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The small village of Sparta is just a 15 minute drive away, housing many small treasures including a historical tea house, two museums, lavender farm, an infamous candle and fudge shop, and many local artists. Sparta is the perfect way to spend a summer day walking down its main strip and browsing the stores and viewing their historical neighborhood.
SKye Chase
Skye Chase winery sits just a few minutes outside of Sparta. It features a new updated building on the property, a patio overlooking the vineyards, and, in the winter; transparent domes to enjoy the patio while staying warm. During my visit I tried their featured flight “The Estate Journey” with pinot gris, viognier, chardonnay, and pinot noir. The tasting consists of 2oz of each selected wine making a total of 8oz. They also offer a customizable version of the tasting flight. Skye Chase sources 60% of their wines from their vineyards and the rest from the Niagara region.
During the summer the winery offers biweekly sunset sessions on their patio where you can enjoy live music, wine, and appetisers. The winery also offers bookable tours that will take you through their premises and their wine making process. The winery also features a restaurant with various appetisers, entrees, and desserts making this the perfect spot for brunch or dinner. Bottles are available for purchase in their store to take home or enjoy by the glass within the restaurant.
Skye Chase
📍Location: 45811 Fruit Ridge Line, St. Thomas
🕒Hours: Sun - Tues 12 - 6 pm
Wed - Sat 12 - 9 pm
📍Location: 45811 Fruit Ridge Line, St. Thomas
🕒Hours: Sun - Tues 12 - 6 pm
Wed - Sat 12 - 9 pm
SParta Lavender Farm
Sparta Lavender Farm is a quaint farm along the edge of Sparta. Inside is a small little shop full of women owned products and the farms in house line. Find products raining from salad dressings and jellies to laundry stain sticks and facial serums. Outside is a beautiful farm with over 10,000 lavender plants inside their parterre gardens and fields. Take a tour of their pollinator and butterfly gardens as well as their seasonal flowers. The farm backs onto 40 acres of ANSI protected Carolinian forest full of beautiful habitat and the singing of local birds. The farm is committed to sustainable practices in their farming by avoiding pesticides, and using live or natural mulches opposed to plastic based landscaping fabrics.
Sparta Lavender farm offers many different events on their property including markets throughout the summer, yoga, charcuterie, sound baths, Reiki, and more!
Sparta Lavender farm offers many different events on their property including markets throughout the summer, yoga, charcuterie, sound baths, Reiki, and more!
Sparta House tea Room & The Collective Mercantile
One of the main attractions of Sparta includes the tea room inside the historic Sparta House. Find traditional English meals ranging from bangers and mash to Cornish pasties. The Sparta House Tea Room is best known for their high tea featuring finger sandwiches, scones, tarts, and, of course, lots of tea. Inside the tea room you will find shelves full of historical and rare tea pots.
Right beside the tea room you will find The Collective Mercantile, a small shop full of goods from 50+ local artisans. Find clothing, jewelry, flour, coffee, art pieces, and soaps that are all one of a kind and hand-made. The Collective Mercantile also invites their artisans to host workshops and host other events such as soap felting and weaving, rug hooking, storytelling, and lots more.
Right beside the tea room you will find The Collective Mercantile, a small shop full of goods from 50+ local artisans. Find clothing, jewelry, flour, coffee, art pieces, and soaps that are all one of a kind and hand-made. The Collective Mercantile also invites their artisans to host workshops and host other events such as soap felting and weaving, rug hooking, storytelling, and lots more.
Sparta Country Candles
Sparta’s most infamous store, Sparta Country Candles is a must stop when visiting the village. The store is well known for their fantastic candles in a variety of scents including their fan favourite sparta berry. A trip to Sparta Country Candles is incomplete without a piece of their housemade fudge! Find classic flavours like chocolate walnut or peanut butter chocolate. Also find fun new flavours to try like their chocolate cherry cheesecake and sparta berry swirl fudge.
Church Museum & Cultural Centre and Ye Olde Forge & Anvil Museum
Sparta has two free museums inside historic buildings. The Church Museum & Cultural Centre houses changing displays and the museum's artifact collection. Inside this summer you can find their exhibit Living in the 1940’s. Find vintage clothing, furniture, household items, newspapers, and more! At the back of the museum you can always find their summer student making placemats and table runners on their historical wooden loom. Every year during the summer, inside the church, the historical society runs a historical tea fashion show. This event is highly anticipated every year and sells out quickly, so be sure to get your tickets early.
The Ye Olde Forge & Anvil Museum is inside an original 1827 made of clay and straw. You can find their permanent display about historic homestead living by the founding quakers that lived in Sparta. Inside is full of local artifacts donated by families that live in the community. Traditional quaker clothing, corn huskers, spinning wheels, and more are on display.
The Ye Olde Forge & Anvil Museum is inside an original 1827 made of clay and straw. You can find their permanent display about historic homestead living by the founding quakers that lived in Sparta. Inside is full of local artifacts donated by families that live in the community. Traditional quaker clothing, corn huskers, spinning wheels, and more are on display.
Village Artists
The village of Sparta is full of local artists and artisans. Peter Robson Studios has been around for over 40 years. The local artist was known for his painting and pencil sketches of beautiful landscapes all for sale in the store now run by his son Steven. Julia Hansford has a quirky and spooky studio full of paintings in her unique style depicting your favourite fairy tale and folklore characters from Santa Claus to the fairy godmother. Gathered is a collective full of local award winning artists that specialise in paintings, sculptures, wood carving, and much more! There is bound to be a piece that connects with everyone within the diverse displays for sale.
Peter Robson Studios
📍Location: 46340 Main Street, Sparta
🕒Hours: Tues-Fri 10am - 4pm
Sat 11am - 4pm
Grassroots
After a long day of touring the village, Grassroots is the perfect way to spend the evening. Grassroots specializes in an elevated dining experience with a menu in constant rotation to fit what is in season. The small space creates an intimate atmosphere, the chef-driven menu is unique and creative, while serving local fresh ingredients for a delicious meal every time. Grass Roots is known for their high quality cuts of beef and their perfectly cooked steaks. Enjoy a delicious wine perfectly paired to match your meal or order a specialty cocktail from their bar.
Tip: The menu is chef-driven and seasonally inspired to keep meals fresh and local, so be sure to call ahead for any diet restrictions and allergens.
Tip: The menu is chef-driven and seasonally inspired to keep meals fresh and local, so be sure to call ahead for any diet restrictions and allergens.
Grassroots
📍Location: 100 Wilson Ave, St. Thomas
🕒Hours: Tues-Thurs 12pm - 8pm
Fri-Sat 12pm - 9pm
Sun 12pm - 8pm
📍Location: 100 Wilson Ave, St. Thomas
🕒Hours: Tues-Thurs 12pm - 8pm
Fri-Sat 12pm - 9pm
Sun 12pm - 8pm
Pinafore Park
Pinafore park is the perfect way to wind down from any day. The beautiful landscaped park is perfect from a long walk after a meal. The park is filled with picnic tables, century old pavilions, towering trees, and art installations. The Memory Garden is located near the front of the park and includes stone and bronze sculptors with memorial leaf name plaques. Within the Memory Garden The "Circle Of Life" sculptor was created by local artist Peter Robson featuring stone columns and bronze figures. The Memory Garden is the perfect spot to take an end of the evening stroll, closing a productive day with beautiful landscapes and gardens.
Pinafore Park is home to many of St. Thomas' biggest events including our Elgin County Pride, and Music & Arts Festival. Be sure to stay up to date on our events calendar to see any upcoming events happening in the park.
Pinafore Park is home to many of St. Thomas' biggest events including our Elgin County Pride, and Music & Arts Festival. Be sure to stay up to date on our events calendar to see any upcoming events happening in the park.
Author
EMILIE FAGAN
Emilie is originally from London and has lived in St. Thomas for the past 12 years. She is currently studying English and History at King’s University College and is serving as the Tourism Assistant for Summer 2026. Emilie enjoys all things crafty! In her free time, you can often catch her knitting. Emilie is passionate about being involved in her community and is excited to share everything St. Thomas has to offer with both locals and visitors.
Emilie is originally from London and has lived in St. Thomas for the past 12 years. She is currently studying English and History at King’s University College and is serving as the Tourism Assistant for Summer 2026. Emilie enjoys all things crafty! In her free time, you can often catch her knitting. Emilie is passionate about being involved in her community and is excited to share everything St. Thomas has to offer with both locals and visitors.
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