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The picturesque town of Goderich, home to the world’s largest underground salt mine, is set to host the expansive Goderich Salt and Harvest Festival.
Credit: Goderich Salt & Harvest Festival
Founded in 1959 and sprawling beneath Lake Huron, the Goderich Salt Mine is recognized as the largest underground salt mine.
Goderich’s Salt History:
Goderich’s connection to salt stretches back to 1866, when local prospector Samuel Platt and driller Peter McEwan were searching for oil and instead uncovered a massive underground salt deposit. That surprise find became North America’s first commercial salt well and helped turn Goderich into Canada’s “Salt Capital.” The deposit itself formed more than 400 million years ago and lies over 500 metres underground.
Today, the Goderich Mine is the largest salt mine in the world, with production capacity of up to eight million tons a year. That history sets the scene for the Salt and Harvest Festival.
The Goderich Salt & Harvest Festival, celebrating local salt production, has been named one of Ontario’s Top 100 Events. This marks the festival’s fourth recognition, following its 2024 wins for Best New Event and the Community Impact Award.
As the festival returns for the fourth year, here is what to expect in 2026:
What to Expect This Year:
The festival will feature concerts, food trucks, historical tours, family activities and a few unusual ways to explore the industry that helped shape the community.
Concerts:
Music starts Thursday with Goderich’s own Sal’s Alley at 7 p.m. on the Goderich Performance Stage. Cash donations will be accepted.
On Friday, Clara Stegall opens for Spice & Spears, a tribute show built around the music of the Spice Girls and Britney Spears. Gates open at 4:30 p.m., with adult tickets priced at $30 plus HST and fees and tickets for children under 13 at $10 plus HST and fees.
Saturday brings the Battle of the Bands, where six local groups compete for cash prizes and the title of “The Saltiest Band In Goderich.” Sarnia rock trio Retrospect will headline the Compass Minerals concert.
Explore Goderich’s salt history:
You can take a guided Salt History Walk on Sept. 5 and 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Main Beach Marine Museum Park. Registration is required.
Another option is the Salt Mine Virtual Reality Experience from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Goderich Tourism office.
A free Salt Industry Film at the Huron County Museum also explains how the mine operates.
Family Fun:
Courthouse Square Park will feature inflatables, a petting zoo, mine rescue demonstrations and an above-ground salt experience from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Horse-drawn wagon rides are also planned Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon.
While in Goderich, stroll the Menesetung Bridge, which spans the Maitland River and overlooks the salt mine.
Food & Drink:
The Food Truck Village runs Friday through Sunday, while the Salted Market, Farmers & Sunday Market is open Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Salty Basin Beer Garden opens Friday at 3 p.m. and at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, featuring local brews and crowd favourites.
Restaurants citywide will also feature exclusive salted menus.
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Plan Your Trip – Goderich Salt and Harvest Festival
Goderich is gearing up to host the annual Salt and Harvest Festival. The festival, celebrating the region’s extensive salt mining heritage, will feature a variety of events and activities suitable for all ages.
Festival Schedule:
September 3 to 6, 2026
Thursday, September 3
- Salt Lamp Walk begins at Rotary Cove Lookout, featuring more than 300 solar lights, historical facts and photos of Goderich’s salt history.
The illuminated walk is available day and night through Labour Day. - Sal’s Alley: Goderich’s own band performs at 7 p.m. on the Goderich Performance Stage. Cash donations are accepted.
Friday, September 4
- Food Truck Village: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Salty Basin Beer Garden: Opens at 3 p.m.
- Salt Lamp Walk continues at Rotary Cove Lookout.
- SPICE & SPEARS concert: Gates open at 4:30 p.m., with Clara Stegall opening.
Saturday, September 5
- Salted Market: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Salt History Walks: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., registration required.
- Salt Mine VR, above-ground salt experience, inflatables, petting zoo and mine rescue demonstrations: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Food Truck Village: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Beer Garden: Opens at 11:30 a.m.
- Wagon rides: Noon to 2 p.m.
- Opening Ceremony: 4 p.m.
- Battle of the Bands: Six local bands compete, with Retrospect headlining.
Sunday, September 6
- Salted Market: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Wagon rides: 10 a.m. to noon.
- Salt History Walks: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Salt Mine VR, family activities and mine rescue demonstrations: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Food Truck Village: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Beer Garden: Opens at 11:30 a.m.
- Salt Industry Film: 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where:
Various Locations, Goderich
How Much: Free and ticketed activities
- Friday Concert: Adult tickets: $30 plus HST & fees
Under 13yr: $10 plus HST & fees - Register for Salt History Walk
