Discover Newmarket: History, Parks and Events

Newmarket offers historic buildings with local stories, trails along Fairy Lake and seasonal events for your stay. When choosing a hotel in Newmarket, you can then decide whether to focus on culture, time outdoors or a visit to a market.

Historic Buildings and Stories from Newmarket

Since 1996, the Elman W. Campbell Museum has been located on Main Street in the historic town centre. It is housed in the former North York Registry Office, built in 1884. The building is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act and is the last surviving 19th-century registry office in York County.

The museum preserves and shares stories that shape Newmarket’s past, present and future. These include Indigenous roots, settlement, industry, immigration and the community’s ongoing transformation. The experiences there are inclusive, engaging and educational. Admission is free; check visitor information again before your trip.

Newmarket’s Old Town Hall, also called Newmarket Town Hall and Market Building, was built in 1883 in the original town centre. The two-storey brick building is designed in the Italianate style. Its features include a projecting central pavilion, a square central bell tower topped by a crown, tall narrow windows and a deeply projecting bracketed cornice. The town designated the building in 1999 for its historical and architectural significance.

Renovations and improvements made the Old Town Hall fully accessible. As a cultural centre, it hosts theatre, music, dance, art and cultural activities; numerous performances and exhibitions are also held there. The historic building brings architecture and a diverse cultural programme together.

A public art installation on both sides of the Keith Bridge illustrates the history of transportation in Newmarket with eight bronze plaques. It adds another perspective on the town’s development to its historic buildings.

Fairy Lake, Park Trails and Outdoor Activities

Fairy Lake and Fairy Lake Park on Water Street offer residents and visitors an urban oasis in the heart of Newmarket. In the park, trails on the Tom Taylor Trail run around the lake, over bridges and through landscaped grounds. Those who enjoy spending time outdoors will find a park landscape where the lake and trails together shape the character of the place.

Newmarket has more than 45 active parks and open spaces, over 800 acres of parkland and more than 44 kilometres of hiking and cycling trails. The town’s trails connect with more than 20 kilometres of trails in neighbouring communities such as East Gwillimbury and Aurora. Both the trails and park spaces in Newmarket and the connections to neighbouring communities are part of the hiking and cycling options available.

For another way to get active, Newmarket has six outdoor pickleball facilities. Public access hours apply at Quaker Hill Park, Haskett Park and Joe Persechini Park. If you would like to play there, check the applicable hours in advance.

Events and Seasonal Offerings

Riverwalk Commons is open year-round. During the winter months, the Mercedes-Benz Skating and Water Feature is transformed into a public outdoor skating rink. This makes the winter offering different from the trails at Fairy Lake: here, the focus is on skating outdoors.

The 2026 events page lists the Newmarket Farmers' Market every Saturday morning from May to October at Riverwalk Commons in the historic town centre. Check the specific dates before travelling. The market has been running for more than 25 years. Visitors can buy fresh local produce, meet farmers and browse finds from artisans. Offerings and stalls vary by date and vendor.

Seasonal festivals and markets, live entertainment and community events are also held on Main Street in Newmarket. These events add to the opportunities to experience the town’s culture and local life during your stay.

Explore more destinations: Richmond Hill, Schomberg, Georgina, Vaughan, Markham, Whitchurch-Stouffville, King City, Nobleton.

Back to the regional travel overview: Regional Municipality Of York.