We first fell in love with the County when we visited over 15 years ago. The bucolic fields along Closson Road, the pristine beaches at Sandbanks Provincial Park, (and other secret beaches nearby) - but mostly it was the eclectic and inviting collection of people! From the beginning – the County welcomed newcomers – entrepreneurs with big ideas, artisans with creative energy, vintners with talent and tenacity! Prince Edward County still offers all this and more.
As we prepare to welcome you back again in 2023 when the farm and shop open for the May long weekend – we think about all the reasons we love Prince Edward County and why we can’t wait to share it with you again! There is something truly magical about the County. Maybe it’s the fact we are indeed an island, the sense of community brings us together in a shared experience, grateful for the natural beauty and the boundless opportunity the area brings.
The Drake Devonshire in Wellington, the Royal Hotel & The Merrill House in Picton stand out as landmarks in the area – bringing a sense of contemporary culture and cuisine to the County. Overnight accommodation has never been as sophisticated or comfortable. Dotted around the County – there are countless B&B’s, Inns and VRBO rentals. This year we launched our very own VRBO Farm-Stay accommodation, our fully restored turn-of-the century farm house for those who want to immerse themselves in life on the farm. Located on Closson Road, it’s the perfect starting point for visiting over 40 wineries including Closson Chase with the iconic purple barn and restored church. Grab a bike at Closson Road Cycles and spend the day cycling along the road and discover more! Breweries now take up home here too such as Parsons north of Picton and Gillingham Brewery on Wilson Road. “Experiential” shopping at our SHED shop is also found elsewhere in the County at Carsons Garden Market for on-trend garden plants, seeds and accessories. Walking along the Main Street of Bloomfield or Picton offers visitors unique retail experiences including Zest Kitchenwares, Rosehaven Yarn Shop, or Kokito.
The County is home to countless galleries, artists and designers. We LOVE local designers like Kate Golding who designed our alpaca tea towels. Our yarn bowls are hand-crafted in ceramic by local artist Andrea Piller. The studio tour in September is a good way to see as many artist studios as possible in one weekend. Visiting Oeno sculpture gardens and gallery at Huffs Estates anytime of the year always reminds us of sunny days in California wine country with their modern architectural use of poured concrete, bright sunny yellow canvas awnings and acres of vines. The arts scene in the county isn’t limited to visual arts – a thriving performing arts community dwells in the area – especially in the summer months with Festival Players – the only professional theatre company in the area and The Prince Edward County Music Festival. We partner and host events including concerts with Big-Lakes Arts Festival in August, and starting this fall we present world-class supper-clubs, workshops and lectures in our newly created “Studio-Space”.
There is always something new to experience and celebrate in Prince Edward County and we can’t wait to welcome you.
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