Fall in Ontario is the most magical time of year to get out and explore our beautiful province. Autumn is filled with fun activities for both kids and adults. So, if you are looking for some fantastic activities to marvel at the vibrant Fall foliage, grab your sweater and a warm beverage because isure has the top Fall attractions in Ontario.
1. Muskoka: Take in the view
The best part of the season has to be taking in the awesome fall colors. Ontario’s landscape comes alive with vibrant hues of yellow, orange and red in the fall season. When looking for a breathtaking scenic drive, nothing beats the fall views of Muskoka. Known for being one of the best places in Canada to see the leaves change colour, a short two-hour drive North will afford you some truly Instagram-worthy landscapes.
2. Haliburton: Canopy tours & ColourFest
Imagine being able to walk high above the trees to take in all the beautiful shades of Fall? Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve has the world’s longest Canopy walkway, at a height of 10-20 meters above the forest floor. You can explore the stunning forest from a different perspective, and it takes about 3.5-4 hours to complete. Is a water tour more your style? Utilizing canoes almost 20 feet long, cross the lake while taking in the views. You can also enjoy a guided walk along the Pelaw River Rapids. Book your tickets now!
Stop in at Head Lake Park (Haliburton) for the annual ColourFest Celebration. Fun family activities include building your own scarecrow for a chance to win prizes, pontoon boat rides, a scavenger hunt and a pumpkin rolling contest. There will also be market vendors and a classic car display for the adults to enjoy. Definitely one of the best family-friendly Fall attractions in Ontario!
Canopy walks on until mid-October / ColourFest Saturday, October 1st
3. Blue Mountain: Apple Harvest Weekend
Fabulous fall colours, crisp autumn air and even crisper apples. These are just some of the ingredients of the Thanksgiving harvest experience at Blue Mountain, Ontario’s largest apple-growing region. Apple Harvest Weekend features live music on the Coca-Cola Floating Stage, family activities, Fall colours hiking, apple pie-eating contests, cider tasting, sidewalk sales, Agora Path of Light and more! Admission is free.
October 7th – October 10th
4. Bala: Cranberry Festival & Harvest
The Cranberry Harvest kicks off on September 25th! Go out to Johnston’s Cranberry Marsh for this once-a-year event that runs until October 24th. With daily Bog to Bottle Tours, wine tastings, cranberry plunges and wagon tours on weekends, this is a perfect way to enjoy this unique fruit in the beauty of the fall. If you visit on the weekend after Thanksgiving, you can also join for Bala Cranberry Festival. During the festival, you can visit Johnston’s Cranberry Marsh and Muskoka Lakes Winery, where you can see how they harvest the cranberries. They also offer wagon tours and you can buy cranberry snacks from their cafe. Such a great family fall attraction in Ontario!
Sunday, September 25th – Monday, October 24th
5. Prince Edward County: Pumpkin Fest
If you are looking to really get away from the city for the weekend, may we suggest a road trip to Prince Edward County? Known for more than 35 wineries, a big artists’ community, lots of nice restaurants, festivals, and Sandbanks Provincial Park, PEC is a tourist city you didn’t know you needed. Held in the middle of October, Pumpkin Fest has a schedule full of fun things to do. This festival has everything, from a guess the weight of the pumpkin contest to a fun fall parade. While at the festival, take some time to get know the area’s winemakers, brewers and distillers. Shop quaint villages, experience the agricultural side of The County, or walk in quiet nature enjoying the fall colors on the Millennium Trail.
Saturday, October 15th
6. Niagara on the Lake: Grape & Wine Festival
Go on a wine tasting tour of Twenty Valley and Niagara on the Lake during the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival. Celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2022, the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival is a six-day celebration of Niagara wine, held in downtown St. Catharine’s historic Montebello Park. Get the Discovery Pass that entitles you to six wine and culinary experiences designed by winemakers and chefs to celebrate the flavours of Niagara, redeemable at 20 participating wineries. So, grab your friends and family and get ready for the one of the best fall attractions in Ontario. Head down to the park to enjoy over 100 Niagara VQA wines, mouth-watering local cuisine, 50+ hours of live music, and unique experiences you won’t want to miss.
Friday, September 9th – Sunday, September 25th
7. Port Elgin: Pumpkinfest
Experience Port Elgin Pumpkinfest, always the weekend before Canadian Thanksgiving. Featuring GIANT vegetable weigh offs, crafts, marketplace and food vendors for all your shopping needs. There are also tons of family fun attractions, like petting zoos, pony rides, as well as Mad Science, the world’s leading fun science provider for kids. Your children will be having so much fun, they won’t realize they are learning! This event will be taking place all weekend long in the OPG Environmental Tent. Remember to pencil the Port Elgin Pumpkinfest in your calendar.
Saturday, October 1st – Sunday, October 2nd
8. Oktoberfest: Kitchener/Waterloo, Toronto
If you’re looking to experience a bit of Europe in Ontario, look no further than Kitchener! For those looking for things to do in October, Kitchener puts on a party in true German tradition – Oktoberfest. The festival has been going strong for over 50 years and is the largest Oktoberfest outside of Germany. It takes place over nine days, earning its billing as “Canada’s Greatest Bavarian Festival.” The official keg tapping is on October 7th. Plan ahead and celebrate fall in Ontario with a drink and some amazing food!
To celebrate its return after a two-year hiatus, the Toronto Oktoberfest celebrates its 10-year anniversary with a two-day festival in a massive Festhalle tent and Bavarian Village at Ontario Place’s Parking Lot 1. Come out and enjoy a weekend of festivities, fun and, of course, plenty of German beer.
September 30th – October 1st
9. Nuit Blanche: Toronto
10. Fall N’ Leaves
With Fall having arrived officially on September 22nd, it is now time to welcome back all-things pumpkin! From pumpkin spice lattes and baking pumpkin pies to visiting pumpkin patches. Fall N’ Leaves TO is located at the South West corner of Bathurst and Richmond Streets. The area will be transformed into an outdoor food and wine pop-up experience for the third year in a row to celebrate the colourful season. The event features local food vendors using wood-fire ovens and BBQ pits to serve up some fall-inspired dishes, as well as fall-themed activities. This includes pumpkin bowling, a mini pumpkin patch and a massive hay bale couch.
September 30th – October 30th
11. The 18th Annual Toronto Chocolate Festival
For those of us who prefer a steaming cup of cocoa to a pumpkin latte, the Annual Toronto Chocolate Festival is for you. Making its return after two years of COVID-19 restrictions, the festival starts up again on October 1st and runs through to the 31st. This year, the festival returns with its Chocolate Afternoon Tea at The OMNI King Edward Hotel. Afternoon Tea has been a King Edward tradition since its opening in 1903, which offers a chance to rekindle a connection amid old-world charm and timeless elegance. The hotel will be offering up Afternoon Tea complemented with chocolate in many of its magnificent and tasty forms every weekend during the festival. And for those that still want a little taste of pumpkin with their tea, the menu does offer a Pumpkin Spice White Chocolate Cheesecake – yum!
October 1st – October 31st
Be sure to check back into our inews blog section later this month as we will rundown other Fall attractions, including some of the best Halloween-themed events Ontario has to offer.
