VISIT ONE OF ORONO’S FESTIVALS OR FAIRS
Every August, Orono’s Main Street is transformed into a wonderland of antiques, collectibles, vintage furniture and retro items during its annual Antique Street Festival. If you’re looking for a more country fair atmosphere, join 30,000 people at Orono’s three-and-a-half-day Agricultural Society Fair the first weekend after Labour Day. This celebration of Orono’s agricultural roots features equestrian events, livestock shows, art competitions, pie and cake auctions, tractor pulls and even a demolition derby, among other exciting exhibits. Then there’s Orono’s More Than a Car Show, held mid-September at the Orono Fairgrounds, where families can explore a large display of vintage and modern cards.
visitorono.com
GO ANTIQUE HUNTING
Orono is an antique hunter’s paradise. The Orono Antique Market is two storeys and a basement of incredible vintage and antique finds packed into a heritage building. You can easily spend a couple of hours hunting for that rare collectible. The Main Thru Church Antique Mall is another great place to visit, with approximately 30 booths and showcases of antiques, collectibles and retro treasures.
Orono Antique Market,
6 Park Street
oronoantiquemarket.ca
Main Thru Church Antique Mall,
5337 Main Street
STOCK UP AT BUTTERCUP HOLLOW PANTRY
Named after the town’s valley-turned-park Buttercup Hollow, this adorable shop will give you all the town-and-country feels. Orono locals turn to this pantry for a great cup of coffee or to check out the selection of locally sourced goods, from pastries, pies and tarts to freshly made sourdough bread and buns. It’s also the place to buy freshly prepared meals, meat pies, beef and sausage rolls and unique gift items.
5340 Main Street
buttercuphollowpantry.com
HIKING, FISHING AND GEOCACHING
Orono is perhaps best known for its Crown Lands Trust, the former Ontario Tree Nursery that was turned into more than 15 kilometres of walking trails, picnic areas and one of Ontario’s best cold-water creeks, Wilmot Creek. These trails are perfect for year-round activities, whether they be hiking, mountain biking, geocaching, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. If fishing is your thing, catch Orono’s rainbow trout run in mid-April, and its salmon run in late August. While Crown Lands Trust is Orono’s most popular natural beauty, the town also has a hidden gem right downtown: The Sidney B. Rutherford Woods Walk Park, a beautiful, heavily wooded park with walking trails perfect for a Sunday stroll.
Orono Crown Lands,
Ochonski Road, Clarington
oronocrownlands.com
SLEEP AMONG THE LIONS
Orono’s Jungle Cat World Wildlife Park began in the ‘80s as a big cat sanctuary but is now home to more than 150 animals of all kinds, from lions and tigers to monkeys and wolves. This wildlife park is best known for its up-close-and-personal experiences, like feeding tigers or socializing with lemurs, but it also offers summer camps for hands-on learning for kids ages six to 17. Perhaps the most exciting part of Jungle Cat World, however, is its Safari Getaway — a truly unique B&B that combines accommodations with the wild atmosphere. After the park closes to the public, you can watch the wildlife continue on with their day from the balcony of one of three charming suits — the Safari Lodge, the Lions Den or the Jaguar Den — or fall asleep to the roar of the lions and howling of the wolves. If camping is more your thing, Jungle Cat World also offers two trailer campsites — the Wolf Camp and the Cougar Camp — that are just a hop, skip and jump away from the big cats of the park (close enough to see and hear the kitties but far enough not to have to worry about safety).
3667 Concession Road 6
junglecatworld.com
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