What if a nearly complete mammoth skeleton was discovered in Fergus… and then deliberately reburied — its location still unknown today?

Local historian Pat Mestern joins Ryan and Barb for a jaw-dropping journey into one of the region's most mysterious and fascinating historical tales.

• The unbelievable story of the mammoth (or mastodon!) skeleton discovered on the Allerdice farm

• Why the bones were secretly reburied — and why no one can find them today

• How a bottomless bog, vanishing deer, and an ancient gorge tie into the mystery

• Why crucial family journals and letters holding the story disappeared

• What Pat uncovered while researching James Webster, Thomas Young, and early Fergus history

• The strange connections between kettle lakes, shifting soil, and prehistoric creatures
  
  

If you love local lore, historical puzzles, or tales that make you say "Wait… WHAT?" — this episode is for you.

Subscribe, rate, and share your thoughts at eloraferguspodcast.com — your feedback helps us uncover even more local stories!

Elora's 'Star-burst' lights & Fergus's Riverwalk are ready! Get all the holiday event dates, from Sip & Shops to the Santa Claus Parade!

Hosts Ryan Joyce and Barb Eveleigh sit down with Melinda from the Fergus BIA and Maclean from the Elora BIA to wrap up the spooky season and jump straight into the magic of the holidays in Centre Wellington.

Following the success of "Monster Month" in Elora and the "Witch Folk Pantry Market" in Fergus , the focus shifts to shopping, lights, and community cheer!

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• Elora's Holiday Events: The Starlite Shopping event is spread over four nights—Thursday, November 20th, 21st, 27th, and 28th . The town will be lit up with new starburst lights that create the feeling of "walking under the stars".

• Fergus's Holiday Events: The season kicks off with the tree lighting on the Riverwalk, followed by the Late Night Sip and Shop on the first two Fridays in December (5th and 12th). The shops are open from 6 to 9 PM and feature carolers, the Beavertail food truck, horse and carriage rides, and Santa at the Red Door.

• Santa Claus Parade: The popular Lions Club Santa Claus Parade brings thousands of people to downtown Elora on November 29th.

• Community Spirit: Maclean and Melinda discuss their BIA's new collaborative goal to work together, embracing the spirit of "one township" and moving past the old Elora vs. Fergus rivalry .

• Local Businesses Spotlight: Melinda shares a word about her store, The One and Only, which features Canadian-made artisans and products , and Maclean reveals the origin of his restaurant's name, The Evelyn (named after his wife's grandmother and middle name).

Don't miss two pop-up holiday segments of What the EF and more!

What really brought 15 years of Riverfest to an end?

In this special episode, Ryan and Barb sit down with Spencer Shewan and Mayor Shawn Watters for an open, behind-the-scenes conversation about the sudden and emotional decision to close the chapter on one of Elora's most beloved events.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The real economic pressures—from rising costs to shifting public spending—made the festival unsustainable.

• How post-COVID audience habits have changed, and why mid-sized festivals everywhere are struggling.

• The surprising surge in volunteer support—and why even that wasn't enough to keep Riverfest afloat.

• The lasting legacy of unforgettable performances, community moments, and the people who built Riverfest from the ground up.

• What this means for other local festivals across Elora, Fergus, and the region.

• Heartfelt reflections from the founders and organizers on standout memories and the festival's evolution.

💬 Enjoyed this episode? Have thoughts to share?

Subscribe and send us your feedback at eloraferguspodcast.com — we'd love to hear from you!

Beyond the Poppy: Learn the proper protocol, what the Fergus Legion does year-round, and how its new Riverside Events Center serves Centre Wellington!

Join hosts Ryan Joyce and Barb Evoy as they sit down with Randy Graham, President of the Fergus Legion Branch 275.

With the Poppy Campaign (starting the last Friday in October) and Remembrance Day fast approaching, Randy highlights the Legion's central role in honouring our veterans. Learn the proper protocol for wearing the poppy: it should be worn on the left side over your heart and taken off at sundown on November 11th.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Remembrance Services: Details on the Fergus Cenotaph parade (departing the Legion around 9:40 AM on the 11th) and the Belwood service held on the Sunday before Remembrance Day.

• New Initiatives: Discover the "Red Shirt Program" (which comes from the acronym Remember Everyone Deployed) on Fridays, and the "No Stone Left Alone" initiative, encouraging families to decorate a stone for a veteran's grave.

• The Riverside Events Center: Get the scoop on the Legion's space, now known as the Riverside Events Center, and its availability for community use—from celebrations of life to a future wrestling event .

• Joining the Legion: Randy explains how the Legion is changing to become a welcoming service club for everyone, noting it's the largest service club across Canada.

The Fergus Legion is focused on remembrance, supporting veterans and their families, and the education of youth. Don't miss this important conversation about a pillar of the Centre Wellington community !

The costumes are packed away, but the community spirit is just warming up! This week, we're swapping spooky scares for steaming soup as we wrap up one of Centre Wellington's biggest-ever events and look ahead at a November packed with community connection, giving back, and great films.

Join us as we share our personal, behind-the-scenes highlights from Monster Month and give you your essential guide to all the local happenings in Elora and Fergus this month.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Our top three personal highlights from Monster Month, including the biggest surprises at the Monster Mash & March.

• The scoop on Sensational Soup Off & Empty Bowls, and how you can support the Centre Wellington Food Bank on November 2nd.

• The full schedule and essential details for the inaugural Elora Adventure Film Festival (November 6–9).

• Details on the upcoming Damn Good Comedy Show at the Fergus Legion.

• A respectful reminder of the Remembrance Day Ceremony on November 11th and a note on how the Poppy Campaign is now going digital.

• A special shout-out to the Collaborative Women of Wellington County and how they're supporting local female entrepreneurs.

• And more!

Step right up for the final terrifying ride! We chat with Darryl Magierowski, the mastermind behind Salem Frights, about 11 years of scares, the terrifying new "Hell Ride" attraction, and why this might be their last season!

Join Barbara Lustgarten-Evoy and Ryan Joyce as they welcome the creator of the legendary Salem Frights, Darryl Magierowski, to the podcast! Darryl pulls back the curtain on over a decade of dedication to frights and reveals the intense details of this year's haunted attraction—which might be the most intimate and terrifying experience yet!

In this spine-tingling episode, you'll hear about:

• 11 Years of Frights: The origin story of Salem Frights, including Darryl's childhood passion for building haunts and how he continuously experiments to enhance the scares.

• The Village of Salem: Stories from past haunts, including the famous "nun hallway" jump scare and the immersive "Village of Salem" theme.

• Introducing "Hell Ride": The new 10-minute dark ride experience for 2025, inspired by a "crazy laughing clown" and Coney Island freak shows, designed for small groups of four to maximize the terror.

• The Future of Fear: Darryl shares why this year's expanded, eight-night run might be the last season for Salem Frights due to the massive six-month time commitment.

• Your Chance to Win! Listeners can enter a ticket giveaway for two pairs of passes to experience "Hell Ride" for themselves.

Don't miss the inside scoop on the most terrifying attraction in Centre Wellington! Like and subscribe for your chance to win tickets!

The October 7th Centre Wellington Town Hall was a deeply passionate affair, highlighting the struggle between a "close-knit" community's concerns and the realities of immense tourism pressure.

We go inside the packed Jefferson Elora community hall, where residents gathered to confront polarizing issues like rapid growth and infrastructure strain. Mayor Shawn Watters addressed significant resident frustration and the surge in tourism.

The biggest news confirmed at the meeting? Reiterating the paid parking system for tourists to manage the impact of over 750,000 annual visitors.

Plus, we discuss the Mayor's biggest surprise and his call for "respectful dialogue".

Co-hosts Ryan Joyce and Barbara Lustgarten-Evoy (speaking independently of her Councillor role) break down how residents can best approach staff and council for education and understanding of the municipal process.