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Lambton Family Hub

GuidebooksPetrolia, with Oil Springs and Enniskillen next door

Your family guide to Petrolia

The town that taught the world to drill, with a Victorian main street built on the money.

About 5 min readUpdated

Petrolia Library, a red-brick former railway station with conical turrets and a slate roof under a blue sky
Petrolia's public library, in the town's old railway station on Petrolia Line.Photo from Lambton Family Hub's guide library

Things to do

  • Gray's Floral Market on Petrolia Line: a brick storefront with striped awnings and flower boxes

    Downtown Petrolia & Victoria Hall

    Independent shops along Petrolia Line, and Victoria Hall, the 1889 town hall that is home to the Victoria Playhouse theatre.

    • Free
  • A table inside Gramma's Candy Store piled with cotton candy tubs, glass jars of candy and rainbow lollipops

    Gramma's Candy Store

    A candy store on Petrolia Line: retro and new candy, popcorn, slushies and nut-free choices.

    • Rainy day
  • The Petrolia Trails trailhead sign at Bridgeview Park, showing the trail map

    Bridgeview Park & the Bear Creek trails

    A park and walking trails along Bear Creek, with room for a picnic.

    • Free
    • Under 5
  • An aerial view of Greenwood Park's accessible playground, with a poured rubber surface and children playing

    Greenwood Park playground

    An accessible playground on a poured-rubber surface, at the town's fairgrounds.

    • Free
    • Under 5
  • The covered pavilion of the Petrolia Farmers' Market with picnic tables and a welcome banner

    Petrolia Farmers' Market

    A farmers' market in a covered pavilion on Fletcher Street, Saturday mornings in season.

    • Free
    • Seasonal
  • The Petrolia YMCA building exterior, with its entrance canopy and Y sign

    Petrolia YMCA & splash pad

    An indoor pool at the Y, and the town's splash pad behind the building in summer.

    • Fee
    • Rainy day
  • Petrolia Library

    Petrolia's public library branch, for books and free programs, in the town's old railway station.

    • Free
    • Rainy day
  • White brick wall of the Oil Museum of Canada with its name in raised black letters beside a bench

    Oil Museum of Canada

    An oil history museum ten minutes south in Oil Springs: indoor galleries and a working oil field on the site of the first well.

    • Fee
    • Rainy day
  • The entrance sign and trail map for Lorne C. Henderson Conservation Area

    Lorne C. Henderson Conservation Area

    A conservation area a few minutes west, with walking trails and open space to run.

    • Fee
  • Petrolia & Enniskillen Fall Fair

    Every September at Greenwood Park, since 1876. The 2026 fair ran 11 to 13 September.

    • Fee
    • Seasonal
Show 7 more

Where to eat

  • Johnny G's Premium Pizza

    $$

    Petrolia

    Family-run pizza spot famous for its panzerottis; order ahead for pickup

    • Take-out
  • The Cottage Petrolia

    $$

    Petrolia

    Cozy café for lattes, baked treats and soup, an easy downtown pit stop

  • Lola's Diner

    $$

    Petrolia

    Home-style diner breakfasts and a Sunday brunch buffet; closes early afternoons

    • Take-out
  • Actor's Casual Dining

    $$

    Petrolia

    Playful film-themed diner beside the Victoria Playhouse, a fun pre-show dinner

    • Take-out
  • Munchies Cafe & Grill

    $$

    Petrolia

    Breakfasts, burgers, fries and sandwiches at a casual café and grill

  • Chuck's Roadhouse

    $$

    Petrolia

    Steaks and burgers at a bar and grill, with a Lil' Chuck's menu for the kids

    • Kids menu
    • Take-out

This week in Petrolia

  1. 9:30 AM

    Remembrance Day Church Service with the Petrolia LegionSt. Paul's United Church

  2. 11 AM

    Learn to Skate (Mondays)Greenwood Recreation Centre

  3. 11 AM

    Petrolia Remembrance Day Cenotaph ServicePetrolia Cenotaph

See all events

Join a club or team

For kids

  • Petrolia Minor Hockey Association

    Minor hockey development and teams in Petrolia.

  • Petrolia & District Skating Club

    Learn-to-skate and STARSkate at the Greenwood Recreation Centre, ages 3 and up.

  • Petrolia Soccer Club

    Grassroots soccer for players of every age and ability.

  • Wyoming Minor Ball Association

    Baseball and softball through the Wranglers and Lady Wranglers, for Wyoming and Petrolia.

  • Petrolia Bluewater Taekwondo Club

    Traditional and competitive taekwondo, children through adults.

  • Lambton Young Theatre Players

    A youth theatre ensemble and seasonal productions, ages 9 to 18.

  • Lambton 4-H Association

    Cloverbuds and project clubs in STEM, quilting, baking and woodworking, ages 6 to 21.

  • Scouts Canada

    Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Venturers, ages 5 to 17.

  • Girl Guides of Canada

    Sparks, Embers, Guides, Pathfinders and Rangers, ages 5 to 17.

For grown-ups to join

Stories from the oil town

Before you go

Is everything within walking distance?

Downtown is: Victoria Hall, the market and Bridgeview Park sit close together. Petrolia Discovery is on the edge of town, and the Oil Museum, Fairbank Oil Fields and Lorne C. Henderson need the car. Each place above carries its own directions.

What if it rains?

The Oil Museum's galleries, a swim at the YMCA, or a suitable show at the Victoria Playhouse; not every production is a children's show, so check content guidance and running time. Check opening days and show times too; these are options, not guaranteed drop-ins. More indoor ideas.

Where should we start with younger children?

Keep the number of stops low: the market, then Bridgeview for a picnic and a short walk, or the accessible playground at Greenwood Park, with the pumpjacks pointed out on the drive. Save Petrolia Discovery for a day when everyone has the patience for a tour; its regular visitor season is over for 2026, so ask about special events or an off-season tour first.

When is the fair?

Every September at Greenwood Park; the 2026 fair ran 11 to 13 September. Fair days bring admission, parking arrangements and crowds that an ordinary park visit does not, so check the Petrolia fair page for next year's dates before you go.

Historical notes draw on the Oil Museum of Canada, Petrolia Discovery, Fairbank Oil Fields and the Town of Petrolia. Places and answers were checked against the linked municipal, library, museum, conservation authority and business pages in September 2026; hours, prices and availability change, so the links take you to the current details. Suggest a correction.