Things to Do in St. Jacobs, Ontario: A Gem Worth Exploring in Waterloo Region
St. Jacobs, Ontario is a neat little town that has put a lot of work into preserving its character and charm. While the region of St. Jacobs is known for its famous market (which is worthwhile to visit in its own right), there are plenty of other reasons to stay and explore this charming village.
Why You Should Visit St. Jacobs
St. Jacobs is a great place to visit if you’re on the hunt for unique shopping treasures and local finds. There are several different small businesses to support, and a lot of delicious food and prepared goods to be had. Its charming main street along King Street North is scenic, with several historic buildings and shops to explore.
During our visit in St. Jacobs, not only were we met with delicious foods, coffee and snacks, but we were also surprised by how many cute stores there were to explore. For Chris and I, we don’t usually focus on shopping during our travels. It has never really been our “thing” while we’re on the road. We love to look, but we aren’t often pulled to actually buy something. We were surprised by how many tempting places there were for shopping in the area, and we were impressed by the different types of shops that St. Jacobs had.
Spoiler alert - we ended up buying a few things!
About St. Jacobs
St. Jacobs, Ontario is primarily known for its Mennonite heritage. To this day, there is still a large concentration of Mennonites, specifically “Old Order” Mennonites, who live in Waterloo Region (actually, the largest concentration in Canada). The Old Order Mennonites lead a more conservative lifestyle than many other religious groups in the province, and you’ll likely see some of their horses and buggies travelling in and around the market and the village itself.
The village itself has a population of around 2000 people, but in the summer it’s abuzz with tourism, as people have come to realize this spot offers something special.
Things to Do in St. Jacobs, Ontario
I’ve outlined a long list of things to do in St. Jacobs Village and St. Jacobs Market in this post. There’s something here for everyone, and this should certainly give you an idea of all the different types of things you can enjoy in the area.
Go Shopping at St. Jacobs Stores
St. Jacobs Village is home to some great little shops for all sorts of things. A walk up and down King Street North will lead you to discover different specialty stores, some of which you may never have heard of. I know that I was so excited when I walked into Conestoga River Pottery. This charming shop is notable not only for its beautiful selection of pottery, but for its special location, too. It’s located in the large village Silos, located in the north end of town.
This unique setting for a pottery shop makes you feel like you’re walking into a truly creative artists’ hub. Owner Phil Yordy sources “functional pottery” from different areas across Ontario. St. Jacobs has a history of pottery making, so some pieces are local, while others are Ontario made. The vast array of pottery containers, dispensers, vases, dishes, candle votives and beyond makes it very difficult not to take home a piece of this beautiful pottery shop for yourself. I settled on a brightly coloured oil pourer for our kitchen, which has been a staple since the day I bought it. We love it!
Another one of St. Jacob’s stores that’s noteable in its own right is Hamel Brooms. This company was founded in 1908, and has been a staple of Waterloo Region ever since. Its focus is on making high quality, traditional corn brooms (if you aren’t sure what a corn broom is, one look at their website is sure to jog your memory) the way its original owners intended it. The company has been passed on through generations within and beyond the Hamel family, yet the dedication to their craft remains intact.
Some other fun shops worth stopping by during your time in St. Jacobs Village are:
Pink Papaya
A Gift to Remember
Saliente Wood Designs
Gina’s Bridal Closet
The Village Colonnade
Stop for a Coffee or Ice Cream at Eco Cafe
Eco Cafe in St. Jacobs is the type of local haunt that instantly draws you in.
Upon entering (or even from the streetside order window), you just know that this is a place that cares about good community, good company and good coffee (and teas, treats, and beyond!).
Eco Cafe is committed to sharing their passion for certified organic, fair trade coffee with their customers. You can choose from a range of beans and blends for your sipping pleasure on the premises, but they’re also a great place to turn to if you’re looking to support local and order some beans straight to your doorstep. They know more than a thing or two about coffee, and roast their beans in house at their St. Jacobs location.
Beyond enjoying an amazing cup of joe on their outdoor patio, or as you wander through St. Jacobs, they also have sandwiches, ice cream and some other sweet treats to enjoy. They also have quite the selection of teas, and their online shop is well stocked with all sorts of coffee tools and products.
Savour Local Delights at St. Jacobs’ Restaurants
Whether you’re headed to the market or St. Jacobs Village, there are so many St. Jacob's restaurants worth checking out. The Village Biergarten is actually operated by Block 3 Brewing, and is an excellent place to go during the warmer months, or on clear days. They have a beautiful, tiered outdoor patio on King Street North, with a few tasty items on the menu like tacos, sandwiches and nachos. They also have an excellent selection of local beers and wines for you to choose from.
Some other great staples in St. Jacobs Village for a bite to eat are Harvest Moon Restaurant. They’re a classic, family-style restaurant with dishes like meatloaf, and several Greek-style main courses.
Those Pizza Guys has excellent wood fired pizza options, and a nice patio to sit at if the weather is right.
Stone Crock Restaurant and Jacob’s Grill are also worth checking out if you’re in the area.
Catch a Show at the St. Jacobs Playhouse
St. Jacobs Country Playhouse is a great attraction in St. Jacobs, and if you’re looking for something to do in the evening while you’re in town, you’ll want to check out what they have on. It’s located in the Market District of St. Jacobs, with easy access to several hotels, and of course, the market itself. It has a rustic design, and feels like an extension of the community hubs in the region.
Depending on the time of year (and COVID measures), they typically have several shows in rotation at once. It’s best to call their box office to arrange for tickets, and pick the show that’s right for you.
Try a Sampler Flight at Block 3 Brewing
Directly across the street from Eco Cafe and Conestoga River Pottery is Block 3 Brewing. Set back from the street and in a uniquely laid out and industrial space, this brewery has been a part of the St. Jacobs community for nearly a decade.
Block 3 prides themselves on being a community brewery, with a focus on their local clientele who just can’t get enough of their delicious beer. The character of this charming brewery is evident from the regulars’ pottery pint glasses displayed around the bar, to the casual and friendly environment it offers to those who visit. Their range of beers to try is impressive, so having a trial flight is your best bet to get several samples under your belt during your visit.
As for some beers to be on the lookout for, their Fickle Mistress Sours are a fan favourite. They have a range of different types of sours to try, depending on the time of year, but if sours are up your alley, I’d highly recommend trying one of their varietals. The King Street Saison and the Hollinger Helles are also well-known brews that are definitely worth trying.
There are some excellent breweries in Waterloo Region!
Visit Some of the Quaint Museums
There are a few neat museums in St. Jacobs, Ontario that are worth checking out. They’d be great additions to a trip if you’re looking to do something on a rainy day, or just to learn a little more about what St. Jacobs is known for. The Electricity Museum showcases St. Jacobs’ connection to the early days of public hydro, and experimentation with static electricity. You can see the original turbine that was used to help in the process right inside the museum.
The Maple Syrup Museum of Ontario is another great spot to learn about maple syrup, and some of the local production of it in St. Jacobs. It has interactive and informative exhibits, discussing the use and production of maple syrup over the past few hundred years. There’s a lot more that went into maple syrup making in its early days, and this museum does a great job of covering these bases.
Take a Walk and Admire Local Street Art in St. Jacobs Village
Murals abound in a walk through the historic village of St. Jacobs. There are several local muralists from the region of Waterloo who have come together to create some beautiful public spaces in the village centre. The famous “St. Jacobs” mural, just across from the silos is a must-stop on a street art tour of the village (and that’s the feature image of the article, for reference)
Another highlight is their “A Little Bit of Country is Good for the Soul” mural (also featured up above), painted on a bright pink background, just off of King Street North. You’ll find several other murals sprinkled throughout the central streets of the village, but the piece de resistance is the “Conestogo River Scene.” It was finished recently, and both its colours and the birds that we’d recognize locally can be found on it. It was done by the local father-and-son street art duo, Luke Swinson and August Swinson. They have several other striking murals located in Downtown Kitchener, and in other areas around the region.
Visit the Famous St. Jacobs Market
This attraction speaks for itself. While the market in St. Jacobs isn’t in the central village of town, it is the main reason for why St. Jacobs is such a well-known place to visit. In fact, the market in St. Jacobs is Canada’s largest year-round market.
The market can be a little overwhelming if you don’t have a game plan before arriving, so make sure you take some time to plan your trip in advance.
The first thing you’ll need to know is the farmer’s market (which is the main attraction, although not the only one) is only open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. They literally have everything and anything you can think of across three different pavilions, plus an outdoor market.
You can find anything from fresh produce to delectable meats and cheeses, as well as tantalizing preserves, jams, and more. Their ready-made food areas are impressive, with quite the cultural mosaic of selections that you can make along the way.
During our visit, we had Mexican street food, pierogis and Egyptian falafel. All were delicious in their own right, and this speaks to the diverse array of foods available at the market.
If you’re on the hunt for more than just food products, the main farmers market also has jewellery and craft vendors, clothing and accessories, beer kiosks and more. Beyond the Farmers Market in St. Jacobs, I was really impressed with Market Road Antiques.
It’s in its own separate building, across the road from the Farmers Market, and has quite the variety of antiques in all shapes, sizes and vintages. I am one to admittedly feel a little “over” antiques shopping before it even begins a lot of the time. This may be for many different reasons, but I think something I really enjoyed about Market Antiques is its layout in little booths collected by different people.
It’s fun to get lost and wander around the different nooks to find various treasures, and it’s organized and doesn’t feel “junky”, like some antique shops can sometimes. Overall, it really revived my love for hunting down old treasures, and we even found a very old map of Perth, ON, which we knew we had to get for Chris’s parents.
This Lovely Little Ontario Village Awaits
There just aren’t that many villages in Ontario that have so much going on. Chris and I spent a fair bit of time exploring, but we could go back and visit next weekend and we’d be able to fill up our time easily. How many Ontario villages can you say that about?
Of course, this article isn’t about us going to explore again (although I’m sure we will), it’s about helping you to explore this magical little village. So, I hope this helps you on your way, and encourages you to keep visiting places that might not be on your road map just yet, but surely will be once you have the privilege of visiting.
I want to humbly thank Waterloo Region for hosting us as media. All opinions are completely my own.
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