Municipality of Bayham

Bayham LogoThe Municipality of Bayham, the most easterly point in Elgin County, is home to the Port Burwell Marine Museum & Historic Lighthouse, the Port Burwell Provincial Park, and one of three Blue Flag Beaches on the Northshore of Lake Erie.

Families are drawn to the Bayham for its ever-popular events like Vienna Edisonfest, Bayham Beachfest, and Straffordville's Watermelon Fest, which offer fun for the entire family. Spread along Bayahm's lakeshore lies Erie Shores Wind Farm, which provides sustainable energy and an attraction for sightseers and landscape photographers. With its picturesque valleys, stately windmills and lake scenery, Bayham rivals the best Ontario has to offer.  Experience long sandy beaches, delectable Lake Erie perch, and history like no other in the quaint towns of the Municipality of Bayham.

Port Burwell

Port Burwell, otherwise known as the “Jewel of Erie’s North Shore," is a quiet town that knows how to live it up! Partake in the history as you tour the HMCS Ojibwa Submarine, or climb to the top of the oldest wooden lighthouse in Canada at the Port Burwell Marine Museum & Historic Lighthouse. If R&R is more of your forte, soak up the sun at the Main Beach, graced with the Blue Flag Beach status; share your perfect sunshine and tan lines selfie with the free public beach WiFi. Don't fret, you can bring your four-legged best friend along with you to swim in the serene waters at the Port Burwell Provincial Park's sandy beach. If you enjoy the thrill of the chase, cast your troubles away at one of the many marinas, where there are copious amounts of Walleye and Lake Erie Yellow Perch.

Cap off your visit with a delicious meal made from local ingredients grown in Elgin's fertile soils and transformed into culinary works of art. Dine a la fresco at Izzy's Schooners Restaurant & Patio Lookout or The Lighthouse Restaurant And Pub to enjoy the fresh catch of the day. Get the scoop with an ice cream flight at Simply Scoops, serving 48 flavours of hard ice cream, 24 flavours of soft ice cream, frozen yogurt and much more!

Vienna

Vienna, just 5 km from Port Burwell on highway 19, is located on the banks of the Big Otter Creek. Once described as "a blink of a town," the village has a history dating back to 1811. Its main claim to fame is that it was the birthplace of one of the Grandfathers of Thomas Alva Edison, famed inventor of the electric lightbulb. Visit the Edison Museum while in Vienna, and tour the charming, historic village. For those who seek adventure, rent a canoe or kayak from Otter Be Here to paddle the meandering sandy bottom Big Otter Creek, once used to float logs down to Lake Erie to ship wood to Europe.  

Straffordville

The area’s central hub, Straffordville, is home to the Municipality of Bayham office and the ever famous Watermelon Festival; where event-goers endeavour to spit their watermelon seed the furthest. Partake in the family fun at the annual festival on the 4th weekend in August!