A mere ten minutes from Lake Huron’s shores, the village of Zurich is an active community welcoming visitors and locals alike.

Zurich is located in the heart of the white bean agricultural area of Huron County, where thousands of tons of these small dry beans are grown, processed, packaged and shipped worldwide.

Zurich’s Bean Festival – 55th Annual in 2020

Perhaps it was only natural that a group of community-minded folks launched Zurich’s Famed Bean Festival in 1965. The event is held in August on the fourth Friday evening and all day Saturday. It attracts thousands, many of whom have been coming for decades.

Festivities begin Friday evening with Cruise Nite featuring several hundred classic cars travelling routes through neighbouring communities before ending back in Zurich, music, and midway rides, followed by fireworks at dusk. People in the villages and towns on the car parade route make it an annual “must-see”, viewing the procession from their lawn chairs set up roadside.

Saturday’s schedule is chock-a-block from the 7 a.m. breakfast in the arena, custom rod & antique car show with hundreds of entries, through the famous home-cooked bean & pork chops dinners and live entertainment throughout the day to the dance at 8 p.m. The Main Street Market sells clothing, jewellery, crafts, home décor, baked goods and more. Children enjoy wandering entertainers, face painting and balloon twisting as well as midway rides.
Goods and Goodies

Saturdays in summer through Thanksgiving you can enjoy live music and a BBQ lunch from 11 am to 2 pm at Jerry Rader’s Homestyle. This popular shop offers a selection of gifts and accessories along with prepared-on-the-premises salads, meats and baked goods from traditional recipes.

Blessings Community Store is a 35-year-old thrift store offering used clothing, linens, sports equipment, decorating items including retro and antique finds.

Adrenaline & Fun

Kids of all ages enjoy Town & Country Bowling Lanes for 5-pin bowling. Bowlers come for league play or open bowling. One of the favourites offered by this family-run business is Glow in the Dark, also a great outing for birthday celebrations and parties.

All-In Store & Skatepark boasts being South Western’s biggest indoor skatepark. Training ramps are available to learn tricks in addition to foam pits for training. It offers an overnight summer camp with pros; the 2019 camp featured Ryan Williams of Nitro Circus.

Amenities

Zurich has a new library, Bluewater Family Health Team, South Huron Veterinary Clinic, churches, a school and much more that offer services to residents and visitors alike.