lot of options for me at The Pine. However, it might be worth a reservation if you like the menu.

7. Explore other local dining

I often go out to eat in Creemore, as I love meeting my close friend for lunch and dinner after her work shifts.

Here are some other places to eat in town, besides The Pine:

• Chez Michel Restaurant & Catering – French cuisine; it’s been open for many years and is a local favourite. Plenty of indoor seating!
• The Old Mill House Pub – I often meet my best friend for pub food here. It has a really nice cozy pub environment, cozy indoor and in the summer months there’s a smal;l outdoor seating area
• Creemore Pizza Co. – at risk of closing, so double check that its still open. The pizza really is really, really good. (Has no indoor seating though, it is take out only.)

7. Visit Purple Hill Lavender (summer only)

Purple Hill Lavender farm is such a gorgeous property nestled in the hills just outside Creemore.

You can buy tickets online, and show up and spend time walking up and down the lavender rows, which bloom in the spring and summer months.

In addition, sometimes Purple Hill has special events like markets, photoshoots and their annual lavender picnic evening. I went with my husband for my birthday last year, and it was so romantic – live acoustic music, with a charcuterie box, sitting amidst the lavender.

They also have a small farm store where you can purchase home and locally made products which are made with the lavender they grow. Their products smell amazing, and make such a great gift for someone or treat for yourself.

I recommend purchasing tickets in advance and checking out their website here.

8. Enjoy the BEST cafés

Over the years, I’ve watched some of the cutest and most unique cafés open up in Creemore.

They’re small, cozy, and independently owned, and have great ethically-sourced coffee and delicious baked goods. I often meet my best friend in these cafés.

Here are the cafés to choose from when you’re in Creemore:

• The Bank Café, known for having the best carrot cake around. Has very limited indoor seating (like only 2 spots) but some outdoor in the warm months
• The Motorcycle Café – has some indoor and outdoor seating when its warm
• The Creemore Roastery – just 10 minutes outside town, in a town called New Lowell.
• The Creemore Bakery – great baked goods, and famous for their cold brew

9. Spend time in the Creemore Village Green

The Creemore Village Green is a recent new development right in the downtown core that was developed in 2022.

There are lots of places to sit, have a bite to eat outside, read a book. There’s a fountain and a splash pad for kids.

The Village Green is a centre for local events and festivites too. Its where the Creemore Farmer’s Market takes place. Sometimes, there are also live performances on a stage.

The Bank Cafe is right next door, and doesn’t have much seating inside, so sometimes I bring food into the Creemore Village Green and enjoy the atmosphere. It’s a lovely spot.

10. Participate in local events

Creemore has a few festivals and local events throughout the year. Check if something is going on during your visit!

• Copper Kettle Festival in late August, put on by Creemore Springs.
• Creemore Farmer’s Market, runs on Saturdays from 9 am until 1pm from May until October
• Creemore Santa Claus Parade – usually early December
• Creemore Winter Markets (indoors) – held throughout January and February. See dates here

11. Get outside at several parks

Creemore has a lot of green space, and is an amazing place for people who want to get outside.

I mentioned a bunch of places to go hiking above, but there are lots of little parks and gardens to enjoy outdoors without having to do a hike.

Here are some of the parks and green spaces around Creemore:

• Mad River Park – a beautiful area for a picnic, located right beside the Mad River. There are outhouses available beside it. It’s within walking distance of the downtown area
• Gowan Memorial Park – located in a larger greenspace area, with tennis courts, fields and public washrooms. (I used to play at the playground here as a kid, but it’s been updated since then.) You can also walk here from downtown!
• The garden behind the Creemore Jail – behind the Creemore Jail, there’s a little community garden with lots of flowers and a little dirt path.

Where to Stay In or Near Creemore

Creemore is double as a day trip from Toronto, but it’s a worthwhile place to spend the night too. Here are some ideas of where to stay:

Bed and Breakfasts in Town

There are a few bed and breakfasts to stay at that are right in Creemore.

• Sequel Inn Creemore
• Emily’s Bed and Breakfast

Bed and Breakfasts Nearby

• Gables Bed and Breakfast is just 10 minutes away in the town Stayner. It puts you closer to more food options. Plus its close to Collingwood and the Blue Mountains, as well as Wasaga Beach

Creemore Ontario FAQ

Here are the most commonly asked questions about Creemore Ontario on Google

What is Creemore known for?

The town of Creemore is known for two main things – its popular craft beer, and for having the smallest jail in Ontario. Creemore has grown into a cute tourist town over the years with lots of local shopping, great restaurants and beautiful parks and gardens.

Is Creemore a good place to live?

Creemore is a great place to live; it’s a tight-knit town where you can walk almost everywhere. Something to keep in mind is that there are limited food options and not a lot of chain stores. So you have to look at the places you typically enjoy shopping at and see if you’d be able to live without easy access to things in Creemore.

Final Thoughts on Creemore, Ontario

Creemore can be visited any time of year. I love it as much in the winter as I do in summer. Fall is also a particularly special time with all the nearby hiking, and the cafes in town. I hope you enjoy Creemore as much as I do!